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

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

Author
Discussion

Wills2

22,666 posts

174 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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hornetrider said:
51.8mph is not mixed traffic. Sounds like a gentle A road/DC bimble to me. Good figures though.
My thoughts too, but as you say good figures regardless, but I doubt it was mixed driving as I understand that term.


gf15

980 posts

265 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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We have a BM 650i that is smooth, but SWMBO has an E46 330i which is creamy smooth.

I never realised that he on board computer thingy went up to those type of MPG figures.

Bloody hell those M5 figures are fast! smokin

HoHoHo

14,980 posts

249 months

Wednesday 12th March 2014
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gf15 said:
Bloody hell those M5 figures are fast! smokin
Yep, it's a bloody monster yes

It's frightening how such a big car picks up speed.

Anyway, back to the 520d M Sport......


AMDB9

Original Poster:

2,714 posts

206 months

Thursday 13th March 2014
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I spent around 15 miles on the M25 rest were A and B roads....

Need to go test drive an M5 and see what all the fuss is about driving

SDK

865 posts

252 months

Thursday 13th March 2014
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AMDB9 said:
Another spectacular run today in mixed traffic
Reminds me of my petrol 1 Series, same power but a bit less weight.


RenoHuskerDu

86 posts

121 months

Thursday 13th March 2014
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This thread got me to thinking (dangerous thing, that) so I stopped down to the dealer and had a test drive in a 520d just now.

I love the car itself. But I can't stand the engine noise and vibration, or the modest acceleration. I suppose were I forced to choose between a pug 508 or a 520d, there would be no contest. The pug can be optioned up to about that HP, but the BMW is still superior to me.

As one of us mentioned earlier in the thread, some people these days just don't hear engine noise. Personally, I expect music from under the bonnet and out the exhaust. I may in a minority, but I am happy there. We already have two 4-pot diesels in the garage. I don't want another.

So it's back to shopping for an F10 535d. It seems that owners are holding onto them. The used prices are high. Even in Deutschland, this is the case. I see that as a positive factor.

GaryThomlinson

537 posts

174 months

Thursday 13th March 2014
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I don't do enough miles to have a diesel car, the DPF would pack up very quickly. I'd perhaps look at the 528i petrol (the newer 4 cyl N20), which should still be reasonable on fuel, not have the DPF issues at whatever age, and both sound and 'go'.

converted lurker

304 posts

125 months

Thursday 13th March 2014
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My 530d on '56 plate and 176,000 miles on it is in the original DPF and the exhaust back pressure is spot on. Same fuel pump, injectors and turbo.

I think people worry too much because anyone who has a failure writes about it on the internet but people like me who haven't don't. This creates a false impression.

Some people drive insanely mechanically unsympathetically and outside of the design parameters of the technology. If you're normal you won't and you won't have a problem.

Besides it's not as if a twin turbo common rail petrol engine with stop start and euro 6 exhaust is a mechanically simple unit without little to go wrong. This whole diesels is complex issue has gone in recent years as petrol got really complex as well.

Also the claimed mpg figures are pure lies for both fuel types but diesel lies less.

GaryThomlinson

537 posts

174 months

Thursday 13th March 2014
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But surely that depends on how and where you drive. You've 176,000 miles on yours... I'd put 6000 a year on. 4 mile trips. BMW have told me that will never be enough to start a DPF regen cycle. The savings of a diesel are for nothing if within a few years you've got spend a fortune replacing a clogged DPF or having the dealer charge hundreds to clear it for you?

E65Ross

34,943 posts

211 months

Thursday 13th March 2014
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RenoHuskerDu said:
This thread got me to thinking (dangerous thing, that) so I stopped down to the dealer and had a test drive in a 520d just now.

I love the car itself. But I can't stand the engine noise and vibration, or the modest acceleration. I suppose were I forced to choose between a pug 508 or a 520d, there would be no contest. The pug can be optioned up to about that HP, but the BMW is still superior to me.

As one of us mentioned earlier in the thread, some people these days just don't hear engine noise. Personally, I expect music from under the bonnet and out the exhaust. I may in a minority, but I am happy there. We already have two 4-pot diesels in the garage. I don't want another.

So it's back to shopping for an F10 535d. It seems that owners are holding onto them. The used prices are high. Even in Deutschland, this is the case. I see that as a positive factor.
This, the car was nice but u was thoroughly disappointed with the engine refinement. My old E38 728i was leagues ahead for that, and my E65 745i further still perhaps... Admittedly that's 7 vs 5 series but even so....

