[jimboss]

I’ll be looking to change my F31 320d MSport this year and an F11 520d is at the top of the list (at present). A 530d would be nice but I cannot really justify to the extra outlay plus it breaches my company car Co2 limit (HMRC 130gms Co2). Although the 3 series has been a faithful steed under my ownership I haven’t really gelled with the car mainly down the very intrusive wind and road noise and manual gearbox which is too long geared and doesn’t suit the engine…I’m also after something a little bigger. I have my eye on the following spec:

F11 520d Lux
- Sports seats
- Pro media (standard)
- Lumber support
- Folding mirrors
- Extended storage
- Rear manual blinds (don’t like tints)
- Auto with paddles
- HUD
- MFD
- Adaptive xenon headlights
- Ambient lighting
- Extended aircon
- Extra 12v sockets
- Rear camera
- Metallic paint

I’ve ignored the VDC option….some reviews say it’s a must and others say there really is no need. Most used examples I’ve seen (AUC and Autotrader) don’t have this option so it must be a fairly rare option to go for….anyway I have no desire to hustle the car down A and B roads nor drive it beyond 7/10ths…it will be the family barge so the extra handling finesse isn’t a priority so I don’t think is worth the outlay for me.

Questions:

- What’s the wind and road noise like in an F11? This is my main issue with the F31. I’m particularly interested to hear from people that have 18inch alloys. Also do 19inch wheels have an increased impact on noise?

- LCI adaptive xenon headlights – do they do that ‘dance’ ie block out light to oncoming traffic?

thanks

[CraigUK]

I went from an e91 320d to an f11 520D MSport with 18 inch alloys. For me it has been a massive upgrade in refinement terms, the f11 is a lovely place to be for cruising around. My 320d was remapped to around 200bhp so the f11 is lacking slightly performance wise, that being said for 95% of the time it's more than adequate.

Wheel size wise, I've standard 18s with runflats and 17s with normal tyres. The 17s as you would expect give a more comfortable ride with the MSport suspension. The 18s are a little firmer but not crashy like the e91.

What I would say is try and get a really long test drive or even borrow one for the day. The f11 is a big car and feels so both on the road and when parking.

[martin mustang]

I moved from e60 5 series to an F10 and when down to cabin noise a massive improvement, in fact it is so quite that the M division started fitting fake engine sounds to the M cars via the speakers !

I come from 19inch spider M ones with my old E60, for the F10 I stayed with the original supplied 18 inch, I like the design more than the 19 ones plus the comfort due to state of the roads, I am from London now in the West of Ireland and familiar to UK roads I say go for the 18 inch ones they still look good for the size of the car, plus when my car was in for the 2nd service without me realising any issue with the suspension, BMW changed some aluminium parts back to metal for my car due to the state of the roads and the impact on the Aluminium parts, apparently they do this for UK and Irish cars, so 18 inch will help reduce any issues with the aluminium parts introduced to the F10/11.

[E60MKF]

I had an F30 and all I can say is the F10 is leagues ahead when it comes to road noise and refinement. It is A LOT quieter in the F10. You won't regret this move

[The Beast]

Nice spec, I'd consider upgrading the sound system too. HK if you can get it into your budget...

[gspannu]

Originally Posted by jimboss

I’ll be looking to change my F31 320d MSport this year and an F11 520d is at the top of the list (at present). A 530d would be nice but I cannot really justify to the extra outlay plus it breaches my company car Co2 limit (HMRC 130gms Co2). Although the 3 series has been a faithful steed under my ownership I haven’t really gelled with the car mainly down the very intrusive wind and road noise and manual gearbox which is too long geared and doesn’t suit the engine…I’m also after something a little bigger. I have my eye on the following spec:

F11 520d Lux
- Sports seats
- Pro media (standard)
- Lumber support
- Folding mirrors
- Extended storage
- Rear manual blinds (don’t like tints)
- Auto with paddles [Why Paddles? As per your description, you are not going to be driving enthusiastically. Or is the usage more to do with downshifting quickly. This can be quite useful in a 520D as it is big heavy car and in ECOPRO mode, it is handy to downshift 2 gears on motorways to overtake quickly.]
- HUD
- MFD
- Adaptive xenon headlights
- Ambient lighting
- Extended aircon [Go for the 4-zone, the standard 2-zone (even the extended) is quite abysmal for the rear passengers, you don't even get a air-mixer control !]
[- Rear seat heating; especially if you have a family and use the rears often.]
- Extra 12v sockets
- Rear camera
- Metallic paint
[- Powered Boot ?]

