BMW F10 530d M-Sport: On-going Review!!
- Thread starter Housey
- Start date
Seems odd that they'd go to the trouble of making their cars in right hand drive for our roads, then not bother to software update their satnav for our postcode system...
Here are some of my first impressions after only a couple of hundred miles.
Good
Less Good
Really Bad
Nothing, it really is a very good car this one so far. Got 2 major runs in the next 2 days (360 miles and 580 miles) so will be able to form a much better picture after those. I will get some fresh pictures taken of the inside and out in due course and post them up to.
Good
- The interior fit and finish is a vast improvement over the E60 model and betters both the E Class and A6 in my opinion
- The engine is incredibly flexible and I simply fail to see how any other engine is needed in this car as it suits it so well and is silent at most speeds
- The Sports Automatic is very good, especially on sport setting with rapid and well chosen changes in the main
- It really is a very good looking car inside and out and the sport kit makes it look its best
- iPhone integration is good and the iDrive is generally well thought out
- The sports seats are much better than I remember BWM sports seats of old, providing a softer experience and enough options to get a good position
- Performance is good for such a big car and I've not found it wanting so far when I've wanted to get around stuff, the 520d is a real compromise on this front
Less Good
- The ride is compromised and it does not damp as well as it should, I can see why they suggest the electronic dampers are required. It's not an issue, but its never quite as smooth as it should be.
- I think the run flat tyres are also a problem that amplifies the above problem more than it should. I shall seek out a non run flat car to see how it differs to mine.
- The 5 digit post code is simply unacceptable for a car of this price and it's not the most intuitive system, though MUCH better than the slate and chisel I had on my RS4
- Steering lacks some feel but isn't too bad. I actually think it's too heavy for such a car sometimes, but this is really a very subjective thing
- BMW brake callipers rust, it's annoying the **** off me and I shall need to sort it. I believe BMW are seeking new parts for future cars as they have cut corners here
- The car needs a good clay bar as it's covered in road pimples. It would have been nice to think the dealer sorted this, but nah, polish and forget.
- The phone cradle is £160 for a bit of plastic. Taking the **** much
Really Bad
Nothing, it really is a very good car this one so far. Got 2 major runs in the next 2 days (360 miles and 580 miles) so will be able to form a much better picture after those. I will get some fresh pictures taken of the inside and out in due course and post them up to.
Caporegime
- Joined
- 13 May 2003
- Posts
- 34,564
- Location
- Warwickshire
Question: why didn't you buy a car with active suspension, as the ride seems a large issue for you?
It isn't a large issue for if it was I would not have bought it. It could be better but I needed a car quickly and went with what I could find that had the bits I wanted most. There are not that many active cars out there at the price I wanted to pay and with the colour spec options I sought and you sometimes have to make compromises.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
It's a very, very rare option sadly.
The full active suspension, Adaptive Drive is not fitted to sport models as you get sports suspension and people don’t spec the extra variable damper option. You can get it in SE models but at nearly £3k it isn’t an option you find in many them. It is very good, especially in comfort mode.
Soldato
- Joined
- 10 Oct 2006
- Posts
- 3,676
Does this apply to M Sport Touring models ? A very well spec'd ex press car is up for sale with Adaptive Drive
You used to be able to spec an M Sport with Adaptive Drive - it deleted the M Sport suspension. Now it seems you cannot - the configurator wont let you anyway - but you can select Variable Damper Control which replaces the standard M Sport suspension.
I believe that if you delete the M Sport suspension option you get or are offered Adaptive Drive. When I looked into this it wasn’t very clear at the time so I would have a word with the dealer about this model.
The car is still nice to drive and smooth, it just doesn't damp out the bumps as well as it could and I seem to recall the adaptive ride did it a little better, but it's not night and day different. Would I have liked it added yea, would I have paid 2K more for it or waited 3-4 weeks/months to find the right spec with all the other bits, not in a million years.
Or tell the dealer that if they don't do it, you'll be giving the car back and going to mercedes instead
Lovely looking motor but I really want to hold out for a 535i. I've noticed one with Sytner that they've had since December, still not sold, for £40k. Stupid dealers are stupid.
Last edited:
Glad you saw sense and went with a 6-pot. Shame you didn't go all out on a 535d 
Adaptive drive is indeed excellent. Shame it's such a rare option in the UK. Quite a few over here have it, but it does come in various options 'packs'.
Adaptive drive is indeed excellent. Shame it's such a rare option in the UK. Quite a few over here have it, but it does come in various options 'packs'.
Do it. That engine is a peach.
Last edited:
Had a good long drive in the car today down to south Wales from Staffordshire and back and I have to say I was very pleased with the car. On a long run it really is terrific and the ride is no problem at all now that I'm tuned into it. I averaged around 39mpg which was good considering I was pushing it hard a couple of times, it does go very well and picks up speed with aplomb. It was a nice relaxing drive there and back and I have to say it's really growing on me and not once has it left me thinking I wish I had 400bhp. The sport setting makes the gearbox and throttle work really well and I used the automatic full beam function and bar a couple of blips it worked like a dream, dipping the full beam when a car was up front going the same way and of course when a car was coming the other way. Got confused by a couple of road lights, usually outside lights on house along country lanes and a road sign that was bright but other than that worked really well. The 'go around the corner' lights (forget their name) are VERY good, another thing I would not have thought much about but now having had it working for me I'm a convert.
Truly great car this one, perfect for what I need it for.
Truly great car this one, perfect for what I need it for.
I assure you 'barely interested' is so far away from my level of interest in such things. Sorry Lucero, I forget where my pants are kept most mornings so the likelihood of me remembering to check this, err, slim.
Don't worry, he'll be telling us he's buying a Lambo or something next week anyway so it'd be for nothing