Bye bye M135i ...

That's been bugging me actually, read the reviews and all the journo's say "These cars really need adaptive drive"

But then you find they didn't actually have any in the press fleet without adaptive drive....how the hell would they know? Unless they are just parroting the press material?!

Going by owners actual opinions on forums, it doesn't sound like the be all and end all.
 
pugheaven said:
In what way, just the interior or as a car in general? Interesting as the missus mentioned a 135i as her next car, but I'm thinking AMG A45 Turbo...
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I think it was a couple of things. The interior was definitely part of it, just feels cheap inside. I also wasn't convinced by the noise or feeling or changing gear with the auto. It all just seemed a little fake.
 
VincentHanna said:
That's been bugging me actually, read the reviews and all the journo's say "These cars really need adaptive drive"

But then you find they didn't actually have any in the press fleet without adaptive drive....how the hell would they know? Unless they are just parroting the press material?!

Going by owners actual opinions on forums, it doesn't sound like the be all and end all.
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I have no complaints about the way mine handles without Adaptive Drive. I've driven one with it, and its great, but the way the press said IT ABSOLUTELY NEEDS IT was bizarre.

Almost nobody ever specced it anyway.
 
Basher said:
I also wasn't convinced by the noise or feeling or changing gear with the auto. It all just seemed a little fake.
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I know the driver for your change was space but the gearbox in the 5 is the same as the 1 so your above comment will still be relevant.
 
SDK^ said:
I know the driver for your change was space but the gearbox in the 5 is the same as the 1 so your above comment will still be relevant.
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But a 530d isn't being driven with the purpose of generating excitement (like a 135i) it's supposed to be a mid-large comfortable cruiser.
 
SS-89 said:
But a 530d isn't being driven with the purpose of generating excitement (like a 135i) it's supposed to be a mid-large comfortable cruiser.
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Actually whilst you don't buy a 5 Series specifically for a fun to drive car you do buy one if you want a large, comfortable cruiser that is also fun to drive - they handle very nicely for the size of the car and I certainly thoroughly enjoy driving them on the right roads.

For me it's the perfect blend of sport and waft. A 3 Series has too much sport, a 7 too much waft :D
 
Looks great...I love cream interiors, but I think they'd make me constantly paranoid about colour transfer, stains, etc.

Also, I know German brands are notorious for huge specification lists...please tell me '12v power sockets' weren't an optional extra :p
 
Conscript said:
Looks great...I love cream interiors, but I think they'd make me constantly paranoid about colour transfer, stains, etc.

Also, I know German brands are notorious for huge specification lists...please tell me '12v power sockets' weren't an optional extra :p
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I think that item is for an extra 12V socket somewhere. Armrest maybe isn't standard?
 
I'd love one of these but i wouldn't get to work in winter snow / ice with RWD :(. Most of my route to work is untreated, hilly country lanes for about 6 miles.
 
Yep, I do a 50 mile each way commute in mine with winter tyres (granted not every day, but that doesn't stop me from driving it).
 
[TW]Fox;28718338 said:
Actually whilst you don't buy a 5 Series specifically for a fun to drive car you do buy one if you want a large, comfortable cruiser that is also fun to drive - they handle very nicely for the size of the car and I certainly thoroughly enjoy driving them on the right roads.

For me it's the perfect blend of sport and waft. A 3 Series has too much sport, a 7 too much waft :D
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Hmmm

They can be made to go very quickly and you can really take liberties with them as they are relatively benign and that long wheelbase means when they do go at the back, they go nicely and it makes you look like an oversteer hero. They are so easy to get and hold sideways. They do understeer quite a bit if you try to get em nosed in with too much speed, but thats due to the 8 tonne engine and set up.

On bumpy roads they also bounce a bit, the adapted drive fixes that nicely so that is probably where the reviews are coming from, it is a nicer ride and a bit sharper, but as you say it isn't a must have, but it is better with it based on my test drive. They are not exciting in the sense of a sports car but for what they are they do that going quickly cross country really well.

Anyone who doesn't believe a 5 series diesel can be exciting come take a ride in mine, I'll change that view.
 
I've got to agree. Its not often, but sometimes I find myself on a nice road, without the kids or wife, and slip it into sport mode and have some fun.

Even in eco-pro it can still move a little, the other day I was coming off a roundabout next to a mk6 Golf gti and easily had the measure of him. He was gunning it, you could tell from the silly loud exhaust he had. Whether it was mapped or not on top, I wouldn't know. But up until 80 when I stopped, I was easily pulling away.

Since the wheel alignment it has felt much better in the twisties too.
 
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