[remmib]

My F10 was my first auto ever, and I don't regret getting an auto one second.

[Gpfarrell]

I'm happy you boys like your autos and I'm happy BMW can satisfy such a discriminating group. Frankly though, if the f10 was only available with an automatic I'd happily keep my 2011 Lincoln MKS. It's a wonderful car and the automatic (with paddles) works great, especially after a mild tune was added to give it a proper attitude adjustment. In fact, I'm finding few 2011 535/550s that match the features the Lincoln has (keyless, a/c'd seats, etc) I've also added H&R springs to it so it's no marshmallow. It handles better than my wife's E60 which is admittedly an xi, but the MKS is AWD too. The brakes aren't worth a damn though!

[Gpfarrell]

Hmm. The 550i sounds absolutely lust-worthy... but every story I read about the CCP program for the N63 cars makes the 535i sound like the smarter choice. It seems we're still early in the repair fiasco so I'm hopeful the 550i's get sorted out soon but it's not sounding good at the moment. The 535i wouldn't be a bit of a disappointment though!

[bake]

Post some pics up of your Lincoln, I am curious to see it.

Originally Posted by Gpfarrell

I'm happy you boys like your autos and I'm happy BMW can satisfy such a discriminating group. Frankly though, if the f10 was only available with an automatic I'd happily keep my 2011 Lincoln MKS. It's a wonderful car and the automatic (with paddles) works great, especially after a mild tune was added to give it a proper attitude adjustment. In fact, I'm finding few 2011 535/550s that match the features the Lincoln has (keyless, a/c'd seats, etc) I've also added H&R springs to it so it's no marshmallow. It handles better than my wife's E60 which is admittedly an xi, but the MKS is AWD too. The brakes aren't worth a damn though!

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by Gpfarrell

....I read about the CCP program for the N63 cars makes the 535i sound like the smarter choice.

Smarter, no doubt, but I thought we agreed this wasn't about smart. I mean you're looking for 5 series with manual transmission, then you want to make smart decisions all of the sudden

On a more serious note. If you can find 535 with manual and DHP (though we're talking "oh-so-rare" here), I'd agree, it's smarter choice. It just drives different, it's better balanced than either X or 550 (better handling for my taste, others might disagree). Only concern I would have is that you're coming from a car with massive amounts of power, so I guess it comes down to what matters to you more.

[Gpfarrell]

Originally Posted by Bbb34

Smarter, no doubt, but I thought we agreed this wasn't about smart. I mean you're looking for 5 series with manual transmission, then you want to make smart decisions all of the sudden

Yeah, why throw logic into the process now?

The MKS is astonishingly quick and a remarkably nice car, but it's just not engaging to drive. This may sound strange, but the speed comes to easy. Frankly, speed has become a very cheap commodity.

I'm more than half way through a 2-year lease on a 2014 Ford Fiesta ST. It is engaging to drive. In fact, its laugh out loud fun! The shifting, steering, and brakes are more important than having 300, 400, or 500 horsepower. Incidentally, the little guy has 197!

I'd drive it all the time except 1)It is a tiny econobox, and sometimes a bit of luxury is appreciated 2)Sometimes in my profession I need to look professional and nothing about a bright blue Fiesta conveys that and 3) My 3 kids (11, 9, & 6) need to fit somewhere and the Fiesta gets crowded fast.

So I'm trying to capture the spice of the Fiesta ST and the sophistication of the MKS.

I'm fortunate to have a few other over-powered V8 American things, and I find I just about never use all of the Lincoln's HP, so I'm okay with a little less grunt.

[Gpfarrell]

Is DHP the "Sport/Comfort" button?

I just drove a unicorn! It's a 2012 6-speed 535 M-sport in Carbon black with a black interior. The VIN tells me it has "223 Dynamic Damper Control" and it was positively sublime to drive. (I'm not a Carbon black guy and I want a light interior, but otherwise this felt like Goldilocks to me!)

Would a non-M-sport with the "Sport/Comfort" handle about the same, aside from differnces in tires? I was astounded at the start difference between Sport+ and Comfort+. And holy nimble! I've heard some folks whine about the power steering but (in Sport or Sport+) it seemed incredible to me.

I didn't try and burnouts or hole-shots with it... but the 535i didn't seem to lack for power one bit! In ordinary drivng it actually felt more responsive than my hot rod Lincoln because a tickle on the throttle was muted by the automatic.

So, if I found a 2011 non-M-Sport with "Sport/Comfort"... would that be DHP and aside from cosmestics, could I expect it to be very similar to the car I drove?

I WANT one!

Thanks!

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by Gpfarrell

Is DHP the "Sport/Comfort" button?

I just drove a unicorn! It's a 2012 6-speed 535 M-sport in Carbon black with a black interior. The VIN tells me it has "223 Dynamic Damper Control" and it was positively sublime to drive.

I don't want to give you false info here, mine has DHP and it has following under VIN package information S229A + S2VAA + S223A, but I'm not 100% sure if all 3 are "must have" for DHP.

Originally Posted by Gpfarrell

Would a non-M-sport with the "Sport/Comfort" handle about the same, aside from differnces in tires? I was astounded at the start difference between Sport+ and Comfort+. And holy nimble! I've heard some folks whine about the power steering but (in Sport or Sport+) it seemed incredible to me.
Thanks!

