5 Series (F10/F11/F07/F18) BMW F10 5er - press drives & reviews

[Human]

^
I envy you Doc

 

[Potential]

Not fair Dr. I have to wait at least a month for a test drive. Off topic but I test drove a 760Li today while my 750i was in the shop getting detailed. It is like going from a 747 into a harrier jet, except reverse the size decrease. Such a sublimely, superb vehicle.

 

[Zafiro]

I will be testing it out in less than two weeks. Looking forward.

Cool! I think the premiere is 20th March? Have you booked a testdrive already?

 

[Mr Robert]

Cool! I think the premiere is 20th March? Have you booked a testdrive already?

Got an invitation last week. I bet it is not much of a testdrive but I they said there would be driving

 

[klier]

Not fair Dr. I have to wait at least a month for a test drive. Off topic but I test drove a 760Li today while my 750i was in the shop getting detailed. It is like going from a 747 into a harrier jet, except reverse the size decrease. Such a sublimely, superb vehicle.

Just.......damn. Got any pics or anything, or a bit longer impressions from the 760Li....? For instance, what is the difference in dynamics between an i and Li version, when you think away the V12 engine????
Also, between a 760Li and 535i/530d for a test drive...I'd know alright. 5er will very soon be a car everybody basicly will be able to drive, but the 760i is special, and will always be special.

Dunkel, I don't have to tell you to take a cam with you, and that we expect detailed impressions! Right?

 

[Potential]

I'll type something more extensive up later if I get chance but a few key observations:
- the engine is completely effortless. It just defies all words how supreme the power delivery is.
- Interior honestly felt more solid then my 750i, like an absolute piece of granite
- The 8 speed automatic seems more responsive on down shifts and is definitely smoother on quick take offs, but that could be down to the engine.
- Li version feels more cumbersome in the corners on comfort mode with the dynamic drive, but in sports and sport +, no noticeable difference.

 

[K-A]

That's weird that the interior felt more solid, should that be right? The two have virtually identical interiors and built quality strength don't they?

 

[Potential]

I thought the same. I noticed it whilst driving, not when I went back into my car, so maybe it was just the euphoria or driving the 760Li.

 

[SCOTT27]

Look a real test. No going sideways...
BMW 5-Series F-10 | | Honest John

 

[sfbayfan]

Nice real world review!

 

[m-power]

F10 looks like a real winner. Can't wait to get my hands on one

 

[Mr Robert]

Test is now done.

It was just a really short run so it is hard to say for sure how it drives when pushed a bit so I will not even comment on that here, but I can say this; the car is very comfortable and quiet, the serenity is almost touchable. The automatic gearbox is perfect for a comfortable drive, seamless and always one step ahead of you in that. The 530d seems to have enough in the performance department. The car was on 17" winter tyres and all I can say is; how on earth could I ever want more comfort than this, at least for the two in the front seats? The looks I like, the front is good, the nostrils are not that intimidating and the car does not look heavy. It does, however, need at least 19" wheels to look good due to the huge wheel houses.

The cars we got to see were black, white, Sophisto and Titansilber. Sophisto grey is a great colour, even if I'm a bit worried of how it will look after a couple of years in the sun.

In the front seats, you have a very good position, the high center console is a hit and the space is good but not abundant - comfy, cosy and giving you a wrapped-around feeling. The floppy gear levers, well, I guess my hands are too big, because they were pretty much in the way when having my hands at a quarter past nine. There is a lot of BMW feeling in this interior.

In the rear, the seats are a bit to low, resulting in a less than perfect angle for your legs. Furhtermore, the rear door is a bit small for easy exit (this can also be accounted to the very wide sills). My feet got stuck on both the front seat and the B pilar. Other than that? No nothing wrong - other than when you, as I did, test the rear seats of the F10 and the GT neck to neck.

The car looks small on its own but put it beside a 3-series and it is a big car. Would I get one? I don't know, I think I would go for a GT instead.

 

[Zafiro]

Thanks! I didnt drive the car, just went to see it. I quote my own comments from the other thread.

http://www.germancarforum.com/5-series/32589-official-bmw-f11-5-series-touring-7.html#post450799

I'm back from my dealer. They had a silver, grey and black. In silver the car looks pretty dull but in black it turned the car into a stunning car. Grey also a much better colour than silver. IMO the darker the color is, more stunning the car gets.
IRL the car looks small, must be the design I guess. Anyway, the car looks really good, elegant, classic and easy for the eyes. I prefer it over E-class which its just a mess (except for the front and interior). The new 5 looks more complete and more elegant.
The interior is top quality, doesnt matter which model you sit in the interior is just great.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

In the front seats, you have a very good position, the high center console is a hit and the space is good but not abundant - comfy, cosy and giving you a wrapped-around feeling.

