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BMW 5-Series (G30) Forum 2017+ BMW 5 Series (G30) General Discussions Deciding between 530i and x3

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      03-24-2020, 04:13 PM   #23
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And Mercedes sells the E Class wagon here as well. Built to order only.
Wagons never crossed my mind but you guys have got me thinking about it now! Missed the high visibility you get with SUVs, so if staying in the BMW family would've looked at an X5, but will sniff around wagons too, good thoughts!
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      03-24-2020, 05:18 PM   #24
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Originally Posted by 530iDriver View Post
And Mercedes sells the E Class wagon here as well. Built to order only.
Wagons never crossed my mind but you guys have got me thinking about it now! Missed the high visibility you get with SUVs, so if staying in the BMW family would've looked at an X5, but will sniff around wagons too, good thoughts!
E-Class wagon is a good bet. Sadly, BMW doesn't sell here the tourer version of our cars, the excellent G31.


https://www.mbusa.com/en/vehicles/class/e-class/wagon


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      04-10-2020, 12:50 PM   #25
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I would say 530 over the X3, they are both fantastic cars, but I’ve had my m550 now for 2 years and the interior quality is top notch, reliability has been stellar. I had a 530 for a loaner and it was a great car. X3 is more practical but there’s something about those 5 series! Either way you’ll be getting a great car
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      04-10-2020, 01:46 PM   #26
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I have one of each in the garage right now. Both are 2019's and low mileage. We're not driving too much these days other than a road trip now and then. In a few ways the X3 and 5 Series are similar but the differences are many and noticeable. I really depends on your needs and preferences. If I had to get rid of one of them it would be the X3 but that's just us.
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      04-10-2020, 09:20 PM   #27
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I don't know how you can doubt between these two? 5-series all the way!!!! The X3 I currently have is ok, but feels certainly one class down to the G30 and even the two F10s I had before. Road composure, flegmatics are certainly inferior. The G30 is an oasis of rest and composure, the X3 is not!
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      04-11-2020, 07:19 AM   #28
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I don't know how you can doubt between these two? 5-series all the way!!!! The X3 I currently have is ok, but feels certainly one class down to the G30 and even the two F10s I had before. Road composure, flegmatics are certainly inferior. The G30 is an oasis of rest and composure, the X3 is not!
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I don't know how you can doubt between these two? 5-series all the way!!!! The X3 I currently have is ok, but feels certainly one class down to the G30 and even the two F10s I had before. Road composure, flegmatics are certainly inferior. The G30 is an oasis of rest and composure, the X3 is not!
I went from x3 to 535xi to 540xi. Never looked back. X3 very bumpy ride, better suv out there for price. Go with 530

If your thinking about X3, check out acura rdx
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      04-11-2020, 06:57 PM   #29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KoenG View Post
I don't know how you can doubt between these two? 5-series all the way!!!! The X3 I currently have is ok, but feels certainly one class down to the G30 and even the two F10s I had before. Road composure, flegmatics are certainly inferior. The G30 is an oasis of rest and composure, the X3 is not!
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Originally Posted by KoenG View Post
I don't know how you can doubt between these two? 5-series all the way!!!! The X3 I currently have is ok, but feels certainly one class down to the G30 and even the two F10s I had before. Road composure, flegmatics are certainly inferior. The G30 is an oasis of rest and composure, the X3 is not!
I went from x3 to 535xi to 540xi. Never looked back. X3 very bumpy ride, better suv out there for price. Go with 530

If your thinking about X3, check out acura rdx
But but, the current X3 seems to be an improvement over the last gen X3.

With that said, X3 should probably be compared against the 3 Series where as the X5 is more of an apt comparison against the 5.
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      04-12-2020, 11:30 AM   #30
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I have one of each in the garage right now. Both are 2019's and low mileage. We're not driving too much these days other than a road trip now and then. In a few ways the X3 and 5 Series are similar but the differences are many and noticeable. I really depends on your needs and preferences. If I had to get rid of one of them it would be the X3 but that's just us.
This is the best answer. Not the decision but the decision process. I would make the same decision as Bob but each of us must make his/her own decision based on what we need/want. Just because one of us prefers the 5 series, or the X3 series, doesn't mean that the OP should.
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      04-12-2020, 04:44 PM   #31
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This is the best answer. Not the decision but the decision process. I would make the same decision as Bob but each of us must make his/her own decision based on what we need/want. Just because one of us prefers the 5 series, or the X3 series, doesn't mean that the OP should.
Of course OP is entitled to make his own decision, nevertheless: skip the X3 and go for the best car for all aspects that really matter: G30.
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      04-12-2020, 04:47 PM   #32
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Sounds like OP needs something that combines the best of both worlds... a wagon!
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      04-13-2020, 12:31 PM   #33
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Originally Posted by joshuastein55 View Post
Sounds like OP needs something that combines the best of both worlds... a wagon!
Since BMWUSA has decided to completely deprive the US buyer from their wagons\tourings offerings in this case the E-Class wagon gets my full endorsement.

