I bought an 2008 528i a couple months ago.
Love it.
Why would you spend another 20 grand on a car that offers the same performance as a VW?
The thing with BMW, Mercedes, etc...is you're paying for the name, not the performance. Some of these cars perform well, but are just overpriced.
Or even get another car, then chip it. More performance, for half the price...all with good interior.
Much like anything, these cars rely on their brand name to warrant the price. German cars are well built, no questions on that.