F10 M5 Owners - Slightly disappointed new owner.
Discussion
I guess my question is, do they grow on you?
Having owned a E39M5 for a few years which I loved, and then an E60 which I hated and sold within a few weeks of ownership, I recently swapped my E91 330D for a F10 M5. Although I have only had the car for a few days, I'm not feeling the love yet -
It seems huge and feels like I am driving a tuned Range Rover
The steering lacks feel on all the settings
It also seems like a reverse tardis, big on the outside, small on the inside
Its lacking any space around the driver to put stuff. The door pockets are tiny, as are all the other cubby holes
The key is so huge, it takes up half the space in the door pocket, why not put a hole in the dash for it?
It certainly goes well, but it just seems like its such an effort for it, It makes my old 3 series seem so nimble and un complicated.
Having owned a E39M5 for a few years which I loved, and then an E60 which I hated and sold within a few weeks of ownership, I recently swapped my E91 330D for a F10 M5. Although I have only had the car for a few days, I'm not feeling the love yet -
It seems huge and feels like I am driving a tuned Range Rover
The steering lacks feel on all the settings
It also seems like a reverse tardis, big on the outside, small on the inside
Its lacking any space around the driver to put stuff. The door pockets are tiny, as are all the other cubby holes
The key is so huge, it takes up half the space in the door pocket, why not put a hole in the dash for it?
It certainly goes well, but it just seems like its such an effort for it, It makes my old 3 series seem so nimble and un complicated.
I can't say I have felt the same about mine - quite the opposite. I consider it to be far better in steering, ride and handling terms than the E90 I had (and ditched in a short space of time by my standards) but it has been a while and I had a few 'bargier' cars in between which probably skews my perception. I also feel that despite its dimensions it does a good job of shrinking around you - I spend a lot of time on A and B roads and rarely feel that its oversized.
You say it feels as though it needs effort, are you driving it around in D1 all the time?
You say it feels as though it needs effort, are you driving it around in D1 all the time?
I test drove one around narrow country roads in Essex before I bought one and I was slightly fazed by it's size on the road. But I was driving a 911 at the time and just about anything would seem bigger and less dynamic. Before that I had an E92 M3 and I was really comparing the M5 to the M3 when I tested it, and I agree, it seemed very big and powerful, but at the time that seemed attractive. I've now owned the M5 for about two years and it really does shrink around you. You get used to the lack of steering feel, at least compared to a 911, but I now always leave the steering in comfort having tried long periods with sport and sport plus.
To sum it up, I can't think of another car under £100k that I would change it for. I'm going to wait to see what the new M5 is like before I start looking again and I'd change cars every year if I could find an excuse.
To sum it up, I can't think of another car under £100k that I would change it for. I'm going to wait to see what the new M5 is like before I start looking again and I'd change cars every year if I could find an excuse.
Don't panic.
I've had my car from new and it passed the 20k mile mark yesterday. The first few weeks with the car I felt as you do. It was far too big and felt almost overpowered. As you get used to the steering and all the various different settings it will grow on you. I now consider it by far the best car I've ever owned after Porsches, Nobles, etc. Don't be fooled by the 'Sport Plus' settings, sometimes 'comfort' is better.
My three kids and wife all fit in the car comfortably and the boot swallows virtually everything so not sure about your space issues. There is a 'hole' for the key inbetween the front cup holders....
I've had my car from new and it passed the 20k mile mark yesterday. The first few weeks with the car I felt as you do. It was far too big and felt almost overpowered. As you get used to the steering and all the various different settings it will grow on you. I now consider it by far the best car I've ever owned after Porsches, Nobles, etc. Don't be fooled by the 'Sport Plus' settings, sometimes 'comfort' is better.
My three kids and wife all fit in the car comfortably and the boot swallows virtually everything so not sure about your space issues. There is a 'hole' for the key inbetween the front cup holders....
I would also say it's a grower.
I came from an E90 and the F10 is a bigger car and not as nimble, but IMO you can place it on the road just as accurately. The car is so fast it took me a while to be comfortable to push the car hard.
Only you can ultimately judge whether the car is right for you but I would say you need closer to 3 months to make that judgement rather than 3 days.
