Redesigning a luxury car is no easy task for any automaker. On the one hand, a redesign must not be too radical and extreme, risking the loss of loyal buyers, many of whom have more conservative tastes. Yet on the other hand, a redesign must not be too evolutionary and restrained, because this too might risk the loss of buyers who find it not different and exciting enough. It’s a fine line to walk and it seems that in every case, the automaker is subject to criticism.
Historically, updates of luxury cars tended to skew far more towards the evolutionary, conservative approach. The last two decades or so, however have seen luxury automakers take more risks with bolder, more extreme redesigns and new models. Some of them, such as the 2002 E65 BMW 7 Series and 2009 Acura TL, faced backlash and criticism from the start.
Other cars, such as the 1998 Lexus GS and 2003 Cadillac CTS, to name a few, were warmly received upon introduction, but simply haven’t stood up the test of time. Conservative approaches, such as the 2006 Infiniti M and 2010 Audi A8, simply look far more outdated than they really are in 2017.
Yet through all the various industry design trends of the past two decades, there is one luxury car that stands out in my mind as the most timeless design that has stood the test of time: the 1997-2003 BMW E39 5 Series.
Yes, I know I may be biased, but this has been a car I’ve been in love with since it debuted twenty years go now, and one that I love just as much if not more today. It’s design was hardly earth-shattering at the time, drawing influence from its big brother E38 7 Series, but there was something about its updated take on the traditional BMW styling cues, sleek but inoffensive lines, and size that was and still is very perfect.
Add in its low belt lines, naturally-aspirated I6 and V8 engine choices, the availability of a 5- and 6-speed manual, and the absence of overly-assisted electric steering, and the E39 would make a great daily driver today, provided you find one that’s been maintained, and you or your mechanic is familiar with their often sensitive control modules.
This isn’t to say that other luxury cars of the past 20 years haven’t aged gracefully, with the 1999 Mercedes-Benz W220 S-Class coming in a close second on my list. If you had to pick a luxury car released within the past two decades that has aged well, what would it be? The E39 or something else? Bonus QOTD: What luxury car of the past twenty years would you say has aged most poorly?
Mercedes-Benz W124.
And most poorly: W210!
W124 doesn’t really qualify.
I agree on the E39.
If not for the highly questionable build quality of W220, it looks rather nice itself, but those cars don’t hold up at all ( the exact opposite of the older Mercedes ) the Chair of my engineering department has a daily W220 AMG and he takes the car to body shop for rust repairs in the last three years faithfully.
A Mercedes in the same parking lot from the earlier era is for reference. The W220 has only 1/3 the rust.
I need more coffee. I misread you that he took the car to the body shop daily for rust repairs!
Wow that would have been scrapped by now over here the cost of repairs would easily exceed its value.
I would offer the similar-vintage E38 7-series, specifically the 1998-2001 740i Sport model. Though the platform was introduced in 1994 (thereby technically more than 20 years ago), it was revised in 1998, when BMW introduced the sport package — so it (sort of) meets the criteria.
My other nominations include the 2004-2008 Acura TL, and the somewhat controversial 1st-gen (2003-2004) Infiniti M45 — their clean lines are much more graceful than the somewhat aggressive styling that has become the norm in many car design circles.
The W210 E-Class would also be my pick for aging most poorly.
+1 for the 1998 7 series sport package. One of the most beautiful cars in my eyes. Oh if they weren’t so expensive to maintain and keep running! I will want one forever but probably will never buy one because I won’t be able to afford to keep it on the road.
I own a 99 E38, and dont find it expensive at all to keep on the road. of course, i do all of my own work, so im only paying for parts, not labor.
i do think it is the winner for best luxury design. it was a dream car for me since they were introduced.
luckily for me, the resale on flagship luxury cars is only about 5% of original sale price. thats the only reason i have one now, as well as a w126 S class.
I agree with the E38 and ’04-’08 TL (I may be biased, since I own one of the latter!)
