[gIzzE]

Just seeing what the general opinion is on the new 5 series.

Since 2000 I have had a 528i E39, 530i sport touring, 530i sport saloon and then the E61 535d sport touring.
Along with those I have also had in the household an E46 318ti, E46 320d, E91 320d sport, E91 335i sport, 120d M-Sport, 123d M-Sport, E46 M3 SMG and an M3 CSL.
Oh, and had my E30 325i for a long time too.

So not a stranger to the world of BMW.

We swpped the old mans 730d sport for an F11 520d touring auto 3 months ago, and while it doesn't do anything wrong at all, and on paper does so much so well, it just left him cold. He has been trying to convince himself that it is great, but he can't.
So I said I would have it off him, but after a week with it while he was away I have decided I just don't like it, don't know what it is but just not cutting it.
It was meant to be my workhorse, nothing more than that, and I could have had it for £28500, which is £1000 less than BMW have offered for it, so I really wanted to love it. But I don't.

Now I mentioned this on another forum and 4 owners have sent me a message saying the same thing, they are a few months in and just bored of it already, one with a 535d, one with a 530d and 2 with the 520d.

We went to BMW to see about swapping it for another 7 series or maybe an X5, and the dealer said that he has had a couple of customers that he knows very well say the same thing.

So what is missing?

Or does everyone on here love 'em?

Don't get me wrong, compared with the A6 avant I had a flit with last year it is still miles ahead of that, but it doesn't feel very 'BMW'.
It isn't the engine as he tried the 530d, albeit in saloon form, and said it still felt something was missing.

It is going tomorrow by the way but he just wondered what everyone else was thinking, hence me posting on here?

[xenon]

Boo, hiss! Get back whence you came, gIzzE

Yes, 'tis me.

I love mine (and I've owned plenty others too) and the only criticism I have is the vague steering on straight-ahead.

I prefer it to my last e92 though, by some margin.

I assume the 535d owner is Jon?

[gIzzE]

No, he has a 550i.

I just can't put my finger on it and it is annoying me why I am not really wanting it for myself.
I guess I want convincing as I have till 3pm tomorrow to decide if I want it or not.

[xenon]

Perhaps we're talking of a different Jon - I meant Jon D who has a 535d and posts on the other side.

Anyway, I guess you've had the car long enough that only you can decided if it's for you or not - it it ain't, it ain't

[northernmonkey]

your post is a bit vague you don't really say what you don't like about it....a lot of the cars you say you've owned i've also owned E46's, E60's, E93's, i've also driven stuff like the 1-series as loan cars etc.

have to say the F10/F11 (F11 in my case) is the best BMW i've ever owned so i'm really not following what you are looking for.

the one thing i will say that makes the car feel different is the much talked about electric power steering BUT to be honest I've grown to like it now.

in terms of build quality, fit, finish the F10/F11 are leagues ahead of my previous E60's and E93. different class and the 3.0d engine is an absolute stormer, especially when mated to the new 8sp sports auto.

I also looked at an X5 but after sitting in the F11 the X5 dashboard felt tired so that was an immediate no for me.

out of interest what was the spec of the 520d you had? M-Sport? SE? auto? manual?

the things that make my car feel special...to me:

- m-sport trim, love it
- 19" wheels v.nice
- panoramic roof....a must in the touring
- media professional - that 10.5" screen changes the whole look of the dash
- sports auto box, best auto box i've ever owned
- hifi upgrade....must have, spend so much time in car its nice to listen to the tunes cranked up

i was definitely pushed towards the F11 after reading all the glowing reviews and quotes like "all the car you'll ever need...." and I have to admit so far I agree. Its great.

without a more accurate description of what you feel its lacking its tricky to debate it really.....reading between the lines it sounds like your in the camp some are in not being fans of the steering system which you wouldn't be the first to feel that way. majority seem happy but each to their own. does feel different but its whether its a different you like or not. that could be whats making it feel less BMW like I guess.

[Mud]

Originally Posted by xenon

I love mine (and I've owned plenty others too) and the only criticism I have is the vague steering on straight-ahead.

Same here, agree totally with the above.

The F10 is years ahead of my old E92 335d, I love mine. It even handles well when thrown about but this electric steering does take some adjustments you can get a feeling of being disconnected to the car with it.

[gIzzE]

Originally Posted by northernmonkey

your post is a bit vague you don't really say what you don't like about it....a lot of the cars you say you've owned i've also owned E46's, E60's, E93's, i've also driven stuff like the 1-series as loan cars etc.

