2000 BMW 5 Series 530iSE review from UK and Ireland
"There's no better all rounder unless you're partial to holding tight on the very edge of a bend"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Nothing, in the 1 year 2 months & 25000 miles I've had it.
General comments?
OK, it's the acknowledged king of the proper (not small) executive cars. And the king still rules. The young pretender to the throne is another Bangle bungle, at least in aesthetics.
But I'm not writing this to tell you it is handsome with real road presence, well put together, comfortable and refined, safe, fast (530i petrol manual makes 60mph (not 62mph) in 7 seconds), fairly spacious, not unreasonably expensive to run and a pleasure to own.
Actually, all I wanted to say is that while the SE is the best I've had for motorway driving, I wish I'd bought the Sport. I'm not that old and whilst the platform is as well balanced as expected, changes of direction in this car need relative restraint and a little decorum, for a BMW. A quick couplet of flicked turns generates body roll, wobble and ultimately under-steer (unless the road is wet). The Sport would have been better for my soul if worse for my bum.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model Year | 2000 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 3.0 petrol Manual |
| Performance marks | 7/10 |
| Reliability marks | 9/10 |
| Comfort marks | 9/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 42000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 67000 miles |
| Previous car | BMW 3 Series |
| Date of Entry | 19th December, 2004 |