Hello.... To to this part of the forum

M3Fool · 04-13-2011, 02:17 AM

I am a member of the forum but always on the M3 side as that is what I drive. I am on the fence here and hoping someone can provide me with some insight. I currently have an 11 E90 M3 with ZCP and fully loaded, I LOVE it. BUT........ I am thinking of switching to the F10 535i/xi. What are the plus's and minus of the Vs situation between the cars? Will insurance be significantly less or not so much? All help would be appreciated.

Needsdecaf · 04-13-2011, 06:59 AM

You really need to drive the car. Only you can decide if it's the right car for you. Honestly, it's a very, very different car. Larger, softer, more luxurious, etc. You just need to drive it.

M3Fool · 04-13-2011, 08:09 AM

How does it compare with the E60 530i? I had one of those a few years back.

northernmonkey · 04-13-2011, 08:16 AM

i moved from an E92 to the F11. before the E92 I had two E60's both 530i's one an SE and the other M-Sport.

when I look back i loved the E60 at the time, it felt quick, good to drive, well built, refined and even in m-sport trim was comfortable when you needed it to be.

the E92 was just more hardcore in terms of drive but nowhere near as comfortable over long distances.

The F10/F11 platform is in a different league to both in terms of build quality, refinement and for me now with my family commitments the F11 is the perfect car. Fast, comfortable, practical all rolled into one. In terms of an overall package I think it is a huge leap from the E60, not to say E60 was bad but I think BMW invested enough into the F10/F11 to make it so different that people would easily justify trading up.

like other poster said.....gotta go drive one and see if it fits your needs. For me it was right car at right time.

Jon D · 04-13-2011, 08:32 AM

The F10, in just about all respects, is a very accomplished car, especially the 535d drive-train. However, a major disappoint for me is the electric power steering, which imparts a detached and artificial feel. In your case this may well not be an issue as I understand the x drive cars to have hydraulic steering.
As others have said, the only way to assess the car is to drive it.
I was seduced by all the high-tech, but I miss the responsive handling of my '08 E92, so much so that I'm now considering an M3, but I'll wait to see what the proposed changes are - there are rumours of a new 6cyl engine.

M3Fool · 04-13-2011, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon D

The F10, in just about all respects, is a very accomplished car, especially the 535d drive-train. However, a major disappoint for me is the electric power steering, which imparts a detached and artificial feel. In your case this may well not be an issue as I understand the x drive cars to have hydraulic steering.
As others have said, the only way to assess the car is to drive it.
I was seduced by all the high-tech, but I miss the responsive handling of my '08 E92, so much so that I'm now considering an M3, but I'll wait to see what the proposed changes are - there are rumours of a new 6cyl engine.

The M3 is a beast and blast to drive........... a little small though with a family of 5, which is why I am considering the 535i. We like to take LOOOOOOOOONG road trips and I am thinking that extra room between the little ones might relieve the impulse of me leaving them on the side of the road due to their constant fighting.....lol

lux · 04-22-2011, 01:59 AM

I did a recent test drive of both a 535i and 550i. My impressions vs my e90 m3:

Pluses:
+Gorgeous interior materials and layout (much better than my m3)
+550 has great torque at low rpm, not much effort to got fast
+More interior space
+Very comfortable/composed suspension
+Car construction/doors feel solid
+Better gas mileage (esp for 535i)
+Latest and greatest technology toys

Minuses:
-Road feedback via steering wheel is less
-Handling is good overall but doesn't feel nearly as nimble as an m3
-Not as exciting sounds from exhaust or engine

GestapoWatch · 04-22-2011, 12:22 PM

Could we be heading for perfection with the F10? Having come from a 335d to a 520d MS, I cannot imagine there being a better set of four wheels in the world!

Truly, truly stunning car

04S · 04-22-2011, 07:40 PM

I have just stepped out of an E92 M3 with DCT to a 535i M Sport. Very different cars for very different situations. I loved my M3, but with the 3 kids and baby seat in the back the M3 was not going to last. The 535i's handling is as you would expect a little softer than the M3, it is also a vastly larger car to drive. The other thing is the 535 feels like the engine doesn't rev enough - having regularly got my M past 8,000 rpm I am missing that. That is taking some getting used to. Having said that though the torque from the engine in the 5 is much more accessible than in the M. Unlike some on this forum I have had no issues with the steering in my 5er, and no lag issues (although I sufferred long and hard in the M3 with the well knows and now fixed DCT lag). The tech in the 5 is amazing, and the car is a serious looker, much better than the 3 IMHO. Clearly the M3 is more of a hard core drivers car, but there are times in your life when you can't indulge that part of yourself (at least that's what I am telling myself). There is no substitute for driving the 5, but I don't think you will be disappointed.

