[triksterut]

So I've been a BMW nut since my first 325i in 1997. Since then I've had 4 M3's and an E60 5-series.

I just sold my pride and joy - a 2010 535i M-Sport 6MT. I'm glad I sold it to a great guy and a fellow enthusiast. But now I wish I would have held on to it until I got the new one.

I couldn't find one to drive first. I live in a snow belt and they don't buy anything RWD here. Let alone manual tranny. I just figured that since I loved the 2010 I6 Turbo I'd REALLY love a 2013 V8 turbo. I finally located one after months of looking and had it shipped here.

Well, I've had it for about a week. Every day I drive it I like it less and less. It sure is quick in a straight line - but I loved the brisk nimble feel of my E60.

This thing feels like a huge Lexus sedan or a Merc. More luxury and way less on the sport. My car has the standard M-Sport suspension (non-adaptive and no active steering).

I guess my question is the does the adaptive suspension, or perhaps a better traditional setup, make this "better?"

I'm inches away from selling it before I license it to avoid paying the sales tax lol Maybe go get an E60 M5. It's a beautiful car but I feel like I need to be 20 years older and play more golf to drive it.

- feeling car depressed help! lol

[Stück]

I'd speculate your outgoing E60 likely had at the least Dynamic Drive, which drastically changes the way the car handles and feels. Going from that to a base suspension F10 would likely cause the feeling of short coming you're describing.

To call an E60 nimble though... that made me "tee hee"

I don't think a 5 series is what you're after if you want something that gives excellent steering response and feedback, and I wouldn't touch an E60 M5 with a 10ft pole unless someone else was paying to maintain it.

[triksterut]

Originally Posted by Stück

I'd speculate your outgoing E60 likely had at the least Dynamic Drive, which drastically changes the way the car handles and feels. Going from that to a base suspension F10 would likely cause the feeling of short coming you're describing.

To call an E60 nimble though... that made me "tee hee"

I don't think a 5 series is what you're after if you want something that gives excellent steering response and feedback, and I wouldn't touch an E60 M5 with a 10ft pole unless someone else was paying to maintain it.

I hear you on the maintenance I like my daily driver to be "tinker free" that's why I have a supercharged M3.

Nimble is relative. I'm a big guy and my daily needs to be a full size sedan.

So; in the realm of other full size sedans the E60 with a manual and RWD is pretty good. It only weighed ~3660lbs. The M3 of that year weighed ~3700lbs. That's actually quite amazing if you think about it.

And yeah; it looks like all RWD M-Sport E60's had the dynamic drive.

[krautmeister]

I had... well still have my E60 525i. Although it was anemic from a dead stop, it did feel brisk enough at highway speeds for passing and I agree it felt "nimbler" than my F10. I have a few regrets... not going for a 535 was one of them. I bought CPO and it would not have cost much more for a 535. I did however put 180k on the 525, which a 535 (N54??) would not have been so kind on maintenance.

So sorry to dig up your sorrows... yeah it seems we are in a different era of BMW. I'm sure the E34 guys thought the E39 was bloated and E39 to E60 lost more of the joie de vivre as well. Hell the new 1 series is the same size as the 3 series of the past.

[SonicEndeavor]

The F10 was designed to go head to head with the Mercedes E-class, so it's a great highway cruiser, but no longer really a sports sedan. And yeah, the 8 cylinder ads weight to the front end compromising handling.
I put KW coilovers on my 2014 535i lowering the car an inch and stiffening the suspension, plus replacing the mediocre runflats with Michelin PSS, and it handles considerably better, but it's still a big heavy car with electric power steering that will never be nimble.
That, combined with the poor reliability of the N63 engine in your 2013 *might* make a case for selling it to get something that better suits your needs.
I know you're a BMW fan, but the Audi S6 might be worth looking at. The BMW 6 series is also a better handling car than the 5 series. An M3/M4 might work as well.
Best of luck.

[SirApoc]

My 550xi with adaptive suspension and lowering springs actually feels rather tight in sport mode for its size. No m3, but definitely not floaty.

[HighlandPete]

If your E60 had Dynamic Drive, then you'll really be short changed without it in the F10.

For me Adaptive Drive (including Dynamic Drive) was essential in getting an F10 or F11. Certainly helps make the chassis more agile and helps shrink the car. After all, it's a larger and heavier vehicle than the E60/61.

[Bmw doubles]

Well in a way you're in luck because you can customize your suspension without doing an edc delete. The first thing is to upgrade your sways. The rear sway helped me with body roll by about 15-20%. I stiffened the spring rate with Eibach street (not the extreme race) springs which fixed my horrible rebound, that is until I blew my shocks. Next I upgraded to Koni adjustables and recent canyon runs in my big boat proved I don't have problems keeping up with Porsches. Don't forget tires play a huge roll in overall grip and and feel.

