[Belgian]

I wait since March to get it but this morning it has been delivered...

Spec :
BMW F11 530XD (with auto gearbox) , 258hp, 560nm
Imperial Blue color
Black interior (as black as I could... )
Professional Navigation + Voice + Pro Hifi + Bluetooth
Sport seats
Rear tinted windows
Foldable exterior mirrors + auto dim
M Steering
No adaptive anything (suspension, cruise), it is on normal suspension
....

My previous car was a BMW E91 330XD manual gearbox, 231hp, 500nm

My first impressions after 150kms are the following :

- Much more silent than the E91, clearly another class
- The car is and feels much bigger. Hopefuly I got the PDC + rear camera. Without it would be difficult to park, rear visibility is not good.
- The 8 speed auto gear box... hmmm... I guess I will have to get used to an auto gearbox after my manual. Of course it is much more comfy. But even if it is quick and reactive, I have the impression it is jerky. Clearly feel the difference between normal and sport mode.
- Handling is totally different, I read often that the electrical steering is bad. On the 530XD it seems I have hydraulic. But compared to my E91 it is day and night even with sport mode. I guess I will get used to it but so far I prefer the E91 steering, it is much more precise. I feel the difference in sport mode but it is still very far from the E91. Generally it also understeers much more than the E91.
- Seat are very comfortable but I miss the pneumatic sides of my E91. They feel a bit too wide. But it is a detail.
- The auto stop/start feature... grrrr... I hope it really spares fuel because it is very annoying to me. Should be able to disengage it permanently via iDrive.
- iDrive is much better than the 2006 version I had in my E91... no discussion about that. But... unless I need to read the manual again, managing a USB key is a pain in the *ss... Why do I have to go in a sub menu to see my folders?!!! Why doesn't it just show the folders by default like in the old version... Sound Quality is VERY good, the DVD player even reads DTS audio discs... wow! Of course it needs some tuning with the equalizer but after it is very good.
- The central console is huge, and very unpractical... lot of useless little spaces, the E91 central console was more practical.
- I find the keyless start/stop very unintuitive... I preferred the old way where you had to plug the key in the dashboard.... but ok I guess I will get used to it...
- Enough space in the trunk, but... I was mocked by a colleague with a 2006 Mazda 6... the trunck is 20 cm wider! (and the same depth)...
- Did I say it was much more relaxing to drive than the E91?


Well this is it for today and if the upload of the pics was ok you should see them...

If you want more info don't hesitate!

[PALMAN]

Congratulations !!! Very nice F11. I really like the color. I saw it some time ago and I think it has so many tones depending on the light you are watching it - almost black in dark and blue in sun !!!

When buying my F11 530d I was thinking of ordering one with xDrive but stayed with RWD in the end, mainly because I wanted ///M-Sport and with xDrive M-Sport is not lowerd so that it look hmm... strange

[datbimmerdoe]

great color, congrats!!

[kave]

Congrats on a fantastic car, i will most probably order a 530xd myself, like yours except navi but with diesel heater. Any l/km figures yet? I made 120km in a dealer car but i couldn't get under 8L/100km.

[BMWMB]

Originally Posted by kave

Congrats on a fantastic car, i will most probably order a 530xd myself, like yours except navi but with diesel heater. Any l/km figures yet? I made 120km in a dealer car but i couldn't get under 8L/100km.

I have a F10 530d xDrive since 1 month and 4500km's. Today i did an economic run for 150km's, which was 50% on the highway (130km/h) and 50% on minor roads (70/90 km/h). The average consumption was 7,2l/100km.

[Belgian]

Hi,

Thanks for nice comments.

My current consumption is 7.7L/100 Kms, very far from the announced 5.8L...
On the highway I drive at 140 Km/h and on the national roads and city I strictly respect the 90/70/50 Km/h...

My wheels are 245*45/18 so I guess it doesn't help.

I guess it is because the engine is still not at its best. For instance on my previous 330XD the average consumption was 6.9L when the BMW figures were 7.4L.

I drive 60% on national road and 40% on highways.

Playing with the sport mode has quite an impact on consumption, that I can already say...

I will post back when I will have more Kms and when I will have been able to push it a bit further after the initial 2000 Kms...

[kave]

Thank you for your replies. May I ask why Belgians by an XDrive version?
Here we have snow for three months so I will miss 4x4 much if I don't get it again.
The handling on the XDrive is wonderful, it feels you can always accelerate as hard as you like without loosing traction.

[Belgian]

Hi,

Why would Belgians buy xDrive?

Here are some reasons :-) :

- Rain and slippery roads
- Snow during winter in south of Belgium (less longer than in Sweden of course)
- I go to Northern countries (Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Poland) from time to time (also during winter)
- Winter sports

[maartenke]

Do you have pictures from the inside?
And it's really the perfect car! If your ever wanting to sell this baby... ;-)

[Bimmernerd]

Congrats! I have a 530d xDr F11 2012 myself (M sport, regular suspension) but I chose Sophisto grey with oyster/black interior. Nice to look at but not practical at all... All xDrive models have hydraulic steering BTW, thank god for that.

My avg fuel consumption after 15000 km is 7,2 l/100 km. Very far from the official figure but that was obviously measured in la-la land

I am very pleased with my car, the only options I miss are Surround view cameras and the automatic tailgate opener. The blue-tooth (audio) integration sucks but otherwise no problems to speak of.

[dinge]

Nice car and colour!