1998 BMW 5 Series 523i SE review from UK and Ireland

Some pixels on the digital temperature display fail to light intermittently.

There was a split in the screen washer fluid line which had been bodge-repaired; the dealer repaired it properly for me as soon as I spotted it.

Rear cup-holders have jammed.

I am so pleased to have a BMW again. I last drove a collection of 3-series in the early 1990s and then had two Volvos in succession, but this is a welcome return to the BMW fold. The 523 is a seriously comfortable, good-looking, practical and relatively economic family car. I got this one at 6 years old and it looks and feels like a much younger car, having been well maintained by the previous owner and having a full BMW service history.

It goes quickly, the leather seats are very comfortable, and easy to keep clean, and with the heated seats option there is no need necessarily to use the very powerful climate control except to give a quick burst of heat to the interior on a cold day. I'm getting about 30 miles to the gallon.

What more can I say? The car has given me 1,200 miles of very pleasurable motoring since I got it 2 months ago, in towns, on motorways and down country lanes, and with a full family load as well as with just me on board. I love it. Not for nothing was the E39 model 5-series thought of as the best saloon car in the world. Pity its successor is so plug-ugly. What will I do when it is finally time to replace this one?

My only criticism is that the cup-holders are rubbish, a terrible afterthought by BMW, for the American market, or so I understand, but I knew they would be before I got the car.