I came from an E90 and the F10 is a bigger car and not as nimble, but IMO you can place it on the road just as accurately. The car is so fast it took me a while to be comfortable to push the car hard.
Only you can ultimately judge whether the car is right for you but I would say you need closer to 3 months to make that judgement rather than 3 days.
cashmax said:
I guess my question is, do they grow on you?
Having owned a E39M5 for a few years which I loved, and then an E60 which I hated and sold within a few weeks of ownership, I recently swapped my E91 330D for a F10 M5. Although I have only had the car for a few days, I'm not feeling the love yet -
It seems huge and feels like I am driving a tuned Range Rover
The steering lacks feel on all the settings
It also seems like a reverse tardis, big on the outside, small on the inside
Its lacking any space around the driver to put stuff. The door pockets are tiny, as are all the other cubby holes
The key is so huge, it takes up half the space in the door pocket, why not put a hole in the dash for it?
It certainly goes well, but it just seems like its such an effort for it, It makes my old 3 series seem so nimble and un complicated.
I got bored with mine after 6 months, just not very inspiring IMO, I pxed it for the M6 GC CP, now that was good.Having owned a E39M5 for a few years which I loved, and then an E60 which I hated and sold within a few weeks of ownership, I recently swapped my E91 330D for a F10 M5. Although I have only had the car for a few days, I'm not feeling the love yet -
It seems huge and feels like I am driving a tuned Range Rover
The steering lacks feel on all the settings
It also seems like a reverse tardis, big on the outside, small on the inside
Its lacking any space around the driver to put stuff. The door pockets are tiny, as are all the other cubby holes
The key is so huge, it takes up half the space in the door pocket, why not put a hole in the dash for it?
It certainly goes well, but it just seems like its such an effort for it, It makes my old 3 series seem so nimble and un complicated.
cashmax said:
I guess my question is, do they grow on you?
Having owned a E39M5 for a few years which I loved, and then an E60 which I hated and sold within a few weeks of ownership, I recently swapped my E91 330D for a F10 M5. Although I have only had the car for a few days, I'm not feeling the love yet -
It seems huge and feels like I am driving a tuned Range Rover
The steering lacks feel on all the settings
It also seems like a reverse tardis, big on the outside, small on the inside
Its lacking any space around the driver to put stuff. The door pockets are tiny, as are all the other cubby holes
The key is so huge, it takes up half the space in the door pocket, why not put a hole in the dash for it?
It certainly goes well, but it just seems like its such an effort for it, It makes my old 3 series seem so nimble and un complicated.
Having had many uber saloons, i find the exact opposite in that the car feels extremely nimble for it's size & certainly nowhere near RR proportions. Mine gets tracked frequently & can quite happily play with any exotica Italy wants to throw at it which for a 2 ton saloon is testament itself.Having owned a E39M5 for a few years which I loved, and then an E60 which I hated and sold within a few weeks of ownership, I recently swapped my E91 330D for a F10 M5. Although I have only had the car for a few days, I'm not feeling the love yet -
It seems huge and feels like I am driving a tuned Range Rover
The steering lacks feel on all the settings
It also seems like a reverse tardis, big on the outside, small on the inside
Its lacking any space around the driver to put stuff. The door pockets are tiny, as are all the other cubby holes
The key is so huge, it takes up half the space in the door pocket, why not put a hole in the dash for it?
It certainly goes well, but it just seems like its such an effort for it, It makes my old 3 series seem so nimble and un complicated.
Holder for the key in the ashtray/cupholder, but i stick mine in the double armrest. Never felt cramped in the drivers seat during the many 250+mile drives i make. Steering is spot on in any setting, although i sometimes feel Sport+ feels a little too over engineered.
I'm sure you're opinions will change after more spirited drives.
I use these settings for general pottering about:
Steering: Comfort
Suspension: Sport
Throttle map: Sport
Gearbox: Manual S3 Max attack mode.
Comfy enough to potter but will happily get aggressive without having to change a thing. I drive in manual almost all the time as the gearbox is a pleasure and it keeps it more involving than otherwise.
If I really want to kick the crap out of it I just turn on MDM mode.....
Steering: Comfort
Suspension: Sport
Throttle map: Sport
Gearbox: Manual S3 Max attack mode.
