[Ali Shiralian]

My lease of 335I will be over in about a year and thinking of moving over to the F10. Wife and I are in our late forties and no kids in the house anymore but we feel F30 is a little tight space wise. Looked at the M4 but I know we can never use all the power so why bother. We both love the F30 but it's not spacious and ugh for us especially on long drives. I know the F10 is heavier so handling will be compromised and is note as get up and go as the F30 so I'll be missing that aspect of it. To those who owned both, are there other factors we should consider before making a decision? Is 550 a better upgrade so we won't miss the power?

[Grover432]

535 has plenty of performance and is lighter handling than the 550, but neither will give you the light sporty handling of the 3 series. They are just too big and heavy. The trade off is more space and a quieter and more luxurious interior. By next year when you are at decision time, the G30 will be out, replacing the F10. The rumoured 540 will have considerably more HP than the 535 has now and is supposed to be lighter. Still it won't be a sports sedan. You'll have to drive the cars and decide.

[Ali Shiralian]

Originally Posted by Grover432

535 has plenty of performance and is lighter handling than the 550, but neither will give you the light sporty handling of the 3 series. They are just too big and heavy. The trade off is more space and a quieter and more luxurious interior. By next year when you are at decision time, the G30 will be out, replacing the F10. The rumoured 540 will have considerably more HP than the 535 has now and is supposed to be lighter. Still it won't be a sports sedan. You'll have to drive the cars and decide.

Thank you for your reply, I'll wait for the G30 most definitly, can't wait to test drive one

[Lee]

Love my F10 550ix and have zero regrets.

I do have quite a few friends with 3s and for me, it isn't big enough, in many aspects.

G30 will have to be pretty special if it's gonna replace the F10.

Good luck with the decisions!

[Grover432]

Originally Posted by Lee

Love my F10 550ix and have zero regrets.

I do have quite a few friends with 3s and for me, it isn't big enough, in many aspects.

G30 will have to be pretty special if it's gonna replace the F10.

Good luck with the decisions!

Let hope it will be everything the F10 is and more (and less). Less weight, less fuel consumption, less body roll, less vague steering. More HP, more precise steering, better technology, reasonable cost increase.

[FY01CPO]

Having owned a 2006 E90 (330i) and now a 2012 F10 (535i), I must say that I much more prefer the 5 series over the 3. Obviously, it is bigger, but to me, I like the get up and go along with the more refined qualities. Option wise, the 3 series didn't have what the 5 series has so it is not fair to compare those; although, after having the 5 for a few months, I wish I had the money to get a 5 series back then. The 6 cylinder and the ride comfort for me are a plus! Our 330i had a 6 but the 5 series has more "creature comforts" if you will. I'm early 40s and the 3 series has it's place being a very sporty sedan; now, I like the size plus the sportiness of the 5. Obviously, time will tell after you test drive the G30 but for my wife and I, we don't think we could go back to a 3 as our sedan of choice after having the 5. She has a 428i and still prefers the 5 because of it's ride comfort. I like the 4 for the quickness (although its the 428) but when on long drives, the 5 takes the cake! The 3 definitely is great but compared to a 5, I like it. It really depends on how you like to drive. I am dubbed Mario Andretti in my family and it gets me in trouble so the 5 helps me to tone it down a little. HAHA!

[493263]

Originally Posted by Ali Shiralian

Is 550 a better upgrade so we won't miss the power?

The extra 100+hp you get will more than make up the weight difference. In fact, it's a faster car. But don't ever get a 550 without a suspension upgrade too. It's so sloppy on the standard suspension, even in 535 form.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by 493263

The extra 100+hp you get will more than make up the weight difference. In fact, it's a faster car. But don't ever get a 550 without a suspension upgrade too. It's so sloppy on the standard suspension, even in 535 form.

Isn't there only a 1/2 second difference to 60?? IMHO, quarter times only matter if you're dragging the car.....

