630d GT X-drive
Discussion
What a machine, given one as a loaner and at first, I thought what is that ugly thing, little did I know this thing is brilliant!
I’ve currently got a 430d GC and I’m constantly on the look out for other cars, mostly BMW’s but I can never justify taking the plunge on something not that much better than mine.
This thing is jam packed with options, adaptive air suspension that has a super comfort setting which is baffling, I’m not sure what’s going on in the suspension but I seriously didn’t think it could soak up so many bumps that my 4 series seems to love, even though it has adaptive dampers!
Anyways to the car, I’ve literally fallen in love with it, initial thoughts were that it was too disconnected to the road, no feel for anything and it was too soft and bouncy however I didnt know how to approach it. It’s just a tank, massive in size, must be around 2 tonnes but with the 3.0 diesel, x drive and 460lb ft, it just feels so effortless, especially from 0-30.
The one I’m driving in question has a OTR price of 64,000 and currently up for sale for 42,000 with 2 thousand miles on it. I would actually consider buying this car when it drops down a bit more but being 24 with no kids or anything, it really wouldn’t suit me however I think this could be the ultimate family car. The interior is gorgeous and in a different league to mine, I love the speedo changing from comfort to sport and the ambient lighting, the car is just brilliant.
I love my car but it has compromises, you get the 5 second 0-62 time, you get the toys and economy but you just don’t get the ride, it’s good on a smooth road however on 86% of the bumpy roads on my commute, it’s loud and will literally skip in spirited driving.
The only cons to this car are as follows,
Doesn’t feel as stable above 100mph as my 4 series.
HK Audio is crap compared to the HK in my 430.
Prefer the idrive layout on my car, simpler, but then again maybe that’s because I’m not used to it.
The buttons to press the sensors, to raise/lower the spoiler and the ride height is in one button with 3 tiny spaces to press each one, feels very cheap.
This one I’m not sure it has anything to do with the car however with the amount of torque available, its quite easy to lose control of the steering if accelerating while turning out of a junction/bend or whatever at low speeds due to it being AWD, obviously you’re not meant to do that however in my 4 series (s drive), sometimes I just turn the wheel and go with no fuss or having to wrestle the wheel while having a heart attack, it made me wonder what an RS6 or any high powered AWD would be like, quite annoying.
Looks are subjective but the back end is hideous, ok looking the front but just not pretty at all from the back.
My question is, does any body have a G30 530d? Is it anything like I have described, could it be better than the 6GT? Mynext car target has been a full fat M car, maybe M2/M3/M4 after a year or so however this has changed my mindset, comfort & all weather performance!
I’ve currently got a 430d GC and I’m constantly on the look out for other cars, mostly BMW’s but I can never justify taking the plunge on something not that much better than mine.
This thing is jam packed with options, adaptive air suspension that has a super comfort setting which is baffling, I’m not sure what’s going on in the suspension but I seriously didn’t think it could soak up so many bumps that my 4 series seems to love, even though it has adaptive dampers!
Anyways to the car, I’ve literally fallen in love with it, initial thoughts were that it was too disconnected to the road, no feel for anything and it was too soft and bouncy however I didnt know how to approach it. It’s just a tank, massive in size, must be around 2 tonnes but with the 3.0 diesel, x drive and 460lb ft, it just feels so effortless, especially from 0-30.
The one I’m driving in question has a OTR price of 64,000 and currently up for sale for 42,000 with 2 thousand miles on it. I would actually consider buying this car when it drops down a bit more but being 24 with no kids or anything, it really wouldn’t suit me however I think this could be the ultimate family car. The interior is gorgeous and in a different league to mine, I love the speedo changing from comfort to sport and the ambient lighting, the car is just brilliant.
I love my car but it has compromises, you get the 5 second 0-62 time, you get the toys and economy but you just don’t get the ride, it’s good on a smooth road however on 86% of the bumpy roads on my commute, it’s loud and will literally skip in spirited driving.
The only cons to this car are as follows,
Doesn’t feel as stable above 100mph as my 4 series.
HK Audio is crap compared to the HK in my 430.
Prefer the idrive layout on my car, simpler, but then again maybe that’s because I’m not used to it.
The buttons to press the sensors, to raise/lower the spoiler and the ride height is in one button with 3 tiny spaces to press each one, feels very cheap.
This one I’m not sure it has anything to do with the car however with the amount of torque available, its quite easy to lose control of the steering if accelerating while turning out of a junction/bend or whatever at low speeds due to it being AWD, obviously you’re not meant to do that however in my 4 series (s drive), sometimes I just turn the wheel and go with no fuss or having to wrestle the wheel while having a heart attack, it made me wonder what an RS6 or any high powered AWD would be like, quite annoying.
Looks are subjective but the back end is hideous, ok looking the front but just not pretty at all from the back.
My question is, does any body have a G30 530d? Is it anything like I have described, could it be better than the 6GT? Mynext car target has been a full fat M car, maybe M2/M3/M4 after a year or so however this has changed my mindset, comfort & all weather performance!
If you are accelerating hard out of a junction with a lot of lock on (especially from gravel to tarmac), any high-powered AWD will self-align the front wheels and spin the steering wheel sharply in your hands. A 2WD will do similar, but not to the same extent. Caution, don’t hook your thumbs inside the rim!
