I have a 528xi, and I love it. Great car and great looking, too. I think BMWs are definitely the "coolest" of the German cars. My second choice on your list would be the E350.
Steve
girls cars, IMO. Car guys drive bmw Ms (M3, M5, M6) and AMG mercedes, or Audi S ( S4, S5, S6, S8) Who buys a german car and wants the cheapest engines they offer? People that just want to be seen in the body. Go big or go home
Nice thing is the bmws offer 4 years 0 maintenance. U basically only pay for tires. My 09 C63 AMG costs an arm and a leg to service. $220 for service A and starting at $500 for service B. Not to mention the rotors are $1000 a piece ... Better change those brembo brakes on time!!
Plus the BMW is alot more mod friendly, pulley package for $400, chip for $600. You add performqnce package on the benz cost me nearly $8000, sure its nearly got 500 hp after that up from 456, but the mods are too expensive. The bmw M5 will be the next car i own, v8 biturbo and mod friendly for dinan for more reasnable price.
Before this benz I had an Audi S4 which was a champ in the snow, this benz want a dry autobahn it seems. Staggered tires n all that.
Now that my elitist car rant is over, steve next time you gdt a beamer cough up a little more money ans get something with the 3.0 6cyl biturbo they offer, like 335 or 535, you will have a blend of performance and affordability, as the cars I named are a little pricey for most. But 528, that is a puny engine for that big of car.