[AndyTo]

Had my car in for a leaky transfer box and as the car was with BMW for 2 days i got a G30 520XD courtesy car, which i was quite pleased about as one of the cars on my replacement list is a 540i.

First impressions when getting in the car is that the interior is a big step up from the F31, the general feel of sitting in the car is that its a quality product, however not without it faults.
I'm a fairly big guy (big boned, not fat ) but the seats were too small, I didn’t fit in them, the seat bolsters dug into my thigh bone as they weren't far enough apart for my ass to nestle between them, thought that was odd as i fit nicely in the F31 seats?

The car had a few more option boxes ticked than i did, mainly as i'm a cheap bastard but things like pro-nav would be wasted on me, having said that the pro-nav screen in the G30 is massive, way bigger than the pro-nav in the F31. At first it felt like it dominated the dash, but you get used to it quickly and going back to the F31 bus-nav screen seemed like I was looking into an old casio watch screen. I found you need an extra 1 or 2 command inputs to get to the same place compared to old bus-nav, that was annoying.

After getting the car set-up i made my way up the M1 to work, i won't try to compare the 35d engine to the 20d, but i was pleasantly surprised by the 20d, i wouldn't try to overtake much without being able to see 3 miles up the road, but other than that it was nice & refined.
Steering and handling were great, way better than the F31, but at a price, the ride quality was very poor, jittering and crashing over every minor hump & bump in the road. Find a nice smooth bit of tarmac and its like flying, only quieter, hit a B-road and for the first time in my driving history my teeth were actually bashed together, and I’ve owned some cars with seriously hard suspension.
I blame the low profile tyres with runflat, I’m comparing them to having softer SE suspension with 18's MPS4 non-runflats, which really do make a massive difference in ride quality, honestly thought the G30 would be dreamy in comparison, not worse! Though something I’m sure could be sorted by ditching the stupid, although good looking, wheels.

The electronic handbrake is a pain, when you have it set to auto you have to press the accelerator to move, which in Leicester city centre traffic is crap, so that got turned off.
Fuel economy was terrible, i only did 250 miles so had to rely on the OBD, it showed 39.8mpg, didn't crack 40 even with a long motorway run in the mix, my 35d shows 42-44 on the same run. Might just be a new engine, i don't know?

Got to try out the adaptive headlights, what a load of shit. I live out in t-countryside so drive a windy B-road for 10 miles, got flashed twice and likely pissed a few more people off approaching a T-junction as 4 cars went past and the headlights didn't dip as i approached. They don't react to parked cars, some poor chap making a phone call got blinded and when following cars they don't dip early enough, so one of my 'flashes' was someone dabbing their brake lights. So they got turned off.

The interior lights give a nice ambiance, but you then can't see much out of your wing mirrors other than your own lights! There must be a way to turn them off, I just didn’t find it.



Overall, very impressed with the car. I’m happy that the options I didn’t choose this time, despite being revised in the G30 still aren’t for me. If I could set the car up so it suits me with a big engine, little wheels and seats designed for adults, its a very strong contender, though I still want to try an RS3.

It turned out the seal on my transfer box had failed and was replaced.

[teaston]

I’m really slim and the seat base bolsters are too narrow for me too! Really strange design flaw!

[Tengocity]

I'm astounded the ride comfort was so bad. All the reviews make out it's exceptional on the new 5.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I'm astounded the ride comfort was so bad. All the reviews make out it's exceptional on the new 5.

It’s the run flats, short sharp undulations are quite jarring for such a large softly sprung car. It’s still definitely far more comfortable than my car’s adaptive in sport mode though.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I'm astounded the ride comfort was so bad. All the reviews make out it's exceptional on the new 5.

Same here. We'd have to know a bit more about the suspension, wheel size, tyre pressures, to make a fair judgement.

I was impressed with the 530d xDrive I tried, 20" wheels and passive 704 suspension and was well sorted. Not F11 Adaptive Drive refinement, but vey good, even as road surfaces deteriorated. I'm pretty fussy, why AD was a must have for me, but could live with the G30 I tried as a 'second best'.

[robbiep]

Originally Posted by AndyTo

Got to try out the adaptive headlights, what a load of shit. I live out in t-countryside so drive a windy B-road for 10 miles, got flashed twice and likely pissed a few more people off approaching a T-junction as 4 cars went past and the headlights didn't dip as i approached. They don't react to parked cars, some poor chap making a phone call got blinded and when following cars they don't dip early enough, so one of my 'flashes' was someone dabbing their brake lights. So they got turned off.

the adaptive lights are not designed to work on parked cars. They are designed to work on oncoming headlights and on taillights.

To criticise the system for 'not reacting to parked cars' or 'some bloke making a phone call' looks petty, to say the least.

[NotGotABimmer23]

Originally Posted by robbiep

the adaptive lights are not designed to work on parked cars. They are designed to work on oncoming headlights and on taillights.

