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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo GT (F07) Forums General 5-Series GT (Gran Turismo) (F07) Forum Things you wish you knew about the GT before you bought?! Help someone on the fence.
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      05-07-2011, 06:28 PM   #1
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Things you wish you knew about the GT before you bought?! Help someone on the fence.

I'm on the fence for a 535xi GT and wanted to hear from some of you owners what you wish you knew before you bought..

Anything from annoying little features/problems/issues through to big ones.

Also pleasant surprises and such...

Nothing worse than buyers remorse...

(also under consideration new X3, Q5, A6 - I know.. not really comparable.... The GT is way outside my $ comfort zone).

Thx!
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      05-08-2011, 07:47 AM   #2
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I dont believe that the GT can be compared to any current vehicles on the road except possibly the Porsche Panamera. However, it kills the PP for value for money with its drive, options and sheer luxury.
I bought one last week without a test drive from interstate as my last 2 years of research convinced me that no other vehicle comes close to GTs eclectic luxury & performnace offerings.
Besides , buying a luxury/ prestige car is somewhat an emotional decision IMO.....No point thinking $$ !
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      05-08-2011, 03:21 PM   #3
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Read my post on my recent European delivery...it has some observations. It will be probably 6-weeks before I see the car again and get to drive it on US roads, so it will be a while before I can reflect on other things.
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      05-08-2011, 06:28 PM   #4
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Only pleasant surprises for me... and those were minor since I researched and test drove my 550i GT thoroughly before ordering it. The only things that come to mind:

First, turning radius is surprisingly tight, at least with the new Active Steering. My 2008 650i convertible had an earlier generation of it but could not make many U-turns in my neighborhood. The GT, which is longer, can make all of them without a problem.

Second, driving at night is somehow easier. The mirrors in my 650i would almost black out at night, making it hard to see anything more than headlights of cars behind and around me. In the GT, I can see much more of the road and car bodies than before. This may be due to being higher up off the road (the 6 is especially low, and the GT sits higher than most sedans) or better mirrors or both.

I thought I had a third point it's escaped me. If I think of it I will post it later.

I also considered one of the new X3's... ultimately it felt a little too stripped-down for me, though it's obviously a huge step up from last year's model. I just wanted a more luxurious experience, and the GT gave me almost as much as a 7 Series, for about $20k less... overall very happy after a few months with it.
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      05-08-2011, 07:25 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Actualizer View Post
I dont believe that the GT can be compared to any current vehicles on the road except possibly the Porsche Panamera. However, it kills the PP for value for money with its drive, options and sheer luxury.
I bought one last week without a test drive from interstate as my last 2 years of research convinced me that no other vehicle comes close to GTs eclectic luxury & performnace offerings.
Besides , buying a luxury/ prestige car is somewhat an emotional decision IMO.....No point thinking $$ !
You summed it up perfectly
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      05-08-2011, 08:15 PM   #6
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The only vehicle that comes close to the GT in luxury/comfort is the LWB F01 7 series, and that car can't match the outright flexibility/utility of the GT. Case in point, with the seats folded I was able to put my BMW Cruise Bike (yeah I know I need a 1 800 # ) in my GT without removing the front wheel and/or scratching or soiling a thing.

Please don't anyone say that the Audi A7 is a competitior to the GT. The exterior of the A7 is not bad, but It can't touch the interior of the GT. I couldn't fit comfortably in the back without hitting my head due to the sloping C pillar design. The handwriting pad is a nice touch but I wasn't blown away by the ergonomics or the materials used - even on the top line prestige model. A young salesman tried to tell me the A7 shares the same platform as the Panamera I told him he better do a little bit more research - internal and external - before he tells any more customers that info. I think I hurt his feelings..he ran off.

Again at present the GT stands alone in its class for the sheer value of acutally shairing the chassis/platform/luxury of BMW's flagship - Just my two cents
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      09-13-2011, 08:09 PM   #7
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Ok.. so it took over 4 months... but I took the plunge... :-) Thx for the help...
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      09-13-2011, 10:29 PM   #8
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I may be pulling the trigger behind you, I been contemplating for the last few months...
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      09-19-2011, 09:11 PM   #9
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Spend the money and get the rear view camera, if not even the corner cameras. The car is higher and wider than the 5 series and I've already turned to tight in/out a driveway curb and ended up jumping the curve. You won't do it again, once you've done it once or twice from not paying attention, but it scares the heck out of you when you do it.

