Just need to say...

I still can't believe how much I love this car. I've been driving it for 4 years now and I like it more every year. Okay, yes, it has its downsides... it is thirsty, no doubt. It costs rather a lot to repair. (For example, the dealer charges $1,300 to - get this - replace the alternator. The factory radiator is so poorly made that it is considered (by owners, not by BMW) a wear part, like brake linings. The rear glass hatch struts cost $800 to replace because you have to drop 1/2 of the headliner to change them. And don't even ask about O2 sensors or catalytic converters.) It needs repair more frequently than a Honda or Toyota would. The ride is firmer than most people prefer. It is quite unkind to tires. It is a BMW, with all the reputation that implies. And it is a slushbox, alas, because Americans have proven too lazy to make it cost effective to import the six-speed here.

But man, is it ever an amazing car to drive. Tremendous amounts of torque available anywhere in the rev band. Startling, transitioning to just plain frightening acceleration. A top speed which is preposterous in the US, but which makes *relatively* high-speed cruising downright relaxing. I've cruised (on open highways, with miles of visibility and near as makes no odds zero traffic conditions) at 90mph and it's a very mellow experience.

And when you finally get it away from the light-to-light boulevards and off the highways, the most surprising characteristic of this machine is revealed. It feels - and I don't believe I'm exaggerating - almost as nimble as my old Mk II MR2 Turbo. Cornering is so poised and stable that even on unfamiliar roads you find you are not bothering to check the posted corner speed signs. You look ahead, point the car, and it goes. With all that torque, you can opt to be lazy and leave it one or two gears higher, yet still exit corners at speed. Or, you can use the power-band and launch into the next section of road. It's exhilarating, and the car's behavior on the backroads belies its size and, well, girth.

What makes this car so compelling to me is the dual-nature of its personality. The ride may be stiff but it's also supple. It goes like hell yet has the poise, cool, and quiet you'd expect in an executive sedan. It has lots of lovely, subtle touches that make me happy (like remote-window roll-down, the ability to program the fan to turn on at a specified time, turn-once start, auto-dimming mirror, heated seats, etc). The things inside it just work, without fuss. Compare that to my old MR2 Turbo. That was a great car - fast, precise, controlled, purposeful. But on a long highway cruise the ride made it uncomfortable. Seating positions were quite limited. It was loud inside. The interior controls worked well enough but felt plasticy and fragile. The sound system was very poor. It was twitchy. It was downright evil in snow and ice. Oh yeah, it also only had two seats. In other words, it was not an all-rounder (and that's okay, it was a brilliant car to own and drive and I still miss it). The 540iT is an all-rounder, an excellent one with lots of cargo space as a bonus.

Now, if you re-read the first paragraph above, you'll probably note that I have had this car in the shop on more than one occasion, and indeed I have.  When I do take it in, I get a loaner from the dealer. Their strategy is to give people a taste of the latest and greatest models so that when they get their old car back, they start to seriously consider replacing it with something newer, like the fancy car they were just driving. Over the past four years, my local guys have loaned me, in no particular order:

1) Couple of flavors of entry level 328 4-doors
2) Entry level 528i
3) 328iX wagon
4) 2011 535iX sedan (has a 300hp twin-turbo straight 6)
5) 2012 328iC with 92 miles (two door hard-top convertible)

They all had low miles (especially #5) and were in practically new condition. Each had its own cool-factors - the 328 wagon is a really well made and practical machine; the 528 was very quiet and had an enormous trunk; the 328iC roof is a marvel to behold; and the 535 was a truly blisteringly fast car. They had various excellent gadgetry like integrated BlueTooth (audio and headset), navigation, backup cameras, panoramic sunroofs, heated rear seats and steering wheels - cupholders for God's sake - which felt truly luxurious. All of them were very well behaved and drove marvelously. But each time I went to the dealer, turned in the loaner, and got back into my old wagon I breathed a sigh of relief. Imperfect it may be, but I wouldn't trade it for any of the loaners I've driven.

It is an amazingly satisfying car to own and drive.