Moving from a straight six to a 2.0l hybrid
Discussion
Something I'm mulling over at the moment that I'd be interested to hear people's wisdom on.
Currently have a 2011 F11 535i Touring. Had it 3.5 years. It's brilliant. Makes a very strong case for being the best 'proper' car I've ever owned. I would happily keep it until it's bitter end but....
About this time last year, my son started a new school and it means that my wife and I now have to do both do school runs with our daughter going in one direction and my son the other. Our mileage has increased a lot. Up until last week we were doing the trips in our Panda Cross Twinair and the 535i. Both averaging little more than 30mpg. Our fuel bills are enormous! Last week, I bought an i3 and we'll try to do as much mileage as possible in that but it still leaves us with either the Panda or 535i doing a lot of the heavy lifting. We have the Panda because, A) I love it and B) we live quite rurally on an ungritted, steep hill and when we get snow (which does happen a fair bit) it's really the only car that stays mobile.
So I'm wondering whether I should change the 535i to something that can run on electricity for all the short journeys. Not a massive fan of SUV's. Have had a string of 5-series. They very much suit me. At the reasonably affordable end of the market there is very little that appeals other than Panamera's but their battery size is quite limiting and the estate ones which is what I'd want are too new to be cheap. Which leaves the 530e. Possibly X-Drive. There are some Volvo options kicking around but in all honesty none of this stuff is making me very excited to spend proper money on.
Has anyone made the change to the 2.0 litre hybrid cars? It ticks a lot of boxes for our needs especially in x-drive touring form but I'm very worried I'll miss the straight six and the general noise and refinement that comes with that. I'm also a little concerned about performance when the battery is depleted, though maybe it could be remapped a little?
Have to admit, I'm also dreading the prospect of selling the 535i privately but I think I'd have to do to get any sort reasonable money out of it.
Currently have a 2011 F11 535i Touring. Had it 3.5 years. It's brilliant. Makes a very strong case for being the best 'proper' car I've ever owned. I would happily keep it until it's bitter end but....
About this time last year, my son started a new school and it means that my wife and I now have to do both do school runs with our daughter going in one direction and my son the other. Our mileage has increased a lot. Up until last week we were doing the trips in our Panda Cross Twinair and the 535i. Both averaging little more than 30mpg. Our fuel bills are enormous! Last week, I bought an i3 and we'll try to do as much mileage as possible in that but it still leaves us with either the Panda or 535i doing a lot of the heavy lifting. We have the Panda because, A) I love it and B) we live quite rurally on an ungritted, steep hill and when we get snow (which does happen a fair bit) it's really the only car that stays mobile.
So I'm wondering whether I should change the 535i to something that can run on electricity for all the short journeys. Not a massive fan of SUV's. Have had a string of 5-series. They very much suit me. At the reasonably affordable end of the market there is very little that appeals other than Panamera's but their battery size is quite limiting and the estate ones which is what I'd want are too new to be cheap. Which leaves the 530e. Possibly X-Drive. There are some Volvo options kicking around but in all honesty none of this stuff is making me very excited to spend proper money on.
Has anyone made the change to the 2.0 litre hybrid cars? It ticks a lot of boxes for our needs especially in x-drive touring form but I'm very worried I'll miss the straight six and the general noise and refinement that comes with that. I'm also a little concerned about performance when the battery is depleted, though maybe it could be remapped a little?
Have to admit, I'm also dreading the prospect of selling the 535i privately but I think I'd have to do to get any sort reasonable money out of it.
Go drive one.
The battery fills in the 2.0 lack of torque compared to a bigger engine.
So it never feels like a small engine.
The car will always keep a reserve of battery for the hybrid system to work so wont just suddenly be a 2.0l car because you’ve used the battery.
It won’t sound as good as a straight six but new cars are so quiet you barely hear it anyway.
The hybrid bmw systems are really quite good. Seamless transition and a decent turn of pace for what it is.
Be mindful the batteries have to go somewhere so boot space is less than a full ice car.
The battery fills in the 2.0 lack of torque compared to a bigger engine.
So it never feels like a small engine.
The car will always keep a reserve of battery for the hybrid system to work so wont just suddenly be a 2.0l car because you’ve used the battery.
It won’t sound as good as a straight six but new cars are so quiet you barely hear it anyway.
The hybrid bmw systems are really quite good. Seamless transition and a decent turn of pace for what it is.
Be mindful the batteries have to go somewhere so boot space is less than a full ice car.
MichalPH said:
My friend is on his 3rd, all remapped close to 400bhp. The only downside seems to be boot space and noise.
It’s quite surprising how much power the remapped versions make. I think this means taking the standard ICE output from 180bhp to nearer 300bhp. Seems a heck of a jump. MichalPH said:
My friend is on his 3rd, all remapped close to 400bhp. The only downside seems to be boot space and noise.
It’s quite surprising how much power the remapped versions make. I think this means taking the standard ICE output from 180bhp to nearer 300bhp. Seems a heck of a jump. Gad-Westy said:
MichalPH said:
My friend is on his 3rd, all remapped close to 400bhp. The only downside seems to be boot space and noise.
It s quite surprising how much power the remapped versions make. I think this means taking the standard ICE output from 180bhp to nearer 300bhp. Seems a heck of a jump. Now I'm quite risk averse when it comes to these things, but I just wouldn't want to run any modern BMW without the safety net of a manufacturer's warranty.
I am on my second
I had an X3M40i - which like you I loved and I love the straight 6
But had to be practical and got and ran for 4 years a G31 530e - that generation has the slightly raised floor, I found it no issue at all, we had a golden retriever and he was very comfortable in there.
Pros - looks great, drives very very well, ran for 4 years with 0 issues, I used 40% battery for my journeys. Even towed my caravan to the south of France twice with it. tows the van very well indeed too
Cons - small fuel tank and small battery. We generally got around 20-25miles on a full charge. So to make them work you need to charge.
I have a new G61 530e now which I picked up in July - this has no raised floor and a normal (bigger fuel tank) and a bigger battery, We now get 56-60 miles on a charge and total range of 600 miles.
Both I did personally miss the inline 6 BUT the drive for everyday and now the economy is fantastic (I must be getting old, but then I have a Caterham for fun!!)
I took this car to France with the van this summer and with 4 of us and a 1600kg caravan towing for 2k miles it returned 34mpg which is pretty good.
It can raise it skirt and get going when I want, sport mode or comfort with boost mode for overtaking is effortless.
I had an X3M40i - which like you I loved and I love the straight 6
But had to be practical and got and ran for 4 years a G31 530e - that generation has the slightly raised floor, I found it no issue at all, we had a golden retriever and he was very comfortable in there.
Pros - looks great, drives very very well, ran for 4 years with 0 issues, I used 40% battery for my journeys. Even towed my caravan to the south of France twice with it. tows the van very well indeed too
Cons - small fuel tank and small battery. We generally got around 20-25miles on a full charge. So to make them work you need to charge.
I have a new G61 530e now which I picked up in July - this has no raised floor and a normal (bigger fuel tank) and a bigger battery, We now get 56-60 miles on a charge and total range of 600 miles.
Both I did personally miss the inline 6 BUT the drive for everyday and now the economy is fantastic (I must be getting old, but then I have a Caterham for fun!!)
I took this car to France with the van this summer and with 4 of us and a 1600kg caravan towing for 2k miles it returned 34mpg which is pretty good.
It can raise it skirt and get going when I want, sport mode or comfort with boost mode for overtaking is effortless.
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