[G30Nashville]

Long story short, my build got pushed back 5 weeks and I can't afford to wait much longer. Dealer has a loaded 540i with sticker of $74,500, so not much this car doesn't have.

The M40i engine certainly has more character, but the 540i is much more luxurious.

Thoughts?

[I3LaZeN]

All depends on if you need a suv or a car?
If its for just you mainly, i'd scoop the 540. Can add some performance and produce the extra power.

[CHSBoater]

I went back and forth between the two for a long time. I need an SUV only a few times a year for certain hikes, so in the end I opted for the 540ix M Sport and couldn't be happier. The 540 eats up the mountain roads where I live all the while basking me in the luxury I'd like to become accustomed to.

My decision was verified when I drove an X3 M40 at the performance center and found it small and not nearly as comfortable as the 5, not much different than our 2014 X1 3.0.

[NGT2]

There's obvious bias here. But I'd get the 540 unless there's some specific reason you needed the small SUV. The trunk it the 540 is pretty big. Carries my golf stuff easy. Also planning to do our 8 hour trip to the beach in the 540 instead of the Lexus GX. Better fuel efficiency, better ride, and better driver assist features on the interstate. That's for two adults and a kid. If I needed for than the 540 offers, I'd probably have to skip to the X5.

[J2045678]

Originally Posted by E92Atlanta

Long story short, my build got pushed back 5 weeks and I can't afford to wait much longer. Dealer has a loaded 540i with sticker of $74,500, so not much this car doesn't have.

The M40i engine certainly has more character, but the 540i is much more luxurious.

Thoughts?

I'd go for it. Picked my 540 up in late January and love it. Was coming off a 440 Gran Coupe lease and love the added room and luxury of the 5 series. You also have to keep in mind that 5 weeks could turn into 10 in this environment and the 540 is a sure thing because it's in their inventory.

[2022M550i]

I test drove both as well. To me, hands-down 540. The X3 was just too small. The backseats were awful…. And I wouldn't want to torture anyone with that. Space in the back hatch was a joke. You can fit an entire family in the trunk of the 540. I love the five series sedan so much I bought the M550i. I actually haven't been in a more comfortable car. I tried all the Mercedes as well, the ones I liked were way too much money…. Couldn't justify the expense. The 540 had plenty get up as well. I was surprised it was as quick as it was.

[Kriz2fer]

M340 is faster than the 540. Lots of aftermarket support and rock solid engine.

[SteveinArizona]

You are posting your question in a 5 series subforum. Not a surprise that most of us say the 540i.

Having said that, unless you need the cargo capacity of an SUV often, or can't climb into a sedan, I would opt for the 540i. Unless you track a vehicle (and why track an SUV?), the engine in the 540i is more than adequate for street duty. For handling, while BMW has done wonders to make its SUVs handle well, they still can't compare to the handling of a BMW sedan.

I have had a 3 series, and now a 5 series, and the 5 series is much roomier and more luxurious. I don't know what specs you have identified on the 540i but if it has Nappa upholstery it will be in a different universe (yes...there are theories that there are multiple universes) than the X3.

[jsf721]

I have the 540 M sport x drive. I love the car. Get wheel and tire insurance and get the factory spare tire kit.

[G30Nashville]

Well yes, I posted here for the 5er bias 😂. I've been hanging out in the X3 forum the last few months and need some feedback from current owners.

I agree that the X3 storage space is really not that great. 540 has a huge trunk, and so many more creature comforts.

This one does have the Nappa leather and the seats are leaps and bounds ahead of the X3.

Also has the massaging seats, driver assistance pro, sunshades, and I think every other package available really.

[Bob in IL]

Originally Posted by E92Atlanta

Well yes, I posted here for the 5er bias 😂. I've been hanging out in the X3 forum the last few months and need some feedback from current owners.

I agree that the X3 storage space is really not that great. 540 has a huge trunk, and so many more creature comforts.

This one does have the Nappa leather and the seats are leaps and bounds ahead of the X3.

Also has the massaging seats, driver assistance pro, sunshades, and I think every other package available really.

How are you leaning at this point? I have a 2019 G30 X3 and a '19 G01 5 Series and we're thinking of going to one car and would have a similar, but different, decision to make. Which to keep?

[ramparts]

Originally Posted by E92Atlanta

Long story short, my build got pushed back 5 weeks and I can't afford to wait much longer. Dealer has a loaded 540i with sticker of $74,500, so not much this car doesn't have.

The M40i engine certainly has more character, but the 540i is much more luxurious.

Thoughts?

