Looking a F10 M5's. What do I need to know?
Discussion
rassi said:
TREMAiNE said:
Hi All
Quite few people mentioned LCI? Forgive my lack of knowledge but could someone advise what the LCI version is and what makes it better over the standard car?
The LCI (facelift) changed the headlights (adaptive LED became an option) and rears (very subtle), different steering wheel, different iDrive controller (touch pad integrated on top of it), so not a huge change from the outside and the steering wheel (which IMO is a real improvement) can be retrofitted.Quite few people mentioned LCI? Forgive my lack of knowledge but could someone advise what the LCI version is and what makes it better over the standard car?
More details here:
https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/2014-bmw-m5-get...
My car is an LCI, so I got the adaptive xenons as standard. They are very clever.
The updated wheel and idrive touch controller are well worth having. I have read that they also sorted out some issues with the steering mapping on the LCI, but I have not driven a pre-LCI car back to back to see how noticable it is.
The early reviews complained about steering feel and the post LCI ones are more positive.
The competition pack, which was introduced with the LCI is well regarded, but I found few cars were available and that they traded at a hefty premium. Having test driven a standard car I decided I could get by with 560hp.
I've had my M5 for nearly 2 years now and recently fallen back in love with it. I use it for normal stuff, no trackdays, but I tow my race car around the country with it and it has performed flawlessly. Although MPG when towing is pretty scary!
The beauty of the M5 in my eyes is the understated nature of them, to 99% of the people out there, you are driving a family saloon car, only to the people in the know are you driving a 560BHP beast that is quite capable of holding it’s own with pretty much anything on the road.
It has 5 year service plan so I make sure I change the pads before it goes in, just so they don’t have an excuse. Now they are a bit older you can buy pads for less than £50 and discs for sub £200, this price is coming down all the time.
My only regret was not getting the folding rear seats, it’s amazing how the car turns into a reverse tardis as soon as you want to put something with any length in there.
The only negative thing I have to say is regarding the traction control. The default level is just a joke, it really hampers progress and wears the rear discs/pads very quickly indeed. Where I live the roads are all small B roads, twisty and greasy. In Winter the car is almost undrivable without switching to MDM mode, which stops the baulking everytime you think about touching the gas, once I started only driving it in MDM, I fell back in love with it, but you have to double press a button each time you get in and there is no way to make that the default mode. Perhaps less of an issue for those with very light feet or who spend most of the time in traffic or on the motorway, but for me it was a big thing.
I came to the M5 from a 458 and the traction control on that was much less aggressive.
The beauty of the M5 in my eyes is the understated nature of them, to 99% of the people out there, you are driving a family saloon car, only to the people in the know are you driving a 560BHP beast that is quite capable of holding it’s own with pretty much anything on the road.
It has 5 year service plan so I make sure I change the pads before it goes in, just so they don’t have an excuse. Now they are a bit older you can buy pads for less than £50 and discs for sub £200, this price is coming down all the time.
My only regret was not getting the folding rear seats, it’s amazing how the car turns into a reverse tardis as soon as you want to put something with any length in there.
The only negative thing I have to say is regarding the traction control. The default level is just a joke, it really hampers progress and wears the rear discs/pads very quickly indeed. Where I live the roads are all small B roads, twisty and greasy. In Winter the car is almost undrivable without switching to MDM mode, which stops the baulking everytime you think about touching the gas, once I started only driving it in MDM, I fell back in love with it, but you have to double press a button each time you get in and there is no way to make that the default mode. Perhaps less of an issue for those with very light feet or who spend most of the time in traffic or on the motorway, but for me it was a big thing.
I came to the M5 from a 458 and the traction control on that was much less aggressive.
cashmax said:
I've had my M5 for nearly 2 years now and recently fallen back in love with it. I use it for normal stuff, no trackdays, but I tow my race car around the country with it and it has performed flawlessly. Although MPG when towing is pretty scary!
The beauty of the M5 in my eyes is the understated nature of them, to 99% of the people out there, you are driving a family saloon car, only to the people in the know are you driving a 560BHP beast that is quite capable of holding it’s own with pretty much anything on the road.
It has 5 year service plan so I make sure I change the pads before it goes in, just so they don’t have an excuse. Now they are a bit older you can buy pads for less than £50 and discs for sub £200, this price is coming down all the time.
