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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 BMW 5-Series (F10) Forums General 5-Series Sedan and Wagon (F10 / F11) Forum 2011 535i test drive, X5 comparison, and side-by-side with my 335i
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      06-07-2010, 04:45 PM   #23
Robin_NL
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Quote:
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E39 is hands down the best BMW design ever
Who told you that? Stevie Wonder?

My dad had a E39 525tds back in 1997. Not the best car he ever had....
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      06-07-2010, 06:06 PM   #24
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The report is very competent. Thanks, SkipSauls.
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      06-07-2010, 06:54 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin Hood View Post
Who told you that? Stevie Wonder?

My dad had a E39 525tds back in 1997. Not the best car he ever had....
I had three of 'em (check out the signature). Today, seven years after they went out of production, they still elicit admiring looks from me and many other aficionados.
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      06-07-2010, 08:05 PM   #26
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Unsolicited buying tip. I believe I read than the 2011 X5 35 gas delivers fuel economy close to the 2010 diesel. And 2010 diesels have some nice discounts (via carsdirect.com).

So you may want a 2010 if you are fuel economy minded and want a diesel, but the review I read said the 2011 gas model had a more refined sound.
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      06-07-2010, 08:07 PM   #27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin Hood View Post
Who told you that? Stevie Wonder?

My dad had a E39 525tds back in 1997. Not the best car he ever had....
He had the wrong model! The 540i was probably the best car overall in terms of handling that I've driven. The '97's did have some reliability issues, but '98s seemed better. I had both.

What's funny is much cheaper cars today are much faster than that car, but I'd buy one today if they were still reliable.
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      06-07-2010, 09:20 PM   #28
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Great review! Thanks for all the details.

I also think the E92 design is one of the best (and I'm also biased. )
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      06-09-2010, 04:17 PM   #29
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Any comment on how both the ride quality, and road noise compare between the two?

The wife thinks our 2007 530i gives a bit too much feedback over potholes and such - wondering if an X5 will be better at absorbing the bumps with its higher presence, or if we'd need to go to the fancy new 5-series electronic suspension in "comfort" mode (with sport available for when I'm in the car).
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      06-09-2010, 05:22 PM   #30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by newmanium View Post
Any comment on how both the ride quality, and road noise compare between the two?

The wife thinks our 2007 530i gives a bit too much feedback over potholes and such - wondering if an X5 will be better at absorbing the bumps with its higher presence, or if we'd need to go to the fancy new 5-series electronic suspension in "comfort" mode (with sport available for when I'm in the car).
The X5 had the sport package while the 5 was the base model, at least in terms of suspension, tires, etc. The 5 was a bit smoother and quieter, but also had a bit less feel than the X5. My expectation is that the 5 with the active suspension would offer the best combination, but that's an assumption and not based on direct experience.

My 335i also gives lots of feedback over potholes, etc., to the point where I'd like to have a "comfort" button at times! When I put the 17" snow tires on each winter (also run-flats) it is amazing how much smoother and more composed the car seems to be over rough surfaces.
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      06-09-2010, 05:59 PM   #31
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Compared to my 335i Convertible, the 5 offers a *much* smoother ride that absorbes the potholes and road feel. Honestly, I don't find a big difference in Sport mode vs. Comfort mode on bad road feedback. It's still pretty isolated from the driver. Sport mode does make the car roll to the side less when doing turns. But when going straight I don't notice a big difference between Sport and Comfort. I also notice more bounces when going over bumps in Comfort mode. In Sport mode, bounces are more dampened out.

There's much less road noise in the 535i compared to my 335i. The suspension is more isolated and there are different tires being used. The tires on the 535i Sport Package are Goodyear Excellence tires which are considered "Grand Touring" tires on tirerack.com compared to the "Sport" RE050A Bridgestones used on the 335i.

I have never driven an X5, so I can't compare to that.
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      06-10-2010, 02:40 PM   #32
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Great write up. Thanks.


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      01-03-2016, 10:54 PM   #33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SkipSauls View Post
It looks like the US won't be getting the wagon, with the GT being the replacement. I hope BMWNA knows what they're doing, but I'd rather see the wagon here, or both. I liked the e60 wagon better than the sedan as it "fixed" the ugly rear end in addition to the extra utility. If the GT were sleeker and looked less like a giant Prius it would have more appeal.

The US also suffers from being out of sync with the rest of the world for powertrains. What's interesting is that a few other manyfacturers, including Dodge/Ram and VW, have figured out how to build diesels that don't require things like AdBlue. Maybe now that BMW knows it can sell diesels in the USA it will develop "world" engines, and bring more over here.
Hi, i'm from 2016 and VW was caught in controversy for cheating with diesel..
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      01-04-2016, 08:26 AM   #34
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Great post, thanks. I agree the color black just don't do it for the 5. I own a 535i and everytime I see a white one I
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