Finally I can read the review, thanks heaps mate, it was excellent, and you have raised a few interesting points.

I haven't been inside a FL version of the 5 series but there is 1 thing I don't like about the i-Drive button in the pre FL version. The actual rotary control doesn't click into places when you rotate it, so I can't really feel if I have moved onto the next menu. Is it still the same with the FL version?

Almost every single Australian car mag or newspaper have criticized the variable ratio steering, and the bone breaking M sport suspension and wheels, so it is good to finally hear from an owner's perspective. How long did it take you to adapt to the variable ratio steering?

I agree with you about the E-class leather seats. It is probably one of the few things that could have been done better. The leather seats in the 5 series have beautifully done stitching, and the stitching follows the contour and the design of the seats, where else the stitching in the E-class appears to be a bit random. The slightly loose leather look in the 5 series does add to a sense of richness to the interior.

I think you can special order the chrome side window trims right? I have seen a M5 with them. Don’t trust your salesperson, they usually don’t know much.

The straight six engine sounds fantastic, I listened to one in the city a few days ago, if I didn’t turn around I wouldn’t have guessed it was from a 530i. Does the engine have a lot of low rpm torque or you have to rev it up a bit to get into the power range? Were you tempted to redline the engine and unleash the full 200kW, and what is the average fuel consumption like?

As for your wife, just imagine her reaction when you present her with the 650i.