[SomeRandomer123]

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The 5er could very possibly be our next car and I\'m after your opinions... £45k is about Max Price and petrol is not an option.
Do I get a:
F10 520d SE Specced very highly
or
F10 530d SE with few toys on it?

I don\'t see the point in the 25d and the 35d could also be an option but that would mean next to no toys.
Its a tricky one \'cos I know I would miss the power of the 30d so very much but I am longing for a more luxurious car! I adore the F10\'s interior and although I\'m not overly fussed on Navigation, I REALLY WANT the widescreen iDrive!! The \'ol wallet is going to be Superleggera!
Is the full black pannel display worth the £115 too? Sport transmission as opposed to the normal Auto - What is the difference?
Does Navigation Advanced (£1500) give you the widescreen or do you have to get the 2k Business one?

[planetary]

My personal choice would be the 530d. Engine > toys.

[The Mewster]

I guess it depends on what you look for from a car. I went high spec 520d (mine came to £40k with all the options I wanted) because I tend to potter around (only 38 but I drive like an old man...) so didn't see the point of using 30% of a 530d rather than 70% of a 520d.

But, if you're an 'enthusiastic' driver then I can see how a 530d m-sport would appeal, as the 520d SE is pretty soft.

I don't use the paddles from the sport auto that much, as much because I can't keep track of 8 gears as because I don't drive fast, but it is handy and wasnt much extra. Again, probably essential if you go down the 530d route and want to drive properly.

[Rochdale Pioneers]

I didn't get the choice of adding options - my company won't fund them so I had to pay cash on delivery for my upgraded speakers (well worth the ching). As I drive the car more I keep finding situations where various gadgets would be nice.

I have no need at all for navigation and think £2k is ludicrous for this option. But the wide screen would allow me to have the wing mounted cameras for easy view at junctions. If you are coming from a 3er as I did all I can say is that the 5er has a nose that is *long*. Been on holiday this week and frankly had to stick the nose half way out into the road to be be able to see at several t-junctions. So if I could I would add that on.

In your position though I would go engine every time. Its not that the 520d is underpowered - far from it it has enough hoof for most situations. But it is a little clattery and why not go for more power and refinement? I'd go with that over electronic trinkets any day.

[kave]

Poser=520D with lots of bling
Driver=530D with only the necessaries
I also love the wide screen but Im getting M-sport for the same money.

[EdM5]

Originally Posted by planetary

My personal choice would be the 530d. Engine > toys.

Agree.
The novelty of toys wear off. The 530d engine will make you each and every day.

[SomeRandomer123]

Thanks for your opinions. It will spend most of its time sat on a motorway at 80-110MPH cruise but when off the m-way, some spirited driving usually happens and I must say, the extra power of the 30d has gotten us out of some pretty sticky situations where there could've very easily been a crash if our car wasn't given a bootfull!

Just a few more questions if I may;
1) Like the E9X 3er, do you get bigger brakes on the 5er when you upgrade from a 4cyl engine to a 6cyl?
2) Does Navigation Advanced get you the widescreen or must you get Navi Business for that?
3) Is VDC worth the money? A lot of reviews say yes but they haven't driven a normally sprung SE in comparison.
4) Standard Speakers, Advanced or Business? Which ones?
5)Automatic gearbox and Sport Automatic gearbox - What is the difference and is it worth it?

Btw, the flappy paddles would likely never be used as I would just use Kickdown - hence Steptronic!

[Rochdale Pioneers]

Originally Posted by SomeRandomer123

Just a few more questions if I may;
3) Is VDC worth the money? A lot of reviews say yes but they haven't driven a normally sprung SE in comparison.
4) Standard Speakers, Advanced or Business? Which ones?

I don't have VDC but wish I had it. I came from a standard suspension E91 (in ES poverty spec) and felt that the F10 was soft in comparison. I'm not saying that you can't drive enthusiastically, its that its not as planted.

As for speakers, I always hated the standard speakers in my E91 - they were awful. So I stumped up the cash (and I do mean cash) for business speakers, and it was worth every penny. The tweeters add in stereo separation, the centre speaker surrounds you with sound, and the amp means you can turn the volume up a long way and not distort. For me the only thing thats missing is the ability to set eq. Top end sounds great, bass sounds great, on some albums (played off the 60GB hard drive in the arm rest) it needs more midrange which is the one thing that can't be twiddled with. As I understand it the pro speakers adds even more power and eq, so if you can afford the extra £300 it'd be worth it.

[The Mewster]

Originally Posted by kave

Poser=520D with lots of bling
Driver=530D with only the necessaries
I also love the wide screen but Im getting M-sport for the same money.

Oi!

How about 520d SE with toys = nice place to spend time, not bothered about involving drive, concerned about the environment.
530d m-sport = serious driver
520d m-sport de-badged but with added M badges = poser....

[The Mewster]

Oh, somerandomer123....

The SE certainly is a bit soft, even for me, when occasionally pressing on a bit, so it's probably worth trying either VDC or M-sport if you're keen on sprited driving. From what i've heard, the ride on the M-sport is still quite good.

I went with standard speakers, but I think that's something I'd change next time. I'm kind of used to it now, but standard system definately isn't as good as the standard system in my previous A6, so I'd expect the advanced system would be quite an improvement.

I think the only difference between auto and sport auto are the paddles, which require the sports steering wheel... Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like you still get the normal/sport/sport+ switch even with the standard auto?

As I mentioned before, I don't use the paddles much, but if you're going to drive properly then I'd imagine you'll really want them, as the auto can't predict what's coming up (...although I think the A8 can...). Blipping up the gears in manual is quite fun even in the 520d, so imagine it'd be great in a 530d.

[Rochdale Pioneers]

I don't miss either auto box - the manual has the sweetest action.....

[The Mewster]

Originally Posted by Rochdale Pioneers

I don't miss either auto box - the manual has the sweetest action.....

Good point, I guess if you want it to be a proper drivers car, go manual and spend the money for the auto on VDC...or getting it chipped?

[SomeRandomer123]

The next car has gotta be Auto. What I really want is the compromise of the new F30 3er but I don't think it will be released in time and/or debut with the N57's!

[Keyinhand]

If the 530 has at least the side view cameras, then your set. Not having to get all the way out in a bad spot to see what is coming your way (usually in a hurry as it's likely some bad driver in an Audi ) is a pretty nice feature!

[stephen3rd]

If debating which 5 Series to go for my experience at the dealer last night may give you another option.

I went along last night to take a look at the new 1 Series in a closed door preview. In my head i was between the new 1 Series and the 5 Series. The 1 Series they had in the showroom was priced at £31000!!!

Anyway the point of the post is that when i asked for the latest prices list for the 5 Series i was asked if i had considered a 7 Series? The dealer is offering a 730d MSport with 20" alloys on a 2 year lease for £399 +vat and 6 payments up front. As it would be a personal purchase it is £480 which is only £25 more than my current 320d MSport. This is for 10000 miles per year and includes servicing and road tax. They are also offering 740d MSport for a little more.

I now have a test drive booked for Saturday of the 730d.

They are also offering M3 for £499 +vat.