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I owned a 2010 535i wagon (N54 engine) and currently own a 2016 X3 35i (N55 engine). I prefer the higher seating position in the X3 over the 5 series. Both my wife and I find the X3 to be just as comfortable on long trips as my E61 535i wagon, even though my X3 has run flat tires and the 535i had conventional tires.
I had Nevada leather seats in the 535i and Dakota leather seats in the X3. The leather quality was comparable in my opinion. You might find a 5 series with higher grade Merino leather and multi-contour seats, which should be more comfortable but also may show more wear and be more costly to repair.
The non-turbo inline-6 N52 engine is likely the most durable. My experience with the N55 engine has been positive. The N20 inline-4 cylinder engine is less smooth and not much more fuel efficient. The technical director of BMW Car Club of America has stated he believes turbo 4 cylinders in general are prone to more problems at higher mileage than are 6 cylinder engines.
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