Beautiful. The E38 may not look like a modern car, but that just shows where modern car design has gone wrong. It looks cohesive, a bit understated, and definitely says Prestige.
That’s my favorite BMW of my lifetime, what a beauty!
The E38 is pretty sharp. Shame it’s successors had to go and muck it up.
Here’s my post. E38 Sport package. This is the most beautiful, and most timeless. Love this.
I still like the looks of the Alfa Romeo 166, an E-segment car, like the BMW 5-series. But only the final edition (picture below), that’s after its facelift. The original had those stupid ugly little headlights.
Most poorly, and another E-segment model, the Peugeot 607. With its sagging front and rear.
Yikes. That reminds me of a second-generation Chrysler LHS, which is not a good thing.
607 looks like 2003 Honda Accord Sedan
2X166.
I agree with you on the E39. Proportion, size, character lines, wheels all form a timeless unit.
I feel similar about the Lincoln LS. My eye is trained to take note of them in traffic. It’s not surprising though as the E39 (I think) was the one they set their eyes on.
The Jaguar S-Type ranks on the low end for me. Something about the front fascia is askew. The X-type looks much sharper but still not quite able of winning this pageant.
I absolutely agree with you about the LS and S-Type. The LS, at least the facelifted ’03-06 editions, is extremely well-proportioned and its detailing is subtle yet elegant. The ’05-06 Sport models are just beautiful.
The S-Type? The R kind of gets a pass, but even still… overly retro styling, not athletic looking at all, and just really over-the-top. Even the Rover 75 did retro English chic better. The X-Type is a bit more modern overall so I agree, it gets a pass.
I’m enormously biased having had three E39s, but yeah, I think it is timeless. I also liked its predecessor, the E34, which I think has also held up well.
The E39’s successor, however, is another story–I didn’t like the E60 when it debuted (which is why we scrambled to get one of the last 2003 E39s) and I don’t think it has aged well at all.
Not good front or rear.
The E60 looks like a Pontiac and that’s not a good thing.
Cannot agree about the E60. It looked terrible when new and still looks terrible, so it hasn’t actually aged badly….
I’m strongly biased, but I do think that the Jaguar XJ series from 1994 all the way through 2008 have aged very well. The design was derivative to begin with, but bringing back the round headlamps with corresponding hood bulges after the XJ40 had eliminated them, and sculpting the rear end to evoke classic XJ lines were brilliant strokes. It’s still not easy to tell a 2006 XJ from a ’96 XJ without looking fairly closely, but they both still look fresh while still looking like heritage Jaguars as well.
Conversely, as has been stated above, a similar approach taken by Mercedes with the W210 has not aged well at all, and actually started looking dated even before its run was complete, IMO.
My thoughts exactly on th XJ. The design penned by Sir William Lyons is timeless.
This body design ran from the six cylinder 1995-97 and the V8 1998-2002. Many fans think that it is the most beautiful modern Jaguar design. I do, but I’m biased.
Trying to post a photo.
Agreed on the Jaguars. The XJ was and remains an absolute masterwork design. That design was so good they were able to use it on the X-Type nearly unchanged and get a beautiful result. The complements I get on the X-Type shock me! I had a Fiesta ST before it, and that got complements from people that were enthusiasts and knew what the Fiesta ST was. The X-Type gets complements from people that think it’s way newer and way more expensive than it was.
Worst offender-Mercedes. I won’t bother to specify, because they were all terrible for awhile. The 1999 S-Class looked like something from 1989. The E-Class looked like a really bad knockoff of the Jaguar XJ from the front. The M-Class looked like someone left it out in the sun to melt. The SLK managed to be both generic *and* offensive at the same time-I don’t know to this day how they managed that, and yet calling up images on Google to make sure I was thinking of the right car shocked me all over again.
This is truly spiritual replacement of Benz W124, it probably handles better and mre pleasure to drive. The shape and interior of W124 are better, too bad BMW did not go aftward the excellent design of its own E28
I drive an E39 touring, like the wagon pictured here, nearly every day. Nobody but a BMW fan knows the car is 17 years old.