My only regret was not getting the folding rear seats, it’s amazing how the car turns into a reverse tardis as soon as you want to put something with any length in there.
The only negative thing I have to say is regarding the traction control. The default level is just a joke, it really hampers progress and wears the rear discs/pads very quickly indeed. Where I live the roads are all small B roads, twisty and greasy. In Winter the car is almost undrivable without switching to MDM mode, which stops the baulking everytime you think about touching the gas, once I started only driving it in MDM, I fell back in love with it, but you have to double press a button each time you get in and there is no way to make that the default mode. Perhaps less of an issue for those with very light feet or who spend most of the time in traffic or on the motorway, but for me it was a big thing.
I came to the M5 from a 458 and the traction control on that was much less aggressive.
Could MDM not be included in the M1 or M2 setting, which you have to press anyway to get out of "Efficient" mode? Must say, I haven't dared switch to MDM during winter time, but will have a go.The beauty of the M5 in my eyes is the understated nature of them, to 99% of the people out there, you are driving a family saloon car, only to the people in the know are you driving a 560BHP beast that is quite capable of holding it’s own with pretty much anything on the road.
It has 5 year service plan so I make sure I change the pads before it goes in, just so they don’t have an excuse. Now they are a bit older you can buy pads for less than £50 and discs for sub £200, this price is coming down all the time.
My only regret was not getting the folding rear seats, it’s amazing how the car turns into a reverse tardis as soon as you want to put something with any length in there.
The only negative thing I have to say is regarding the traction control. The default level is just a joke, it really hampers progress and wears the rear discs/pads very quickly indeed. Where I live the roads are all small B roads, twisty and greasy. In Winter the car is almost undrivable without switching to MDM mode, which stops the baulking everytime you think about touching the gas, once I started only driving it in MDM, I fell back in love with it, but you have to double press a button each time you get in and there is no way to make that the default mode. Perhaps less of an issue for those with very light feet or who spend most of the time in traffic or on the motorway, but for me it was a big thing.
I came to the M5 from a 458 and the traction control on that was much less aggressive.
rassi said:
cashmax said:
I've had my M5 for nearly 2 years now and recently fallen back in love with it. I use it for normal stuff, no trackdays, but I tow my race car around the country with it and it has performed flawlessly. Although MPG when towing is pretty scary!
The beauty of the M5 in my eyes is the understated nature of them, to 99% of the people out there, you are driving a family saloon car, only to the people in the know are you driving a 560BHP beast that is quite capable of holding it’s own with pretty much anything on the road.
It has 5 year service plan so I make sure I change the pads before it goes in, just so they don’t have an excuse. Now they are a bit older you can buy pads for less than £50 and discs for sub £200, this price is coming down all the time.
My only regret was not getting the folding rear seats, it’s amazing how the car turns into a reverse tardis as soon as you want to put something with any length in there.
The only negative thing I have to say is regarding the traction control. The default level is just a joke, it really hampers progress and wears the rear discs/pads very quickly indeed. Where I live the roads are all small B roads, twisty and greasy. In Winter the car is almost undrivable without switching to MDM mode, which stops the baulking everytime you think about touching the gas, once I started only driving it in MDM, I fell back in love with it, but you have to double press a button each time you get in and there is no way to make that the default mode. Perhaps less of an issue for those with very light feet or who spend most of the time in traffic or on the motorway, but for me it was a big thing.
I came to the M5 from a 458 and the traction control on that was much less aggressive.
Could MDM not be included in the M1 or M2 setting, which you have to press anyway to get out of "Efficient" mode? Must say, I haven't dared switch to MDM during winter time, but will have a go.The beauty of the M5 in my eyes is the understated nature of them, to 99% of the people out there, you are driving a family saloon car, only to the people in the know are you driving a 560BHP beast that is quite capable of holding it’s own with pretty much anything on the road.
It has 5 year service plan so I make sure I change the pads before it goes in, just so they don’t have an excuse. Now they are a bit older you can buy pads for less than £50 and discs for sub £200, this price is coming down all the time.
My only regret was not getting the folding rear seats, it’s amazing how the car turns into a reverse tardis as soon as you want to put something with any length in there.
