RE: BMW 535d Estate: Spotted
Discussion
A lot of company cars are base spec with no options. My previous company car choice lists have simply dictated the model and a trim level, and you get whatever standard spec it comes with. Sometimes they will chuck an option pack in, usually they will let you go for a metallic colour, and one previous employer had a blanket policy of speccing sat-nav and parking sensors by default if they weren't standard, but more often than not you got the standard spec of whatever trim level you were entitled to.
One employer I worked for would allow you to add options if you were prepared to pay for them yourself. However, on a company car that you already have a sizeable tax bill on, and which you might hand back early if you decide to move on, it made no sense to sink any of your own cash into it, and so take up was pretty low. Also, there's pretty much no such thing as poverty spec these days.
One employer I worked for would allow you to add options if you were prepared to pay for them yourself. However, on a company car that you already have a sizeable tax bill on, and which you might hand back early if you decide to move on, it made no sense to sink any of your own cash into it, and so take up was pretty low. Also, there's pretty much no such thing as poverty spec these days.
Helicopter123 said:
Ares said:
Helicopter123 said:
Quite a few of these would have been lease cars hence very basic spec.
Not sure why lease cars are basic spec? Any leased car I've had, or seen has been the opposite?dme123 said:
Helicopter123 said:
Ares said:
Helicopter123 said:
Quite a few of these would have been lease cars hence very basic spec.
Not sure why lease cars are basic spec? Any leased car I've had, or seen has been the opposite?Business Nav rather than Pro on a BMW used to be the giveaway.
Helicopter123 said:
dme123 said:
Helicopter123 said:
Ares said:
Helicopter123 said:
Quite a few of these would have been lease cars hence very basic spec.
Not sure why lease cars are basic spec? Any leased car I've had, or seen has been the opposite?Business Nav rather than Pro on a BMW used to be the giveaway.
Helicopter123 said:
dme123 said:
Helicopter123 said:
Ares said:
Helicopter123 said:
Quite a few of these would have been lease cars hence very basic spec.
Not sure why lease cars are basic spec? Any leased car I've had, or seen has been the opposite?Business Nav rather than Pro on a BMW used to be the giveaway.
Chestrockwell said:
Or 335d’s without the M sport plus pack, on the small wheels with massive profile coupled with the x drive, they look ridiculous! I was going to get one but when I realised opting for the pack split the cost of the option over 2 years meaning it was 85 pounds extra a month. I backed out.
There were a load of (assume ex lease deal) 335d tourers that didn’t have LED lights (before they were standard on m sports) no heated seats but had front parking sensors. Great if you just want the engine but otherwise pretty spartanChestrockwell said:
Or 335d’s without the M sport plus pack, on the small wheels with massive profile coupled with the x drive, they look ridiculous! I was going to get one but when I realised opting for the pack split the cost of the option over 2 years meaning it was 85 pounds extra a month. I backed out.
I think you’ve just described my car although I don’t know what the plus pack is, mine doesn’t even have sun protection glass and it’s on 18” wheels. Nice car though. tomic said:
Interestingly, I just looked this car up and it must be Euro 6 compliant as isn't subject to the London ULEZ zone
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emissio...
Does anyone know when they first put the Euro 6 engine in these?
July 2013 was the switch to euro 6 on the 5 series seems bmw did it 2 years before it was needed. https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emissio...
Does anyone know when they first put the Euro 6 engine in these?
Not bad in a straight line, fantastic feeling of build quality, lots of space, lovely place to be, dull as ditchwater to drive, entices you to bully other people on the motorway, tells everyone you're a Tory f
ktard, makes all the other tw@ts at the golf club envious. Perfect for Pistonheads, sadly.
ktard, makes all the other tw@ts at the golf club envious. Perfect for Pistonheads, sadly.Paco Jones said:
Not bad in a straight line, fantastic feeling of build quality, lots of space, lovely place to be, dull as ditchwater to drive, entices you to bully other people on the motorway, tells everyone you're a Tory fktard, makes all the other tw@ts at the golf club envious. Perfect for Pistonheads, sadly.
