M5 F10 hints 'n' tips please

M5 F10 hints 'n' tips please

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Discussion

james22

Original Poster:

62 posts

180 months

Thursday 7th January 2016
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After a few years of enforced automotive drudgery due to business commitments I'm finally getting myself back into a car that is actually something akin to a sports car.

In the intervening time since my last "fast car" no 2 child has turned up (don't know how that happened!) and so, after much internal debate,test driving and man maths I have settled on a two year old black M5 which arrives on Monday.

Despite the fact that it's probably going to snow in the next week and 550+bhp through a rear wheel drive saloon may prove rather challenging I'm still rather excited.

So the question is this to current and past owners - whilst buying a new car is always fun and a very enjoyable discovery process what would you of wanted to about your cars before you owned them that you have found out since? Good and bad?


Jazzer

1,665 posts

203 months

Thursday 7th January 2016
quotequote all
I 've found nothing I don't like, only good things!

Very economical on fuel compared to the E60.....even got me from London to Glasgow on a single tank of V-Power!

Amazing technology....still finding out new things almost three years in!

You will like.....creep mode for manoeuvring in tight areas.....automatic adjustment to ambient lighting.....accepting text messages......advance heating/cooling.....incredible performance (even after the E60).....cool car.....just wins.....running at least 600bhp standard.....comfortable.....adjustable to excellent effect......stunning grand tourer (is there anything better??).......extremely reliable and well built.....feels classy.....surround view is brilliant....walking towards it after a hard day at work, thinking "That's my M5 there!"

I quite like them really!

theboss

6,878 posts

218 months

Thursday 7th January 2016
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As above, I'm 20k miles into mine and the enjoyment hasn't started to wear one bit. A few quality niggles perhaps, but we're talking the odd rattle rather than anything about the way it drives. It's astonishingly capable and comfortable as an all-round cruiser. As far as the weather is concerned, you'll just need to show some restraint - personally I like the engagement factor in that the car rewards good driving - but by the same token it will punish ham-fisted inputs even with DSC fully on!

Wills2

22,669 posts

174 months

Thursday 7th January 2016
quotequote all
I'm on 26k over 10 months, things that have surprised me are high 20's MPG on a run you can get 450-500 miles from a tank, the rear tyre wear on MPSS is great, traction in warmer temps is good but tails off in cold wet/damp weather to the point that it will spin up at 3k in 2nd with the TC fully on.

The shove it's got from 80mph is incredible I've never felt anything like it but it can be a hushed comfy cruiser or a tyre shredding nutter all at the touch of a button.

You have to treat it with respect it can bite if you're ham fisted and use the loud pedal like a switch, the TC can only do so much.

Round town/local driving it does like a drink 15-18mpg in my experience, the standard HUD is great as are the optional multifunction seats.

I too have a few random rattles which I hope to get sorted at the next service.






TVR4500cc

188 posts

175 months

Thursday 7th January 2016
quotequote all
Epic car!

My 2013 car's just gone - now for sale at Hippo Prestige Blackburn if anyone wants a low mile minter!!

Things you need / want to know:

Wheel nut is in the handy tool box that's in the boot lid, not under the carpet flap in the boot

Get the geo checked - factory settings not guaranteed to be perfect, got 17,000 miles out of the original set of tyres, not bad for spirited cross country driving?? Just put a full set of original spec Michelins on which are great in all weathers and for under £1k

Saw average 29 mpg once on a motorway run

Always press these 3 buttons when you get in before driving off - start engine then auto stop / start then MDM

Using MDM will lead to more fun, and save your rear brake pads too - my wife did hers in 10k miles on an Evoque the M5 didn't need any in its 17k miles

The accelerator travels a lot further than you'd think, probably only used 3/4 throttle in the first 3 months - did I mention rocket ship? And that's after some tasty 2 seater cars

Car was bullet proof, no issues and free oil top ups with the brilliant service plan (must have)



Bad points:

You'll blow your brains financially on a new one - buy used and have a warranty and £30k spare for fuel

She's a big old bus and whilst she motors on like a rocket ship she's no Ferrari through the twisties

17 mpg urban commute - personally I think that's pretty good, but not as good as some more exotic sports cars

Soft close doors are a waste of money if you have kids, whilst they quickly mastered the rear entertainment, they could NOT gently push doors shut ... .... slam. Good old German engineering though.

