Any how, “needs” was your term, not mine.. beg your pardon if I’m reading you wrong.

There is no way I am putting any bicycle in the back of any car, that is what racks are for. I happen to pedal a Maverick mountain bike and it gets muddy if I am riding it like I should.

I think it goes with out saying that I want to go fast as I eliminated the 128i and 328i from my choices, not what I needed to fulfill my wants. Heck if we all bought cars that only fulfilled needs we would all have Smart cars and what fun would that be!

As I said I wanted to like the Clubman but I couldn’t; even in JCW guise. If I am not going to like that how am I going to like the S? It is just not my cup of tea, the rear doors really agitated me as overly gimmicky, they could have upgraded the suspension or put on an aero kit for the same amount of money those doors cost to engineer and build.

Sorry, I have a friend that is an engineer, supposedly very rational, but comes up with all manner of rationalization to make getting what he really wants sound like it was a logical decision. You’re giving me the same vibe.

I think Gabe may be looking for a different sort of car than I am…. but thanks for the heads up! Also, when looking at E39 ///M cars be sure to have an independent mechanic that specializes in these cars take a look and listen to the car, that engine while great was very particular and needed to be seated properly (even more so than todays engines).

There are some low mile E39 M5′s out there compared priced like a fully loaded 335. I was just looking at a 2002 w/20K miles in Seattle for $35K. Car was like new. Unfortunately it was sold. Just a thought.

If I was going the MINI route I was getting a JCW. I have already owned an MCS and while it was a fine car adding the extra weight associated with the Clubman I felt the JCW was a better overall product to fit my needs. I was not overly enamored with the Clubman to begin with so the JCW was the only sell for me. It is a nice car but I felt myself wanting to like it and still it just never grew on me.

While I had not officially ruled out ///M cars during my initial search they were on the high end of my budget.

Your guess was spot on about the North East, I live on the NY/CT border. Having had several RWD and AWD vehicles I can say that either (with appropriate tires) serve my needs well. I have already made my selection and the vehicle is in the garage; I think it will surprise a few people and that is why I wanted to re-trace “the process”.

I am not a fan of the xDrive nomenclature as well BUT there is a reason. Even though we don’t want to hear it it is b/c BMW has sold the most AWD vehicles over the past several years and yet consumers are not aligned with the xDrive name b/c the cars have been XI and the SAVs X#. So in the end it is marketing and the remainder is due to the US not wanting engine displacement in the name of vehicles.

I’d suggest scratching the 550i and consider adding the 535i xDrive, 335i xDrive or X6 xDrive35i to your list potential purchases.

On a personal note…I really hate the new “xDrive” nomenclature.