New 530D - Driven One Today

iaind · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:20

paradigm said:
But sooooo worth it once cleaned.

Definitely, my old Alfa was pearlescent black and was so rewarding to clean. New car's a similar colour too, so guess I'll be cleaning it more than the Mondeo!

Housey · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:22

If I could get one, without going bespoke paint in Carbon Black I think it would look fantastic but standard black looked boring and already much dirtier than the silver car even with only 20 miles on the clock.

[TW]Fox · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:22

Coco said:
Perhaps it was a pretty pants question but destroying motorways is what this car is intended for

No, thats what the 7 Series is intended for. The 5 Series is an all rounder - as at home on the Motorway as it is on a twisting A road. Just because it has 4 doors doesn't mean you can't enjoy driving it.

Housey · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:23

Coco said:
And thats the critical part really, its very easy to have a dealer test-drive for a short period of time & be impressed but to borrow one for the day is where you see its true colours.
To be honest the motorway testing was a little jab, surely after your past motors this would be a down-grade with respect to driving on more enjoyable roads?

Not if I have a GT3 for the weekend.

PMKeates · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:23

Did the car have the variable damping control? The 530D I drove didn't, and I found it didn't drive as nice as the F10 with the electronic dampers. If you haven't driven the 535i yet, I would certainly reserve judgement until you have. Driving a 535i with VDC and a 530D without VDC, back to back, certainly highlighted the differences to me!

Housey · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:25

PMKeates said:
Did the car have the variable damping control? The 530D I drove didn't, and I found it didn't drive as nice as the F10 with the electronic dampers. If you haven't driven the 535i yet, I would certainly reserve judgement until you have. Driving a 535i with VDC and a 530D without VDC, back to back, certainly highlighted the differences to me!

This is interesting to me as I am getting mixed messages on this one. Dealer said it was wasted money, independent road test I have seen said it's a good option. I am assuming this is the multi setting ride thingy, not sure what BMW call it on the options list?

[TW]Fox · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:26

Dynamic Drive.

Coco · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:26

Housey said:
Not if I have a GT3 for the weekend.

Now it makes sense, enjoy the cup-holders in the Bimmer

Housey · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:27

[TW]Fox;16196604 said:
Dynamic Drive.

About £2200ish ?

If so then yes and when I read the road test in, I think, Car is seemed to rave about this but dealer said it was not a good buy. However he seemed to be basing this on the previous model and one assumes BMW have somewhat moved the game on since then.

Housey · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:28

Coco said:
Now it makes sense, enjoy the cup-holders in the Bimmer

Most things I do make sense, I just don't tend to fill in all the gaps on web forums

[TW]Fox · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:29

Dynamic Drive was utterly un-neccesary in the previous model but it seems like something of a must have in the F10. None of the salesmen I spoke to had driven an F10 so I would imagine the same was true of your dealership.

[TW]Fox · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:30

Coco said:
Now it makes sense, enjoy the cup-holders in the Bimmer

Perhaps you ought to drive a 5 Series, I gather it will be rather different to how you've stereotyped it.

Especially as the cupholders are traditionally the weakest spot in the car

Housey · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:32

[TW]Fox;16196620 said:
Dynamic Drive was utterly un-neccesary in the previous model but it seems like something of a must have in the F10. None of the salesmen I spoke to had driven an F10 so I would imagine the same was true of your dealership.

First cars are on the road today so not many people have driven one, the test cars had 10 miles and 20 miles on them when I took control, the salesmans first drive was taking me up the road before handing me the key and when he was giving me his perspective, like most things, I took it with a pinch of salt though to be fair his service and help were excellent. I too from my own research have read this is a must have, I just don't lodge all the acronyms and brand names into my noggin that well. When/if I do buy rest assured it will have all the bits I need, clearly understood and tested.

Coco · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:33

[TW]Fox;16196621 said:
Perhaps you ought to drive a 5 Series, I gather it will be rather different to how you've stereotyped it.
Especially as the cupholders are traditionally the weakest spot in the car

Haha! I guess I should, no doubt they have a strong turn of speed, evo has consistently rated the 5-series range highly.

[TW]Fox · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:34

Housey said:
First cars are on the road today so not many people have driven one, the test cars had 10 miles and 20 miles on them when I took control, the salesmans first drive was taking me up the road before handing me the key and when he was giving me his perspective, like most things, I took it with a pinch of salt though to be fair his service and help were excellent. I too from my own research have read this is a must have, I just don't lodge all the acronyms and brand names into my noggin that well. When/if I do buy rest assured it will have all the bits I need, clearly understood and tested.

I think you should buy a 535i with Visability Pack, Media Pack, Dynamic Drive and some other cool options and then sell it to me in 2 years time. Make sure you spec the light biege leather please.

Housey · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:35

Coco said:
Haha! I guess I should, no doubt they have a strong turn of speed, evo has consistently rated the 5-series range highly.

It always has been the best car in the world, nothing comes close to all round ability. However, it depends where you place your priorities but without question as an all round car nothing has matched a 5 series and the new model I think moves the game on once more.

Participant · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:39

Housey said:
Car is seemed to rave about this but dealer said it was not a good buy. However he seemed to be basing this on the previous model and one assumes BMW have somewhat moved the game on since then.

Maybe because he was trying to punt you the one you were driving.

Housey · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:39

[TW]Fox;16196647 said:
I think you should buy a 535i with Visability Pack, Media Pack, Dynamic Drive and some other cool options and then sell it to me in 2 years time. Make sure you spec the light biege leather please.

I haven't driven a 535i so can't comment, perhaps I should but I like the range of the 530d and I also think the 530d engine suites the car very well and with such a range of torque and auto box really fits the role of mile muncher with aplomb.

Housey · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:40

Robbie G said:
Maybe because he was trying to punt you the one you were driving.

Nope.

Phate · 20 Mar 2010 at 18:41

If you got this would the RS4 be going? Just curious

Haven't seen an F10 myself yet but I might pop into a BMW dealer next week to have a nosey around, not that I have any chance of affording one but hell, looking is free right