The only negative thing I have to say is regarding the traction control. The default level is just a joke, it really hampers progress and wears the rear discs/pads very quickly indeed. Where I live the roads are all small B roads, twisty and greasy. In Winter the car is almost undrivable without switching to MDM mode, which stops the baulking everytime you think about touching the gas, once I started only driving it in MDM, I fell back in love with it, but you have to double press a button each time you get in and there is no way to make that the default mode. Perhaps less of an issue for those with very light feet or who spend most of the time in traffic or on the motorway, but for me it was a big thing.
I came to the M5 from a 458 and the traction control on that was much less aggressive.
I'd like to hear where the £200 discs are coming from mind - surely not via BMW?
hertfordshire1 said:
Even with it set on M buttons still requires double pressing to acknowledge you are turning off TC.
I'd like to hear where the £200 discs are coming from mind - surely not via BMW?
Not from BMW, any of the normal candidates like ATE & Zimmermann. I have no doubt that BMW will continue charging 2 or 3 times that for as long as people continue to buy them. -)I'd like to hear where the £200 discs are coming from mind - surely not via BMW?
rassi said:
Could MDM not be included in the M1 or M2 setting, which you have to press anyway to get out of "Efficient" mode? Must say, I haven't dared switch to MDM during winter time, but will have a go.
Basic MDM mode is still quite aggressive, but it will allow the car to move around just a bit, certainly enough to stop the TC kicking in every time you touch the throttle. It will allow a small bit of tail out action, but reins it back in quite quickly, but if will give you time to catch it yourself and rescue you if you failcashmax said:
Not from BMW, any of the normal candidates like ATE & Zimmermann. I have no doubt that BMW will continue charging 2 or 3 times that for as long as people continue to buy them. -)
I dont think thats right? for MDM you only have to press the TC button once, if you want it properly off you just hold it down for over 5 seconds - i dont think you have to press ok?if you program MDM totally off in M1 or M2 then you do have to accept the warning
i haven't seen the front discs for less than £270 for Zimmerman, but would love to be proved wrong! (i need new discs soon!)
cashmax said:
I've had my M5 for nearly 2 years now and recently fallen back in love with it. I use it for normal stuff, no trackdays, but I tow my race car around the country with it and it has performed flawlessly. Although MPG when towing is pretty scary!
The beauty of the M5 in my eyes is the understated nature of them, to 99% of the people out there, you are driving a family saloon car, only to the people in the know are you driving a 560BHP beast that is quite capable of holding it’s own with pretty much anything on the road.
It has 5 year service plan so I make sure I change the pads before it goes in, just so they don’t have an excuse. Now they are a bit older you can buy pads for less than £50 and discs for sub £200, this price is coming down all the time.
My only regret was not getting the folding rear seats, it’s amazing how the car turns into a reverse tardis as soon as you want to put something with any length in there.
The only negative thing I have to say is regarding the traction control. The default level is just a joke, it really hampers progress and wears the rear discs/pads very quickly indeed. Where I live the roads are all small B roads, twisty and greasy. In Winter the car is almost undrivable without switching to MDM mode, which stops the baulking everytime you think about touching the gas, once I started only driving it in MDM, I fell back in love with it, but you have to double press a button each time you get in and there is no way to make that the default mode. Perhaps less of an issue for those with very light feet or who spend most of the time in traffic or on the motorway, but for me it was a big thing.
I came to the M5 from a 458 and the traction control on that was much less aggressive.
I’d agree on intervention of TC in wet/greasy conditions. That is apparently reason why many munch their rear pads. For press on best in MDM.. Again this is even more pertinent on the winter tyre set given their pliability they ain’t best on greasy surfaces. Then in slush snow also default to MDM...The beauty of the M5 in my eyes is the understated nature of them, to 99% of the people out there, you are driving a family saloon car, only to the people in the know are you driving a 560BHP beast that is quite capable of holding it’s own with pretty much anything on the road.
It has 5 year service plan so I make sure I change the pads before it goes in, just so they don’t have an excuse. Now they are a bit older you can buy pads for less than £50 and discs for sub £200, this price is coming down all the time.
My only regret was not getting the folding rear seats, it’s amazing how the car turns into a reverse tardis as soon as you want to put something with any length in there.
