BMW F11 535D M Sport 2014 (Advice)

[CrystalPowers]

I need some advice ... i have an really enjoy my car 535D Touring 2014 40k miles on the clock. I have come across a 535i (Petrol) Touring, same spec except it has adaptive dampers and double the mileage 80k on the clock.

I am contemplating trading (sideways) to get the same car touring with the 535i petrol engine and adsaptive dampers. What do you think of the transaction and any advice on the trade? Does the touring drive ultra differently on adaptive dampers?

[smashy]

I would say it really would be a massive difference in handling because you would be losing that pre lci SE Standard suspension AKA the Floating Blancmange . I think you would be shocked by the difference. I had your suspension on my F30 30d and it was horrible and thats without your Xdrive as an added negative. The change when I put AC Schnitzer dampers and springs was night and day and you would feel the same.

[CrystalPowers]

Thanks... though my current car is a 535D M Sport and so I have m sport suspension and 19”s so the pre-LCI comment doesn’t apply ?

[SteBrown91]

Think the above poster is getting 3 and 5 series mixed up.

The 3 series xdrive cars have se suspension to give clearance for the awd system. The f10/11 5 series was never sold with awd in the uk so suspension is irrelevant

[smashy]

CrystalPowers said:

Thanks... though my current car is a 535D M Sport and so I have m sport suspension and 19”s so the pre-LCI comment doesn’t apply ?

Do you have Xdrive Crystal Powers (were they not all xdrive ) if so you cannot have M Sport suspension on that set up even if its called an M Sport.................if someone says otherwise I will be amazed and humbly apologise.

[CrystalPowers]

No XDrive - the F11/F10 was rear drive only in the UK.

[smashy]

Apologies.....thought all 3 ltr twin turbo Dervs were xdrive ...guess you will have to have bite the bullit and have a test drive see what you think.

[CrystalPowers]

All, thanks for your replies. I just wanted to update you, I tested the 535i F11 the car was the exact of mine + variable dampers and a few less options. The power felt down versus my 535D on take off and up through 2/3... in-gear traffics driving, the 535D was also better (in an effortless torque use way). The soundtrack... the 535i was amazing... and totally mesmeric at idle and sifting through traffic.

Overall/decision : to step out of my 2014/44k/535D F11 and into any other car will cost me £5-6k in loss. It just wasn’t enough of a difference to warrant the change up.

I AM seriously considering an E63 AMG estate 2014 5.5 BiTurbo.... in the new year, something that will be a significant “change” from our current car.

Also... made me realise how rock solid BMW 535D Touring is... such an accomplished all rounder.

Any ideas on what cool upgrades I could get to give my 535D a new lease of life, ?

[KPB1973]

I'll be interested to hear how you get on with the E63 5.5TT. I tried one when my 530d lease car was on the cusp of going and was really underwhelmed - deafening wind and tyre roar drowned out the V8 sound about 60mph, the interior felt quite brittle.

Lovely steering feel though, and obviously very fast (in a slightly surreal and effortless way).

[Chestrockwell]

CrystalPowers said:

All, thanks for your replies. I just wanted to update you, I tested the 535i F11 the car was the exact of mine + variable dampers and a few less options. The power felt down versus my 535D on take off and up through 2/3... in-gear traffics driving, the 535D was also better (in an effortless torque use way). The soundtrack... the 535i was amazing... and totally mesmeric at idle and sifting through traffic.

Overall/decision : to step out of my 2014/44k/535D F11 and into any other car will cost me £5-6k in loss. It just wasn’t enough of a difference to warrant the change up.

I AM seriously considering an E63 AMG estate 2014 5.5 BiTurbo.... in the new year, something that will be a significant “change” from our current car.

Also... made me realise how rock solid BMW 535D Touring is... such an accomplished all rounder.

Any ideas on what cool upgrades I could get to give my 535D a new lease of life, ?

535d being better than a 535i is expected really, not because the 535i is rubbish, but because of how good the diesel is and how addictive the torque is. You don’t even hear it half the time when cruising along and when you press on, all you hear is the turbo whistle. Diesels are just brilliant when done properly.

The E63 is a brutal car, one of my friends had one as a courtesy car and took me out in it, seriously fast car and it makes a lovely noise, however the interior is nowhere near as nice as the F11’s and it’s quite old man like IMO. If anything, the car looks dated inside and out because of Mercedes revolutionary approach to newer models.

The only mods that improve your car would be to ditch the runflats!

[Riggie]

Chestrockwell said:

535d being better than a 535i is expected really, not because the 535i is rubbish, but because of how good the diesel is and how addictive the torque is. You don’t even hear it half the time when cruising along and when you press on, all you hear is the turbo whistle. Diesels are just brilliant when done properly.

The E63 is a brutal car, one of my friends had one as a courtesy car and took me out in it, seriously fast car and it makes a lovely noise, however the interior is nowhere near as nice as the F11’s and it’s quite old man like IMO. If anything, the car looks dated inside and out because of Mercedes revolutionary approach to newer models.

The only mods that improve your car would be to ditch the runflats!

I used to work for Merc and found the 63s tiresome in whatever guise. Obviously they're quick, except for the G, which was like a 110 Landrover on speed, but I found once the novelty of the shove was over, the noise was annoying on a long trip. 535d all day long as an all-rounder.