Differences between different modes are staggering, I've said this one too many times. Cars without DHP are quite good, but those with DHP (and RWD) are just great. Another thing I've said too many times, it's not just suspension, but steering and throttle response too, all for better.

Good luck

[Gpfarrell]

Originally Posted by bake

Post some pics up of your Lincoln, I am curious to see it.

My images seemed to large to post here, but after driving the 6-speed 535i today here are some pics in the Craigslist ad I just posted!

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/4973334214.html

[remmib]

Originally Posted by Bbb34

I don't want to give you false info here, mine has DHP and it has following under VIN package information S229A + S2VAA + S223A, but I'm not 100% sure if all 3 are "must have" for DHP.



Differences between different modes are staggering, I've said this one too many times. Cars without DHP are quite good, but those with DHP (and RWD) are just great. Another thing I've said too many times, it's not just suspension, but steering and throttle response too, all for better.

Good luck

DHP is the same as Adaptive Drive (2VA).

Dynamic Drive (229) + Dynamic Damper Control (223) together makes the Adaptive Drive system.
This you can only get on a 530 (euro) and bigger, so 535i and 550i in the US.

You can also get just the Dynamic Damper Control (223), and that you can get with any engine in the f10.

[Gpfarrell]

Thank you remmib, because I want to make sure the 535i that we buy handles like the one we tried... it was sweet!

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by Gpfarrell

My images seemed to large to post here, but after driving the 6-speed 535i today here are some pics in the Craigslist ad I just posted!

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/cto/4973334214.html

I don't think I would advertise that I raced it.......

[Gpfarrell]

Well, I pondered that! But how else can I document it ran a 12.9? I'd rather be forthright... I figure anybody that wouldn't forgive a few episodes of excessive acceleration wouldn't want a Hot Rod Lincoln anyway! I haven't abused it, buts it been off the leash a few times!

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by Gpfarrell

Well, I pondered that! But how else can I document it ran a 12.9? I'd rather be forthright... I figure anybody that wouldn't forgive a few episodes of excessive acceleration wouldn't want a Hot Rod Lincoln anyway! I haven't abused it, buts it been off the leash a few times!

The MkS isn't a race car (it is wrong-wheel drive [I know AWD; but it's FWD biased]/wrong way facing engine, too nose heavy). Your target buyer is the same as Lincoln's; a 50 or 60something professional looking for a nice freeway cruiser; IMHO. Lincoln tried a "hot-rod" Lincoln years ago. They called it the LS........

Just my opinion. I could very well be wrong....

[Gpfarrell]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

The MkS isn't a race car (it is wrong-wheel drive [I know AWD; but it's FWD biased]/wrong way facing engine, too nose heavy). Your target buyer is the same as Lincoln's; a 50 or 60something professional looking for a nice freeway cruiser; IMHO. Lincoln tried a "hot-rod" Lincoln years ago. They called it the LS........

Just my opinion. I could very well be wrong....

I'd say you identified Lincoln's typical buyer. Oh, and BMW's typical buyer too! My car isn't a typical Lincoln and with a 12.9 slip it ain't a half-bad race car. I've got a solid offer from a dealer but I'd really like to see an enthusiast that "gets it" get the car. I have a Mercury Marauder as well with an aftermarket supercharger on it. It's rear wheel drive and the engine isn't mounted sideways, but even though the Lincoln and Mercury are about dead even at the track, in the real world it's much easier to put the power to the ground in the vehicle you refer to as wrong wheel drive... While the Marauder is sideways the Lincoln just hooks and books.

Enough about that, I'd rather talk BMW's here!

Cheers, Greg

[Skibum]

Greg, Earlier I sent you a PM, but now just realized you want BLUE. So my apologies, though mine does have a lighter interior, plus a bunch of other goodies.

Also, you seem centered on a 2011 F10. Not that it's anyone's business as to why you wouldn't consider a newer one (such as keeping under a certain price threshold), but if your unicorn turns out to be a 2011, my ardent advice is to thoroughly test drive it, before committing to purchase. Perhaps that's your plan, yet plenty of folks seeking a manual have not done so, and have probably regretted unknowingly buying a 2011 F10 with the dreaded pulling to the right issue.

Last fall I sold my otherwise terrific 2011 Tasman Green with Oyster/Black interior 3-pedal equipped 535i due to the electronic power steering that at times, would tend to wander all over the road like a lost puppy. It had a 7/29/10 build date, and I had the dealer employ the "fix" which is well documented here. And even though there was a drastic improvement afterwards, the steering never fully lived up to my expectations. There was a software and hardware (the actual EPS unit) upgrade in mid-September 2010, and then I believe yet another modification/tweaking sometime in early 2011, but many folks on here had numerous complaints about the notorious "pulling to the right", even with post-September 2010 builds.

My friendly advice is be mindful of the production date, and then, drive it to ensure it doesn't exhibit the quirky steering - especially pulling. Many of the earlier F10 2011 builds had no steering issues whatsoever, so the problem is (was) sporadic. You will probably find that ALL cars with electronic steering tend to be numb and not impart a lot of road feel, but at least the car should track straight.

Best,
Rodg