[akhter]

I took my pristine 4yr old 325i for service and decide to take a look around while waiting for my car.

They had a killer deal on a 520i LCI with 10pc discount off list price and the below options thrown in for free:
* LED headlights
* sunroof
* rear camera
* comfort access
* auto tailgate

and below are already standard here:
* bluetooth
* multi function instrument display (not extended)
* pdc

All the options are ones i would want to get so if i factor in their price and the tax, the discount is about 28pc off list price with is a crazy deal. only thing is i have to take a car from the lot so no customization.

Now going from 325i (with 2.5l engine, not NA spec 3.0l engin) to 520i LCI with 8sp, how much slower will the car feel in city and highway driving??

Anyone driven both cars can comment?

Note that I live in HK and cars (and options) have a ~100pc tax here.

How many miles to do you have your e90? Any major repairs yet?

I'd say keep your e90 since it is still in pristine condition as you said.

[lovec1990]

can you ask them if you can test drive 520i ?

[akhter]

Originally Posted by beemer3

How many miles to do you have your e90? Any major repairs yet?

I'd say keep your e90 since it is still in pristine condition as you said.

~8000 km. The car is only used during weekend and for short trips (there are only short trips in HK). I am getting a good price on the trade-in (40pc of the new car price) so that is not an issue.

Originally Posted by lovec1990

can you ask them if you can test drive 520i ?

Yes test driving later today.

I am just really bored and want a change. I really do like all the new toys on the 5 and do want a bigger car.

[akhter]

just test drove it. feels exactly the same speed so very tempted to change.

[valbmw]

Hi akhter, this is a very good question and let me chime in with my thoughts.

My current ride is my 4th BMW in line, I have had e90 325i, then e39 525i and e63 650i. I would say, each car has its own pros and cons compared to others. Not to offend the 3-series owners, I liked it when I was a student but grew out of it and will not return.

I came to my today's car from the very different side: my ex e63 had V8 with fantastic power and sound. But it was already the car from past with perfect sand beige interior but blind monitor and navigation on CD. Now I have the most modern body and interior, and also my dream was to try 3 liter diesel engine, and it is great)

When you take the F10, even more: the LCI with LED and NBT and other perfect toys - you step into absolutely new driving experience compared to what you have now, despite the 325 is a very, very good car.

I vote for F10.

[GTME2010]

Originally Posted by akhter

just test drove it. feels exactly the same speed so very tempted to change.

I'm not surprised. In the city, the 8-spd works great to keep the engine in the power band. I'm a HUGE fan of that ZF auto box. As a die-hard manual fan, I'm sad to say my next car is a 435i sport, with the 8spd sport trans.

[akhter]

thanks for the feedback. I bought the car (delivery in 3 weeks).

F10 LCI 520i w/asp
Sophisto Gray, Cinnamon Brown, Ash Grain Dark
LED Dynamic headlamps
Ambient lighting
Multifunction instrument
rear camera+pdc
comfort access
automatic trunk
sunroof
extended bluetooth
6.5" idrive (non nav)
base 6 speaker stereo

I will get the NBT retrofit right away and then stereo upgrade.

I resisted hard the temptation to get a 528i with identical equipment. I only drive 2k year (weekend only) and that too mainly around town and the engine upgrade would cost me ~20k USD for exact same car (even same wheels).

[akhter]

So while the car is on its way, some thoughts on the f10 coming from a e90:

1) f10 is a much more 'premium' car. Pretty much everything you touch, from the door handle to the dash, to the the buttons, armrest, everything is just a little bit nicer. there is liberal amounts of trim detailing and the drivers position feels like a throne.

2) Atleast in Asia, the standard 5 series cars have a lot of standard equipment compared to 3 series. Thinks like comfort access, LED lamps, auto-trunk, rear camera, LCD multifuction cluster are all standard.

3) the 520i w/8sp feels a lot faster than I thought it would be. It feels clearly a bit faster than the f10 523i and e90 325. The engine as a wider power band the the gearbox is flawless. overall a bigger upgrade than I was expecting. i won't say the 520i is fast, but its 'quick' atleast to 80km which is fine for the driving I do (less than 5k miles in four years)

4) the trunk is huge so if you have children its a godsend. the car is wider too, two adults can sit next to a reasonably sized carseat for short trips. in e90, a stroller would fill most of the trunk and its very difficult to fit two adults even for short trips. there is just no legroon for they person in the middle.

5) the sunroof is a lot bigger, but not as big as ones on benzes. tesla is the the future with full glass..

6) steering feel is all gone but i read all about it and was expecting it.

[jackaleyess]

Originally Posted by akhter

So while the car is on its way, some thoughts on the f10 coming from a e90:

1) f10 is a much more 'premium' car. Pretty much everything you touch, from the door handle to the dash, to the the buttons, armrest, everything is just a little bit nicer. there is liberal amounts of trim detailing and the drivers position feels like a throne.

2) Atleast in Asia, the standard 5 series cars have a lot of standard equipment compared to 3 series. Thinks like comfort access, LED lamps, auto-trunk, rear camera, LCD multifuction cluster are all standard.

3) the 520i w/8sp feels a lot faster than I thought it would be. It feels clearly a bit faster than the f10 523i and e90 325. The engine as a wider power band the the gearbox is flawless. overall a bigger upgrade than I was expecting. i won't say the 520i is fast, but its 'quick' atleast to 80km which is fine for the driving I do (less than 5k miles in four years)

4) the trunk is huge so if you have children its a godsend. the car is wider too, two adults can sit next to a reasonably sized carseat for short trips. in e90, a stroller would fill most of the trunk and its very difficult to fit two adults even for short trips. there is just no legroon for they person in the middle.

5) the sunroof is a lot bigger, but not as big as ones on benzes. tesla is the the future with full glass..

6) steering feel is all gone but i read all about it and was expecting it.

Actually in Asian markets, a standard 5 is better equipped compared to Europe and Us counter-parts. Like in Malaysia, mine 528i comes with M-sport as standard. And has extra goodies too. Of course, price is high at USD 140k.

[akhter]

It makes perfect sense for Asia...

A 520i in HK costs ~70k and is optioned like a 70k card should be, i.e. std equipment includes Bluetooth/LED/Sunroof/Comfort access/Autoclose trunk/rear camera.

A 528i has same exact equipment (down the the same 17" wheel) as above but costs 85k (i.e. 15k more for just the engine upgrade). A bit pointless for me in HK because the speed limit is 50mph pretty much all road except one highway (where it is 60mph) which most people never need to us except once a month or two.

The only part that makes no sense is every car all the way to a 740i (which costs 170k in HK) only has base stereo and no Nav. In bmw NAV adds the bigger screen and is so much more but adding it means a cost of 8k usd and having to custom order a car and wait 4 months. Same for upgraded stereo--a cost of 2k for HK or 12k for b&o. I think most people prefer aftermarket here for hifi so the dealer doesn't even try. and they are perfectly fine with warranty with aftermarket stereo and NBT retrofit. Infact, my sales person was the person who found me a place to do NBT retrofit because I wanted Nav and he wanted to sell a car in stock.