New family wagon - 523i

[Krise]

Evening all, after much searching and deliberations I had decided on an ISF as the next family wagon, however , deep down I think I new that I needed a big family barge, and when this one turned up less than a mile from me I took it as a sign to concede that a fast car, and family wagon rolled into one wasn't going to happen with my budget.

So today I collected this, 2012 523i alpine white, black leather,

Healthy list of option such as pro nav, business stereo, adaptive lights, electric boot, infact the person who first owned the car stuck 10 grands worth of options on it.

It's has a full history, even having had its MOT's at the supplying BMW dealer

Lovely 3.0, has a little poke but nothing that's going to set the world on fire but that's not what it's about.

Also these things are huge, the boot is like a cave, coming from a M135i this thing feels literally 3 times the size !

Now I don't have a fun car anymore I suppose it's time to drag my MX5 out of the garage after not having turned a wheel in 2.5 years and get the thing set up as I always wanted to......this will probably take another 2 years mind

Edited by Krise on Friday 10th June 20:42

[Trabi601]

Didn't realise the 523i was a 3.0 straight 6 - thought it was a turbo 4, like the 328i and 330i.

F10s are wonderful things, though, aren't they?

[Krise]

I initially thought the 523 was a turbo also and a 2.0 at that, I didn't drive it until I picked it up and the dealer started taxing it online for me I realised it was a 2996cc

Yes it's a wonderful thing, I'm glad I bought it I have done about 150 miles in it today and it's just awesome

[philmots]

Any things better that a diesel mate, the 3.0 i6 is so creamy it'll be lovely in that.

[parabolica]

Krise said:

I initially thought the 523 was a turbo also and a 2.0 at that, I didn't drive it until I picked it up and the dealer started taxing it online for me I realised it was a 2996cc

Yes it's a wonderful thing, I'm glad I bought it I have done about 150 miles in it today and it's just awesome

I wonder if that's the same engine as in my 640i - if so only BMW could badge one car as x23 and another x40 when both have a 3l

[TotalControl]

The 523 has a 3.0 in it? Since when and why are they badged like that then?

Car looks rather lovely. I find myself being drawn to appreciate BMWs lately.

[Car Fan]

TotalControl said:

The 523 has a 3.0 in it? Since when and why are they badged like that then?

Car looks rather lovely. I find myself being drawn to appreciate BMWs lately.

I think the naturally aspirated petrol options in the F10/11 from launch all used the N53 3.0 engine in varying states of tune, badged 523i, 528i and 530i. Then, in 2012, the 523i was discontinued and the 528i became a turbo 4 pot with the N20 engine (which also powered the 520i that was launched at the same time), leaving the 530i as the only naturally aspirated petrol option (until that was also discontinued, I can't remember when).

I agree with early comments regarding the car, OP, it looks lovely. I believe it has 204 bhp? Should go well enough, anyway, and be much smoother than the equivalent diesel.

[aspirated]

Was expecting to see an E39 in this thread

[Vitorio]

That is one very nice family wagon, a six cilinder in a 5 series, yum

[Truckosaurus]

Car Fan said:

...I believe it has 204 bhp? ....

If it is anything like the lesser powered 3.0 in other BMWs then some free power can easily be realised with a remap (eg. 125i vs 130i).

[sjj84]

I'm looking for one of these at the moment, is that the one from west Kent cars? Not many about in a sea of 520d's. I believe they can be remaped to 265bhp, does it feel like it needs more power or is it quite competent for wafting around?

[Krise]

Yeah SJ picked this up from west Kent

All of his stock is nicely prepped and ready to drive away, he's quite a no nonsense dealer I would imagine would rub some people up the wrong way but I appreciated his honesty, hence a purchase.

If you let him know what your after he will get back to you if something comes in

[Krise]

sjj84 said:

I'm looking for one of these at the moment, is that the one from west Kent cars? Not many about in a sea of 520d's. I believe they can be remaped to 265bhp, does it feel like it needs more power or is it quite competent for wafting around?

For what it is it doesn't need any more than it has, there's no torque at the bottom end of the Rev range but once it gets going it's as quick as you need in every day life really

I have done about 400 miles this weekend mix of roads, best mpg was 35 at 60mph for about 15 miles, worst was 11 when really pushing on down some back roads and then hitting a lot of 1st and 2nd gear traffic, total average is 33.2mpg so not to bad, it has a massive fuel tank 75l I think

[JakeT]

An F11 523i. My pick of the choice. Not over stressed 3.0 6 and if one can find one comes with a manual gearbox! 33 isn't all that bad for such a large car, an E46 330i won't do it.

[Trabi601]

F10 / F11s are superb cars. Impeccable build quality, quiet, refined, spacious. Much more nimble on the road than you'd expect from such a big car.

[sjj84]

Sounds ideal, not many about currently. I don't suppose there are that many in the UK, I believe they only had the 3 litre straight 6 for the first year or two. Loads and loads of 520d's everywhere, hopefully one will turn up soon.

How do you find the ride on 19" runflats?

[Krise]

The ride on the run flats is awful !

However the tyres all have around 6mm tread so I don't really want to change them yet, I'll stick it out for as long as I can but would rather a non run flat option

[mattwhite709]

There's something I love about fast estates and this is no different!

[sjj84]

I had runflats on my z4 coupe originally, changing them made a massive difference to ride and tramlining.

Don't think the f11 has space for a spare in the boot does it?

[Krise]

No space saver or spare and no space for one so just a can of tyre gunk