What on earth are you on about? ktard, makes all the other tw@ts at the golf club envious. Perfect for Pistonheads, sadly.I rate this engine so highly - it's the motor of choice in both of our wagons. Mine is EU5 and High Command's is Eu6 -B57 I think. I genuinely don't know what else I'd want / need for day to day use - frugal, pretty punchy and smooth / revvy enough to feel not too short changed, given that it sups from the wrong stuff.
Probably doesn't offer much over the 30d but no price penalty at trade in time so it seemed rude not to, particularly given the better spec that the 40/35d's I looked at offered with no cost penalty.
Probably doesn't offer much over the 30d but no price penalty at trade in time so it seemed rude not to, particularly given the better spec that the 40/35d's I looked at offered with no cost penalty.
Late model F11 535d M-sport barge here. Slightly oddball spec - adaptive dampers, pano roof, Head-up display and towbar (!)
+
Drivetrain is smooth and effortless - this is the highlight of the car for me
Limo-like ride with the adaptive dampers (once you've abandoned the runflats and downsized to 18" alloys)
Perfectly sized for family duties and very practical load space
Solid build quality and refinement (soundproofing is particularly excellent)
Great motorway cruiser due to strong wall of torque
Head-up display is a surprisingly good safety feature and very useful
36 MPG easily achievable
HK stereo - excellent system
-
Dynamically it's not very interesting to drive and doesn't take well to being 'hustled'
Lifeless and over-servo'd steering
Body control is good but it feels every part of its 1,800kg weight - sometimes I think the brakes are struggling to keep up
Have you every tried parallel parking an oil tanker?!
On balance I would say a 335d touring x-drive would make more sense if you don't need the extra space. Otherwise, it's a really decent luxo-barge. Given the diesel-hate these days I can see these as a shrewd used buy. Can't see the comparison to the RS6 myself - different proposition entirely.
+
Drivetrain is smooth and effortless - this is the highlight of the car for me
Limo-like ride with the adaptive dampers (once you've abandoned the runflats and downsized to 18" alloys)
Perfectly sized for family duties and very practical load space
Solid build quality and refinement (soundproofing is particularly excellent)
Great motorway cruiser due to strong wall of torque
Head-up display is a surprisingly good safety feature and very useful
36 MPG easily achievable
HK stereo - excellent system
-
Dynamically it's not very interesting to drive and doesn't take well to being 'hustled'
Lifeless and over-servo'd steering
Body control is good but it feels every part of its 1,800kg weight - sometimes I think the brakes are struggling to keep up
Have you every tried parallel parking an oil tanker?!
On balance I would say a 335d touring x-drive would make more sense if you don't need the extra space. Otherwise, it's a really decent luxo-barge. Given the diesel-hate these days I can see these as a shrewd used buy. Can't see the comparison to the RS6 myself - different proposition entirely.
Paco Jones said:
Not bad in a straight line, fantastic feeling of build quality, lots of space, lovely place to be, dull as ditchwater to drive, entices you to bully other people on the motorway, tells everyone you're a Tory fktard, makes all the other tw@ts at the golf club envious. Perfect for Pistonheads, sadly.
Utter bktard, makes all the other tw@ts at the golf club envious. Perfect for Pistonheads, sadly.ks - I’d wager you’ve never driven one too. Also interested in the bullying people on the m way
Tory f
ktards - are you a poor socialist then hahaJesus it’s a lovely car superb interior - not 6 series good very good performance loads of kit do 600 miles and get out fresh (likely on the way to a golf club
)Paco Jones said:
Not bad in a straight line, fantastic feeling of build quality, lots of space, lovely place to be, dull as ditchwater to drive, entices you to bully other people on the motorway, tells everyone you're a Tory fktard, makes all the other tw@ts at the golf club envious. Perfect for Pistonheads, sadly.
Would love to hear what you think about M5 drivers ktard, makes all the other tw@ts at the golf club envious. Perfect for Pistonheads, sadly.
The thing is with these powerful diesels is that they have so much torque, it’s hard to stay at 70 on the motorway because you think you’re taking it easy and next thing you know, you’re on 85, then some plonker in a 1.0 fiesta decides to over take a middle lane hogger but stays at 70 while doing so, so you end up up his behind, foot on the brake and viola, you’re tailgating him! Then he takes forever to move so you get annoyed, floor it past him til someone else decides to do the same. Rinse and repeat.