Originally Posted by E92Atlanta

Long story short, my build got pushed back 5 weeks and I can't afford to wait much longer. Dealer has a loaded 540i with sticker of $74,500, so not much this car doesn't have.

The M40i engine certainly has more character, but the 540i is much more luxurious.

Thoughts?

It's the same engine ! The difference in tune is negligible given the wait difference.go for the 5 series dude, you can't go wrong

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by E92Atlanta

Well yes, I posted here for the 5er bias 😂. I've been hanging out in the X3 forum the last few months and need some feedback from current owners.

I agree that the X3 storage space is really not that great. 540 has a huge trunk, and so many more creature comforts.

This one does have the Nappa leather and the seats are leaps and bounds ahead of the X3.

Also has the massaging seats, driver assistance pro, sunshades, and I think every other package available really.

Again, admittedly biased, but I don't see how you pass on that 540. Sounds awesome.

The driving assistance pro is great on road trips. It was a must have item for me. I don't have the Napa leather or massaging seats, but I'm sure they're great. Even my regular Dakota leather seats are great.

[cna90]

I'd get the 540i. Pretty much all the power train are identical.
If you feel you need a more closer drive to M340i, get MPPSK. It adds the same torque converter and tune from m340i to 540i, along with MPE.

Or you can do BM3 stage 1 with is the same tune, only with the stock torque converter and exhaust for way cheaper.

Having driven 3er loaner quiet a bit, 540i has been a better car overall. More space, more luxurious and more of a incognito beast, specially with MPPSK.
Unless an M3, I personally won't go after a 3 series.

[Antec800]

5 series much better built, and more luxurious then any 3-4 series and the b58 engines are the same, the exhaust setup is just a bit different in the m40i

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by NGT2

...
The driving assistance pro is great on road trips. It was a must have item for me...

My new to me '19 has that. So far, I'm not impressed with the lane keeping. The car seems to wander within the lane and I have to keep my hands on the wheel anyway. Am I doing something wrong? The auto-cruise is handy.

[DNYC1919]

Originally Posted by E92Atlanta

Long story short, my build got pushed back 5 weeks and I can't afford to wait much longer. Dealer has a loaded 540i with sticker of $74,500, so not much this car doesn't have.

The M40i engine certainly has more character, but the 540i is much more luxurious.

Thoughts?

Looks sick

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

My new to me '19 has that. So far, I'm not impressed with the lane keeping. The car seems to wander within the lane and I have to keep my hands on the wheel anyway. Am I doing something wrong? The auto-cruise is handy.

Well I'm comparing it to what I had in my Tahoe and it's much better. There may be others that are better (Volvo?) but I haven't experienced them, so ignorance is bliss. Honestly, I'd have given Volvo a shot for all their safety and driving assist features but I need something fun, and those are zero fun.

I've found the driving assist pro to be very useful on the interstate for lightening the load, but I still am closely supervising. I don't feel it wanders too much, but definitely have to stay on top of it. It gives me enough freedom to relax. The adaptive cruise is great! I used all of this in a traffic jam recently and that was very useful. It kept the lane and crept along with traffic.

I know it all works off cameras. So, the quality of lines painted on the road makes a huge difference. Better line clarity will result in better operation of lane keeping.

[2022M550i]

Wrap that 540 up. The x3 doesn't have much room. I would have more of a difficult time choosing if you were looking at an X5…space wise. Comfort wise the sedan is a home run

[G30Nashville]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I'm going to make it happen! Stayed tuned…

[BMW012]

unless you absolutely need a suv (which obviously you don't because you are posing the question), the BOTTOM LINE is the 5 series is more UPSCALE. plus looks like it has all the bells and whistles at 75k. so what's there to lose? =) and seems like the price isn't a matter, because you are not telling us that one is xxx more expensive or cheaper than the other.

plus looks like the black on black wheels and blue brakes are on point!

LOL pick it up this weekend - before someone beats you to it and show us more pics!

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by BMW012

unless you absolutely need a suv (which obviously you don't because you are posing the question), the BOTTOM LINE is the 5 series is more UPSCALE. plus looks like it has all the bells and whistles at 75k. so what's there to lose? =) and seems like the price isn't a matter, because you are not telling us that one is xxx more expensive or cheaper than the other.

plus looks like the black on black wheels and blue brakes are on point!

LOL pick it up this weekend - before someone beats you to it and show us more pics!

Yeah, the way that thing is spec'd out, kind of makes me think someone ordered it and then got impatient or cold feet. Pretty awesome to just happen upon it in this market.