[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by NewM3driver

Drive a rwd 535 m sport with DHP, the luxury seating package and a new set of non runflat pilot sports. A very nice car indeed. Not a sports car, but a beautiful, perfectly sized daily driver.

That sounds mmmmmmm

[chrisny]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

Anyone else jump from a 3 up to a 5 and feel the same way? I see plenty of folks going the other direction because they're tired of driving a 'boat', but it didn't feel that way at all to me. I'm only 7 months into my lease, but I'm already building 535i's for our next possible lease. I figure by then, the little one will be in a forward facing seat which will save some room, and a sedan may be slightly more tenable. Right now the wagon is sweet in terms of space and convenience.

I'm getting ready to. My 335 lease ends in January and I'm leaning towards a 535 or A6. I too drove an F10 for a day (535 loaner) and was amazed how much I loved it. Was basically a base 535xi, had some decent options but nothing performance based. Was a lot more fun and planted than I was expecting. I also oddly liked one thing that I've always criticized about the F10, the cabin is basically the same size as the F30, just a little wider (no more leg room). The width is what I want and I actually found that I liked the inside not being any longer, added to that "drives smaller than it is" feeling.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by chrisny

I'm getting ready to. My 335 lease ends in January and I'm leaning towards a 535 or A6. I too drove an F10 for a day (535 loaner) and was amazed how much I loved it. Was basically a base 535xi, had some decent options but nothing performance based. Was a lot more fun and planted than I was expecting. I also oddly liked one thing that I've always criticized about the F10, the cabin is basically the same size as the F30, just a little wider (no more leg room). The width is what I want and I actually found that I liked the inside not being any longer, added to that "drives smaller than it is" feeling.

Good point. I remember it feeling like a proper cockpit. Wider than my F31, but it didn't feel like I was in a Cadillac fleetwood.

[chrisny]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

Good point. I remember it feeling like a proper cockpit. Wider than my F31, but it didn't feel like I was in a Cadillac fleetwood.

Exactly. Doesn't force your knees in like the F3x yet the rest still has that cockpit feel, for the most part. Turn around and you don't feel like you're driving a big car. I've loved the F10 since it came out but refused to buy something so much longer without any extra leg room to show for it. I still wish it had at least an inch more leg room like the a6, but I was surprised how much I liked it just as it is, once I drove it for a good long test drive.

I also felt like the seat position was slightly higher, leading to a more bent knee in the back seat and therefore the illusion of more leg room, simply because you don't need as much when your knee is bent more. I don't have stats to back that up and didn't get to go from one to the other to confirm that to be true, but felt that way when I sat in back of the F10 and it stands to reason it should be true of the bigger car.

[chrisny]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

I couldn't picture myself driving one before yesterday, now I really want one.

This last sentence says it all. I would normally be chomping at the bit to get my 335 back. That day though, I didn't want to give back the 535 . Where I live the 335's performance advantages are wasted anyway. The 535 still has every bit I need and more, yet with more comfortable seats and more hip and shoulder room for a proper "adult" sport sedan. Now if only it could shrink on command to make parking lots as effortless as the 3

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by chrisny

T The 535 still has every bit I need and more, yet with more comfortable seats and more hip and shoulder room for a proper "adult" sport sedan.

I think this sums it all up perfectly "proper adult sport sedan".

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Bbb34

I think this sums it all up perfectly "proper adult sport sedan".

My wife refers to the 3-series as "an adolescent", the 5-series as, "grown up".

HighlandPete

[M5Beast_NYC]

I went from an F31 328d to an F10 535. There were pros and cons but I defintely feel I'm more at home on the f10. I felt the f31 was lacking in a lot of ways. Size wise, I'm extremely happy with the 5 series. I have two kids and the 5 series fits our lifestyle better

[gatorfast]

OP same thing happened to me. My previous car was an E90 M3. Brought it to the dealer for service and received a brand new 528i loaner. Never thought I would but I fell in love with the 528i. It was so comfortable to drive and surprisingly quick for a heavy car with a 4cyl. Needless to say the choice was obvious when I was in the market for a new car.