F11 real world MPG and performance, 2.0L vs. 3.0L diesel
Discussion
I'm looking at selling my current E91 M-Sport Touring and buying a 5 Series Touring Diesel, the F11 model. I test drove two today back to back, both in 2.0L and 3.0L form.
The 3 litre was silky smooth and a lovely thing, however I was also really impressed with the 2L too. Initial impressions were they were both equally quick off the line up to B road speeds in normal driving conditions (unless you were really flooring it and driving like a bit of a traffic light tool) however it was picking up speed quickly from 50-60 mph, overtaking for example, where the 6 pot felt a lot more pokey.
Just looking for people's experiences and also real world MPG figures please. My driving tends to be as follows:
-Short trips around town, I'll be in eco mode and drive very sensibly
-Longer motorway or A road runs...I don't drive like an idiot however I will usually be "keeping up with the flow of traffic" if that makes sense...I'll be driving at motorway speeds and I'll rarely be overtaken.
Currently, my thinking is that I'd rather buy the "right" car at the right price and the right spec...so for example as the 4 pot is cheaper than the 6, I'd rather have a fully loaded 4 pot with less miles and perhaps some cash in my pocket than putting the 6 pot as the most important feature. That said, when I bought my Boxster I kinda went down the same route but fairly quickly regretted not holding out for a 3.2 rather than the 2.7. That said, with that car performance is key, with the BMW I'm after a comfortable mile muncher and running costs are important.
One other thing, I want an M-Sport for the overall look of the thing. It's clear that the F11 is hugely more comfortable and compliant ride wise compared to my E91, however I've seen one or two F11 M-Sport with "M-Sport suspension delete" as an option. Does this turn it into a wallowy barge or is this not something I should worry about, especially as the waft factor is high on my priorities?
Thanks in advance
The 3 litre was silky smooth and a lovely thing, however I was also really impressed with the 2L too. Initial impressions were they were both equally quick off the line up to B road speeds in normal driving conditions (unless you were really flooring it and driving like a bit of a traffic light tool) however it was picking up speed quickly from 50-60 mph, overtaking for example, where the 6 pot felt a lot more pokey.
Just looking for people's experiences and also real world MPG figures please. My driving tends to be as follows:
-Short trips around town, I'll be in eco mode and drive very sensibly
-Longer motorway or A road runs...I don't drive like an idiot however I will usually be "keeping up with the flow of traffic" if that makes sense...I'll be driving at motorway speeds and I'll rarely be overtaken.
Currently, my thinking is that I'd rather buy the "right" car at the right price and the right spec...so for example as the 4 pot is cheaper than the 6, I'd rather have a fully loaded 4 pot with less miles and perhaps some cash in my pocket than putting the 6 pot as the most important feature. That said, when I bought my Boxster I kinda went down the same route but fairly quickly regretted not holding out for a 3.2 rather than the 2.7. That said, with that car performance is key, with the BMW I'm after a comfortable mile muncher and running costs are important.
One other thing, I want an M-Sport for the overall look of the thing. It's clear that the F11 is hugely more comfortable and compliant ride wise compared to my E91, however I've seen one or two F11 M-Sport with "M-Sport suspension delete" as an option. Does this turn it into a wallowy barge or is this not something I should worry about, especially as the waft factor is high on my priorities?
Thanks in advance
I think you'll find that the 520d up to 40-50mph has plenty but after that if you're a press on driver it doesn't give you the punch to press on passing cars above that and that's when the 30d will be welcome in that 40-70mph over take zone.
I've always been pleasantly surprised with the 20d cars until I try and get past a car at sweeping A road speeds and you realise the poke just isn't there to do it quickly. (although of course it will do it)
I've always been pleasantly surprised with the 20d cars until I try and get past a car at sweeping A road speeds and you realise the poke just isn't there to do it quickly. (although of course it will do it)
Hmmm depending on year then you might end up with an N47 (if it is late 2014/15 then you will get the B47) - two words - timing chains. Brutally, I would not touch the N47, even with a fixed chain as I have still seen some 2013/14 cars with issues. I have driven a B47 car now, although it was in a 3 series and I found it lacking pace and it really needed kicking down to get shift on, not a bad engine, but just lacked any real pacey punch combined with the ZF 8HP.
I have also driven a 530D, 535D. Brutally, they have way more punch and are far more relaxed and suit the 5 series, the torque on them is a massive help and they really do not work all that hard to get shifting. I found the 30D did sound a little less relaxed than the 535D when hitting the pedal harder as the variable vane turbo changed over. The 535D replaces the variable vane turbo with two turbos one smaller and one larger.
MPG's anything short run it is a joke mid 20's (a short 10 minute run in my 640 (under the skin a 535D engine)) got 24MPG in mid Winter). General drive to work about 40 miles a day on A roads and a short bit on the motorway about 37/38, or my longer way to work for a week netted 41MPG, longer runs I have had 47/48MPG pushing into early 50's sometimes.
With the F11 check the read airbag suspension as well as there have been numerous issues with them sitting on their a*se as grit and dirt rubs away at the rubber air spring and eventually leaves it leaking for fun.
I have also driven a 530D, 535D. Brutally, they have way more punch and are far more relaxed and suit the 5 series, the torque on them is a massive help and they really do not work all that hard to get shifting. I found the 30D did sound a little less relaxed than the 535D when hitting the pedal harder as the variable vane turbo changed over. The 535D replaces the variable vane turbo with two turbos one smaller and one larger.
MPG's anything short run it is a joke mid 20's (a short 10 minute run in my 640 (under the skin a 535D engine)) got 24MPG in mid Winter). General drive to work about 40 miles a day on A roads and a short bit on the motorway about 37/38, or my longer way to work for a week netted 41MPG, longer runs I have had 47/48MPG pushing into early 50's sometimes.
With the F11 check the read airbag suspension as well as there have been numerous issues with them sitting on their a*se as grit and dirt rubs away at the rubber air spring and eventually leaves it leaking for fun.
62 plate 520D SE with the 148bhp tune. Now at 135K miles averaging about 47mpg in the summer 45 in the winter. Driving is mainly motorway and a/b roads, very little town use. Managed over 50mpg on a trip round the M25 (no delays no exceeding the speed limit) and into Putney on the A3
We had a 2011 F11 520d for a week or so before having to return it as not fit for purpose due to 4 separate EML issues and attempts to fix. Regardless of the reliability issues of the 20d, I found it was underpowered for the size and weight of the car. We could have dealt with it but I definitely wanted more go, hence replacing it with a 535i.
Daaaveee said:
We had a 2011 F11 520d for a week or so before having to return it as not fit for purpose due to 4 separate EML issues and attempts to fix. Regardless of the reliability issues of the 20d, I found it was underpowered for the size and weight of the car. We could have dealt with it but I definitely wanted more go, hence replacing it with a 535i.
I thought the same about my E61 520d and I feel that it's better to have a bigger/more powerful engine working less hard, rather than a smaller engine working it's butt off, the bigger engine ends up being pretty much as economical as a result. Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff