[Biogeny]

Just heard from my dealer that my new tourer is on the boat and is ready on the 10th.

Absolutely can't wait.

Test drove an msport on 19s to get the worst case on drive quality on uk lunar landscape roads and then ordered se with VDC and mighty 17s, 6 years of M sports on UK roads has taken its toll.

[Stonehauler]

Congrats Biogeny! Please post pics so all of us here on the other side of the pond can post jealous comments about how we can't get the tourer over here.

[darrko]

520d is a great car to drive, congrats!

[Biogeny]

Have run the 125d previously and it's a great engine but the 5k extra is a bit steep in the UK.

At the moment the 5 series seems a bit of a bargain, managed over 13% off and with the extras over F30 was to good not to upgrade from e91.

[Stonehauler]

I wish they would give us the diesels over here.

[Biogeny]

I'm lucky in that I've never had a big petrol engine and so don't miss not having one.

I don't really understand why the diesels don't make it to the states as surely there would be a market and it's left hand drive so no real effort required for them to send a few 530d touring over the pond.

[Stonehauler]

The reason diesels don't do well over here, well outside heavy duty pickup trucks, is due to GM trying to turn the 350 petrol into a diesel in the early 80s. They also stuck a weak transmission behind it that would break every 10-20k miles. My father purchased one new and went through 3 transmissions before getting them to put a beefier one in which solved that problem. The other problems, that of no turbo, sluggish performance, black clouds of soot, high sulfur smell, etc, really turned the US public off to them. In addition, some (the visible minority) pickup truck users would modify their engines and with little in the way of emissions regulations, they would belch black clouds that would choke everyone for 10 cars back whenever they put their foot on the gas pedal.


With the new emissions technology in place, that has all changed. My new truck doesn't smell or send out black clouds of soot like previous diesels (Ford 6.7l), and at 400hp/800ft lbs of torque (just under 1100 Nm) it's no slouch in the acceleration dept...and it weighs 4 tons empty! I am sure that emissions requirements are different between our two countries, but even if there were no emissions requirements over there, the US version should probably be able to eek out 27/35 city/highway mpgs (us gallons) even with a 2.5 ton car.

If they brought over the M550d and the 535d, I think they would get a lot people to buy them. I also know that if I was in the market for a smaller car, I would be looking at a VW just because they have a diesel. Once you have established that they are good engines that can also provide good to exceptional performance, I think the smaller ones will catch on.

[Biogeny]

I would have thought that other than maybe the California's of the world, that Europe is as tough on diesel particulates as anywhere.

It's always funny to see the difference in markets, I've always had hatchbacks or tourers and in the states people like saloon (sedans). How do you fit the flat pack furniture in?

[Alan l.]

Congrats! 2013?

[Stonehauler]

That's what the crossover is for..after all, it's just a station wagon (tourer) that's had a factory lift kit.

For me, I tow a heavy trailer at times, so I use my pickup for things like lumber, drywall, furniture, etc. If I didn't have a need for a pickup, I would probably just have gone with something like a CTS, a E class wagon (tourer), or a minivan.

[Biogeny]

Nope, 2012-was offered but the price was higher and the slight changes were not that exiting.

Pickup truck garners a stoning from the environmentalists in these parts.

[Stonehauler]

Originally Posted by Biogeny

Pickup truck garners a stoning from the environmentalists in these parts.

I understand. I would not have one if I didn't need the towing/cargo capacity.

[Biogeny]

T minus 48hrs

Sods law, cracked windscreen on my e91 so very hasty trip to auto glass in order.

[Biogeny]

Very pleased so far.

Averaged 55+ mpg on the 45 miles home and very isolated from thumps in comfort mode.

Write up in a week once I have done a few miles and worked out what the buttons do.

Officially built 3 days before 2013 model, I don't think I am missing much

[BigKutta]

[Biogeny]

Touché

First order of play, snow foam, wash, clay, machine polish and then a few layers of sealant wax

[Biogeny]

250 miles in and one sad fact is the engine warms up in minutes, guess its the flaps in the grill- e91 used to take 8+ miles and this settles down in under 2 AND there's an oil temp gauge.

Sports auto transmission is amazing, can't feel changes and it responds instantly to the paddles- definitely much more power at 3500 rpm but says to not go over this until run in. Left to its own devices in comfort it will shift up at around 1800 sits at 1500rpm. 85 on the speedo is just under 2200 revs on the motorway.

Still averaging 55mpg but does use more urban due to the weight.

Very quiet inside, front glass is very thick and the ride on 17s and in comfort or sport on vdc is very much improved over previous e91. All the harshness has gone but you can still feel the road below, certainly no thumps and haven't felt the need to drive around small road imperfections that I would in the 3.

Electronic goodies are all amazing and the pro stereo is settling in nicely after a few hours use.

On the whole it's a much more relaxing drive, even in sport it is not as satisfying as a 3 to chuck down a lane but the comfort more than makes up for it.

Very pleased and will grab pics once I have time to prep the paint work

[Biogeny]

350 miles up

First back road blast and in sport with gearbox in manual had some fun while accelerating full throttle but sticking to 3500 revs max. The car is pretty nippy if you can keep the revs over 3k, feels as fast as the e91 184hp with the 6 speed auto. Really finding the paddles handy, e.g to overtake- a couple of flicks and you can safely get past anything.

The only issue is the sheer size of it on country lanes, bit heart in mouth when something comes the other way.

Ride quality continues to impress, slow speed town driving best in comfort and then on decent surfaces or high speed then sport is best. Steering very good in sport and the car can carry a lot of speed in corners, more than the e91se but not as much as my 123d.

Seats very comfortable and nav, hi fi pro etc continue to impress.

Overall still deeply impressed.

Pics after washing on sat.