Comfy enough to potter but will happily get aggressive without having to change a thing. I drive in manual almost all the time as the gearbox is a pleasure and it keeps it more involving than otherwise.
If I really want to kick the crap out of it I just turn on MDM mode.....
[quote=cashmax]I guess my question is, do they grow on you?
Having owned a E39M5 for a few years which I loved, and then an E60 which I hated and sold within a few weeks of ownership, I recently swapped my E91 330D for a F10 M5. Although I have only had the car for a few days, I'm not feeling the love yet -
Interesting to hear . I test drove one last week and came away feeling slightly disappointed with the driving experience . Like you I went e39 m5 , e60 m5 ( then after a diesel break, e60 m5( why I don't know because the gearbox was still rubbish ) and currently e39 m5 tow car ) . It was ballistically quick but , maybe it was the gearbox lacking a manually operated clutch .I didn't comeback thinking I'd have to have one . The dct box I found pretty stunning thou.
I think I will still get one next spring and hope it grows on me ...
Hope yours grows on you .
Having owned a E39M5 for a few years which I loved, and then an E60 which I hated and sold within a few weeks of ownership, I recently swapped my E91 330D for a F10 M5. Although I have only had the car for a few days, I'm not feeling the love yet -
Interesting to hear . I test drove one last week and came away feeling slightly disappointed with the driving experience . Like you I went e39 m5 , e60 m5 ( then after a diesel break, e60 m5( why I don't know because the gearbox was still rubbish ) and currently e39 m5 tow car ) . It was ballistically quick but , maybe it was the gearbox lacking a manually operated clutch .I didn't comeback thinking I'd have to have one . The dct box I found pretty stunning thou.
I think I will still get one next spring and hope it grows on me ...
Hope yours grows on you .
I was intimidated by my car for a good few weeks after buying it. Initially the car does feel too big/wide, too heavy and possibly too powerful. Even today I still wish the steering had more feel.
At some point in the next few weeks you'll have a 'wow' journey. Mine came when I received an unexpected panicked phone call from a relative telling me that I urgently needed to make my way to a hospital 50 miles away (the majority down country lanes). The sat nav told me I was 1h15m away. My wife and I arrived less than 45 minutes after the phone call. Thankfully traffic had been light, but the sheer capability and sheer grunt of the car had made safe overtaking very easy even on the shortest of stretches.
The car will forever be in my affections for that journey alone, but even away from that I still believe that it's the finest car I've ever driven. I hope your 'wow' journey is less frantic than mine
At some point in the next few weeks you'll have a 'wow' journey. Mine came when I received an unexpected panicked phone call from a relative telling me that I urgently needed to make my way to a hospital 50 miles away (the majority down country lanes). The sat nav told me I was 1h15m away. My wife and I arrived less than 45 minutes after the phone call. Thankfully traffic had been light, but the sheer capability and sheer grunt of the car had made safe overtaking very easy even on the shortest of stretches.
The car will forever be in my affections for that journey alone, but even away from that I still believe that it's the finest car I've ever driven. I hope your 'wow' journey is less frantic than mine
Thanks for the comments.
I did see the place for the key, but why on earth not just put a slot in the dash for it?
Done a fair few miles over the last couple of days and although I'm still not sure, perhaps some positives.
Gearbox - Can't fault it, quick and precise without neck snapping.
Rolling acceleration - Got to admit its stunning, I'm sure its quicker than my 458 if you boot it from 50-60MPH (i.e the real world)
Stealth - Ignored by pretty much every other road user, totally flies under the radar and that was a critical tick in the box for me
Edited to say I am not sure how long my license will last with this car either.
I did see the place for the key, but why on earth not just put a slot in the dash for it?
Done a fair few miles over the last couple of days and although I'm still not sure, perhaps some positives.
Gearbox - Can't fault it, quick and precise without neck snapping.
Rolling acceleration - Got to admit its stunning, I'm sure its quicker than my 458 if you boot it from 50-60MPH (i.e the real world)
Stealth - Ignored by pretty much every other road user, totally flies under the radar and that was a critical tick in the box for me
Edited to say I am not sure how long my license will last with this car either.
