2011 535d rather disappointing?
Discussion
I have a new 535d M sport touring to replace my previous 2007 535d M sport saloon and am rather disappointed. It still has a fantastic engine, it's fast for sure, but it's lost something. The suspension is too soft even in sport mode and the feel of the car is that the driver seems one further step removed from the road. It's much heavier than the last one. The gearbox, unless in sport mode, seems geared to produce the right fuel economy rather than quality of the drive. I love how it looks and I do 25000 miles a year so it's a great thing to cover all those miles and rip up some tarmac too, but the new 5 series seems to have lost some soul!
I thought exactly the same myself recently when given a brand new 535d GT as a loan car - what an amazing engine and transmission - but it really felt very soulless and disconnected from the road. I also found evidence of cost-cutting, although the control systems and computer were very impressive, a few surfaces felt cheap and the driver's sun visor in particular felt like it could have been taken off a £6k Kia. I'm sad to say so, but the E65 just felt and drove like a 'proper' car in comparison. I'm also still not convinced that RTF's are 'there' yet - the GT on 19" RTF and SE suspension rode much worse than my E65 Sport on 20's.
Just to add to my earlier post, I went to see a mate who has just got a F11 530d with the Adaptive drive option fitted (VDC + stabilizing) on 19" wheels
What a difference that set up makes, my car only has VDC and is quite frankly not very "BMW" in its feel or handling, the 530d on the other hand was totally different, nice firm damping, very little body roll and crisp steering.
It also sits the car about 30mm lower, as my VDC equipped car looks like it's on stilts.
I think the adaptive drive package is a must have, but alas only available on the 6 cylinder models.
Oh and the 3.0d engine is very strong.
What a difference that set up makes, my car only has VDC and is quite frankly not very "BMW" in its feel or handling, the 530d on the other hand was totally different, nice firm damping, very little body roll and crisp steering.
It also sits the car about 30mm lower, as my VDC equipped car looks like it's on stilts.
I think the adaptive drive package is a must have, but alas only available on the 6 cylinder models.
Oh and the 3.0d engine is very strong.
richterswil said:
theboss said:
a few surfaces felt cheap and the driver's sun visor in particular felt like it could have been taken off a £6k Kia.
The sun visors in our E70 are dreadful - I'd be disappointed to find them on a £6k Kia never mind a near £60k BMW....fantastic!
If BMW tooled up to make brand new e39's with the current crop of engines / transmissions, I reckon I might buy one.
Matt UK said:
The sun visors in the e39 5 series I used to have were...
...fantastic!
If BMW tooled up to make brand new e39's with the current crop of engines / transmissions, I reckon I might buy one.
Agreed, I've had E39, E46, E90, E83 and now E65 and it's the first time in a BMW I've ever found something as glaringly 'cheap and nasty'. A bit of disappointing moment if I must say so....fantastic!
If BMW tooled up to make brand new e39's with the current crop of engines / transmissions, I reckon I might buy one.
I took a 530d Sport and an E350cdi Sport out back to back and actually thought the Merc had the edge for feedback.
However.......I do think the F10 is a better all round car than the E60.
I guess it depends what you want, if you're after a comfy cruiser that can still handle the back roads it is a winner, if you want an M car that can also do the family business not so much any more.
However.......I do think the F10 is a better all round car than the E60.
I guess it depends what you want, if you're after a comfy cruiser that can still handle the back roads it is a winner, if you want an M car that can also do the family business not so much any more.
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