[493263]

The 550xi will get to 60 in 4.6s and so does the 335xi.

[Jalndrs]

I am in the same boat as OP. My wife has a tuned E70 50i and it makes me appreciate that V8. Moves the heavy truck with ease with all of that torque.

[Ali Shiralian]

Thank you all for your comments and insights. I truly enjoy driving, always have. That's the reason I chose the 335 over the 328 for its extra power and sound. I do like the 5's creature comforts obviously but if the car drives like a boat (Buick comes to mind) I won't like it. I will definitly get the Msport version to have a better suspension and will wait to test drive the G30. Hopefully it's an upgrade.

[NewM3driver]

The 535 is the better balanced car especially with the dynamic handling package. If you get the luxury seating package, upgraded sound and camera packages I think you will agree that the step up from the 3 puts you into a different level, world class sedan.

The mercedes E350 doesn't even come close.

[Bbb34]

In my opinion, you're focusing on the wrong thing here.

Sure 0-60 times matter, but there's much more to 5 series than just numbers. 535 will be slower and 550 will get you where you seem to want to go in terms of acceleration, but neither will be as nimble as 335. What you get instead is more balanced car overall, more space, comfort and luxury features that "trickle down" from 7 series much faster than further down BMW lineup (depends on packages you pick).

Comparing to 335, 5 series is hands down superior long distance cruiser that will handle really well if pushed - especially with right suspension/tire choices (I really don't get why people keep saying "Buick like", I mean we're talking about one of the World's best mid/large sedans here). Don't get me wrong, 335 is great car, just make sure you understand that these behave very different from 3 series, but that's because of their size/positioning within BMW lineup, different target buyer I suppose.

[Grover432]

Originally Posted by Bbb34

In my opinion, you're focusing on the wrong thing here.

(I really don't get why people keep saying "Buick like", I mean we're talking about one of the World's best mid/large sedans here).

I test drove a 528 X Drive before I got my 535 X Drive/M Sport and that is the first thing that came to mind: "Buick Like" with its skinny steering wheel and its squishy suspension. My last 5 series (1999) was better in base form than an M Sport is today.

The 5 series has a different mission in 2015; it is a luxury saloon with very good driving characteristics, but it is a heavy, softly sprung car with its target market being aging baby boomers, not 30 somethings who want a sport handling sedan. There are plenty of other cars in BMWs lineup for that customer. And BMW has proven that it is right because the current 5er is outselling any previous generation 5er.

There have been plenty of articles in Car and Driver, etc. as well as the BMW forums about this, but in the end, BMW sticks to what it is in business to to. What is that you say? To sell the best handling cars on the road? No, it is in business to make money. And, it does so by carefully studying the market an giving people what they want. In this case it is a luxury saloon with a sporting edge. And the sales numbers prove they have hit their mark.

If the OP wants the handling and performance of a 3 series then that is what he should buy. If he wants a "sporty" luxury sedan, then the 5 series is perfect for him, as in my opinion it excels in that category. My car has the M Sport package with X Drive and the only other option I would have added is DHP to improve handling.

[Ali Shiralian]

Originally Posted by Grover432

I test drove a 528 X Drive before I got my 535 X Drive/M Sport and that is the first thing that came to mind: "Buick Like" with its skinny steering wheel and its squishy suspension. My last 5 series (1999) was better in base form than an M Sport is today.

The 5 series has a different mission in 2015; it is a luxury saloon with very good driving characteristics, but it is a heavy, softly sprung car with its target market being aging baby boomers, not 30 somethings who want a sport handling sedan. There are plenty of other cars in BMWs lineup for that customer. And BMW has proven that it is right because the current 5er is outselling any previous generation 5er.

There have been plenty of articles in Car and Driver, etc. as well as the BMW forums about this, but in the end, BMW sticks to what it is in business to to. What is that you say? To sell the best handling cars on the road? No, it is in business to make money. And, it does so by carefully studying the market an giving people what they want. In this case it is a luxury saloon with a sporting edge. And the sales numbers prove they have hit their mark.