Biggest problem - what do you replace her with - another one??


Best of luck, I'm sure you'll love her, press MDM ... ... but keep your wits about you!






Harris_I

3,225 posts

258 months

Thursday 7th January 2016
quotequote all
Jazzer said:
creep mode for manoeuvring in tight areas
I find the car to have possibly the worst throttle modulation at low speed of any car I've owned. It's a digital switch. Maneuvering in tight spots is a pain.


Wills2

22,669 posts

174 months

Thursday 7th January 2016
quotequote all
Harris_I said:
Jazzer said:
creep mode for manoeuvring in tight areas
I find the car to have possibly the worst throttle modulation at low speed of any car I've owned. It's a digital switch. Maneuvering in tight spots is a pain.
Really? I was blocked in at the Harrogate show ground a few weeks ago in an almost impossible position that required millimetric precision to get out and even I managed to extricate myself, I think it's pretty good.

MDifficult

2,019 posts

184 months

Friday 8th January 2016
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Harris_I said:
I find the car to have possibly the worst throttle modulation at low speed of any car I've owned. It's a digital switch. Maneuvering in tight spots is a pain.
I'm not sure you've found creep mode then wink I was having the same problem as you (in fact, reversing up a wet mossy sloped driveway was just a series of burnouts!) until I looked in the manual.

To get creep mode (forward or backward) just put it in 1st or reverse and then gently tap the throttle then take your foot right off. It'll gently creep forwards (or back) even on the steepest of slopes with no drama. Brilliant for parking, especially on slopes.



joscal

2,072 posts

199 months

Friday 8th January 2016
quotequote all
Harris_I said:
I find the car to have possibly the worst throttle modulation at low speed of any car I've owned. It's a digital switch. Maneuvering in tight spots is a pain.
I imagine you mean from D into reverse? It is slow..

W8PMC

3,345 posts

237 months

Friday 8th January 2016
quotequote all
They're an epic car & i'm still in awe of everything about mine.

They appear rock solid in the build quality dept. & are intergalactic fast whilst still enjoyable to drive sedately when the mood takes.

Enjoy your new M5 as i'm sure you willsmile

Harris_I

3,225 posts

258 months

Friday 8th January 2016
quotequote all
joscal said:
I imagine you mean from D into reverse? It is slow..
Nope not what I mean.



Harris_I

3,225 posts

258 months

Friday 8th January 2016
quotequote all
MDifficult said:
I'm not sure you've found creep mode then wink I was having the same problem as you (in fact, reversing up a wet mossy sloped driveway was just a series of burnouts!) until I looked in the manual.

To get creep mode (forward or backward) just put it in 1st or reverse and then gently tap the throttle then take your foot right off. It'll gently creep forwards (or back) even on the steepest of slopes with no drama. Brilliant for parking, especially on slopes.
I do use creep mode but to me it's still a digital switch. Works well on a hill but I still prefer not to devolve control to computers. In tight gaps one gets more precision with a proper manual clutch and a car with old fashioned mechanical throttle.

I particularly don't like the way the car can hesitate for a fraction of a second on accelerating into a busy roundabout. All part of the drive by wire experience that comes with all modern cars.


joscal

2,072 posts

199 months

Friday 8th January 2016
quotequote all
Harris_I said:
I do use creep mode but to me it's still a digital switch. Works well on a hill but I still prefer not to devolve control to computers. In tight gaps one gets more precision with a proper manual clutch and a car with old fashioned mechanical throttle.

I particularly don't like the way the car can hesitate for a fraction of a second on accelerating into a busy roundabout. All part of the drive by wire experience that comes with all modern cars.
I genuinely don't have any issues apart from D to reverse, my daily commute is an hour of stop start and roundabouts. Seems strange, what throttle setting do you use?

