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I was going through a similar loop when I was looking for my next car a couple of years ago. Heart said 6 cylinder 5 series touring, maybe 4 - 6 years old.
Ended up buying a new Skoda Superb 220 (4 cylinder VAG TSi lump).
PCP over 4 years, full warranty for 4 years. It's comfortable and nice to drive. Obviously it isn't performance car quick but you put your foot down and it shifts. The turbo is nicely progressive. You can fit a tonne of stuff in it. It has creature comforts. It's fine to drive long distances in. It's hassle free.
For me, it's the best balance between practical, affordable, desirable (ish!) and low hassle (my decision making was heavily skewed towards low hassle).
If it's out of warranty, plan for a significant emergency fund. I toyed with the idea of buying a 550i for a while last year - you can find nice ones for mid-20s with 30k or so on. Look good, comfy, fast as.
Service costs and consumables are extravagant and that's not even considering the potential big bills if the engine / transmission / electrics shit the bed for some reason. Scared me right off.