[Beemerup]

ibimmer. Question. Would you get the Sport package again if you had a choice? I'm really up in the air if this is worth the extra $2k or so. OR if you had to choose between Sport and say the Navigation or something else? I'm not sure about the stock wheels on the 535.

[ibimmer954]

The best part of the Sport Package as far as I'm concerned are the Multi-contour seats. Comfortable seats are very important to me, and the MC seats in the Sport Package are awesome. If you don't get the SP, make sure to at least get the seats which are a standalone option, I believe.

[ibimmer954]

Originally Posted by DerekS

However, I have some issues with the styling of the front end; it looks very bluff to my eyes. That straight cut line across the hood fights the rounded lines nearby.

I was noticing when I washed the car that there are no flat surfaces on the car. The entire body is full of curved surfaces.

Originally Posted by DerekS

This same car in all black looks very drab, since there is no chrome on the side of the car.

The only chrome on the side of the car are the door handles. I'm assuming black will have the same thing. The front grill is chrome, and the tailpipes are chrome. I'm surprised the front grill is chrome given the sides feature the Shadowline trim in the Sport Package. The side marker is clear plastic.

[bavarian19]

[delvek]

Great write up ibimmer, hope your still on the honeymoon with your new ride.

Appreciate the insight on ZDH and IAS, you reflect the opinions I have heard over here from current drivers.

[boxx]

Hey ibimmer346, thanks for posting the pics, and congrats on your new set of wheels
I like the new 5 series but am actually going to be getting the new X1 in Deep Sea Blue too, so appreciate seeing your car in that colour. I was unsure of what colour to get but am glad I've chosen DSB; I like the fact it comes up in such different shades depending on the light.

The variability of shades is astounding in my opinion. It looked so dark in the showroom (DSB was on an X1) but looks so light and stylish in bright sunlight.

I don't have any 5 series related comments unfortunately but just wanted to say thanks for posting your pics!

[KEVIN88GT]

Why does deep see blue look so dark in other pics but here it looks like my montego blue 335?

Can you take some pics NOT in direct sunlight... (great interior choice)

[soledoc]

Originally Posted by ibimmer346

The best part of the Sport Package as far as I'm concerned are the Multi-contour seats. Comfortable seats are very important to me, and the MC seats in the Sport Package are awesome. If you don't get the SP, make sure to at least get the seats which are a standalone option, I believe.

But can't you get the multi contour seats for $1,300 as a stand alone option.
I personally don't like the 19" wheels that you get with the sport package. I've seen the 18" and 19" on a 535 side by side. 18" to me look good on this car, and not to say 19" look bad, but for me I prefer the 18".

[soledoc]

Originally Posted by KEVIN88GT

Why does deep see blue look so dark in other pics but here it looks like my montego blue 335?

Can you take some pics NOT in direct sunlight... (great interior choice)

Exactly. I love my montego blue E90 and this deep sea blue looks VERY similar...which to me is a good thing. I get so many compliments on this blue. My previous car was a sonic blue volvo S60R and that was a beautiful blue.

[crxb]

the HUD is great - I was impressed w/ that bit of tech in the car I drove

[MikeTerp]

Congrats! Great review! Quick question - does your car have an oil cooler for the N55? I presume you do, at least because of the sport package, but as you probably know, this was a huge issue on the earlier N54 equipped bimmers - especially the 3ers. Lots of limp home stories when their engines overheated after too much boost. An oil cooler on all turbo equipped cars would seem like cheap insurance for BMW, sport equipped or not. Oh, and if you have one, where is it mounted? Thanks.

[uhn2000]

Stunning and even better in 6spd. Congrats.

[fiveten]

Hi ibimmer346, that is a beatiful car that you have and thanks for the great report. How are you getting on with the M6 transmission, I am interested as I am considering the sport automatic?