To criticise the system for 'not reacting to parked cars' or 'some bloke making a phone call' looks petty, to say the least.

The adaptive headlights don't really work on my X4 either. They are fine on twisty roads but when on a long straight and a car is coming from a distance it never dips the lights. I have stopped using it.

[PaulT_M5]

Originally Posted by teaston

I’m really slim and the seat base bolsters are too narrow for me too! Really strange design flaw!

I went and drove a 540i today and was ultimately left disappointed in the overall experience. It was quiet and refined, but there was nothing that I would call excitement.

However, I too thought the seat base bolsters were too narrow, which made it uncomfortable to sit in, which was a similar complaint I had about the Jaguar XF sports seats.

[JD6]

Are these all M Sport cars with sport seats that people find uncomfortable? It does sound like a very odd design fault if so many people find the same problem.

Presumably Comfort seats (not SE seats) are a cost option. I thought they were fantastic on my old E53 X5, particularly with nappa leather, but it’s pretty annoying to be forced to pay extra for good seats.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by JD6

Are these all M Sport cars with sport seats that people find uncomfortable? It does sound like a very odd design fault if so many people find the same problem.

Presumably Comfort seats (not SE seats) are a cost option. I thought they were fantastic on my old E53 X5, particularly with nappa leather, but it’s pretty annoying to be forced to pay extra for good seats.

Yes M Sport seats, the problem is the base side bolsters are the same height the whole length of the seat rather than dipping down for your arse like the F30 ones:

[HighlandPete]

I mentioned in another thread, I didn't find a problem with the G30 sport seat, but do see the difference.

F10/11 does appear to be wider and with the bolsters reducing more to the rear of the seat.

My F11 sport seat.

[HighlandPete]

The G31 sport seat with similar view to my seat. I found this one comfortable when I sat in it. The shape is very different at the rear, compared to the F10/11.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

I mentioned in another thread, I didn't find a problem with the G30 sport seat, but do see the difference.

F10/11 does appear to be wider and with the bolsters reducing more to the rear of the seat.

My F11 sport seat.

How far did you drive it? I did over 100 miles in a day and it felt ok for the first 50 or so, but I was in proper pain by the end.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by teaston

How far did you drive it? I did over 100 miles in a day and it felt ok for the first 50 or so, but I was in proper pain by the end.

Good point, only about 15 miles. I must say I get a good idea straight away, but there is no substitute for a long enough drive. BTW, F11 seat is fine for 500 miles in a day. I'd hope for the same from the G30/31 sport seat.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Good point, only about 15 miles. I must say I get a good idea straight away, but there is no substitute for a long enough drive. BTW, F11 seat is fine for 500 miles in a day. I'd hope for the same from the G30/31 sport seat.

I would rather drive an Audi than do 500 miles in a G30!

[JD6]

I had only driven perhaps 20 miles at a time in the F30 before I bought one, and the first time I drove it for an hour, I found it pretty uncomfortable in the same way. Over the first month or two it became much better - presumably I reshaped the bolsters by pressing against them. I’m not particularly wide - I have a fairly average 34” waist

Perhaps this would be the same with the G30. It might also mean I would find the G30 very uncomfortable and harder to reshape, given the relative height of the bolsters.

I’m very glad it has been brought up though - I won’t buy a G30 without an extended test drive.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by JD6

I had only driven perhaps 20 miles at a time in the F30 before I bought one, and the first time I drove it for an hour, I found it pretty uncomfortable in the same way. Over the first month or two it became much better - presumably I reshaped the bolsters by pressing against them. I’m not particularly wide - I have a fairly average 34” waist

Perhaps this would be the same with the G30. It might also mean I would find the G30 very uncomfortable and harder to reshape, given the relative height of the bolsters.

I’m very glad it has been brought up though - I won’t buy a G30 without an extended test drive.

I’m only 32” waist! I do a lot of squats & deadlifting though mind you so have fairly muscular buttocks, which I’m sure you wanted to know!

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by teaston

I would rather drive an Audi than do 500 miles in a G30!

So would I - seats in my SQ5 are great

[teaston]

Originally Posted by isleaiw1

So would I - seats in my SQ5 are great

It wasn't meant as a compliment to Audi's!

[JD6]

Originally Posted by teaston

I’m only 32” waist! I do a lot of squats & deadlifting though mind you so have fairly muscular buttocks, which I’m sure you wanted to know!

Yes cheers for that, I was wondering about your ass!

[TimMcC]

Originally Posted by teaston

How far did you drive it? I did over 100 miles in a day and it felt ok for the first 50 or so, but I was in proper pain by the end.

It is odd I didn't experience this issue. We had it for a whole weekend and covered 2 250 mile chunks in that time. Maybe a difference in seat position?

[teaston]

Originally Posted by TimMcC

It is odd I didn't experience this issue. We had it for a whole weekend and covered 2 250 mile chunks in that time. Maybe a difference in seat position?

I tried everything with the seat position but it didn’t make a difference.