BMW and M Power Owners

The 5 is better (6 even more so), but if you spec up a 3 series the interior is not that bad at all.

You'd think it was a clapped out old van the way you're talking!
 
Robbo said:
The 5 is better (6 even more so), but if you spec up a 3 series the interior is not that bad at all.
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You can spec it how you want, it doesn't change the fundamental interior layout. The issue isn't the specification - which is generally excellent - it's how it feels, how it's styled and just generally how it is.

And the handbrake is like something out of 1992.

You'd think it was a clapped out old van the way you're talking!
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It's a big 1 Series in there:(
 
[TW]Fox;29742761 said:
You can spec it how you want, it doesn't change the fundamental interior layout. The issue isn't the specification - which is generally excellent - it's how it feels, how it's styled and just generally how it is.

And the handbrake is like something out of 1992.

It's a big 1 Series in there:(
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I don't think the 1 series is that bad either, but I do agree it should have been some sort of a middle ground between a 1 and a 5, as you say. It seems more logical.

Mercedes have done it with the S Class design filtering down to the cheaper cars, though the C Class is clearly cheaper feeling with cheap plastic everywhere, especially on some specifications. New E Class is exceptionally good though, but it looks a bit boring.
 
The C Class is, notable exception of that ridiculous ipad screen aside, leagues ahead of the 3 Series inside and further illustrates my point I feel.
 
[TW]Fox;29742785 said:
The C Class is, notable exception of that ridiculous ipad screen aside, leagues ahead of the 3 Series inside and further illustrates my point I feel.
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It certainly appears it (looking a bit like an S Class), but I don't think the actual gap in quality is that big. That iPad screen is notably improved when it doesn't have the massive 2 inch plastic bezel around it, too.
 
Thanks guys for your input :)

Agree on the 3 vs 5, I ended up looking at the 5 just because there aren't really many decent spec and engine F30 3 series with under 60k under £15k, as they are a couple of years newer at least. I'd probably be happy with a 3, as I didn't really have any major complaints when I had the E92, apart from the comically hard (poor) ride with the 19" wheels, run flats and M Sport suspension. There's no doubting the 5 interior is in a different league to the 3, but I don't see the 3 interior as a deal breaker. Maybe I just need to wait for F30s to drop a bit more! Might go and take a look at some F10s and F30s over the weekend to see which I really prefer.
 
Have you test driven any 530/640's yet Dis and how do they compare to your 328i?

My N20 exposure is limited - just my parents Z4 SDrive20i and a quick test drive in a 528i but I've done about 12,000 miles in 272bhp 2.0T Cadillac ATS's which on paper offers similar performance is the same concept - 4 cylinders and a turbo. I've come to really dislike it and genuinely prefer everything about the N57 diesel, from the power delivery even down to the noise it makes.

I'm trying to work out whether I dislike 4 cylinder turbo petrols or whether GM just make a particularly bad one....

528i's, whilst exceptionally rare, are bargains when they pop up as nobody seems to want them. Trouble is being able to get enough exposure to one to really decide - I thought the ATS Turbo was epic until I covered serious miles in them. Conversely, I didn't really like the N57 all that much until it grew on me and I'm not quite the fan. Test drives are never really enough..
 
Whilst I'm not looking at them i had a brief stint at a 640d gc se.
The torque is amazing. I absolutely loved it just power when you needed it, bang on when you wanted it. Fantastic cabin. Suspension soft, maybe a bit...too soft for me. Didn't have adaptive which is what I'm looking for but also after an m sport since...Let's face it...without it it's a bit gopping!
Might see if i can get a ride in a 535d since I'm struggling to get my hands on a 640 locally.
Whats worth mentioning actually is i got back in mine afterwards and you know what? It's still bloody good fun!
Had the car two years and putting my foot down still makes me smile. I think that says a lot.
 
I test drove a 535d and was surprised that it didn't feel hugely different to my 530d. I don't know if it was that my expectations were too high or what, but I expected it to be a lagless much faster 530d and it was basically a slightly less laggy slightly faster 530d. It did make me question the value of the somewhat significant premium the 535d attracts.
 
I think you just have to keep in mind that the engine in the 530d is still nothing short of brilliant. Go drive any other diesel, even from another premium and you will really appreciate it.
Any diesel engine above it is simply a case of incremental gains. It's a little bit more powerful. A little bit less laggy. A little bit more refined.
You're right though. It's quite the premium!
 
Dis86 said:
Lol. It's not terrible. It's just lacking compared to other premium offerings.
It's let down massively by some crap plastics. Particularly that crap around the gearstick.
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And just the way it looks - asymmetric and without any real seamless transition between dash and door or dash and centre console.
 
Oh and the crap cup holders. I used to quite like them on the e90. They were useful. On this you have to remove a useful tray. Find somewhere to store it. Then you have them partially under the console so can't fit anything in them!
 
Dis86 said:
Oh and the crap cup holders. I used to quite like them on the e90. They were useful. On this you have to remove a useful tray. Find somewhere to store it. Then you have them partially under the console so can't fit anything in them!
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They don't make 'em like they used to ;) :D

90256d.jpg
 
Picked my motor up yesterday and had to have a go at park assist ,I pulled alongside a solitary vehicle, parked by the kerbside and let it do its thing, I was expecting it to go back and forth to achieve the correct angle but it just seemed to throw it round on full lock until it was almost 90 degrees to the kerb. ...at which point I aborted it :p

This got me thinking, say for instance there are two or three spaces on a car park all next to each other, how would it know it needed to perpendicular park, rather than parallel park?
 
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