I have a G30 530d xdrive. Most of the things you liked about the new 6 definitely apply to the latest 5 series. Very refined, planted, grippy, effortless continent-crosser. Classy cabin, a bit glossier than F10 but not as bling as Audi or Merc. Only a tiny few niggles, such as cheap driving mode switch.
MSport suspension on G30 is actually very well judged and gives great ride quality especially if you ditch the runflats. Adaptive suspension options may improve ride slightly further but they're not as worthwhile as they were on the F10.
Loads of 530d and 540i xdrives now <£40k, and they'll keep dropping.
MSport suspension on G30 is actually very well judged and gives great ride quality especially if you ditch the runflats. Adaptive suspension options may improve ride slightly further but they're not as worthwhile as they were on the F10.
Loads of 530d and 540i xdrives now <£40k, and they'll keep dropping.
I have a 640i GT. It’s a very good, and fairly swift car. The petrol engine is very refined, sometimes a little too quiet but it moves along at a good pace. Quality is superb, leagues ahead of 3/4 series but they are older generation cars. Mine has Nappa leather upgrade which lifts the interior up a level again.
I took some friends to London last week and they commented on it being the nicest car they’d ever been in. White nappa against a dark interior gives it a really luxurious feel.
It is a large old thing, bigger than an X5 which I’ve had a few of and its no sports car, although its grippy. I’ve not noticed the poor ride the OP refers to at all, and would, if anything comment that its a lot more compliant than an 3/4 series. Everyone has a different benchmark though.
I took some friends to London last week and they commented on it being the nicest car they’d ever been in. White nappa against a dark interior gives it a really luxurious feel.
It is a large old thing, bigger than an X5 which I’ve had a few of and its no sports car, although its grippy. I’ve not noticed the poor ride the OP refers to at all, and would, if anything comment that its a lot more compliant than an 3/4 series. Everyone has a different benchmark though.
morellomax said:
I have a G30 530d xdrive. Most of the things you liked about the new 6 definitely apply to the latest 5 series. Very refined, planted, grippy, effortless continent-crosser. Classy cabin, a bit glossier than F10 but not as bling as Audi or Merc. Only a tiny few niggles, such as cheap driving mode switch.
MSport suspension on G30 is actually very well judged and gives great ride quality especially if you ditch the runflats. Adaptive suspension options may improve ride slightly further but they're not as worthwhile as they were on the F10.
Loads of 530d and 540i xdrives now <£40k, and they'll keep dropping.
Yes I’ve had a look, it’s a very good thing that they’re all high spec standard, finding a decent spec F10 was very hard work, I helped my friend look for an F10 520d and ended up getting 14 plate 520d with M-sport plus pack with no pro Nav or sport auto box, hardly any had all of them and most were poverty spec m sports probably from lease companies. It’s nice to see current gen 5’s all look the same inside SE or M sport. MSport suspension on G30 is actually very well judged and gives great ride quality especially if you ditch the runflats. Adaptive suspension options may improve ride slightly further but they're not as worthwhile as they were on the F10.
Loads of 530d and 540i xdrives now <£40k, and they'll keep dropping.
I’ve found a few under 35k however most were s drives and that’s a deal breaker for me, I’ll definitley go for one when they dip below 30 as after that it’s smooth sailing. My friend spent 15k for his 60k mile 14 plate 520d with just the M sport plus pack, doesn’t even have music streaming for Bluetooth. They definitely hold their money well if you buy at the right time.
Edited by Chestrockwell on Sunday 29th April 01:09
Harleyboy said:
I have a 640i GT. It’s a very good, and fairly swift car. The petrol engine is very refined, sometimes a little too quiet but it moves along at a good pace. Quality is superb, leagues ahead of 3/4 series but they are older generation cars. Mine has Nappa leather upgrade which lifts the interior up a level again.
I took some friends to London last week and they commented on it being the nicest car they’d ever been in. White nappa against a dark interior gives it a really luxurious feel.
It is a large old thing, bigger than an X5 which I’ve had a few of and its no sports car, although its grippy. I’ve not noticed the poor ride the OP refers to at all, and would, if anything comment that its a lot more compliant than an 3/4 series. Everyone has a different benchmark though.
Your one must really be nice as the one I had came with standard black Dakota leather which was quite boring! I took some friends to London last week and they commented on it being the nicest car they’d ever been in. White nappa against a dark interior gives it a really luxurious feel.
It is a large old thing, bigger than an X5 which I’ve had a few of and its no sports car, although its grippy. I’ve not noticed the poor ride the OP refers to at all, and would, if anything comment that its a lot more compliant than an 3/4 series. Everyone has a different benchmark though.
I never said poor ride, the ride is fabulous however I said its disconnected to the road as in, it’s so soft, you don’t know if you’re pushing the car too much, you can’t feel the road beneath you, it’s just so quiet and refined! The car isn’t even made for that kind of stuff but considering how it masks it size/weight so well, it made me think I can push it like my 4 until I thought, hold on here, I need to slow down
I got my 4 back today and I can honestly say, this is the first time I’ve gotten in my car in the year and a half I’ve owned it and I’ve thought, this car is old. It felt so loud and bumpy compared to the 6GT, screen looked small, steering was heavier and the engine was a lot louder (or maybe the 6 masked the noise better).
I wonder if the new 3 series will drive or be anything like it, all I want from my car is a comfortable and quiet ride, is that too much to ask for!
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