The E39 more oriented toward solidity and luxury than the first 2 generations of 5-series (I don’t know much about the third, E34 generation). But it’s a pleasure to drive it, in 6-cylinder form. I’d like to try the M5, probably a wilder pleasure.
My vote for what aged poorly, and required a radical change in direction, is the Mercedes E-class of the W210 and W211 generation, ie, 1996-2009. The newer ones look better because they look more like… Cadillac Art and Science!
I really like the 7th gen Honda Accord (Euro/Japan version, not the North American one). They seem to age well.
That Infiniti in the photo looks like a bloated Hyundai Accent from the front, Brendan. Not a winner all these years later.
2000 era Cadillac DeVille, while conservative, is still just a half hearted attempt to modernize traditional Cadillac themes.
It’s consistent though: still as bland and lacking in presence as it did 17 years ago.
Art and Science CTS of the early 00s as well. Having both in the showroom must have been confusing for the buyer at the time. One the poster child for phoning it in, and the other for trying too hard to be relevant.
Neither has aged well. Or am I out in left field for suggesting Cadillac as a luxury car on the level of BMW & Mercedes?
While the 2005-2008 Acura RL might be a little plain-looking and a little too close to an Accord in style, I think the lines have held up over the years. Decent amount of glass, clean lines, and no beak.
Funny, I got passed by an RL today while I was on my bike and it struck me as bloated and old it looked, though ultimately in a benign way. Nice technical spec though, with SH AWD. My vote for best-looking over this period is the E38 7-series. Unlike Brendan, I think most Audis pre-huge-chrome-grill have aged fairly well also, especially the A8.
Brendan took the low-hanging fruit with the E39 5-series, and The Professor followed suit with its E38 7-series contemporary. Jaguar XJ is also a good choice.
I’ll nominate what I consider to be a timeless Japanese design- the last iteration of the Lexus LS400 (’97-2000). I’ll take mine in rootbeer brown.
I’ll heartily agree with the LS, though the E39 and XJs are beautiful as well. No bad choices there.
Worst? For me it’s the CTS coupe, though no offense to those who like them. The tiny windows, slab sides, and bulging rear just leave me cold. Any Bangle-era BMW other than the 6-series isn ‘t far behind, however.
I was in Tokyo at the time of the release of the CTS. For some unknowable reason, GM had one on display on a raised platform (dreams of finally having a car that would crack the Japanese market??) and I happened to stumble upon it. Being a car guy, I was quite eager to take a look at the car I had heard so much about. I was very disappointed; the silver plastic slat grill looked particularly cheap and had no place on a luxury car, and the rest of the car had a very ‘okii oshiri’ (fat-assed) look to it. The later cars with the nicer grill and revised detailing on the trunk look much better, but the car will never be a beauty, in my book at least.
The original CTS grill looked like it’s production was subcontracted to Rubbermaid.
I never liked the CTS coupe either, to me it looks like an edgy take on the Ford Pinto, but frankly less attractive. The stubby Audi TT imitator look has left me cold with most modern 2 doors.
I like it but I don’t love it. It has aged the worst of the second-gen body styles and it is the porkiest looking.
I’d say the 1998-2004 Audi A6 sedans
W220 makes my worst aged list, boring amorphous blob styling with the worst case of headlight cataracts of the era – not strictly aging badly by design, but they truly age BAD. I also disagree about the 98 Lexus GS, it’s the only memorable design to grace the badge. BMW I agree wholeheartedly, but I’d throw a dart at any immediate pre-bangled BMW and say that, BMW reached their stylistic pinnacle before hiring that hack.
My vote though is the 03 Infiniti M45. Gorgeous design, completely flew under the radar when new but looks timeless. I’d also say, since Infinity is on my mind the G35/37 coupes are aging quite gracefully, not so much the sedans though. 2005 Acura TL too, don’t let it’s hideous successor cloud the attractiveness of that design
I 100% agree with the E38 and ’04-’08 Acura TL that others have mentioned; I’ll add the 2005-2016 Land Rover LR3 and LR4. Although the mechanicals were questionable, I feel they did a great job keeping the “classic” Land Rover shape while making it look completely different from the old Discovery.