04-13-2011, 02:17 AM	#1
M3Fool Loves FFDP 49 Rep 781 Posts Drives: 11 E90 M3 SOLD 11 5.0 'Stang Join Date: May 2010 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	Hello.... To to this part of the forum I am a member of the forum but always on the M3 side as that is what I drive. I am on the fence here and hoping someone can provide me with some insight. I currently have an 11 E90 M3 with ZCP and fully loaded, I LOVE it. BUT........ I am thinking of switching to the F10 535i/xi. What are the plus's and minus of the Vs situation between the cars? Will insurance be significantly less or not so much? All help would be appreciated. __________________ Glory may be fleeting, but mediocrity ensures anonymity...
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04-13-2011, 06:59 AM	#2
Needsdecaf Major General 6565 Rep 6,681 Posts Drives: 2024 G80 Comp xDrive Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: The Woodlands, TX iTrader: (0)	You really need to drive the car. Only you can decide if it's the right car for you. Honestly, it's a very, very different car. Larger, softer, more luxurious, etc. You just need to drive it.
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04-13-2011, 08:09 AM	#3
M3Fool Loves FFDP 49 Rep 781 Posts Drives: 11 E90 M3 SOLD 11 5.0 'Stang Join Date: May 2010 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	How does it compare with the E60 530i? I had one of those a few years back. __________________ Glory may be fleeting, but mediocrity ensures anonymity...
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04-13-2011, 08:16 AM	#4
northernmonkey Second Lieutenant 24 Rep 298 Posts Drives: F11 530d MSpt Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: SouthEast iTrader: (0)	i moved from an E92 to the F11. before the E92 I had two E60's both 530i's one an SE and the other M-Sport. when I look back i loved the E60 at the time, it felt quick, good to drive, well built, refined and even in m-sport trim was comfortable when you needed it to be. the E92 was just more hardcore in terms of drive but nowhere near as comfortable over long distances. The F10/F11 platform is in a different league to both in terms of build quality, refinement and for me now with my family commitments the F11 is the perfect car. Fast, comfortable, practical all rolled into one. In terms of an overall package I think it is a huge leap from the E60, not to say E60 was bad but I think BMW invested enough into the F10/F11 to make it so different that people would easily justify trading up. like other poster said.....gotta go drive one and see if it fits your needs. For me it was right car at right time.
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04-13-2011, 08:32 AM	#5
Jon D Brigadier General 224 Rep 3,016 Posts Drives: 2022 840d Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	The F10, in just about all respects, is a very accomplished car, especially the 535d drive-train. However, a major disappoint for me is the electric power steering, which imparts a detached and artificial feel. In your case this may well not be an issue as I understand the x drive cars to have hydraulic steering. As others have said, the only way to assess the car is to drive it. I was seduced by all the high-tech, but I miss the responsive handling of my '08 E92, so much so that I'm now considering an M3, but I'll wait to see what the proposed changes are - there are rumours of a new 6cyl engine.
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04-22-2011, 01:59 AM	#7
lux First Lieutenant 66 Rep 390 Posts Drives: 2023 G87 M2, 2011 E90 M3 Comp Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	I did a recent test drive of both a 535i and 550i. My impressions vs my e90 m3: Pluses: +Gorgeous interior materials and layout (much better than my m3) +550 has great torque at low rpm, not much effort to got fast +More interior space +Very comfortable/composed suspension +Car construction/doors feel solid +Better gas mileage (esp for 535i) +Latest and greatest technology toys Minuses: -Road feedback via steering wheel is less -Handling is good overall but doesn't feel nearly as nimble as an m3 -Not as exciting sounds from exhaust or engine
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04-22-2011, 12:22 PM	#8
GestapoWatch New Member 1 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 520d M Sport, Alpinweiss Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Blackpool, UK iTrader: (0)	Could we be heading for perfection with the F10? Having come from a 335d to a 520d MS, I cannot imagine there being a better set of four wheels in the world! Truly, truly stunning car
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04-22-2011, 07:40 PM	#9
04S Captain 174 Rep 839 Posts Drives: M4 xDrive, X5 40i and U11 X1 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	I have just stepped out of an E92 M3 with DCT to a 535i M Sport. Very different cars for very different situations. I loved my M3, but with the 3 kids and baby seat in the back the M3 was not going to last. The 535i's handling is as you would expect a little softer than the M3, it is also a vastly larger car to drive. The other thing is the 535 feels like the engine doesn't rev enough - having regularly got my M past 8,000 rpm I am missing that. That is taking some getting used to. Having said that though the torque from the engine in the 5 is much more accessible than in the M. Unlike some on this forum I have had no issues with the steering in my 5er, and no lag issues (although I sufferred long and hard in the M3 with the well knows and now fixed DCT lag). The tech in the 5 is amazing, and the car is a serious looker, much better than the 3 IMHO. Clearly the M3 is more of a hard core drivers car, but there are times in your life when you can't indulge that part of yourself (at least that's what I am telling myself). There is no substitute for driving the 5, but I don't think you will be disappointed.
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