F10 520d M Sport Auto - Magnificent, what a bloody car!

[drmark]

shim said:

i fancy an F11 but torn between 520d-535d or even petrol as im pretty sure diesel prices are gonna skyrocket.

for those of you with a 520d what are they like towing or with a full car (wife, 3 kids and luggage?) with regards performance and drop off?

Go 6 cylinder. The 530d has plenty of grunt, but 35 is a blast.

[RenoHuskerDu]

Agreed. I test drove a 4cyl diesel F10 and found the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) were totally out of character for a BMW. I ended the test drive in 5 minutes. No way I'm paying that much for such a noisy car. I bought an E70 40d instead.

I would hang on for another 6 months or so until the new 5 series comes out with its 3cyl motor. It may not have much less NVH, but a 3cyl at least has a pleasant noise to it, like a half a 6cyl. We also have a 100hp chipped Polo and its little 3cyl actually has a moderately sporty feel to it over 1500 rpm.

Spy reports say a 300hp version 3cyl with hybrid is in the works too.

[Fox-]

RenoHuskerDu said:

I would hang on for another 6 months or so until the new 5 series comes out with its 3cyl motor.

The new 5 Series is due out in 2017, rather longer than another 6 months or so!

[slippery]

I take it that the 3 cylinder hybrid with 300 BHP uses some of the technology from the i8?

[RenoHuskerDu]

Fox- said:

The new 5 Series is due out in 2017, rather longer than another 6 months or so!

Indeed. Earlier reports predicted 2015. But dates do slip, don't they?

[gizlaroc]

I doubt the new 5 series was ever arriving in 2015, 5 year lifecycle is too short, LCI was only MY14, no way they would replace it a year later.

Always 6-7 years between models with the facelift after 3.5-4 years.

[Soov535]

drmark said:

shim said:

i fancy an F11 but torn between 520d-535d or even petrol as im pretty sure diesel prices are gonna skyrocket.

for those of you with a 520d what are they like towing or with a full car (wife, 3 kids and luggage?) with regards performance and drop off?

Go 6 cylinder. The 530d has plenty of grunt, but 35 is a blast.

This. I have a '14 plate 535d F10 - utterly magnificent car. Ballistic in Sport+ mode (faster than the old six cylinder M5s) and reguarly see 50mpg on the motorway.



Brilliant car in every way.

[theboss]

RenoHuskerDu said:

Fox- said:

The new 5 Series is due out in 2017, rather longer than another 6 months or so!

Indeed. Earlier reports predicted 2015. But dates do slip, don't they?

Could you have mistaken the reports for a new 7 which is due next year?

[E65Ross]

theboss said:

RenoHuskerDu said:

Fox- said:

The new 5 Series is due out in 2017, rather longer than another 6 months or so!

Indeed. Earlier reports predicted 2015. But dates do slip, don't they?

Could you have mistaken the reports for a new 7 which is due next year?

Hopefully not! There has never been anything less than 6 cylinders in a 7 series. Sadly, I think that's about to change.

[AMDB9]

Aha good to see a thread I created being resurrected

Well I have sold the 520d M Sport that I started this thread about and replaced it with a Mercedes C220 AMG Sport Saloon....I may get some stick for saying this here but the Mercedes is a way better car! The standard equipment on my AMG Line merc includes - Sat Nav, DAB Radio, Heated Seats, Fake Leather which looks bloody nice with white stitching, LED headlights!!!, Speed Limit Alerts, Parking sensors and a reverse parking camera with side view and to top it off it also self parks itself when it finds a suitable space! It also has sleepy alert which will make noises when you are falling asleep at the wheels and has automatic braking if you are about to slam in to the car infront - the technology is just years ahead of the BMWs.

The C class even though AMG spec rides very smooth on run flat tyres and has sport, sport plus, comfort and economy modes.

Overall a class smaller than the 5 series but I think the C is certainly a better car than the current shape 5 series in all departments. I have a C220 and I have not driven a C250 which I am guessing will be faster and even smoother than mine.

If in the market for one of these I would advise to take a test drive and compare the new C class to the current 5 series and you will be surprised

[cerb4.5lee]

I would of thought if the 520d really was that magnificent you might have kept it a little longer! for me any car with a 4 pot diesel in it will never be that magnificent but as a cost effective motor to do loads of miles in they do hit the spot very well indeed.