Concur on the E39. It’s also about the only car series out there in which the wagon looks better than the sedan.
Agreed Brendan. E39 and first-gen X5 have both aged most gracefully. I have a particular fixation with the Touring – trying to capture as many colour variations in camera as I can. I also think the original Audi TT still has something.
Most poorly? Rolls Seraph and sibling.
I agree with the original TT and the E39 5-Series; however the E53 X5 looks pretty bad these days. It’s very slab sided, and the crease is so severe that it looks like the top of the car is trying to slide off of the bottom.
The E70 X5 (2007-2013) is the best of that nameplate, IMO, but I could be biased because I owned one.
I respectfully disagree Kyree. Where I live I am surrounded by brand new AMG G-wagens, Cayennes, Macans, Range Rovers of all ilk, X6 and other Xcetera, and increasingly Bentayga and the new Jag SUV. I find the majority of them more than disappointing.
There are a surprising number of late model Land Rover Defenders all kitted out by their wealthy owners that still catch my eye, but my heart is held by the metallic mint green (for want of a better descriptor) E53 X5 parked around the corner. Nothing in that format matches it except the original 2 door Range Rover – which I suspect was major influence on that side crease as well its general shaping (albeit softened).
I too am biased, but what the hey. We get a lively, courteous and highly-informed discussion thanks to this great site.
I personally think the Seraph got the styling spot on for a modernization of Rolls themes. It is the only thing it got right. That BMW engine and electronics ruin it.
Sorry Gml, I’m not feeling it. I consider the 1991 Continental R and the present Ghost to be the only truly attractive shapes from either brand since the Shadow and its derivatives.
I don’t think you are biased Brendan, as I truthfully am not a BMW person and agree with your choice. I find in general, if it has been well maintained, I will usually be suprised at the age of some of the Bimmers I see out there.
As much as it pains me since I have been a lifelong Caddy Boy, most of the Devilles the last decade or so just haven’t held up like the Caddies of old, both in timelessness and in actual reliability.
I too love that generation of 5 Series, especially the 2001(?) refresh. I agree the 98-05 GS has not aged well and I cannot tell a late production apart from an early model. The 98-2000 LS400 is gorgeous on the other hand.
I also think the 94-95 Legend rates honorable mention as well!
Agree wholeheartedly re: the E39. Although the E60 has grown on me, I can’t call it a timeless design.
My list:
-04-08 TL
-Alfa 159
-first and second-gen Infiniti FX/QX70
-The pre-facelift W212 E-Class with the angular lines
-Pre-facelift Mercedes GLK
-BMW 6-Series, both recent generations. I was admiring a Bangle Butt one just last night.
159 +1
Love the E39. Don’t like the Bangle butt successor like the E60 which are off putting.
The 3-series contemporary of the E39 is the E46 which has also aged well (and its successor compares poorly too).
The Saab 9000CD, with its high trunk lid, straight lines, and relatively compact dimensions still looks handsome to me.
I feel that our 2002 Volvo V70 has aged very gracefully. Excellent sight lines, classic styling, and real life utility. Plus it is simple enough I can work on it myself, not that I have really had to.
Best or worst is such a personal thing I won’t debate it.
I will concede those years of BMW look good. However my understanding is that they are a money pit waiting to happen and that their suspensions are very fragile, so I would not consider one personally.
I think the ugliest beast of the last 20 years is the QX90. WHAT WERE THEY SMOKING!!!!
I think the 92-96 and 97-2001 Lexus ES has aged gracefully. They were attractive cars then and still are attractive. The 90-94 and 95-2000 Lexus LS also look sharp.
The Volvo 850 and its successor S/V70 look good still
The Lincoln Mark VIII also looks good
No votes for the 1971-76 Cadillac Eldorado? I’m shocked.
