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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 Test Drove 2011 BMW F10 550i |
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05-22-2010, 06:14 PM | #1 |
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Test Drove 2011 BMW F10 550i
So I was surprised today when I took my 335i coupe for it's weekly Saturday wash at Fields BMW in Orlando Florida, when I pull up a new 2011 F10 550i was parked up front. I got my sales person to let me take it out on the back roads and on the highway.
I really love the new exterior and interior design. Very high quality that's unmatched by any other cars in its class. Ride quality was fantastic! I tried out the Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+ settings. I didn't notice too much of a difference between all 4 settings. Sport settings seem as if the steering becomes a bit and I mean a bit sharper than Normal and Comfort settings. Also in Sport the gas pedal was more responsive as well as the transmission kick down faster. Comfort didn't feel as soft as I thought it was going to, there is a bit more softness but not dramatically so from Normal or Sport settings. Power was amazing and sounded great! Def drives like a lighter 750i but feels like two class notches above the previous E60 530i Sport I had back in 2005-2007. Interior seems smaller than that of the E60 models but not in a bad way. Love the move back to the more intimate feel from BMW's of the past. I noticed that the power seats don't go up high enough, seemed strange to me. Overall I loved the new F10 5-series. Only thing I didn't like was the too light steering feel at all speeds while driving the car. Wish it had a bit more heft like the E39 5-series or like my current 335i coupe. I recently also test drove the 535i on a special event in Atlanta. The 535i did not have the sports package as well as the Dynamic Handling package of course. After driving today the 550i I would say I rather get a nicely loaded 535i without Sport Package as I didn't really notice any great gains over the standard suspension. Hopefully buy the time my 335i coupe lease is over in a year and a half, BMW might resolve the too light steering feel currently being introduced on the 2011 F10 5-series.
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05-23-2010, 11:13 AM | #2 |
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Thanks for sharing, I can't wait to test drive the 550i personally.
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05-23-2010, 08:40 PM | #3 | |
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2014 F10 M5
Previously... Threes: '08 E90 M3, '07 E92 335i, Fives: '11 F10 550i, '02 E39 M5, '00 E39 540i/6, '97 E39 528i, '92 E34 525i Others: VW, MBz, Peugeot, Toyota, Olds |
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05-24-2010, 07:56 AM | #4 | |
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I simple software upgrade would fix this. I hope BMW is aware of this and has a fix for it in the near future. Kinda reminded me when the E46 3-series came out. It has perfect steering heft and feel. Then in the 2001 model year for the first 330i and 325i models they made the steering way lighter. BMW quickly returned back to a more proper BMW type of steering for the E46 model years 2002 thru 2005.
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05-25-2010, 01:39 AM | #5 |
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I don't know if riding like a smaller 750i is a good thing. I test drove the 750i and wasn't very impressed seeing how clumsy it rode. It was too Lexus-like.
I was hoping for a larger 3er ride feel. |
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05-25-2010, 07:19 AM | #6 |
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It definitely has a much larger car ride and feel then that of my 335i. I feel like the new 5-series rides very smooth but it doesn't have that nimble feel anymore from what made the E34 and E39 5-series so famous.
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05-25-2010, 11:42 AM | #7 | |
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I'm hoping that the combination of the adjustable settings + Sport will make for a well-controlled and entertaining sedan. If the ride on the firmest setting (with Sport Pkg) is a little too stiff for some, that's probably just FINE for me (and many of us here).
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2014 F10 M5
Previously... Threes: '08 E90 M3, '07 E92 335i, Fives: '11 F10 550i, '02 E39 M5, '00 E39 540i/6, '97 E39 528i, '92 E34 525i Others: VW, MBz, Peugeot, Toyota, Olds |
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05-25-2010, 12:19 PM | #8 | |
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The 535i I test drove did NOT have the sports package. I felt this setup and engine was more suited for those that are accustomed to driving a 5-series as it felt more natural and agile being about 300 pounds lighter than the 550i.
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05-25-2010, 03:31 PM | #9 | |
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2014 F10 M5
Previously... Threes: '08 E90 M3, '07 E92 335i, Fives: '11 F10 550i, '02 E39 M5, '00 E39 540i/6, '97 E39 528i, '92 E34 525i Others: VW, MBz, Peugeot, Toyota, Olds |
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05-25-2010, 03:38 PM | #10 |
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I did drive 2 535I's with and without sports package at a driving event in Vancouver. I was only able to go through a slalom course at about 30mph but I can tell you that for me there was a significant difference in the stiffness of the car in sports mode. I currently drive an M3 and I could not get a 535I without this feature as I felt the car just rolled to much around the corners. With sports package it was much stiffer (of course not M3 like). I know what I am about to say is an exaggeration but when I drove without the package it felt more like a north american sedan than a BMW. Sorry, just how I felt. Very pleased I ordered mine with sports package.
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