[Jim_in_Calgary]

Originally Posted by ibimmer346

The best part of the Sport Package as far as I'm concerned are the Multi-contour seats. Comfortable seats are very important to me, and the MC seats in the Sport Package are awesome. If you don't get the SP, make sure to at least get the seats which are a standalone option, I believe.

Is this the equivalent of the "Comfort Seats" option in the e60's?

[KEVIN88GT]

or to the sport seats in the e90?

[kripsykreme]

1. Key holder is in the cup holder. Between the two cup.

2. BMW manual shift smoothly? hmm- i beg to differ. Unless you delete the CDV, the shift between 1st and 2nd is anything but smooth. I think the BMW clutch on and off point is actually quiet easy to find. I hate CDV.

As far as ISA and dynamic handling. My impression was less than positive on both. ISA steering boost is none-linear, too much boost at low end and does not builds up well as speed increase. Dynamic in sport+ to me is what the base setting should be. In comfort mode plus to soft steering response at low speed, this car reminds me a a mercedes with hint of lexus, which to me lost some BMW soul.

F10 has gotten too main stream in generic form. I really hope BMW does not botch the M5. Each generation of M5 i like it less (getting too heavy and less agile). Only time would tell.

[ibimmer954]

Originally Posted by kripsykreme

1. Key holder is in the cup holder. Between the two cup.

Not on the MT. There is no holder for the key on the MT. There aren't even 2 real cup holders. And even on the AT, the holder is non-functional from what I see in the Owner's Manual.

2. BMW manual shift smoothly? hmm- i beg to differ. Unless you delete the CDV, the shift between 1st and 2nd is anything but smooth. I think the BMW clutch on and off point is actually quiet easy to find. I hate CDV.

I think you're making an assumption based on your experience in the E90. The shifter is very different on the F10. There is absolutely a smooth feel between all gear shifts. No strange feel between 1st and 2nd.

I drove a 6MT E90 M3 last week. The clutch and shifter feel completely different than the F10. The M3 made a very loud "thunk" when shifting between 1 and 2. The F10 is completely silent. The M3 owner noticed it as well as we tried each other's car. His comment upon trying the F10: "Wow, that shift is smooth. But the clutch, I don't like that at all!"

As for myself, I'm getting more used to the clutch. I'm now feathering the clutch more on launch giving it a little more gas to get a smooth launch. Probably a little more clutch wear than what I was doing originally. But the takeoff is smoother.

[ibimmer954]

Originally Posted by Jim_in_Calgary

Is this the equivalent of the "Comfort Seats" option in the e60's?

Yes, I believe the option BMW now calls "Multi-Contour seats" are the same as the "Comfort Seats" from the E60. They are different, and quite a bit better, than the Sport Seats from my E93 before.

[kripsykreme]

Originally Posted by ibimmer346

Not on the MT. There is no holder for the key on the MT. There aren't even 2 real cup holders. And even on the AT, the holder is non-functional from what I see in the Owner's Manual.



I think you're making an assumption based on your experience in the E90. The shifter is very different on the F10. There is absolutely a smooth feel between all gear shifts. No strange feel between 1st and 2nd.

I drove a 6MT E90 M3 last week. The clutch and shifter feel completely different than the F10. The M3 made a very loud "thunk" when shifting between 1 and 2. The F10 is completely silent. The M3 owner noticed it as well as we tried each other's car. His comment upon trying the F10: "Wow, that shift is smooth. But the clutch, I don't like that at all!"

As for myself, I'm getting more used to the clutch. I'm now feathering the clutch more on launch giving it a little more gas to get a smooth launch. Probably a little more clutch wear than what I was doing originally. But the takeoff is smoother.

Hmm, i stand corrected on the key holder. I agree is pretty useless. I mean you have keyless why do you need key holder? don't understand that at all.

I will go drive the F10 manual. That is very interesting to hear that CDV is gone on F10. The 1-2 shift on BMW manual is well known due to that damn CDV. I am very surprised to hear that F10 issue is gone. I got to try that.

[Whteverjklasdf]

the best color... outside the grey scale. =P