[NV GUNS]

should have waited till you could find a 2014 550ix M sport. I bought a 2013 550ix M sport in April this year and had the same feeling that you had of liking it less and less, so then a guy turned his 14 in off a lease 2 weeks ago and I swooped in and snatched it up. lost a couple grand on the deal since i bought it from another stealer. I love it. steering is way better and engine stays cooler and way faster. but I still miss my 08 535i.

[triksterut]

I've decided to put it up for sale. I'm not sure I'll really appreciate it even if I modify the suspension. I did go drive an 2014 S6 per your recommends - and man it was almost enough to make me switch teams lol. I'll have to ponder. I may just have to go find something to putter around in until I can figure it out.

[Bmw doubles]

If you're gonna switch teams over suspension then you might want to look into the CTS-V with magnetic ride suspension.

[triksterut]

Originally Posted by Bmw doubles

If you're gonna switch teams over suspension then you might want to look into the CTS-V with magnetic ride suspension.

I'll go look at one; the last GM I worked on - well OK a Holden (2005 GTO) was really not built very well. It was quick, and I liked the way it looked, but man it sure broke a lot.

[Bbb34]

I don't know about E60 being all that nimble, but that might just be me.

In my opinion you were never going to get "nimble" out of F10, no matter how you set it up. To get the most sporty ride out of it, it really needs to be ordered with either DHP or sport (704) suspension, but even then, I wouldn't call it nimble. F10 is a big car, it simply behaves like one.

[triksterut]

Originally Posted by Bbb34

I don't know about E60 being all that nimble, but that might just be me.

In my opinion you were never going to get "nimble" out of F10, no matter how you set it up. To get the most sporty ride out of it, it really needs to be ordered with either DHP or sport (704) suspension, but even then, I wouldn't call it nimble. F10 is a big car, it simply behaves like one.

Yeah I didn't really realize exactly how big I guess. Sigh; I'll find something else. The second you say manual transmission in a luxury sedan these days though your options are quite limited in the states. The E60, although it's a full size sedan, was really very light weight. Especially when ordered with RWD and a manual transmission.

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by triksterut

Yeah I didn't really realize exactly how big I guess. Sigh; I'll find something else. The second you say manual transmission in a luxury sedan these days though your options are quite limited in the states. The E60, although it's a full size sedan, was really very light weight. Especially when ordered with RWD and a manual transmission.

In my opinion, RWD and manual make substantial difference even in F10, nothing to do with straight line speed, just in how the car "feels" when pushed.

90% of F10 owners never got a chance to experience this configuration, and that in my opinion is unfortunate. From day one it was almost impossible to test drive this combo before making a decision, and today impossible to even order manual F10 in North America. Most owners simply accepted that automatic is pretty good (which I agree with) and simply didn't think they need different or (do note the quotes please) "better" option on what's basically luxury mid/full size sedan.

Your bigger problem is, if you are set to shop in this class, mid/large sedan, you will not get "nimble" these days. It'll also be almost impossible to get all of your boxes checked, nimble, sporty, manual and RWD in this category. Even BMW 3 series these days, you have to be choosing your options very carefully to get the most sporty feel out of it. If you can live with smaller car, check 2 and 4 series, you might get better luck finding what you're after.

Good luck in your search, curious what you end up getting in the end.

[SirApoc]

These days you're looking at a used cts-v, a new ats-v, an m3, or a Chevrolet SS if you want a decently appointed manual rwd sedan.

[Bmw doubles]

Originally Posted by SirApoc

These days you're looking at a used cts-v, a new ats-v, an m3, or a Chevrolet SS if you want a decently appointed manual rwd sedan.

Funny I'm struggling with the Chevy SS, but a LS3 motor hmmmm...

[Russkey]

It's a big, heavy car with ttv8. Even M5 feels like it. I have DHP, active roll stabilization and ACS springs on my F10 550. Handling is much improved, especially on corners and I stopped complaining about the weight, because I'm finally having fun in this car
The E60 felt sportier for sure, but many things are dated imo. BMW definitely decided to take a different route with F10. It feels more like merc or Lexus without the right packages/mods.

[triksterut]

I could give every electronic gizmo in the car up for about 800 less pounds I drove an S6 and I liked it - but it was still heavy. And given the S6 or the M5 I'd have to go M5. I'm going to see if I can shoe-horn myself with a car sear behind me (I'm 6'6" or so) into an M3.

[Bbb34]

Originally Posted by triksterut

I could give every electronic gizmo in the car up for about 800 less pounds I drove an S6 and I liked it - but it was still heavy. And given the S6 or the M5 I'd have to go M5. I'm going to see if I can shoe-horn myself with a car sear behind me (I'm 6'6" or so) into an M3.

Regarding S6, exactly what I was saying earlier, good, but they all are big and heavy, no escaping that fact.

Regarding M3, I think you should be fine, but it'll be snug. I'm 6'7" and would "manage" in 3 series, driver's seat space is not that much different if at all, but my kids wouldn't like it as much. Shoulder room is where you will feel major difference. Life's all about compromises eh you just have to find which ones you can live with.