F11 - 535 D vs I
Discussion
Hello everyone,
I want some owners opinions 535d or 535i
I know I want a f11 again just don't know which to get.
Both would be remapped When bought.
Both remap to around the same 370 Bhp ish the diesel having more torque and petrol having higher reving.
I'm slightly swaying towards the 535i because they are quite rare and would feel special. If I had the money I would get the 540i because of the closed deck and ability to provide higher hp safer but they are 30k+
I want some owners opinions 535d or 535i
I know I want a f11 again just don't know which to get.
Both would be remapped When bought.
Both remap to around the same 370 Bhp ish the diesel having more torque and petrol having higher reving.
I'm slightly swaying towards the 535i because they are quite rare and would feel special. If I had the money I would get the 540i because of the closed deck and ability to provide higher hp safer but they are 30k+
I've had both engines in standard and modified form, but neither in a 5-series (the diesel was a 6-Gran Coupe, the petrol in a M135i).
Personally, I found the diesel pretty frustrating. It was very quick from a standstill, but at higher speeds it seemed determined to kick down a gear or two rather than just surf the midrange.
It's neither hare nor hound - not enough character to be a performance engine, and not enough economy on shorter journeys to warrant compromising with a diesel.
Also bear in mind that as standard, they aren't far off the torque limit of the gearbox so mapping them doesn't really transform the experience. You just get a little more of what you already had.
A 35i with a JB4 would be my choice.
Personally, I found the diesel pretty frustrating. It was very quick from a standstill, but at higher speeds it seemed determined to kick down a gear or two rather than just surf the midrange.
It's neither hare nor hound - not enough character to be a performance engine, and not enough economy on shorter journeys to warrant compromising with a diesel.
Also bear in mind that as standard, they aren't far off the torque limit of the gearbox so mapping them doesn't really transform the experience. You just get a little more of what you already had.
A 35i with a JB4 would be my choice.
I believe the gearbox's safe torque ceiling somewhere in the 700nm-730nm range (520ft lbs-ish) which is about 50ft lbs above standard.
So a good remap gets you about 10-15% more torque, but approx 60 BHP.
Ultimately it's the torque that you do (or don't) feel with a diesel remap. I had one done by a leading BMW tuner and could barely tell the difference.
With a 10 mile commute I don't think i'd be looking at a diesel. It'll be barely warmed up by the time you arrived at the office.
So a good remap gets you about 10-15% more torque, but approx 60 BHP.
Ultimately it's the torque that you do (or don't) feel with a diesel remap. I had one done by a leading BMW tuner and could barely tell the difference.
With a 10 mile commute I don't think i'd be looking at a diesel. It'll be barely warmed up by the time you arrived at the office.
I went from DMS mapped 535d Touring to 335i Touring, that was E61 to E91, the 335i was so, so, so much nicer.
I then went back to an LCI 530d Touring, that made more sense than the 535d really, it seemed to find the gears better, was smoother in delivery and got 10mpg, more, 36mog average vs 26mpg average.
The 335i averaged 29mpg, so about 3mpg better than the 535d, but it is a lighter car.
I do like the F11, a lot, however, after saying on PH that I don't think there is any true cost savings with diesel I went with the B47 520d, to prove myself wrong.
To be fair I have been very impressed with it, mapped to 230hp and it returns 44mpg and 55 on a run.
I can get 650 miles from a tank and it never feels slow. Plus it is actually refined for a 4cyl diesel.
However!!!!
I do keep looking at 535i Tourings, problem for me is many of them come with the business nav for some reason, which feels a bit pants.
So, decided to hold out now for a 540i G31 to come in at a price I feel happy with.
I nearly bought one last week for £28k, the only thing that stopped me going for it was the fact it had a black interior, I knew I was compromising there and although £28k is a great price I want it to be right as I reckon it would be a car I would run for 5 years and 100k miles. or more.
BTW, I was given a residual of £14k after 48 months on that car, so it was actually pretty affordable and cheaper monthly than a £20k 535i F11.
I then went back to an LCI 530d Touring, that made more sense than the 535d really, it seemed to find the gears better, was smoother in delivery and got 10mpg, more, 36mog average vs 26mpg average.
The 335i averaged 29mpg, so about 3mpg better than the 535d, but it is a lighter car.
I do like the F11, a lot, however, after saying on PH that I don't think there is any true cost savings with diesel I went with the B47 520d, to prove myself wrong.
To be fair I have been very impressed with it, mapped to 230hp and it returns 44mpg and 55 on a run.
I can get 650 miles from a tank and it never feels slow. Plus it is actually refined for a 4cyl diesel.
However!!!!
I do keep looking at 535i Tourings, problem for me is many of them come with the business nav for some reason, which feels a bit pants.
So, decided to hold out now for a 540i G31 to come in at a price I feel happy with.
I nearly bought one last week for £28k, the only thing that stopped me going for it was the fact it had a black interior, I knew I was compromising there and although £28k is a great price I want it to be right as I reckon it would be a car I would run for 5 years and 100k miles. or more.
BTW, I was given a residual of £14k after 48 months on that car, so it was actually pretty affordable and cheaper monthly than a £20k 535i F11.
That's the problem with the 535i being so rare your limited by what spec comes up. I would love to hold out for the 540i but they seen quite high price at the moment. The 340i is in my price range but lack of spec and finish of the 5 series and lot smaller inside puts me off. I think for my mileage the petrol is definitely best
The F30/31 is the first 3 series I haven't bothered with, I have owned E30 318is, 325i, E36 328i, E46 320d, 330d, 330i, M3, M3 CSL, 318ti compact, E91 320d, 335i, 330i, and some of those more than once, however, the 340i F31 just felt cheap.
With the others they always felt like smaller 5 series, I often owned both at the same time, but the F10/11 is so far ahead of the F30/31 in terms of build I couldn't go back. As nice as a 340i touring would be in theory, after the F11's I couldn't do it. The new G31, or whatever it is called, could be a real contender however.
With the others they always felt like smaller 5 series, I often owned both at the same time, but the F10/11 is so far ahead of the F30/31 in terms of build I couldn't go back. As nice as a 340i touring would be in theory, after the F11's I couldn't do it. The new G31, or whatever it is called, could be a real contender however.
I’ve had a remapped 435d and now have a 435i with a JB4 box.
Both excellent cars but the i wins it for engine note, fun factor and character. Slightly different prospects in a 5 series but pretty sure the same will be true.
I do 30k miles a year, averaging 30 vs 38ish so fuel consumption isn’t really a factor.
Both excellent cars but the i wins it for engine note, fun factor and character. Slightly different prospects in a 5 series but pretty sure the same will be true.
I do 30k miles a year, averaging 30 vs 38ish so fuel consumption isn’t really a factor.
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