New 5 series 2009 ? 520d SE or Sport

[dickyt]

Had a 520d SE Touring (company car) for the last 3 years on lease. About to change again - would like to stick with the 5 series, as it's been a great all round car. 2 main issue's going forward :

New one will be leased for another 3 year period - is the 5 series due for major Change next year 2009 ? I would rather not be driving around in the "old" shape for 2 years of the lease if this is the case.

Can't decide whether to go for the Sport version this time - prefer the looks of the Sport, but concerened about the suspension / ride being too harsh by comparison to the SE. Although I am thinking of upgrading to 18" wheels on the SE anyway - can anyone advise on the difference in ride between the SE & Sport ?

Thanks

[DRbeamer]

firstly the 5 is due a change in 2009 so you will be driving around in an old model for 2 years...

it really depends on what tipe of drive you like from a car.. the 5 m spt is lowwer by about 14 mm and has a much better syspension set up i feel because i like to throw a car around a bit when im in the mood. the se is defo softer.. i would try to arrange a 24 hour test drive and see what you think..

lastly the m spt has a lot more character... better bumpers better seats . . . a nice chunky steering wheel... sport seats are lovely....

id have the m sport...

[stockhatcher]

contrary to the other response, the 5 saloon is not due for a change until 2010, the touring a year later, BMW work to 7 year cycles. as for the sport, i think the seats are more comfortable than the se, but it might be a good idea to spec the car with the type 172 19inch rims, which i beleive are being evaluated as a factory fit option as we speak, possibly in time for next year. this will mean that the car will not be on runflats, which IMHO is the best way to get decent ride quality out of a 5 series.

[dickyt]

Thanks for the response - If the 5 is not due for replacement until 2010, touring 2011, then it's not a problem for me.

I will try & get a drive in a M-Sport to check it out. Had a colleague who had Sport seats in a 330D a few years ago & he hated them - gave him back ache for some reason ? Sat in a 530D M-sport in the showroom & seats felt nice to me.

Just got to decide on colour now - Black or Deep Sea Blue ? - decisions, decisions !

Thanks

[V8_chitty]

Just been through the same process myself, at the end of the day I guess it's down to your personal preferences, domestic situation and budget. I ended up going for a black SE touring and adding extra options (cream leather, Logic 7 (drowns out 4-cylinder noise), privacy glass, de-chrome,ipod connection). Worked out around the same price. The part leather seats on the sport, whilst comfy, are a bit naff and I felt they needed full leather, blowing my budget. Also I felt the seats were possibly designed for our US cousins and tend to cater for all er.. sizes so are not that snug/sporty..

Having driven both I felt the combination of 18" run-flats and sports suspension on the sport was too much for a car designed for cruising long distances (with family on board?). OK if you travel a lot in Germany/France but uk roads.....ouch! The sport was noisier too (tyre noise)and the wheels are a sod to clean..

However, er.. the sport does look fab..

How about an SE with 18" wheels, or SE and a Caterham...

[GR4]

I've got a 2005 M-Sport, and although the seats look great mine have no lumbar support adjustment and give me backache. Other seats without lumbar adjustment even in really cheap and nasty cars don't seem to cause me problems, but I think the BM backrests have almost no curvature at all and that is the problem for me.

[dcb]

GR4 said:

I've got a 2005 M-Sport, and although the seats look great mine have no lumbar support adjustment and give me backache. Other seats without lumbar adjustment even in really cheap and nasty cars don't seem to cause me problems, but I think the BM backrests have almost no curvature at all and that is the problem for me.

A friend of mine had a 325 sport, and had to trade it in after
a couple of years, because it gave him backache for anything
more than 30 minutes use.

Shame really - nice car.

[Ment-Al]

Sport seats in the E60 M Sport arent really what id call sport seats when compared to the sport seats in my E46. Not much side support.

Ride is fine on the 19's with no runflats. Better than 18's with runflats in SE guise.

[Deva Link]

dickyt said:

I would rather not be driving around in the "old" shape for 2 years of the lease if this is the case.

God, how awful would that be? You'd just have to stay in for 2 years.

[Ment-Al]

Deva Link said:

dickyt said:

I would rather not be driving around in the "old" shape for 2 years of the lease if this is the case.

God, how awful would that be? You'd just have to stay in for 2 years.

Makes sense to me. Last thing you want after taking delivery of your brand new pride and joy is for them to update it.