The regular sound system is good enough if your older than 40, and I installed the DVD inmotion software, so I don't miss the rear seat entertainment system. If I had money to burn (more money, that is) I would have gotten the comfort entry package that unlocks the doors from just touching the door handle or has the power trunk open and close, but that's just wanting to be lazy! Definitely think about the cameras though!!
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      09-27-2011, 07:02 AM   #10
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Love my GT - here's what you want to know

THINGS YOU WILL ABSOLUTELY LOVE
1. One of BMW's finest interior cabin design and materials [for $20000 less than 7-Series]
2. Tons of space and flexibility [legroom, headroom]
3. Superb front and rear-seat position and comfort
4. All the fab BMW performance and handling precision you would expect (way better than the X5/X6)
5. Quality of interior trim and finishing
6. 4-zone automatic air-conditioning
7. Superb iPod and BMW Online apps integration


PLEASANT SURPRISES I HAD - all these options come standard in the UK version
1. Panoramic Sunroof (absolutely reqd to add to airy feel)
2. 60/40 split rear seat
3. Generous storage / cubbyholes in cabin and boot, power sockets in cabin and boot
4. Extended ambient lighting [LED] within the car and door handles
5. Good fuel economy, superb low emissions for cars in this class

THINGS I HOPE THEY WILL CLEAR UP FOR LCI UPDATE - Not as impressed
1. Standard Keyless start might as well be extended to full Comfort access [keyless door]
2. Slight transmission jerk at very low speeds [1500 rpm] on cold starts as 8-speed gearbox picks the right gear (happens very occasionally)
3. Quite easy to kerb the 20" alloys [its the only one you should get though)
4. Bigger brakes - preferably cross-drilled (though current ones are perfectly fine)

Very important to pick the right combination of exterior colour, interior trim and leather, and (big) alloys.
1. Sapphire Black, Space Grey, Alpine White look absolutely great. Cant say the same for the Damask Red or Neptune Blue personally
2. Ivory White and Cinnamon Brown for some, if you have the $$ the Cohiba Brown Individual is sumptuous
3. Alloys need to be big and bold - dont make excuses, you know you want thse
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      10-08-2011, 03:12 PM   #11
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I have to say my GT reminds me of the 7 series. I had an 07' 550i, and the GT has so much more room!! I love it!
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      10-08-2011, 11:21 PM   #12
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Me too on the jerky slow speed!

I echo the previous post that said...

2. Slight transmission jerk at very low speeds [1500 rpm] on cold starts as 8-speed gearbox picks the right gear (happens very occasionally)
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      01-06-2012, 09:14 PM   #13
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I bought my 2011 535xi GT 4 months ago. Loved the styling, especially after finding out it is built on the 7 series short platform with the 7 series interior. Love the ambient lighting, and all of the gadgets. Mine is loaded except for rear DVD, adaptive cruise/lane departure and heads up. The thing that really sold me was the price. Mine had an MSRP of $75K plus change and I ended up buying it for $60K even. Apparently they are not popular in my part of the country, so the dealers were giving them away. My buddy bought a new 2010 550 xi GT the week after I got mine. It had a $73K sticker and he purchased for $55K and some change.

This may be the norm, but for a car which I really liked, the $$ incentives were what sealed the deal for me.
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      01-07-2012, 10:11 AM   #14
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Same thing here. Got my 2010 for $52k with a $76k sticker with no miles.
I'm perfectly satisfied with the car and after 2 months got only 2 complains - big hatch won't open from inside the car (fixed on MY 2012) and that it indeed is a GT car, not the sports one. Regular 5-series feels some much more sportier, sharper, involving and stuff. Wish BMW would offer F11 5-series estate in the US.
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      01-08-2012, 01:36 PM   #15
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I bought a new kitchen table (flat pack) yesterday with 6 chairs. Opened the boot folded the rear seats and slid the lot in. Fantastic versatility. It does everything you ever need in a car.

