7 to a 5 need your input.

Hello,

I think I am going to make the jump from my 7 series to a 5. I own and operate a small car dealer and have some interest in my 7, and afraid of the electrical issues with the 2002.

I am looking to get E60 body style.

1. I would like to know what model you guys recommend to be most reliable?

2. Is there certain years that have factory AUX input for music?

3. Can I hook an ipod kit up to any year without issues? I know my 02 7 series can not have blue tooth or ipod, unless I want to dump some money into those options.

4. Is 2006 a facelift for body and idrive like the 7 series?

5. Hooking an iphone to bluetooth easy? 06 7series was a breeeze.

6. You guys have no gallery for RIM options!?

I am hoping I will have less problems going to a 5 series with a inline 6 maybe.. not that I had any problems with my 7 yet, only had it a few months. Any other info would be great.

My current setup

Avoid the the 04-05 models. They were troublesome, at least the 545i was. As for everything else:

1. I have a 2006 550 and I've had no problems. Just an exploding coolant expansion tank which you'll run into sooner or later. The car has been trouble-free though.

2. You can get an adapter for iPod but they don't charge the iPhone... At least mine doesn't. I'm sure the newer ones do. Newer cars were fitted with auxiliary input as well.

3. Yes

4. No, 2008 is the facelift year. Headlights and tail lights were the biggest change. The halos in the headlights are brighter and the headlights got LED uppers with little glowing lines in the remainder. They look almost the same during the day so unless you know what you're looking for you won't spot a facelift model as being obviously different. The interior is also slightly changed (door panels, button area on the center stack).

5. Yes