Qube, The advice about respraying is good advice.
You mention a few athor things about this one you didn't like either. wait for the car you really want. There are about a zillion E39s out there.
I agree with your driving impressions. Let me know what you think of visibility. This my biggest complaint on the E39. In the E34s I can adjust mirrors to see without the need to swivel my head for every manuever. In our E39 I can't. Forward vision is blocked by the giant airbag equipped A pillars. I'm never comfortable knowing my position in traffic with the E39.