I’ve ignored the VDC option….some reviews say it’s a must and others say there really is no need. Most used examples I’ve seen (AUC and Autotrader) don’t have this option so it must be a fairly rare option to go for….anyway I have no desire to hustle the car down A and B roads nor drive it beyond 7/10ths…it will be the family barge so the extra handling finesse isn’t a priority so I don’t think is worth the outlay for me. [Drive a car with VDC or Adaptive Drive and then make the call. On a F11, the difference will be even more pronounced. VDC/AD is not just to make the car sportier for A/B roads; this is a huge misconception and probably the reason lot of people do not buy this option. Search for Highland Pete's forum posts on the same subject. It is an expensive option for a reason, it really does transform your car. Most used cars do not have VDC/AD as it is an expensive outlay and half of them do not understand its value and the decision is made without a test drive. However, ask people who have AD it if they would ever buy a car without it. Suggest to do a test drive and then decide if the feature is worthy; but I wouldn't discount it only on the fact that most cars do not have it. VDC is available on all platforms, but AD is only available from 530 onwards...]

Questions:

- What’s the wind and road noise like in an F11? This is my main issue with the F31. I’m particularly interested to hear from people that have 18inch alloys. Also do 19inch wheels have an increased impact on noise? [I have had 3 F10s in 3 years. I have had 17", 18" and now 19". No difference between 18 and 19. 17" was maybe slightly quieter.]

- LCI adaptive xenon headlights – do they do that ‘dance’ ie block out light to oncoming traffic? [Yes]

thanks

Few comments inline.

[remmib]

Originally Posted by gspannu

Few comments inline.

Just gonna comment on your VDC/AD comment. You can't get Adaptive Drive on the 520d, only on 530, 535 and 550.

[gspannu]

Originally Posted by remmib

Just gonna comment on your VDC/AD comment. You can't get Adaptive Drive on the 520d, only on 530, 535 and 550.

Oh Yes. Thanks for pointing it out.

VDC is available on all platforms, but AD is only available from 530 onwards...

[HighlandPete]

I agree that VDC is not well understood, it is not simply about making a car more sporty, it refines the ride and improves the handling.

As Whatcar say about the adaptive suspension options; "They aren't cheap but we think they're essential, because they make the ride more cosseting and the handling sharper".

I'll add; "The worse your roads are to drive, the more that becomes important, if you want the best ride and handling balance".

I still think many users don't really rate ride quality on their requirements list and compromise, they'd rather have other options than the best driving setup. The standard suspension ride gets a "good enough" rating.

For me, the ride and handling balance are the heart of choosing and driving any car. If that is not right the car is second rate, whatever toys and options we add to it.

HighlandPete

[gspannu]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

I agree that VDC is not well understood, it is not simply about making a car more sporty, it refines the ride and improves the handling.

As Whatcar say about the adaptive suspension options; "They aren't cheap but we think they're essential, because they make the ride more cosseting and the handling sharper".

I'll add; "The worse your roads are to drive, the more that becomes important, if you want the best ride and handling balance".

I still think many users don't really rate ride quality on their requirements list and compromise, they'd rather have other options than the best driving setup. The standard suspension ride gets a "good enough" rating.

For me, the ride and handling balance are the heart of choosing and driving any car. If that is not right the car is second rate, whatever toys and options we add to it.

HighlandPete

Well said... "the ride and handling balance are the heart of choosing and driving any car"

[jimboss]

thanks for the comments guys. as part of the company car scheme i'm entitled to 3 test drives of any eligible car for a week a piece so i should be able to properly weigh up the ride then.

As for the HK system i have it in the F31....its great but i don't really use it's full potential and i cannot justify the cost in the 5 along with everything else unfortunately.

powered boot come as standard on F11 and i think is great on the F31!

Any comments on the adaptive xenons?? if they don't 'dance' i'll give them a miss

[gspannu]

Originally Posted by jimboss

....
Any comments on the adaptive xenons?? if they don't 'dance' i'll give them a miss

I had already responded to your original post in post #6. The adaptives do dance...

[jimboss]

Originally Posted by gspannu

I had already responded to your original post in post #6. The adaptives do dance...

so you did, i missed that one. thanks for the clarification

Powered boot is standard on the F11 - at least it was on my car