BMW's sport sedan flagship has split into two distinct eras: the beloved and the bloated. The E39 remains the gold standard, timeless design, balanced performance, and a driving character that still feels modern decades later. The G30 (2017-2023) carried that legacy forward with handsome proportions, a brilliant B58 engine in the 540i, and the kind of daily-driver refinement that makes long commutes feel effortless. Then the 2024 G60 arrived, swollen to 7 Series dimensions with cost-cut interior plastics and awkward styling that owners say looks front-wheel-drive. Experts praise its tech and smoothness; enthusiasts mourn the loss of athletic soul. The smart play? A used G30 540i combines steep depreciation with genuine excellence, just budget for BMW maintenance costs that don't depreciate with the sticker price. Skip the current generation unless you prioritize tech over driving character and can stomach the design.
Standard AWD and a quiet, roomy cabin make this sedan a natural for snow-belt commuters who value traction over thrills. The 2010-2014 3.6R with its traditional automatic remains the enthusiast pick, real power, no CVT drama, but those are aging out fast. The 2015+ CVT models trade driving pleasure for efficiency and tech, and some owners report shuddering, solenoid replacements around 100k miles, and a generally uninspiring feel behind the wheel. If you need a midsize that handles winter without fuss and racks up miles quietly, it delivers. But driving enthusiasts should look elsewhere, and anyone buying used should know Subaru's discontinuing it after 2025, which may complicate long-term parts availability.