Edited by cashmax on Saturday 10th October 10:11
Had my m5 a month or so now. At first it really did feel huge, I found the width hard to judge when pulling up alongside a kerb, slightly kerbed a wheel within half hour of owning it oh well 😕
But, I'm now more comfortable with it, I drive it through gaps with confidence etc just as I did in my c63.
Niggles? I wish it would gently reverse back for you like a normal automatic when reverse parking into a space , sometimes it's a little unnerving trying to edge it in, I find it hard to do it smoothly .
Best bits? Pretty much everything, I love the understated looks, I love the factory tint, I love the heated steering wheel, I love the sound it makes.
It's a fantastic car that seems to grow on me more every day 😊
But, I'm now more comfortable with it, I drive it through gaps with confidence etc just as I did in my c63.
Niggles? I wish it would gently reverse back for you like a normal automatic when reverse parking into a space , sometimes it's a little unnerving trying to edge it in, I find it hard to do it smoothly .
Best bits? Pretty much everything, I love the understated looks, I love the factory tint, I love the heated steering wheel, I love the sound it makes.
It's a fantastic car that seems to grow on me more every day 😊
It's definitely a car which I've appreciated more and more with time. I've had mine just over 3 years and love it, though to be honest I've enjoyed the car from the outset.
At first, the width of the thing was off-putting on the streets of London, but doesn't bother me now.
I can see how it might not seem that exciting on a test drive, or when running it in, because you need to lose some of the inhibition and open it up to really appreciate the car, but I just can't understand comments that the car has not been exciting enough to be a long-term keeper. It definitely is IMO, and I can't imagine what I'd replace it with, unless the new M5 comes with a V10/DCT (fat chance)!
Anyone who has doubts about the car's crushing ability needs to take one on the Ring or at least take a ride in the Ring Taxi.
It offers everything - relaxed cruising around town or on the motorway, family wagon, or mental muscle car with ridiculously good handling and grip.
Its looks are more subtle than the M3/M4/M6 - it's more of a wolf in sheep's clothing, but this is what the M5 has always offered.
The DCT is fantastic - as good/seamless as PDK in the 911, which is saying something. It does require gentle inputs at low speeds (parking / moving in 1st in slow traffic, but this just keeps you on the ball; it's not a real annoyance - just something you get used to as a characteristic of the car - its power demands respect!
The exhaust has gotten louder with time, which has been an added bonus.
At first, the width of the thing was off-putting on the streets of London, but doesn't bother me now.
I can see how it might not seem that exciting on a test drive, or when running it in, because you need to lose some of the inhibition and open it up to really appreciate the car, but I just can't understand comments that the car has not been exciting enough to be a long-term keeper. It definitely is IMO, and I can't imagine what I'd replace it with, unless the new M5 comes with a V10/DCT (fat chance)!
Anyone who has doubts about the car's crushing ability needs to take one on the Ring or at least take a ride in the Ring Taxi.
It offers everything - relaxed cruising around town or on the motorway, family wagon, or mental muscle car with ridiculously good handling and grip.
Its looks are more subtle than the M3/M4/M6 - it's more of a wolf in sheep's clothing, but this is what the M5 has always offered.
The DCT is fantastic - as good/seamless as PDK in the 911, which is saying something. It does require gentle inputs at low speeds (parking / moving in 1st in slow traffic, but this just keeps you on the ball; it's not a real annoyance - just something you get used to as a characteristic of the car - its power demands respect!
The exhaust has gotten louder with time, which has been an added bonus.
Wills2 said:
Agree with all of that.
Likewise 
However I am disapointed with the t
t who parked his car so close to mine last night outside a pub near Derby on the day of my best mates funeral that he managed to run his red bumper right down both doors denting and adding paint I really don't want and then fked off 
The car is great, some members of the human race need putting down.
HoHoHo said:
Likewise
However I am disapointed with the tt who parked his car so close to mine last night outside a pub near Derby on the day of my best mates funeral that he managed to run his red bumper right down both doors denting and adding paint I really don't want and then fked off
The car is great, some members of the human race need putting down.
Not good. Hope it gets sorted okHowever I am disapointed with the t
t who parked his car so close to mine last night outside a pub near Derby on the day of my best mates funeral that he managed to run his red bumper right down both doors denting and adding paint I really don't want and then fked off The car is great, some members of the human race need putting down.
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