I would go as far and argue is the best MB vehicle they sell in the United States.
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      04-13-2020, 02:19 PM   #34
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I wonder what the OP ended up going??
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      04-15-2020, 02:10 PM   #35
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I wonder what the OP ended up going??
Went with the 5 series!
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      02-24-2022, 09:57 PM   #36
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I am waiting on my 530i to arrive to Baltimore from Bremer now. Glad to see the positive reviews on this vehicle. I was back and forth on the 540 or the 530i xdrive. Went with the 530i after testing driving a 21 530 that was turned in off a lease and loved the way it felt.
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      02-24-2022, 11:05 PM   #37
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I used to have an X3 35i and now I’m in a 540i. I must say I think I liked my X3 more. The driving position just felt great. I wanted to try something different so that’s why I went with a 5 series this time. No regrets and I’m enjoying my 540i, but I plan to go back to an X3 when this lease is done.
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      02-25-2022, 09:33 AM   #38
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And Mercedes sells the E Class wagon here as well. Built to order only.
I actually sent an email to the head of BMWNA suggesting a similar policy on wagons. I got no reply.
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      02-25-2022, 10:20 AM   #39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 530iDriver View Post
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Originally Posted by SteveinArizona View Post
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Originally Posted by Bill530e View Post
Hi, not sure what your household status is, but something to consider would be what other vehicles you have. My wife used to have a Volvo XC90 and I had an Accord, then we both switched to sedans, with me getting a 530e. I miss having the extra storage capability an SUV afforded us (moving large bulky items, doing runs to Costco, etc.). Next time we purchase a car, I'll be looking to restore the SUV to sedan balance in the household.
if you like the ride of a sedan, consider a station wagon (estate car in the UK). There aren't a lot sold in the US but Volvo sells one and Audi sells one. It will give you the carrying capacity of an SUV with the handling of a sedan.
And Mercedes sells the E Class wagon here as well. Built to order only.
I didn't realize it was built to order. That just makes even more frustrated that BMW can't do the same thing with the g31.
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      02-25-2022, 10:27 AM   #40
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I didn't realize it was built to order. That just makes even more frustrated that BMW can't do the same thing with the g31.
Yep, E-Class wagons have been built to order for quite some time which is why (especially in the current market) you'll never see too many sitting on a lot unsold. That being said, the current S213 E-Wagon may be the last MB wagon to grace our shores.
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      02-25-2022, 07:52 PM   #41
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I didn't realize it was built to order. That just makes even more frustrated that BMW can't do the same thing with the g31.
Yep, E-Class wagons have been built to order for quite some time which is why (especially in the current market) you'll never see too many sitting on a lot unsold. That being said, the current S213 E-Wagon may be the last MB wagon to grace our shores.
How do you like the GLE 450?
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      02-25-2022, 09:12 PM   #42
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How do you like the GLE 450?
GLE is the wife's car, but we like it a lot. Our son has taken the X3 with him to college so we needed a do it all vehicle that could carry the dog, or all our stuff on vacation, grandkids, home-depot runs etc. We've had it since June of 2021 and its served us well as a replacement for her GLC. My wife really liked the mild-hybrid system of my old CLS so she wanted the 450's Inline-6 engine which is buttery smooth. The interior is one of the biggest reasons we went for it, modern looks, fantastic ambient lighting, and cavernous space, the rear legroom especially is huge for the class, bigger than the E-Wagon and both X5 and X7 by quite a bit. And on top of that, when she saw the paint job of this car in the showroom (Emerald Green Metallic) she couldn't say no.

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      02-25-2022, 09:24 PM   #43
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How do you like the GLE 450?
GLE is the wife's car, but we like it a lot. Our son has taken the X3 with him to college so we needed a do it all vehicle that could carry the dog, or all our stuff on vacation, grandkids, home-depot runs etc. We've had it since June of 2021 and its served us well as a replacement for her GLC. My wife really liked the mild-hybrid system of my old CLS so she wanted the 450's Inline-6 engine which is buttery smooth. The interior is one of the biggest reasons we went for it, modern looks, fantastic ambient lighting, and cavernous space, the rear legroom especially is huge for the class, bigger than the E-Wagon and both X5 and X7 by quite a bit. And on top of that, when she saw the paint job of this car in the showroom (Emerald Green Metallic) she couldn't say no.

Attachment 2821678
The legroom versus the wagon is interesting. I was messing around looking at Benz models today. Coincidentally, I think the GLE 450 would be my choice if I was going back to an SUV. My wife had a Lexus GX and it's a hell of a vehicle but their technology and options are incredibly basic compared to the Germans. When you get smaller than a full size, I don't like any of the US mid size SUV options much. I LOVE my 540 and I'd definitely be biased to an X5 for that reason, but that GLE is really eye catching in and out.

And I love the green. Fantastic.
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      02-25-2022, 09:36 PM   #44
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The legroom versus the wagon is interesting. I was messing around looking at Benz models today. Coincidentally, I think the GLE 450 would be my choice if I was going back to an SUV. My wife had a Lexus GX and it's a hell of a vehicle but their technology and options are incredibly basic compared to the Germans. When you get smaller than a full size, I don't like any of the US mid size SUV options much. I LOVE my 540 and I'd definitely be biased to an X5 for that reason, but that GLE is really eye catching in and out.

And I love the green. Fantastic.
Can't go wrong with either X5 or GLE, both great SUV's. We looked at the Bimmer before going with the GLE and also found a lot of positives for it. Definitely the sportier of the two (not surprisingly) and they've recently added similar mild-hybrid technology that wasn't there when we looked before. In the end, wife wanted bigger back seats (X5 and GLC have same rear legroom) and she didn't care for the design as she isn't a fan of BMW's new grills and overall design language after the more traditional F-Generation vehicles. That being said, a look at the iX or new M3/4 might make her think the X5 has small grills
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