5 Series M-Sport - Comfortable or not?
5 Series M-Sport - Comfortable or not?
Author
Discussion

un1corn

Original Poster:

2,143 posts

168 months

Sunday 4th March 2018
quotequote all
I've got a 2013 525d SE at the moment. Its obviously on SE wheels and bigger, softer tyres.

Its very comfy, but I want more power. I cant find a 530/535 in Luxury/SE trim anywhere (and I cant afford the new model), so it's gonna have to be an M Sport.

I've driven a new 330i M Sport Touring all week as a works vehicle and it was horrid. Clunky ride that crashed around everywhere, you felt many of the bumps and potholes and you could tell it was a 2.0 engine, which to be honest, is a bit of a disgrace to the 330 badge.

Anyway, I've seen a nice 530d M Sport touring, is it more likely to be as comfortable as my 5 series SE or closer to the hard crashing around of the 3 series?

bmwmike

8,788 posts

139 months

Sunday 4th March 2018
quotequote all
I've got a 530i msport and it is very comfortable on 18 inch wheels. RFT on back and nRFT on front. All subjective though as I've never driven a e90.

rayyan171

1,298 posts

124 months

Sunday 4th March 2018
quotequote all
Good ride is achieved by the Adaptive dampers, make sure the car has that. It should be the cars with the comfort, sport, sport+ settings etc.

snake_oil

2,039 posts

106 months

Sunday 4th March 2018
quotequote all
I notice there's a few 550i SEs around at the moment with adaptive dampers. Get it done!

un1corn

Original Poster:

2,143 posts

168 months

Sunday 4th March 2018
quotequote all
rayyan171 said:
Good ride is achieved by the Adaptive dampers, make sure the car has that. It should be the cars with the comfort, sport, sport+ settings etc.
Yeah, this is what my 525 has and it is noticeable.

Is there any way I can check off the registration what it has? I don't have the VIN and it's still in warranty so the extneded warranty trick doesnt work.

bmwmike

8,788 posts

139 months

Sunday 4th March 2018
quotequote all
Careful.. the f10 550i engine has been fairly dreadful.

snake_oil

2,039 posts

106 months

Sunday 4th March 2018
quotequote all
bmwmike said:
Careful.. the f10 550i engine has been fairly dreadful.
Dreadful in what way.

rayyan171

1,298 posts

124 months

Sunday 4th March 2018
quotequote all
snake_oil said:
Dreadful in what way.
Not the most reliable of BMW engines. Issues with leaking crank cases, issues with intake, valves etc. Engine to avoid apparently. All to experience however.

chandrew

981 posts

240 months

Monday 5th March 2018
quotequote all
As noted, the adaptive suspension should be there to give you the comfort you're looking for.

If you're shopping for this type of car I'd definitely have a go in the latest E class. When we got our 340 we came very close to getting an E400 or E43 estate. In the end it was the small size which was the major plus for the 3 series. From a comfort perspective the E class was the more comfortable car by a decent amount. I think in the UK the bigger E classes get air suspension as standard.

Daaaveee

917 posts

254 months

Monday 5th March 2018
quotequote all
We have a 60 plate F11 535i M Sport on 19s and run flats. I would say the ride is very good, much better than the new 3 series M Sports I have tried on 18s and 19s, and better than the E90 M Sport on 18s and RFTs we had before.

I haven't experienced an SE on 18s to compare though.

rassi

2,518 posts

282 months

Monday 5th March 2018
quotequote all
rayyan171 said:
Not the most reliable of BMW engines. Issues with leaking crank cases, issues with intake, valves etc. Engine to avoid apparently. All to experience however.
The 550i LCI (N63TU) engine, 450 bhp instead of 408 bhp, is much improved.

As to the question of comfort, even my F10 M5 is comfortable on 20" (non run flat, of course), even more so on 19" winter tyres. I think the key is the adaptive suspension.


Fox-

13,575 posts

277 months

Monday 5th March 2018
quotequote all
My 530d M Sport is on 19 inch wheels with RFT's. My previous 530d SE was on 19 inch wheels with both RFT and later non RFT tyres.

I have noticed no material difference in comfort between any of them.

stevesingo

5,048 posts

253 months

Monday 5th March 2018
quotequote all
I've just picked up a '12 plate F11 535d MSport Tourer with passive dampers and on 19" wheels and RFTs. The primary ride is really good, better than my E90 330i MSport on 18" wheels and non RFTs. Where the E90 betters the F11 is over potholes and minor road imperfections, the F11 is a little crashy, probably down to the RFTs.

I suspect 18" wheels will be better, then again, 19" non RFTs would probably be better than 18" RFTs.

Wills2

29,832 posts

206 months

Monday 5th March 2018
quotequote all
M sport on 18" wheels and passive rides really well nice balance between control and comfort, edc is a waste of time imho I had it on an se with 19" and when you encountered the points when you wanted it to do its stuff it just banged and crashed.

Find one with adaptive drive if you can as that it superb.

bmwmike

8,788 posts

139 months

Monday 5th March 2018
quotequote all
VDC does anyone know which of the m5 VDC settings approximates a normal f10 msport for firmness?

Also curious that the m5 doesnt have adaptive drive?


Wills2

29,832 posts

206 months

Monday 5th March 2018
quotequote all
bmwmike said:
VDC does anyone know which of the m5 VDC settings approximates a normal f10 msport for firmness?

Also curious that the m5 doesnt have adaptive drive?
M5 has different suspension not sure you can compare them no rft, different springs, dampers, subframe even down the way its constructed the fact it's bolted directly to the body, different edc software etc

As rule M cars are always firmer no matter what the setting but better damped.



smashy

3,108 posts

189 months

Monday 5th March 2018
quotequote all
Didnt the 5 series have an option of adaptive that cost around £3500 as opposed to the 3 series adaptive costing about £550 obviously far more sophisticated ,does not seem to be on the option builder anymore just one for £985

bmwmike

8,788 posts

139 months

Monday 5th March 2018
quotequote all
Wills2 said:
M5 has different suspension not sure you can compare them no rft, different springs, dampers, subframe even down the way its constructed the fact it's bolted directly to the body, different edc software etc

As rule M cars are always firmer no matter what the setting but better damped.
Yeah i get that, was just wondering what the subjective/comparative "firmness" is between the two.

I think the m5 is remarkable value right now - limited slip diff, VDC, no rear subframe bushes, xenons (adaptive?), M HUD as standard, and the hydraulic steering.

I'm almost - almost - dead set on buying one in the next few months. I've never driven one, i think balls-out it would be too fast for me for most use (my current 530i is plenty fast enough 90% of the time) but the rest of the package is ace. I love the f10 shape too.


Wills2

29,832 posts

206 months

Tuesday 6th March 2018
quotequote all
bmwmike said:
Yeah i get that, was just wondering what the subjective/comparative "firmness" is between the two.

I think the m5 is remarkable value right now - limited slip diff, VDC, no rear subframe bushes, xenons (adaptive?), M HUD as standard, and the hydraulic steering.

I'm almost - almost - dead set on buying one in the next few months. I've never driven one, i think balls-out it would be too fast for me for most use (my current 530i is plenty fast enough 90% of the time) but the rest of the package is ace. I love the f10 shape too.
The experience is different I've had both you're better off driving one.