[Wills2]

AMDB9 said:

Aha good to see a thread I created being resurrected

Well I have sold the 520d M Sport that I started this thread about and replaced it with a Mercedes C220 AMG Sport Saloon....I may get some stick for saying this here but the Mercedes is a way better car! The standard equipment on my AMG Line merc includes - Sat Nav, DAB Radio, Heated Seats, Fake Leather which looks bloody nice with white stitching, LED headlights!!!, Speed Limit Alerts, Parking sensors and a reverse parking camera with side view and to top it off it also self parks itself when it finds a suitable space! It also has sleepy alert which will make noises when you are falling asleep at the wheels and has automatic braking if you are about to slam in to the car infront - the technology is just years ahead of the BMWs.

The C class even though AMG spec rides very smooth on run flat tyres and has sport, sport plus, comfort and economy modes.

Overall a class smaller than the 5 series but I think the C is certainly a better car than the current shape 5 series in all departments. I have a C220 and I have not driven a C250 which I am guessing will be faster and even smoother than mine.

If in the market for one of these I would advise to take a test drive and compare the new C class to the current 5 series and you will be surprised

C = 3 series not 5, there is nothing on that spec list that you can't have on a 5 or 3 series, most of it has been available for years.

Enjoy your car, but you can keep the fake leather.

[gizlaroc]

I have been trying loads of cars out recently as need a new estate, and out of all of them from XF Sportbrake, 5 series, A6, E Class, C Class, Evoque, Q5, GLA, X3, XC60, 3 Series, and more I have to say the one that really did impress me a lot was the new C Class.

It really does feel like the first of the next generation of cars in regards to comfort and design.
Also, a nice return for Mercedes in regards to quality and comfort, not trying to compete with BMW, just doing what you would expect a Merc to do.

It makes the new 3 series feel very dated already, and makes the E Class look like a Korean copy of a Merc.


Having said all that, the one that I really liked was the Evoque, wouldn't buy one as I find them a bit OTT design wise, but has made me wait to see what the new Discovery Sport is like.

But don't knock the new C Class, even if it makes BMW take things up a notch a bit with the next 3 series it can only be a good thing.

[Buster73]

I've just put my 520 D SE Auto up for sale on here if anyone is thinking about buying.

The fact that I'm replacing it with another 520 D in a couple of weeks time tells you what I think of them .

Great car , quick and quiet enough with + 50 mpg.

[AMDB9]

Wills2 said:

C = 3 series not 5, there is nothing on that spec list that you can't have on a 5 or 3 series, most of it has been available for years.

Enjoy your car, but you can keep the fake leather.

Absolutely correct, these items are available on the BMWs but for £££s as optional extras where as on a £32k brand new C Class they are all standard items!! If leather bugs you that much it's another £800 on top and you can have that too

And ofcourse I know C = 3 series but IMHO the 3 series is not a patch on this new C class.

[AMDB9]

cerb4.5lee said:

I would of thought if the 520d really was that magnificent you might have kept it a little longer! for me any car with a 4 pot diesel in it will never be that magnificent but as a cost effective motor to do loads of miles in they do hit the spot very well indeed.

These Diesel saloons (530d, 535d, 520d's) are always my run around cars (4th cars) and I replace them every 6-12 months - the 520d was magnificent but I prefer the new C Class now

[knitware]

AMDB9 said:

And ofcourse I know C = 3 series but IMHO the 3 series is not a patch on this new C class.

I think the 3 series is more than a patch on the C Class, there isnt a single publication anywhere in the world that says a C Class is 'better'.

Sure a C Class maybe pretty, and this is ok for some, but when it comes to engines and chassis the C Class is left wanting.

[bodhi]

Not driven one, but I must admit the new C-Class does look goppingly awful, especially from the back. I would need a serious amount of alcohol to think it was better looking than the 3 Series.

[cerb4.5lee]

AMDB9 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I would of thought if the 520d really was that magnificent you might have kept it a little longer! for me any car with a 4 pot diesel in it will never be that magnificent but as a cost effective motor to do loads of miles in they do hit the spot very well indeed.

These Diesel saloons (530d, 535d, 520d's) are always my run around cars (4th cars) and I replace them every 6-12 months - the 520d was magnificent but I prefer the new C Class now

Looking at your garage you have owned some stunning cars past and present!

[AMDB9]

cerb4.5lee said:

Looking at your garage you have owned some stunning cars past and present!

Thank you - wish my wife was as appreciative as you are