Faults:

The air-con resistor control went, making the air-con fan speed fluctuate wildly.

The rear anti-roll bar linkages required replacement.

The front thrust arm bushes required replacement.

General Comments:

This is the best car I have owned, seemingly achieving the impossible. I have had the performance map applied to my car giving me 235bhp, but this figure is misleading, it feels more like 300.

The reason being the 400ft/lb or torque the car now produces. Don't believe anyone who says that BHP is all that matters, the shove this car has from any speed is verging on the ridiculous, very little can keep up in the real world.

Yet still it's the most comfortable and economical car I have owned. If I leave the cruise control on at a steady 80mph, it gets 42mpg, and at 70 it's nearer 45mpg.

I got my car fairly cheap because it needed a few bits doing, but I would say to anyone considering getting one to do it now. And get it remapped by someone reputable, because it totally transforms the whole car, making it so much more driveable as well as powerful.

I timed it the other day, and it can accelerate at 5mph per second from any speed up to at least 140 with seemingly no drop off.

The seats are very comfortable, and the whole car has that "chiseled out of granite" feel about it.

This is an "E39" 5 Series, which is regarded as one of the nicest looking and most reliable BMW's ever made.

My car is the SE, not the Sport spec car, so the wheels are 16 inch and the interior is cloth not leather, however the taller tyres provide the best ride quality I have experienced while still being able to hold serious levels of cornering without drama. This is no wallowy cruiser, but it will drive forever in silence.

This is my first diesel from over 20 cars owned, and I can't see a way back; once you feel that wave of torque displace you along the road, it really makes no odds that it "only" revs to 5k not 6 or 7, such is the massive thrust, you want the gearbox to change before the redline to access the thrust again, the higher gear seemingly doing nothing to dilute the madness.

The engine only sounds "like a diesel" at idle, on full attack it sounds great, you can even hear the turbo working at times. When you are cruising at a steady speed, I swear to you it is virtually silent; you couldn't tell it was diesel.

I have had fast bikes and several hot hatches but I'm totally smitten by this car, its blend of comfort, economy and power are unassailable. I urge you drive a standard 190bhp/300ftlb, which will impress, but after a remap the 235/400 will blow you away I promise.

Faults:

Few minor sensors such as O2 sensors ($180 for both), camshaft position sensor ($70) and Final Stage Unit, a common one to die on these cars, but cheap and really easy to replace ($80).

And very randomly a Xenon bulb died (rare indeed as these last forever).

So as you can see, it's all minor sensors that even need costly trips to the dealer for service.

General Comments:

LOVE IT! Even after more than 1 year driving it, I still can't get enough. It corners better than most sports cars, despite being a 3500+ lbs sedan. Comfort and interior ergonomics are top notch.