BMW 5 SERIES 528i SE 4dr (1996)

One of the best cars I’ve ever come across, don’t know if I’ll find anything to match its unique qualities.

I had this many years ago before the other cars I’ve mentioned on here but it is one of my favourite and I remember it very fondly. I’m so keen in fact, I would still seriously consider getting another one.

Obviously, this model is a lot older now and by reading other reviews, it would appear that there are occasionally gearbox issues and a couple of electrical faults but it still looks like one of the soundest buys out there so I thought I’d share my experiences.

First of all, this is the first (and only) car I have ever owned with a telephone inside it. Not just a stand to put your mobile but an actual telephone with a sim card inside the centre armrest. The interior was by far the highlight of this car. Admittedly, it would look a little old fashion today but it still retains incredible quality and really looks the part. Perhaps the best part of the interior (besides the wooden veneer trim!) is that it is supremely comfortable to travel about in. There is so much room both up front and at the rear and it is so easy pass the time on a long journey just because its such a relaxed and easy place to spend time.

The cruising abilities were by far the best, you could do it in ultimate luxury and comfort. The performance was good but this was no racer. You must bear in mind that this is a huge car so don’t expect it to handle like a hot hatch. Despite this, it has got some go which is obviously very useful for the back-roads but as I’ve said, it isn’t a racer as such.

I don’t recall ever having a mechanical or electrical problem with the 5, which is good because if I did, recent reviews show that it would have been very expensive to put right. Regardless of this, the rest of the car was actually quite expensive to run. The economy was never great, the tax was high and the insurance nearly always broke the bank.

But despite all of these financial shortcomings, I truly loved this car, it was undoubtedly one of the best cars I have ever owned (even though I say that about all of them!). I think they still look good today and can compete against most of the rest of the German competitors and there are so many out there to choose from you’re bound to get a good price. I think I’ve almost persuaded myself to track down my old one and buy it back!