I do like the E39 Bimmer, as do many of you. The Alfa 164 is another timeless piece.
“Past two decades”
The Eldo is very much of its’ time, an attractive car but unmistakably a ’70s one.
On the subject of vehicles outside the scope of the main question – it’s not a luxury car but I think the ’03-08 Pontiac Vibe still looks modern, with the matte gray trim it has the small-CUV look that’s selling like warm bread now and would only need a few style tweaks (deleted side moldings, new taillights) to pass for a 2017 car.
I think that the 1992 Seville and Eldorado are worthy of consideration as they were in production into the early 2000’s. Even knowing that the Northstar engine is trouble, people still buy them hoping for the best.
Alas, all of these vehicles mentioned (except the Jags) are rather bland beasts. Dilutes the reason for luxury if you can’t tell them from everything else on the road.
They may be bland, but I appreciate their simple lines and clean designs – and that is also what makes them age so well. Trying to stand out is one of the big problems with today’s designs. You end up with an awkward, overstyled mess that still doesn’t stand out because everyone else is doing the same thing. Time will tell in the end, but I don’t see many of today’s designs aging well.
Scirocco Mk1
The E39 is a body style that definitely aged well. We’ve had two 03 530i models. The first was a Sandy coloured, well maintained two-owner car that my wife loved. Did she feel sick when it was written off after a collision in November, 2013. So we both felt another had to replace it as the 530i was great on gas, the straight six had PLENTY of power to spare even when cruising at 120 kmph. A great highway cruiser with superb ride comfort and great handling. The second 530i had the M Sport package with a slightly lowered suspension but was not that well cared for which in turn meant expensive repairs. Niggling issues with sensors, plug coils and a couple more led to us trade it in on a nice Fusion.
I want to say I’m done with German cars now. But still admire BMW models from the mid eighties. No way I’d buy any of their cars now unless I won a lottery. And I would certainly trade it off once the warranty ran out.
Best: 94-02 Audi A8 , 03-09 XJ X350 then BMW E38 7 Series in that order
Worst: So many candidates…so little time…
Did the XJ change at all since the Mark II was discontinued until ’09? The most avantgarde move during that span was the XJ40 and let’s be honest, if that is too out there, you’re scared of change.
Agree about the E39 – still catches my eye. What struck me about mine was how petite a relatively large car in Europe looked in the USA – a mine always looked narrower and lower than Corrolas parked next to it. Lovely ride/handling compromise and smooth straight six – my 2003 530i M Sport with 130,000 miles drove far better than a brand new 2014 Mercedes E350 our company had….
This is tough, because I feel like most luxury cars haven’t aged that well. Even the ones that I like, I’ll admit, don’t hold up several years on.
I guess my choices would be the 2006-2012 Lexus LS series, which I think is very attractive in a conservative and buttoned down sort of way. The 2008 facelift R230 SL, which I think makes the design much more coherent and manages to be one of the few post W140 Mercedes I like.
Also, I know this may seem odd, but surprisingly enough, the second generation Lincoln Navigator that was from 03-06. Compared to many Luxury SUVs, both back then and now, the Navigator’s design seems very quaint. But, I think it actually has managed to age well, which is something I can’t say for most of it’s competitors.
That’s not odd at all. That was a really handsome generation of Nav. The contemporary Aviator, too, was handsome although it was let down by overly large taillights.
They have aged very well and even their interior design is attractive today, but for the abundance of silver painted plastic trim.
Brendan, am in 100% agreement with you regarding the outstanding E39 BMW. I liked them very much when new and I still like them today. I know somebody who got a new 2003 model, which I’ve ridden in more than a few times. Even got to drive it ever so briefly. Both inside and out, BMW seemed to have gotten everything just right.
Many times I’ve thought I’d sure like to own a clean, well-kept one. With all the maintenance up to date. But, I know I’d likely need an affordable and well-skilled BMW mechanic that had a shop nearby. And, plenty of money in the bank for when the unexpected happens.