The only negative thing I have to say is regarding the traction control. The default level is just a joke, it really hampers progress and wears the rear discs/pads very quickly indeed. Where I live the roads are all small B roads, twisty and greasy. In Winter the car is almost undrivable without switching to MDM mode, which stops the baulking everytime you think about touching the gas, once I started only driving it in MDM, I fell back in love with it, but you have to double press a button each time you get in and there is no way to make that the default mode. Perhaps less of an issue for those with very light feet or who spend most of the time in traffic or on the motorway, but for me it was a big thing.
I came to the M5 from a 458 and the traction control on that was much less aggressive.
physprof said:
I was going to add that heavy application of throttle in D initiating down shifts can get it flashing, best to use manual mode and get into right gear to match intentions...
I find that in the level 1 gearbox setting it can be reluctant to downshift, so you need to apply a fair amount of throttle to accelerate and that can lead to the traction control activating. If you use the manual mode, then this does not happen, because you can drop a gear and the car will accelerate more linearly.
It's also better in the more aggressive auto gearbox settings.
Since I figured this out, i rarely see the traction control activating, unless I am over 3/4 throttle on a wet road, in which case, I am glad its there.
cashmax said:
rassi said:
Could MDM not be included in the M1 or M2 setting, which you have to press anyway to get out of "Efficient" mode? Must say, I haven't dared switch to MDM during winter time, but will have a go.
Basic MDM mode is still quite aggressive, but it will allow the car to move around just a bit, certainly enough to stop the TC kicking in every time you touch the throttle. It will allow a small bit of tail out action, but reins it back in quite quickly, but if will give you time to catch it yourself and rescue you if you failFor that reason, I'm wary of it and much prefer to just modulate the throttle properly with full TC on.
spartridge said:
OP - still looking for an M5?
Yes and no.Yes as in I am looking to have one as my next car and everything I've read on here has convinced me that it is the car from me.
No as in I'm not actively looking for one, it's going to take me a good 6-12 months of saving before I'm in a position to start looking.
matt21 said:
Hi guys. Few questions if I may...
Would you avoid the 19 inch wheels? Seem to be very few with these
How would the standard stereo compare to a HK system in a newish 3 Series?
What is the road tax?
Considering one of these or a slightly newer 3.0 Supercharged XF
Road tax is £520 Would you avoid the 19 inch wheels? Seem to be very few with these
How would the standard stereo compare to a HK system in a newish 3 Series?
What is the road tax?
Considering one of these or a slightly newer 3.0 Supercharged XF
My winter wheels are 19s and they look ok, but I think the forged 20s look more special and really show off the very substantial brake disks and rotors.
Makes it easy to see why replacement brakes are so expensive!
I can't give a back to back comparison on the audio and premium audio was a non-negotiable for me so I didn't even look at cars with the standard system.
matt21 said:
Hi guys. Few questions if I may...
Would you avoid the 19 inch wheels? Seem to be very few with these
How would the standard stereo compare to a HK system in a newish 3 Series?
What is the road tax?
Considering one of these or a slightly newer 3.0 Supercharged XF
Mine has 19” I’ve test driven a few with 20” and rider on smaller in my view better. But I’d also got the 19” winters too, so I don’t notice size change. That said for sheer asthetics I’m toying with buying 20” in spring after winters come off. Would you avoid the 19 inch wheels? Seem to be very few with these
How would the standard stereo compare to a HK system in a newish 3 Series?
What is the road tax?
Considering one of these or a slightly newer 3.0 Supercharged XF
For stereo I’d agree with above most have HK so get that, just adds to feel good environment in cabin, especially if you go full leather
if you can get one of few with B&O so much better still but v.few around.matt21 said:
Considering one of these or a slightly newer 3.0 Supercharged XF
As the previous owner of an XF, and the current owner of an M5 (though, I will be selling it soon after 4 years of ownership), you'd be mad to buy the Jag IMHO; the M5 is the massively superior car.In preparation for a new car arriving soon I had my M5 fully valeted yesterday ready to take the 'for sale' photos today. Stupidly, I was enjoying driving some of north Wales' finest roads that I forgot to take any photos before my car was covered in mud and grime
Edited by Andy M on Sunday 14th January 05:03
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