[Deva Link]

Ment-Al said:

Deva Link said:

dickyt said:

I would rather not be driving around in the "old" shape for 2 years of the lease if this is the case.

God, how awful would that be? You'd just have to stay in for 2 years.

Makes sense to me. Last thing you want after taking delivery of your brand new pride and joy is for them to update it.

It's a company car.

[Ment-Al]

Deva Link said:

Ment-Al said:

Deva Link said:

dickyt said:

I would rather not be driving around in the "old" shape for 2 years of the lease if this is the case.

God, how awful would that be? You'd just have to stay in for 2 years.

Makes sense to me. Last thing you want after taking delivery of your brand new pride and joy is for them to update it.

It's a company car.

What's that got to do with anything, he is still clearly into his cars, hence being on this forum, and still gets to choose - and presumably will still take pride in it. I know I do despite it only being a company car.

[Fox-]

Deva Link said:

dickyt said:

I would rather not be driving around in the "old" shape for 2 years of the lease if this is the case.

God, how awful would that be? You'd just have to stay in for 2 years.

As mine is the old model 5 Series I only drive it at night to make sure nobody sees me.

[Deva Link]

Fox- said:

Deva Link said:

dickyt said:

I would rather not be driving around in the "old" shape for 2 years of the lease if this is the case.

God, how awful would that be? You'd just have to stay in for 2 years.

As mine is the old model 5 Series I only drive it at night to make sure nobody sees me.

Don't blame you.

[dickyt]

Deva Link said:

Fox- said:

Deva Link said:

dickyt said:

I would rather not be driving around in the "old" shape for 2 years of the lease if this is the case.

God, how awful would that be? You'd just have to stay in for 2 years.

As mine is the old model 5 Series I only drive it at night to make sure nobody sees me.

Don't blame you.

Looks like I need to order it in Black - then when the new one comes out, I will also only drive it at night & I can be in Stealth mode !

Seriously though, just because it's a company car doesn't change anything - I am a part owner of the company so it's my cash that's paying for it plus my additional Tax bill for the pleasure of having it. Lucky position I know, but it's still my cash & would you want to buy anything if you knew a new version was due to replace it soon - especially a car.

[dickyt]

V8_chitty said:

Just been through the same process myself, at the end of the day I guess it's down to your personal preferences, domestic situation and budget. I ended up going for a black SE touring and adding extra options (cream leather, Logic 7 (drowns out 4-cylinder noise), privacy glass, de-chrome,ipod connection). Worked out around the same price. The part leather seats on the sport, whilst comfy, are a bit naff and I felt they needed full leather, blowing my budget. Also I felt the seats were possibly designed for our US cousins and tend to cater for all er.. sizes so are not that snug/sporty..

Having driven both I felt the combination of 18" run-flats and sports suspension on the sport was too much for a car designed for cruising long distances (with family on board?). OK if you travel a lot in Germany/France but uk roads.....ouch! The sport was noisier too (tyre noise)and the wheels are a sod to clean..

However, er.. the sport does look fab..

How about an SE with 18" wheels, or SE and a Caterham...

Thanks for your comments.....Can't afford the Caterham, but I do have a Tiger Supercat in the garage already !

[gizlaroc]

The M-Sport used Bilstein shocks and eiback springs and soaks up the poor UK roads better than the SE Boge/Sachs suspension set up, plus handles better as well so a win win situation.


Why don't you buy a 6 monyth old one, save 30% on list and do it over 3 years, but on a lease purchase so you can get out as and when you want, even do it over 48 months, then if the new one arrives in 2 years you can swap and not be tied in, will also be a lot cheaper than getting into a stty contract hire agreement.

[Fox-]

gizlaroc said:

The M-Sport used Bilstein shocks and eiback springs and soaks up the poor UK roads better than the SE Boge/Sachs suspension set up, plus handles better as well so a win win situation.

Do you know if this is the case with the E39 as well? I've just bought new OEM specification dampers for my 530i Sport and they are Boge/Sachs ones with a different part number to the SE ones.

[alfaspiderman2]

Get an M Sport with Comfort Seats (like me) - the best compromise solution..although slightly expensive I admit, they are very comfortable

[Welshbeef]

M Sport - looks so much better and the std kit is better too.

Not sure how your finding the sports seats in the 5 series uncomfortable/tight as the ones Ive sat in in 535d Sports are like longue seats not what id call sports seats.