See - BMW Motorway Bully
See - BMW Motorway Bully
Chestrockwell said:
The thing is with these powerful diesels is that they have so much torque, it’s hard to stay at 70 on the motorway because you think you’re taking it easy and next thing you know, you’re on 85, then some plonker in a 1.0 fiesta decides to over take a middle lane hogger but stays at 70 while doing so, so you end up up his behind, foot on the brake and viola, you’re tailgating him! Then he takes forever to move so you get annoyed, floor it past him til someone else decides to do the same. Rinse and repeat.
See - BMW Motorway Bully
No it’s not. See - BMW Motorway Bully
Anyone who cannot control the speed of their car shouldn’t be on the road.
You do realise you can turn on the limiter so even if foot to the floor at 70mph you’ll go no faster OR set the speed alarm on (I have this at 83mph so when I’m say accelerating WOT 4th from 30mph to the cut out and changing up and up and up I’ve the alarm to give me the chance do you really want to risk big points or a ban and it works).
Note I genuinely rarely breach 70mph these days - sure I do but I’m greatful of those electronic warnings to prevent any accident of not realising I’m doing 50mph over the 70mph speed limit on the public roads
I have a F10 535d on 17 inch wheels, no runflats, and full adaptive drive including the electric motor anti-roll system, plus comfort seats and the full Logic 7 sound system.
I’ve done 145,000 miles in it, drive a 180mile daily commute and average bang on 40mpg. I simply cannot think or find anything to replace it with other than the same again. I typically do a ten hour flight and then face a 90 minute commute home and I love the 535d’s blend of refinement, ride, thrust and thrift. Very few cars can pull away from you and any overtaking opportunity is an opportunity. In comfort mode it’s as soft as a pillow and reminds me strongly of an X350 Jag XJ. In Sport mode it charges hard bouncing of the limiter and corners flatter than a GTi. When cruising along at 80mph it’s as quiet as a library, or, as loud as a symphony hall with 18 speakers including bass units under the seat - it’s my favourite place to listen to music.
The ONLY weakness is mine has the halogen angel-eye headlights and they are absolutely bloody rubbish. Too expensive to retrofit xenon though.
Tourings are just as nice and I had an E60 touring but be aware that rear air suspension is another point of failure that can hand you a £1000 bill.
I think I’m going to take mine around to 250,000 miles. Newer models add more electric tech that I don’t really need. Will probably go fir the G30 530d X Drive in a couple of years. The extra traction on wet roads would be a useful feature and when you look at the torque figures there is no longer a worthwhile gain from going the extra £5000 fir the 535d. The extra power just adds top speed that I don’t go within 55mph of seeing.
Jeremy Clarksons review was spot on.
Mind you, could not be a bigger contrast when I jump in the GT86, talk about chalk and cheese!
I’ve done 145,000 miles in it, drive a 180mile daily commute and average bang on 40mpg. I simply cannot think or find anything to replace it with other than the same again. I typically do a ten hour flight and then face a 90 minute commute home and I love the 535d’s blend of refinement, ride, thrust and thrift. Very few cars can pull away from you and any overtaking opportunity is an opportunity. In comfort mode it’s as soft as a pillow and reminds me strongly of an X350 Jag XJ. In Sport mode it charges hard bouncing of the limiter and corners flatter than a GTi. When cruising along at 80mph it’s as quiet as a library, or, as loud as a symphony hall with 18 speakers including bass units under the seat - it’s my favourite place to listen to music.
The ONLY weakness is mine has the halogen angel-eye headlights and they are absolutely bloody rubbish. Too expensive to retrofit xenon though.
Tourings are just as nice and I had an E60 touring but be aware that rear air suspension is another point of failure that can hand you a £1000 bill.
I think I’m going to take mine around to 250,000 miles. Newer models add more electric tech that I don’t really need. Will probably go fir the G30 530d X Drive in a couple of years. The extra traction on wet roads would be a useful feature and when you look at the torque figures there is no longer a worthwhile gain from going the extra £5000 fir the 535d. The extra power just adds top speed that I don’t go within 55mph of seeing.
Jeremy Clarksons review was spot on.
Mind you, could not be a bigger contrast when I jump in the GT86, talk about chalk and cheese!
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