If the OP wants the handling and performance of a 3 series then that is what he should buy. If he wants a "sporty" luxury sedan, then the 5 series is perfect for him, as in my opinion it excels in that category. My car has the M Sport package with X Drive and the only other option I would have added is DHP to improve handling.

Thank you for shedding some light in to this discussion. I totally get that 5 series doesn't have the nimbleness of the 3 series. The 335 Xdrive that I currently drive is a great DD and I don't have a problem keeping it or getting another 335, but our kids have grown up and live in different cities hence a lot of long distance driving. We both feel a little more room on those trips would be beneficial to both of us. I just don't want it to be boat as a DD that's all.

[NewM3driver]

No Dynamic handling and X-drive is not going to add up to a sporty 5.

[chrisny]

Originally Posted by Ali Shiralian

Thank you all for your comments and insights. I truly enjoy driving, always have. That's the reason I chose the 335 over the 328 for its extra power and sound. I do like the 5's creature comforts obviously but if the car drives like a boat (Buick comes to mind) I won't like it. I will definitly get the Msport version to have a better suspension and will wait to test drive the G30. Hopefully it's an upgrade.

I'm considering the same move and I had a 535xi loaner and spent a good two hours just driving it around and was surprised how much I liked it, even with modest options and no suspension or performance upgrades at all. Like you, I don't usually even get to utilize the performance in the 335 very often where I live, so the slight drop off to a 535 didn't phase me at all, for that extended test drive anyway.

I thought the G30 was further out than a year (more like next summer than spring?). My 335 is due back in January, but if the G30 is going to be out soon after, maybe I'll extend it to have a choice of F10 or G30.

I'm also considering an A6 3.0T prestige with black optics and 20" wheels, looks pretty sharp, sleek, almost looks smaller than it is. For big sedans, the 5 and A6 handle themselves quite well especially with a sport suspension. You won't feel anything "old Buick like" even with the base suspension.

[BigKutta]

You will have to get used to driving a boat. That is how the F10 feels after you come out of a 3er. While I still miss my e46 3er, I have outgrown the 3 series in pure comfort and finish/quality of the car. Now when I get into a 3 series they feel cheap and more for someone 15 years younger than me.

[493263]

If you get the upgraded suspension, it shouldn't feel like a boat. My DHP in sport certainly doesn't feel like it.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by 493263

If you get the upgraded suspension, it shouldn't feel like a boat. My DHP in sport certainly doesn't feel like it.

Actually..... Neither does my standard suspension.....

[NewM3driver]

The X-drive definitely hurts handling and turn in, and it adds a lot of weight where you don't want it. It's hard because it is rare to find a rwd 535 with DHP to drive back to back with a 550 with the same. You WILL feel the extra weight over the nose of the 550. The 535 is a lot more nimble, and honestly the straight 6 is a much sweeter engine than the V8. BMW's are about the best straight 6 engines built in the world.

When you are in Bar Harbor Maine.... eat seafood
When you are in Oklahoma eat steak
When you buy a BMW get the SIX!

Funny how when you start to push the 535 in sport plus how much the car seems to shrink around you. There is a LOT of untapped potential in day to day driving.

[chrisny]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Actually..... Neither does my standard suspension.....

I agree, again just from driving a loaner for a couple of hours. I went from my 335 to the 535, only took me a few minutes to get used to the added mass and have the confidence throw it through some turns. Even with the standard suspension, it never felt like a boat, not even when I went from the 3 to the 5 in a matter of the 15 minutes I was at the dealership dropping mine off… The more I drove and got comfortable in the 5, the more I liked it, and part of me didn't even want to.

Yes, when I got back in my 335 after I dropped off the loaner it certainly felt smaller and even more effortless. But if the 5 felt like a boat, my 3 would have felt like getting into a Ferrari. It didn't lol.