I hate run flats (never had them before)

Not sure if anyone else has found this (did the same on my E60) if you put 2 bottles of cold juice in the front cup holders the heating seems to think the car is cold and ramps up the temp. Set at 20deg C yesterday and it boiled us. Turned it all the way down to 16degC before we could get cool air. outside temp was 3degC. Once the juice was empty eveything went back to normal. I guess the cabin temp sensor must be down there.
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      02-18-2012, 10:32 PM   #16
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Exclamation Serious 5 GT design flaw

Quote:
Originally Posted by Uriah View Post
I'm on the fence for a 535xi GT and wanted to hear from some of you owners what you wish you knew before you bought..

Anything from annoying little features/problems/issues through to big ones.

Also pleasant surprises and such...

Nothing worse than buyers remorse...

(also under consideration new X3, Q5, A6 - I know.. not really comparable.... The GT is way outside my $ comfort zone).

Thx!
My wife just had a 1/2 gallon of milk spill into the trunk last week. It leaked down outside a rear liner, then into the central compartment/well.
The next AM, I got into the garaged auto, to find that the rear self-levelling electronics had shorted out (turns out I'd fried the ECU, which just happens to be there, along with the pump, neither of which is sealed from fluids). This cost me $575 to replace, @ my cost.
It turns out that others have this ECU placed in the same location, also unsealed.
I got this for a family/travel vehicle just under a year ago. Safety & BMW's reputation for quality have always been the sales clincher for me, now for over 32 years. But this design blunder has made me rethink the company's stance on this.
Imagine if the suspension had essentially "failed" @ speed (70 mph here, let alone over 140 mph on the autobahn). I've gone to the dealer, but likely, not only will my costs for service not be renumerated, but the design will not be changed, either: after all, other models, including the X5 (?) have the same design.
This situation should be triggering a major recall, at least in the US.
I was going to trade my 09 M3 for an upcoming M5, but likely its design is the same.
This will likely be my last BMW (80 320i, 84 533i + 318is, 94 M3, 04 M3, & my current).
Maybe Audi is still a responsible company making safe, yet powerful & fun to drive vehicles for a decent price.
Bottom line: don't buy a new GT--I've got one for sale, though.
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      02-19-2012, 12:41 AM   #17
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My wfie did the very same in my old E60 and fried my power supply for the nav and parking sensors etc. Crap design. Still a great car though
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      02-19-2012, 09:12 PM   #18
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There's a warning in the manual and (I think) a decal in the back warning about spilling liquids as it can damage the electronics. A consequence of trying to keep the weight balance - the same reason the battery is back there as well. It also keeps the engine heat away from it and that helps longevity (if you don't get it wet!).

Maybe the rubber trunk liner would be a good investment for you. The one with the lips to hold any spills.

Sealing may keep moisture out, but it also traps heat in, making the design more expensive and repair/recycling more difficult and expensive as well.
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      05-13-2012, 08:25 AM   #19
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A friend of mine completely destroyed his 5er with a bag of ice accidentally left in the trunk during unloading for a cookout. The car was totaled but insurance completely replaced it. It blew my mind that a bag of ice can total a car like this but yes seriously, totaled it due to all the electronics it killed. Watch that trunk!
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      07-02-2012, 08:11 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Molotov View Post
Same thing here. Got my 2010 for $52k with a $76k sticker with no miles.
I'm perfectly satisfied with the car and after 2 months got only 2 complains - big hatch won't open from inside the car (fixed on MY 2012) and that it indeed is a GT car, not the sports one. Regular 5-series feels some much more sportier, sharper, involving and stuff. Wish BMW would offer F11 5-series estate in the US.
How the heck did you get a $76K MSRP for $52K? What kind of incentives did you apply?
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      07-02-2012, 07:52 PM   #21
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Probably Floor models
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      07-03-2012, 08:28 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMWCali View Post
How the heck did you get a $76K MSRP for $52K? What kind of incentives did you apply?
Did you read that it was a 2010, not a 2012? While still technically new, it was 2 model years old.
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