Wills2

22,669 posts

174 months

Friday 8th January 2016
quotequote all
The only issue I have is the gearbox sometimes decides to set off in 2nd and sometimes in 1st (when in auto) if you're not aware then it can come as a surprise as you have to give it a lot more in 2nd than 1st.


Harris_I

3,225 posts

258 months

Friday 8th January 2016
quotequote all
joscal said:
I genuinely don't have any issues apart from D to reverse, my daily commute is an hour of stop start and roundabouts. Seems strange, what throttle setting do you use?
Usually sport.

It's not just the whole 1st gear/2nd gear thing from start off. It's the fact that modern throttles are electronic. When you just want to tickle it, it gives you creep mode which is a fixed speed. When you want to set off into a busy roundabout or out of a side road but you don't want to light up the afterburners, it gives you a momentary delay between depressing the accelerator an inch or two and getting a response. It's not turbo lag (in that regard the M5 is actually pretty good). Instead it's as if an engineer specified that the throttle should give a range of five different outputs based on five different inputs. Some people won't be bothered by it.

Maybe I'm spoiled and my standards are unreasonably high - it's why I keep two cars in my garage which are the very definition of old school control freakery: the integrale and the 996 GT3. Primary controls are unimpeachable and the chassis on both is so inherently brilliant that (making allowances for modern tyres and chassis rigidity) they remain an absolute benchmark. Almost nothing modern I've driven has that balance between immersion and daily usability. I could mention Caterham and the like but that would be a pointless comparison with a 2 tonne M5.

Anyway, it's still an excellent car. I just haven't come to love it in the way I thought I would. But that may be because I can't really love anything with modern electronically regulated powertrains.

tree7777

333 posts

118 months

Friday 8th January 2016
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Sold my 2013 M5 ( black one) few months ago. Loved the car! Did 16,000 miles. The reason they appear (and do) take such a hit is the massive discounts BMW give (£10000-£20000 off rrp) and the 0% APR rates IMO. Hated the stop/start and the road tax bill!! Other than that it's great. Enjoy

vmackie

33 posts

180 months

Friday 8th January 2016
quotequote all
Brilliant idea this topic.I have only had my M5 a few months and have not had a chance to drive it much as yet.
Also the printed manual was missing from the car and I am still waiting for the dealer to produce one for me.(on back order with BMW)
All this means I basically have no idea on a lot of cars capabilities.
With a car this complex I imagine people find out new things even after many months of ownership.


tree7777

333 posts

118 months

Saturday 9th January 2016
quotequote all
Yes that's half the fun!!! I never read the manual

likesachange

2,630 posts

193 months

Saturday 9th January 2016
quotequote all
Jazzer said:
I 've found nothing I don't like, only good things!

Very economical on fuel compared to the E60.....even got me from London to Glasgow on a single tank of V-Power!

Amazing technology....still finding out new things almost three years in!

You will like.....creep mode for manoeuvring in tight areas.....automatic adjustment to ambient lighting.....accepting text messages......advance heating/cooling.....incredible performance (even after the E60).....cool car.....just wins.....running at least 600bhp standard.....comfortable.....adjustable to excellent effect......stunning grand tourer (is there anything better??).......extremely reliable and well built.....feels classy.....surround view is brilliant....walking towards it after a hard day at work, thinking "That's my M5 there!"

I quite like them really!
I maybe should read the manual... Accepting text messages?? Advance heating/cooling ??

Am sure there's more I don't know too. But like the poster above only had mine since October and just ran in and since the. It hasn't stopped raining so not had chance to exploit it yet... Very frustrating !

theboss

6,878 posts

218 months

Saturday 9th January 2016
quotequote all
vmackie said:
Brilliant idea this topic.I have only had my M5 a few months and have not had a chance to drive it much as yet.
Also the printed manual was missing from the car and I am still waiting for the dealer to produce one for me.(on back order with BMW)
All this means I basically have no idea on a lot of cars capabilities.
With a car this complex I imagine people find out new things even after many months of ownership.
A quick google reveals this...

http://f10.m5post.com/forums/attachment.php?s=13c7...