[Obioban]

6 cylinder e39s are rack and pinion. V8 e39s had the crappy steering, though if you're coming from a modern EPS BMW (instead of a R&P BMW), even the V8 e39 steering feels pretty great.

IMO the e39 530i, with manual trans, is the best overall car BMW ever made... and maybe the best car ever made.

Sporty enough to be fun. Comfortable and practical enough to drive 4 people across the country. Simple enough to be easy to work on. Efficient enough to not be annoying. Full size spare. Good steering feel. Good chassis feel. Good engine sound and dynamics. Reliable. Has a dip stick and drain plugs on the diff and trans. Clear, simple gauges. Barely (~125 lbs, keeping other specs the same) heavier than an e46, but with a significantly stiffer chassis. Physical controls. Everything not driving related automated, everything driving related not automated.

It's just good at everything, and at that perfect point in car tech where it's not annoying yet.