I guess you can say any iteration of the Audi A4 has aged best since no car I can think of has changed so little across generations. Redesigning A4s cannot be more than a part-time position.
Remember the Jaguar S Type? It came out as a retro Mark II, but it never really pulled it off and today it just reminds me of Droopy. Without checking, that car must be just around exactly 20 years old and has aged horribly.
I’m already tired of the Tesla Model S. It’s a car built by tech people, not car people, and it looks like it. Few cars invoke so little “want” in me, and yet I’m of course very impressed with it.
Any over-the-top Rolls Royce will age poorly. When you design cars so specifically for the Kardashians, you must be prepared to go out of style once they do. Which really should be any day now. Right? Right?
So many comment yet no mention of Maserati’s Quatroporte?
Oh, and if reliability were a factor than surely any Lexus wins, hands down.
I never found the Quatroporte attractive personally. It looks like a tarted up first generation Chrysler LHS.
Regarding the E39: I have always liked it, but today it no longer looks as fresh. Compare it to the E34. The E34 looks like a younger, more fit version of the same car and its just hard not to see it in that context. In fact, I’m even tempted to think that the E34 ages better than the W124.
Reading the comments raises the question what the definition is of a “luxury car”. Given Brendan’s article and his examples in the pictures those are E-segment (executive cars) sedans and wagons and F-segment (top segment) sedans. There are no F-segment wagons, BTW.
And I agree, you have to draw the arbitrary line somewhere.
So, for example, the Alfa Romeo 159 and Honda Accord don’t qualify, since these are in the lower D-segment. And a Benz W124 doesn’t qualify either, since it’s a pre-1997 car (“past two decades” was the question).
Simple,
– Italian
– Giorgiaro
– Best Alfa Romeo ever.
But it’s not a luxury car – I would say the 166 is more appropriate.
Ok, this one then, it was not a success, it was too big for me but man oh man, nothing drives like the BIG Citroën :
The William Lyons inspired Jaguar XJ 308, in my mind, has had timeless, graceful lines, then, when in production from 1997 to 2003, till now with unbelievable for a Jaguar, Lexus like reliability. A definite stylistic winner. As the saying goes, “Grace with Pace”.
The Series 1 Lexus LS400, like this 1992 Taupe color LS400 pictured, had very clean, unadorned styling that still looks, in my opinion, attractive today.
Agree!
Mercedes-Benz pillarless hardtop coupe. Eithe CLK or C-Class, I believe. Not sure of the model(s), but swooning over the obvious feature!
By the way, regarding BMW, what, exactly, is a “Bangle butt”? What BMW models do I compare to see the difference?
You can tell I’m not a BMW fan, but I’m curious.
This is a typical Bangle butt (7-series). The trunk design is the butt-part, Chris Bangle was BMW’s head honcho designer back then.
The current 7-series:
Photos don’t do it justice. You have to see it in the metal. It really looks like the lid on a toilette seat. Yet it got copied and copied…..
It’s all in the badge. BMW was at it’s zenith in both product and public appeal by the time Chris bangle was hired, BMW could have hired the designers of the Pontiac Aztec (appropriately the headlights actually kind of resemble the E65) and the industry would have eaten it up that design language just the same.
Europe – CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake
USA – Chrysler 300 SRT, Mercury Marauder, Gen 1 Yukon Denali
Asia – Lexus LS 430, Gen 1 Acura NSX, Gen 2 Infiniti Q45
Are two-door cars allowed?
One thing that struck me after reading this article is that the first-generation Cadillac CTS has virtually disappeared from the roads around here.
Wow…what a great topic of discussion. Thanks for another awesome post, Brendan!