I sat in a nicely specced 530d at Geneva, and I can honestly say it was the best interior I've sat in/seen for ANY car at ANY price level. Better than the 7 Series I thought, due to it being a bit more cosy.

 

[Deleted member 25]

Something that i am not quite found of is the door panel design, specificaly the door handles, do they look good IRl ?

 

[Mr Robert]

Something that i am not quite found of is the door panel design, specificaly the door handles, do they look good IRl ?

I will put it this way; the best industrial designs are those that you do not notice. That said, the door panels are really good. The handles feels really solid and the ergonomics are great even if they are not flamboyant in any way.

I sat in a nicely specced 530d at Geneva, and I can honestly say it was the best interior I've sat in/seen for ANY car at ANY price level. Better than the 7 Series I thought, due to it being a bit more cosy.

I can honestly say that I agree to a certain degree. Both the 5-GT and the 7-series are great but they do not communicate the same level of being a part of the vehicle. The cosy part being very instrumental. However, the 5-GT and the 7-series feels a bit more airy... if that is what one seeks in a car - please move a step forward.

 

[Mr Robert]

I would like to add that in two of the cars at our hands, the interior as finished in a beige tone, and that will not be a hit in the long run. The cars had been used for two hours when I got my hand on them and the area around the base of the seats were already full of black marks. I guess that goes for every interior other than black ones but still, it was not pretty to behold.

I would have a 530d in Sapphire black with Boston black interior.

There are a couple of "must haves" in the options catalouge, such as the Professional navigation and the comfort access package. This is where this car shines. Those are incredibly nice features to have.

By the way, I wonder which those 20" wheels were that were fittet on the 535i we had at our disposal. I can't find them on the configurator but they where to die for.

 

[K-A]

Test is now done.

It was just a really short run so it is hard to say for sure how it drives when pushed a bit so I will not even comment on that here, but I can say this; the car is very comfortable and quiet, the serenity is almost touchable. The automatic gearbox is perfect for a comfortable drive, seamless and always one step ahead of you in that. The 530d seems to have enough in the performance department. The car was on 17" winter tyres and all I can say is; how on earth could I ever want more comfort than this, at least for the two in the front seats? The looks I like, the front is good, the nostrils are not that intimidating and the car does not look heavy. It does, however, need at least 19" wheels to look good due to the huge wheel houses.

The cars we got to see were black, white, Sophisto and Titansilber. Sophisto grey is a great colour, even if I'm a bit worried of how it will look after a couple of years in the sun.

In the front seats, you have a very good position, the high center console is a hit and the space is good but not abundant - comfy, cosy and giving you a wrapped-around feeling. The floppy gear levers, well, I guess my hands are too big, because they were pretty much in the way when having my hands at a quarter past nine. There is a lot of BMW feeling in this interior.

In the rear, the seats are a bit to low, resulting in a less than perfect angle for your legs. Furhtermore, the rear door is a bit small for easy exit (this can also be accounted to the very wide sills). My feet got stuck on both the front seat and the B pilar. Other than that? No nothing wrong - other than when you, as I did, test the rear seats of the F10 and the GT neck to neck.

The car looks small on its own but put it beside a 3-series and it is a big car. Would I get one? I don't know, I think I would go for a GT instead.

Awesome, great write-up! Just outta curiosity, what do you mean by the wide door sills in the back?

I sat in a nicely specced 530d at Geneva, and I can honestly say it was the best interior I've sat in/seen for ANY car at ANY price level. Better than the 7 Series I thought, due to it being a bit more cosy.

WOW! Sounds great. Looks like the E-Class is in trouble, as one of it's traits over the 5'er has always been a superior/luxurious interior, with the 212's hardened surfaces, and the 5'er going above and beyond, it can indeed be a new ball-game.

 

[Mr Robert]

Awesome, great write-up! Just outta curiosity, what do you mean by the wide door sills in the back?

I'm a bit short on words, but I mean the spep into the rear part of the cabin. The space between the seat and the outside is quite wide.

 

[K-A]

Ahh, gotcha. The door hips probably protrude outward a bit.