Wills2

22,666 posts

174 months

Thursday 13th March 2014
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I think 5 Vs. 7 is a valid comparison but 6/8 pot petrol engines against a 4 pot diesel?


philmots

4,630 posts

259 months

Thursday 13th March 2014
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GaryThomlinson said:
But surely that depends on how and where you drive. You've 176,000 miles on yours... I'd put 6000 a year on. 4 mile trips. BMW have told me that will never be enough to start a DPF regen cycle. The savings of a diesel are for nothing if within a few years you've got spend a fortune replacing a clogged DPF or having the dealer charge hundreds to clear it for you?
Stick with your petrols...

I do 8 mile each way journeys, never any more.. I bought a 335d because I just wanted one, when required, the dpf would regenerate after around 5 miles into the journey (when coolant reached 70degs) but it still wasn't finished when home, so I'd end up doing another 10 miles out of my way just so it could finish. This happened roughly once every tank.

It was a great car but it was one of the reasons to get rid, that and the roads I use aren't really suitable for much more than pottering about. The 335d felt like it was really at home on fast DC's with plenty of roundabouts etc.

converted lurker

304 posts

125 months

Thursday 13th March 2014
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Gary. You only do 4 mile trips - you're a freak as far as the design engineering parameters are concerned so fair enough a modern diesel isn't for you. But as a freak you ought to refrain from dispensing your advice without an appropriate freak caveat.

I believe the McLaren P1 will do four miles on maximum attack on battery only. Perhaps look there?

;-)

marriedblonde

9 posts

187 months

Tuesday 21st October 2014
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theboss said:
The 520d has a single turbo - if you had a 525d you'd have the N47 2.0 twin turbo.
The new 5 series 525d is a single twin scroll turbo according to BMW and their brochure...

Andehh

7,107 posts

205 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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Another F10 owner here, '10 plate 530D. It truly is a brilliant car, and the 6 pot is just beautifully refined. Put your foot down properly and goes like a bat out of hell, and with a long term average of 38mpg doesn't break the bank. It's just effortless, and the electric seats are fantastically comfy.

Also worth noting BMW customer service has been fantastic as well as every contact. Touch wood it continues

Fox-

13,228 posts

245 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2014
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Andehh said:
Another F10 owner here, '10 plate 530D. It truly is a brilliant car, and the 6 pot is just beautifully refined. Put your foot down properly and goes like a bat out of hell, and with a long term average of 38mpg doesn't break the bank. It's just effortless, and the electric seats are fantastically comfy.
'10 plate 530d here too, I echo everything you say. It's a fantastic car.

Andehh

7,107 posts

205 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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The only gripe I would have (and I imagine it will also get echoed by a few) are the speakers are a bit of a let down. Fine for 70% of general listening, but when I re-live some of the good ol' Prodigy/Pendulum/Saturday Night Dance Anthems the speakers quickly run out of grunt.

Will be a job for the spring to try and get them all replaced.

northpolar

137 posts

135 months

Thursday 23rd October 2014
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Possible counter argument in favour of 6 pot diesel.

I had an F11 530d (2010 reg) and thought it probably the best car I've owned. Sadly I averaged around 45 mpg and drove like grampa! On a daily commute however, are you really likely to want to drive agressively, particularly with a cement mixer of a four pot diesel up front?

I'm the first to admit that only by fairly extreme scrouge driving tactics could I get the computer to exceed 50 mpg ie completely unrealistic driving style; so I would contend that the 60+ mpg photographed earlier is around 10 mpg better than you could ever achieve in a 530d.

If you had been quick though, you could have bought my 530d with an extras list the length of your arm and with only 16k on the clock for probably £25k and enjoyed 45 mpg commuting economy with a super refined engine. Arguably a better deal (albeit hard to track down) than the 520d solution you are now enjoying.

I now have an F11 535d which is quicker but I'm not sure has the same refinement in stop start traffic which unfortunately central London often inflicts on me. I'm still able to achieve over 40 mpg, but I do have to watch the accelerator pedal more often than before!!

Peter

Peter

shim

2,050 posts

207 months

Sunday 9th November 2014
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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?

theboss

6,878 posts

218 months

Sunday 9th November 2014
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marriedblonde said:
theboss said:
The 520d has a single turbo - if you had a 525d you'd have the N47 2.0 twin turbo.
The new 5 series 525d is a single twin scroll turbo according to BMW and their brochure...
I'm not so sure... There were definitely two turbos when I made the above post. The 518d/520d very recently received the new single turbo B47 but as far as I can tell there is no higher output derivative to replace the twin turbo N47 in the 525d, so I presume it remains unchanged. If anyone knows otherwise please correct me.