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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 Turbo I4 vs N55
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      04-28-2011, 01:18 PM   #1
bodonx
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Turbo I4 vs N55

Hi,

I am planning to get a 2012 F10. I like the 528i because the N/A has more linear power and better reliability. Too bad BMW discontinued this one.

For 2012, in the US, we will have Turbo I4 or N55. Which one is better in term of reliability? I am worried about HPFP failure.

I might have to get 535i because from my understanding N55 (which is similar to N54) has been around since 2007. I hope they will have figured out most of the bugs by 2012.

Let me know what you guys think?
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      04-28-2011, 01:32 PM   #2
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Pay a bit more and 550 is the way to go !

Reason: F10 is a heavier model than the E60 and those mentioned engines may not be sufficiently 'fast' and 'powerful' enough
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      04-28-2011, 02:32 PM   #3
bodonx
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Thanks for the input. My budget is < $60k including options.

Beside with gas in CA is ~$4.50 now, it's good to have >= 30 mpg freeway.
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      04-28-2011, 02:52 PM   #4
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A 535i will get 30mpg highway. Mine does. Once you get off the freeway, that's another story.
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      04-28-2011, 03:23 PM   #5
bodonx
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ibimmer346 View Post
A 535i will get 30mpg highway. Mine does. Once you get off the freeway, that's another story.
How do you like your 535 compared to your 02 M3? Did you lose much in term of fun factor especially the steering feel?
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      04-28-2011, 03:29 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bodonx View Post
How do you like your 535 compared to your 02 M3? Did you lose much in term of fun factor especially the steering feel?
LOL, comparing the steering feel of an E46 M3 to an F10? That's like comparing a race car to a Lincoln.
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      04-28-2011, 03:29 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bodonx View Post
Hi,

I am planning to get a 2012 F10. I like the 528i because the N/A has more linear power and better reliability. Too bad BMW discontinued this one.

For 2012, in the US, we will have Turbo I4 or N55. Which one is better in term of reliability? I am worried about HPFP failure.

I might have to get 535i because from my understanding N55 (which is similar to N54) has been around since 2007. I hope they will have figured out most of the bugs by 2012.

Let me know what you guys think?
The N20 (?) turbo 4 is essentiall an N55 with two cylinders lopped off to my understanding.
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      04-28-2011, 08:22 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bodonx View Post
How do you like your 535 compared to your 02 M3? Did you lose much in term of fun factor especially the steering feel?
Well, to be clear I was coming off a 335i E93 to the 535i. I actually got the E46 M3 *after* I got the 535i because I realized I wanted to try some auto-crossing. The 535i is not really appropriate for that.

I took the 535i to an auto-cross event once when the M3 was in the shop just to see what it would be like. I have IAS and DHP on the 535i, so that's putting the 535i in the best possible light. The 535i did... uh... admirably. The best it could do under the circumstances. But the handling wasn't anything like the M3. Nor would I expect it to be.

As mentioned in an earlier post, there is no comparison in the steering feel of an E46 M3 to an F10 535i. The M3 is a raw-feeling race car. Very direct and communicative steering. The 535i is not close in the "feel" department. It doesn't even play the same game.

Having said that, I don't think the 535i is necessarily bad... just different. I really like IAS and would highly recommend it. I have driven a 550i and 535i GT without IAS and I like the steering feel of my car with IAS much better. In a sense, I'm glad my 535i has IAS over the feel of the M3. If my 535i had steering like the M3, I think it would be more difficult to handle. The IAS does a lot of work to make the 535i more nimble and easier to handle. The steering needs less input to get the car to do what you want. But it comes at the expense of less steering "feel".

I'm OK with the tradeoff. Others are not amused; I understand this is a personal decision. The M3 is an occasional car for me, certainly not a daily driver. It's much too raw to be a DD for me. The 535i is much more comfortable.
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      04-28-2011, 11:52 PM   #9
bodonx
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Thanks for the detailed input. I'm not in a position to have two cars: DD and fun car.

I have test driven F10 535i. It's an awesome car in term of refinement and styling.

I will test drive E60 M5, which I hope can be two-faced car to fulfill my craving for fun and spacious enough for my family.
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      04-29-2011, 11:10 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ibimmer346 View Post

I'm OK with the tradeoff. Others are not amused; I understand this is a personal decision. The M3 is an occasional car for me, certainly not a daily driver. It's much too raw to be a DD for me. The 535i is much more comfortable.
Exactly the same tradeoff I made. I would have loved an E90 M3. But even with 4 doors (did I get the correct E9X designation for the sedan?) it's just too small, too cramped, and too raw for being a DD and a family trip car. For ME and my family. YVMV. But we're all pretty tall, have 2 kids with a bunch of crap, and drive on some god-awful roads. Driving that car into DC, Arlington and Alexandria every day would be torture. I've had a 328 loaner for my car for a total of 9 days now, and that's bad enough. I recognize that the 3'er is more nimble, agile and more connected, but life is compromises unless your'e wealthy enough to have it both ways.
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