Faults:

Front wheel bearings, minor oil leaks, full cooling system overhaul, Logic 7 amplifier.

General Comments:

I bought this car from a previous owner who did not maintain the car (for a great price)... big mistake. These E60 BMWs need to be maintained the correct way in order to be reliable. Part of the reason BMWs of this era are prone to issues is that the dealer recommends oil change intervals of 12,000 miles. Oil left circulating in an engine for this long begins to eat away at various seals and gaskets, and causes oil leaks.

In the case of BMW V8s, potential owners should be wary of cooling issues, especially with city cars. I just replaced my water pump, main upper and lower cooling hoses, and both belts, and the car now runs very well and smooth. I actually purchased a brand new water pump with gaskets off of eBay for $39. The quality of the new eBay part was miles better than the BMW original... the OEM pump uses a plastic impeller, whereas the new part uses a metal one.

Aside from all of this however, the car is an absolute blast to drive. This is one seriously powerful and quick car. My car did not come with the Sport package, but I added new springs and Bilstein yellow struts at all 4 corners and it rides and handles great. The styling is also timely enough that it still looks sharp and modern today.

The key to owning a BMW of this era is to stay up to date with maintenance, find a good indy mechanic, and buy all of your own parts online.

Faults:

- Since the lease began in January of 2005, I have had recurrent problems with various functions of the I-Drive, which activate randomly without need.

- The windshield suddenly cracked severely while I was driving the car, leaving a huge mark through the center comparable to the kind made by a very sharp knife. My dealer identified it as a stress fracture and covered the damage under warranty.

- The brakes squeal like a 1984 Toyota Tercel, which I find truly embarrassing of a car of this caliber.

General Comments:

- I leased this car with high expectations. Prior experiences with a 2002 BMW 525i were generally positive. I expected more from the 2004 generation, and was willing to overlook an undeniably less attractive exterior design for a car that I believed was groundbreaking in other respects.

- Perhaps I got a lemon, but my experiences with the 2005 530i have left a bitter taste in my mouth. Aside from the problems I've already mentioned, I'm rather disappointed with the output of the engine. 225 horsepower just isn't enough. The engine feels taxed on hilly, winding roads, where it really ought to be shining. Frankly, it doesn't feel much different from the 185 horsepower powerplant in the 525i I used to have, except the fact that the pedal feel is worse, and the I-Drive interferes with the overall driving experience. BMW improved somewhat with the 30 horsepower increase in 2006, and the 300 horsepower twin-turbo V6 for this year.

- Fortunately, the folks at the dealer have always been friendly and eager to help (or else I'd truly be upset).

- When my lease expires in a few months, I'll probably be considering American again for the first time in 18 years when I purchased a Ford Taurus. Perhaps a Cadillac DTS?