That is the problem, not sure what it is that I don't like.
Rides well.
Gets superb MPG.
0-60mph in 8 seconds is fine for a workhorse trawling up and down the M11.
Interior is as good as it gets in any car imho.
It was going to cost me under £400 a month as it was cheap and the residuals are high.
The 8 speed 'box is just divine.

In fact the only negative was the boot, it is shockingly crap!!

But on paper it is almost a perfect car.
I reviewed it and gave it 8 or 9 out of 10 in every area, and I think an 8.5 overall, but it just doesn't feel special in any way.

Thought it was the engine, but then the 530d didn't feel any better, quicker and more refined, but didn't make it feel better. Thought maybe it was the SE spec. however tried a 525d M-Sport touring with the sports auto box and that tender to wander to the side and needed constant correction, which made it feel worse.

I thought my E91 M-Sport was just a better all round, more enjoyable car, not as grown up I will give you that, and not as comfy, but all round more fun, but then to be expected. Compared to the E61 535d sport the E91 to me was the better car. The F11 seems too feel bigger and even less focused, as if some of the BMW magic has been sacrificed to make it a more refined all round package.
Problem with that is my E320cdi estate does that so, so, so much better. I buy a BMW because I want it feeling sporty, if I want comfort and wafty I drive the Merc.
Don't get me wrong, but normally with a new car I am thrilled with it for the first few weeks at least, but, I had the E Class and the new 5 series at the same time, and by the end of the first week I found myself leaving the BMW on the drive and taking the Merc, a car I had just done 45k miles in over the last 11 months.
I only bought the Merc as I needed the space, it was a really hard decision to not have a BMW as my main car, and I was chuffed to bits when I thought I could bag a new F11 for £28500, especially as it has nav prof., internet etc. etc. It was a £41,000 car, it was a bargain, if I had liked it.

I'm glad everyone really likes it, I guess I was hoping for people to say 'I wasn't sure at first either, but after a few weeks it has really grown on me.'
But if all you guys loved it from day 1 then I guess it is just not meant to be.





By the way, my old man took out a new 7 series, X5, 530d GT, E350cdi Coupe and a 530d M-Sport saloon.
Out of all those cars it was the 5 GT that impressed him the most. He is picking it up tomorrow.

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by xenon

Perhaps we're talking of a different Jon - I meant Jon D who has a 535d and posts on the other side.

Not me Ian, but I share some of Gizze's sentiments regarding the F10. It's a great car in so many respects and the 35d/sport auto power train combined with the adaptive suspension set to sport or sport+ results in blistering performance and impressive road holding, but it just doesn't feel as special as you'd expect for £54k. I bought it for the performance and all the tech, but I neither need or particularly like large saloons and having just spent the weekend driving the new 640i convertible, I guess my judgement's a bit clouded.
The F12 is to be my next car and I've decided to have a go at selling mine privately, so if anyone's interested I can provide full details on request.

[gIzzE]

I didn't realise you had one.
So the new 6 series was good then. It did look rather nice in the showroom I have to say, is the 640i the twin turbo 3 litre?

[northernmonkey]

i'm afraid you are going to have to let your old man down gently.....he is officially now old. if he likes the 5GT over those cars then that's confirmation. the 5GT is basically a big honda jazz for people with ££££

ps: no offence to your old man!!!! all in good fun....come on 5GT -> "should've gone to spec savers"

pps: a good friend of mine has a 5GT and also loves it...he had an E60 before....we rib him about it endlessly but he's happy. it is nice to be in in that green house on wheels kind of way. i think he specced his with the bi-focal windscreen.....or at least we ask him that whenever he mentions it.

[gIzzE]

Well we both thought that the GT in black with the 20" wheels looked the best one too, but then what do I know as I currently think the X1 in black with the X-Line pack is a great looking car and thinking of buying one for Fiona. haha

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by gIzzE

I didn't realise you had one.
So the new 6 series was good then. It did look rather nice in the showroom I have to say, is the 640i the twin turbo 3 litre?

Single turbo with twin scrolls, each fed by a group of 3 cylinders. Amazing throttle response and I averaged 24mpg - not bad for such performance.
Only problem is that, as per all new BMW's, the steering is electric and it has that characteristic vagueness in the straight ahead position; not as pronounced as the F10, but it's a significant negative.