I thought you were ditching the Vossens? What're your thoughts on the E60 vs. E39?
You'd be the ideal person to buy a car from!
Thanks! Hopefully the future owner of this grey wagon feel similarly!
Vossens will be removed but I am waiting for the Style 37s to be refinished so that those can do on the E39 and then the Style 167s will get some minor curb rash addressed before going on the grey E61.
The E6X vs E39 debate is interesting. I like them both but based off my experience the E39 has a better exterior design be default and the E6X really needs some choice mods to transform it from ugly to aggressive, E39s just look good and look better with mods. Interior wise both cabins are classic IMO although both are best without navigation (no iDrive delete option AFAIK on E6X). Given I am 6'8" I really appreciate the extra room in the E61. E61 has better wagon proportions than the E39, E39 is a bit too rear heavy where the E61 is more athletic with the raising doo line and slightly angled rear glass.
Capability and function go to the E6X since it can be had in AWD but it's worth noting the relatively bullet proof reliability and the "barely adequate" power offered by the M54B30, that motor is an E39 makes for probably one of the best all around BMW cars you can buy IMO.
Performance wise the tuning potential of the N54 is really appealing, especially in the larger E6X chassis since the motor can make enough power to transform the ~4,000lb cars into rockets. Also the larger size really helps traction. I see all these E8X and E9X cars running monster sticky rubber out back just to hook at modest power levels. Aside from 1st which has boost limited my E61 barely chirps the tires at WOT and this is with modest 275/35 Hankook V12s and an M5 LSD which helps grip but also gives me REALLY short gears. Where added weight is never ideal for all out performance it's does help to put the power down in my case.
Dynamically both cars become sharper with chassis and suspension upgrades, I feel like the E6X have more to gain in this regard and if the mods are chosen correctly rather benign E6Xs start to become M5s in driving grip, handling, and power.
The performance ceiling for the E39 is much lower and you have to throw some serious coin at them to make power that an N54 car can make when it sneezes. My old E39 M5 was FBO with intake, underdrive pulleys, headers, race cats, full exhaust, custom tune and made ~380whp. You can get an N54 well above that with what one would have spent on long tube E39 headers. Different strokes for different folks I suppose.
The E39 540i and M5 offer a beautiful soundtrack that is ALWAYS appreciated. The M62/S62 soundtrack is an excellent example of a V8 soundtrack, to me it sound very American in it's rumble with a little bit of Euro flair which is a huge compliment. The noise really adds to the experience and in a 6MT car with some choice mods it is satisfying on many levels. When I had my M5 I knew it wasn't terribly fast (relative to my friend's FBO GTR) but you don't care since it's so much fun to drive. In contrast the N54 E6X cars give you the speed but really need carefully chosen mods to transform it from a fast car into a fast car that is attacks the senses, my white E61 is now at that level where it just makes you smile with all the turbos noises and the pleasant/unfiltered exhaust track which is accompanied by the g forces.
It is nice and not particularly surprising to see E39 prices start to go up on more desirable models, it's a very appealing BMW chassis and should be celebrated. E6X cars are getting cheap, very cheap, and when you see an N54 powered AWD E61 wagon sell for under $10,000; that's a TON of car for the money.
If I had to choose I would go for my E61 over other my old M5 or the current 540iT (although it's going to be SWEET with a manual). An E39 M5 Touring is appealing but talk about becoming common, everyone and their Mom's building or wanting to build one. An E38 with an S62 does sound pretty incredible but that is sedan only, if they made an E38 touring and I S62 swapped it then that would be a serious contender for my white E61, until then it's hard to think of a car I would rather have that can match the practicality, speed, and sensory stimulation.