In ascending order, my favorites are:
The Saab 9000CD – There’s just something I find handsome about the design of this car, especially with the dedicated trunk versus the hatchback. It’s sort of upright and formal, but just rounded enough to be the bigger, better-dressed sibling to the 900 Series. And I still love the interior to this day. Man I miss Saab…
BMW E39 5-Series – While the E28 version still remains my favorite, the E39 is still a looker. It’s just difficult to find any in great shape anymore (at least here in Florida). I do think, however, their curb appeal depended greatly on their wheel / tire package. To be a real stunner, they had to have the wheels from the M or V-8 versions. They could look somewhat dowdy otherwise.
Acura TL (2004-2008) – Having owned an ’05 and an ’08, I can tell you Honda / Acura knocked it out of the park with these cars. To me, they looked more formidable than the German competition at the time, and still look very modern today. Value was another strong point. In size, they actually split the difference between the 3- and 5-Series cars of the day. As a current BMW 4-series owner, it takes a lot for me to give these the higher praise! These cars were so fundamentally “right”. The only improvement would have been to make them RWD. In fact, of they were, I’d still have one. These are what the Lincoln LS arguably should have been.
Just my two cents.
From a different perspective: Think American!
This slippery body only gets better and better looking as various new pretenders emerge. A resemblance to an early 1960’s Jaguar saloon has been noticed by many of us. It proven mechanicals make it drive today just as good/better than some new cars.
I submit, for your approval, the Lincoln Town Car.
First gen Volvo S80. Too bad it took so long for people to see how timeless it looks.
My Mom has a Cashmere Beige 1998 528i that just hit 80k miles. She absolutely loves that car, and says all the time that she would have probably traded it in for a newer one if it looked outdated, but she still loves the styling of her ’98! And she is right. For a 20-year-old design, it still looks fresh. The repairs have been few and far between over the years, and it still rides and drives like a dream. Overall one of the best cars I can recall. Even the BMW dealership and several mechanics have told us that it was one of the best BMW’s ever built.
I’d go with
1. W124
2. 2004-2008 Acura TL
3. 2008 Land Cruiser
Totally agree on the E39, having 2 in the family now. I’d only add that the M-Tech bumpers and wheels add a bit more harmony and modernity (for the lack of a better word). Ours are both 530, one Auto and one manual. Colors are the same, making it a funny twins show when my wife and I take them both out.
On other aged-well entries, I’d mention BMW E46, MB W129 (SL), Acura TSX/Honda Accord (04-08), SAAB 9-5 (02-05 Aero, the Wagon especially so), Citroen Xantia and Alfa Romeo 156 Touring/Wagon).
Here’s the pic of the wife’s Fiver.
Got roped in here on a old Winnebago Brave link and because I have 2 E-39’s ended up here. I agree on the timeless thing, I work as an Industrial designer and always like the look of these cars. I commute in a ’03 530 sedan I got with 45K on (now has 250) no big repairs, I meticulously maintain it myself. I would call myself an experienced amateur mechanic, (Alfa’s, Internationals, Fords, Toyota, Chrysler, BMW, VW) and was surprised how easy working on the e-39 was, complete cooling system re-build (Rad, Pump, thermo, hoses, tanks sensors) cost 300$ parts and 3.5 hrs of my time. Love the snap-in hoses, o-rings instead of gaskets and goop, etc…I still get over 30MPG on the highway with that 3.0. Have to run windows XP to run the diagnostic software though. It’s funny, a few innovations that I think first appeared on a production US car started on the 03 E-39, those angel eye headlight thingys you see everyone doing now and LED tail lights were stock in 2003. And I agree the Touring wagon was one of the best styled wagons ever, always wanted one, so when my sweeties MB 300 Turbo got over 500KM we found a Black 03 525IT in amazing shape. Definitely like the 3.0 with manual in the sedan more, but hey, maybe some day a swap? Apparently Consumer Reports gave the 03 530i their highest rating ever that year. Recently a kid T-boned the front and I thought it would be a goner given front suspension damage and the age and milage. Got a call from the insurance guy and he said he’d couldn’t believe how good a shape the car was and they ended up repairing it! Mine’s just like the cover photo but with the sunny clime. tint and stuff. Lucked out.