BMW F10 530d M-Sport: On-going Review!!

Conanius said:
I've heard all sorts of rumours on the VAG forums about this for my engine, claiming that they can check checksum values to see if its had anything done.

In my mind the checksum would show if the values had been manipulated, but isn't there some variance of 'mapping' with most modern ECU's anyway as they adapt to climate/fuel/servicing/etc
Click to expand...
Yup, a checksum value should in theory tell you if values had been manipulated and therefore act as a beacon for further investigation. If you provide the dealer with a car that is in a different map state than I'd fully expect to get 'caught'. The adaptations shouldn't change the state of the base map.
Ev0 said:
I know on the Clios there was a date stamp that you could pull off to see when the map went on, and also a history of the previous few maps.

I'd think it's a case of on the face of it they wouldn't notice/bother looking for it, but if they were actively looking for evidence of a different map I'm sure the information would be there for them to obtain.
Click to expand...
A date stamp is a date stamp. Firstly, I would not be surprised if these can be faked. Secondly, it tells you the ECU has been flashed, not that the car has been mapped. In the event of a warranty claim (which is all we care about), I'd like to see the clause that doesn't allow you to flash the manufacturer's recommended software on to your car.

Short of the ECU containing an unchangeable history of values/checksums of the map (and only checksums if it's unchangeable, as there's no reason you couldn't fake those), or you provide them with a car running a remap, I'm not sure what there is to prove a map has been on the car. I don't believe many ECUs are that sophisticated.
 
Last edited:
OK, some further observations....

1) The ride on poor surfaces is really bad, worse than my RS4 so I can see why the reviews suggest that you need to trick suspension option ticked, assuming this is what it improves. I would also suggest the run flats are the issue in the main and I shall try to see if I can find some owners who have swapped off their run flats to see if there is an improvement.

2) The disc pads seem very messy. I washed it yesterday, took it for a blat and came back to wheels covered in dust, the pads seem very messy and of course there is more of a reliance on brakes in an auto as you tend not to get the same level of engine braking.

3) When pushed hard the car understeers and on a bumpy road it does tramline a bit when you hit bumps mid corner, but point 1 above perhaps covers this off too. It is however nicely balanced and you can feel the rear wheels moving around under traction and that RWD feeling is better than 4WD and certainly better than FWD.

4) On most roads it is absolutely fine, quiet and very refined.

5) BMW Yeovil has done one now I've asked them for something, all quiet on the Western Front on my request for a 7 digit post code update. Will give them a nudge Monday but it's been 2 weeks....

6) The adaptive headlights are rather splendid, like those lots and the Bi-Xeon lights are incredibly bright on full beam but not great on normal beam, which is surprising, suggests a little tweak is required.

7) I don't see why you'd need to upgrade the standard hi-fi as it really is rather splendid and goes plenty loud.
 
Last edited:
OK, more data and first off, I am head of dick.

After actually paying attention I can CONFIRM that my Sat Nav DOES have full UK Post Code capability, I really should pay attention in future but it is there. It seems I missed it as of course I was entering 4 digits and then forgetting I had to change back to LETTERS to add the final few, so that's good then, only had it a few weeks and I've worked it out.
 
Ride & Handling

Flawed, on bumpy roads it is flawed and it gets thrown off line too easily due to poor damping! It's too stiff and added to run **** tyres its not a great combination. A few times when pressing on I have had cause to catch it as the back simply becomes airborne due to big bumps mid bend, not brilliant. I don't know if the trick suspension option would address this or a move to non run shats would help but its far from sorted.

Having also had a 4WD for 4 years I realise how sorted the RS4 was in all conditions, shows me how great that car was for British roads and conditions. The 5 is tail happy and does like to shake its backside, not least in the wet. Several times I've had reason to catch it BUT, due to such a long wheelbase it is REALLY easy to catch and great fun, but it is something you need to be wary of in wet and on badly sorted surfaces, see above.
 
I have chosen to remove the M Sport suspension on my 1 because the ride was too hard. I think unless you're tracking a car often then hard suspension is pointless on British roads. But maybe I'm just getting old.
 
Last edited:
seriously get rid of the runflats.

take the amount of difference you THINK it will make, then times it by ten, and you're about half way there. Has really transformed the car for me, far more settled, before the gaps on motorway sliproad bridges could get the back end out in the wet, now you barely notice it.
 
rG-tom said:
seriously get rid of the runflats.

take the amount of difference you THINK it will make, then times it by ten, and you're about half way there. Has really transformed the car for me, far more settled, before the gaps on motorway sliproad bridges could get the back end out in the wet, now you barely notice it.
Click to expand...

Yea that sounds like what I am seeing, it really is a corrupted ride with the current set up. It feels like a solid plank with zero suspension at speed on bumps and if it hits anything sizeable you can feel the car lift. Do you have an F10 too, interesting to get some experience on the same set up?
 
Housey said:
Yea that sounds like what I am seeing, it really is a corrupted ride with the current set up. It feels like a solid plank with zero suspension at speed on bumps and if it hits anything sizeable you can feel the car lift. Do you have an F10 too, interesting to get some experience on the same set up?
Click to expand...

Trade the 530 for a 535 with adaptive drive ;)
 
I think adaptive drive is a must for these cars unfortunately. At the very least, run flats are still (and really always have been) a complete no no.

In my mind, there's just no need for them on a car the size of the F10, it's not like it's short of boot space :D
 
I think the tyres are the biggest issue, the run flats are simply too stiff and provide little damping effect which simply feeds through the stiff suspension. Not a problem 90% of the time but it does show itself when you push on on bumpy roads.
 
Lucero said:
I think adaptive drive is a must for these cars unfortunately. At the very least, run flats are still (and really always have been) a complete no no.
Click to expand...
My father's GT has 20" RFTs and comfort is not an issue.
I concur that Adaptive Drive is a necessary option.
 
I bought the car to get into, drive 200 miles, get out of and feel awake and fresh and for that it is perfect. The ride on the M-Sport on 19's is stiff and the run flats are compromising the ride, from what I can glean these are the main issue when I see people who have swapped them off but Adaptive Drive seems to address this problem. It in no way ruins or heavily compromises the car but it could be better. In most conditions adaptive drive would have very little or no impact. I still love the car and found myself speccing a new 535d.....which I gave up on when I saw £65K!!!
 
Yeah, they're not cheap once you start ticking boxes!

Perhaps an SE would've been a better choice?
I know you were in a hurry when you but the car though and it's difficult to find the spec you want when you're pushed for time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom