[JLR1969]

Really interesting video comparing them both visually

[MrPogle]

Fascinating. BMW have been spectacularly honest in that video to the point of slightly shooting themselves in the foot (IMHO). Whilst they have managed to show that the F10 looks relatively slightly dated they also seem to have drawn attention to the fact that the G30 looks a bit fussy and gimmicky. Whilst it may sell the G30 to people who don't currently have an F10, I think it might actually put off those who do. Don't get me wrong, when it's time to change, a G30 is a strong candidate but I won't be changing early.

[CeeTee]

If you presented this video to someone who wasn't into BMW's as such, and removed the titles, I think many would say the F10 was the newer/better design.
BMW have done with the G30 what they did with the Mk.3 Mini, and that is made everything bigger - ie the grille, lights, valance etc.
In the case of the Mini it has ruined the car visually, the Mk.2 is beautifully proportioned, the Mk.3 with its stupid large rear light cluster, is not!
The G30 has not been affected adversely in the same way, but it is in no way an aesthetic advancement.
And that is just the exterior. As has been mentioned before on this site, the design of the sat nav screen is a definite retrograde step, and looks like someone has just perched their upmarket portable screen on top of the dash.
I'm sure most casual observers would think the F10 was the later design, being completely integrated and flowing with the rest of the facia as it does?
And as for gesture control, who needs that at 90 mph on the autoway?

Mind you Audi with their new A4/A5/ have done the same thing, and gone for the fixed sticky-up screen, unlike with the A6/7 which has a retractable screen, pure automotive art in my opinion.
Maybe its all down to money?
Compared to a G30, a late model F10 is a fantastic buy currently, and on top you don't even need to worry about Ad Blue to still qualify for euro 6 status!

[JLR1969]

Originally Posted by MrPogle

Fascinating. BMW have been spectacularly honest in that video to the point of slightly shooting themselves in the foot (IMHO). Whilst they have managed to show that the F10 looks relatively slightly dated they also seem to have drawn attention to the fact that the G30 looks a bit fussy and gimmicky. Whilst it may sell the G30 to people who don't currently have an F10, I think it might actually put off those who do. Don't get me wrong, when it's time to change, a G30 is a strong candidate but I won't be changing early.

Agree with everything you have said, also the G30 is a little on the plasticky side. It rides and handles well though. The nose feels light but maybe that's because it's a 20D

At list the difference between 20D and 30D is £10k........ Crazy!

[JLR1969]

Originally Posted by CeeTee

If you presented this video to someone who wasn't into BMW's as such, and removed the titles, I think many would say the F10 was the newer/better design.
BMW have done with the G30 what they did with the Mk.3 Mini, and that is made everything bigger - ie the grille, lights, valance etc.
In the case of the Mini it has ruined the car visually, the Mk.2 is beautifully proportioned, the Mk.3 with its stupid large rear light cluster, is not!
The G30 has not been affected adversely in the same way, but it is in no way an aesthetic advancement.
And that is just the exterior. As has been mentioned before on this site, the design of the sat nav screen is a definite retrograde step, and looks like someone has just perched their upmarket portable screen on top of the dash.
I'm sure most casual observers would think the F10 was the later design, being completely integrated and flowing with the rest of the facia as it does?
And as for gesture control, who needs that at 90 mph on the autoway?

Mind you Audi with their new A4/A5/ have done the same thing, and gone for the fixed sticky-up screen, unlike with the A6/7 which has a retractable screen, pure automotive art in my opinion.
Maybe its all down to money?
Compared to a G30, a late model F10 is a fantastic buy currently, and on top you don't even need to worry about Ad Blue to still qualify for euro 6 status!

Tried gesture control and it really is a gimmic, the lack of AdBlue on the F10 is a good call!

Like you will swap on day but maybe to a G20 when they are launched if the refinement is improved. G30 is just too big 95% of the time.

[morellomax]

"Compared to a G30, a late model F10 is a fantastic buy currently"

Indeed. You can get low mileage 15 plate 535d MSports for £23k. I've had my high spec 15 plate 535d advertised for a few £k more than that for several weeks and haven't had a bite.

[HighlandPete]

I'm looking at an G31 touring at the moment.... what a car!

Sophisto and ivory, on a 530d M-sport. To me, looks so much better in the metal than I expected.

Hoping to test a G30 while at the garage.

[xenon]

I'm looking for a high-spec F11 but don't see anything like £23k unless they've done high mileage.

[Piers]

Originally Posted by morellomax

"Compared to a G30, a late model F10 is a fantastic buy currently"

Indeed. You can get low mileage 15 plate 535d MSports for £23k. I've had my high spec 15 plate 535d advertised for a few £k more than that for several weeks and haven't had a bite.

Really? I hear what you are saying, but it varies massively on spec. Most of the 20-25K has 18"s no pro nav, no sports gearbox etc. Now admittedly a lot of people wont care, and that is the problem you have.

An enthusiast who wants spec will buy yours, a run of the mill person will just go for the best value to get them in a 5 series I am afraid. I think this is where the comments came from that your was priced to heavily, it is a crowded market...

That said, I would hold your price, because if you rank autotrader by mileage, £20-25K price, yours is on the first page, and looks stunning compared to some of the other more "basic" 535d's out there.

[Jonny2400]

Last week I had a loan of the new G30 530e for a few days, my LCI F10 520d was in for some work. Overall I’ve mixed feelings about the new G30, more so the 530e version, firstly the boot is tiny, I knew the batteries impacted the size, but lord it’s small when you looking at it irl, however the new boot lid is nice and light.

Inside it looks a lot more modern, It does feel slightly bigger, a touch wider and I did notice a little more room in the rear, but your no under doubt that your in a BMW 5 series and here lays the problem.. it’s like moving from the iPhone 6 to the iPhone 6s ... if your coming from a E class or 3 series etc then yes BMW have done enough ... coming from a F10 .. it’s kinda just am improved version of what you already have.

I was taking it for a pretty spirited drive over country roads on the first night and....I really wasn’t enjoying it, wasn’t sure if it was the ride ..felt a little more floaty and I put that down to fact my F10 had the adoptive shocks and this was a standard SE set up, but it was my wife that hit the nail on the head...”the lights on this are shit!” And sure enough ..I realised that why I wasn’t enjoying the drive, the new LED lights were not a patch on my old Xenon lights on the F10, very blue output and I was struggling on the dark country roads.

For those interested in the real MPG for the 148mpg 530e... i drove just over 250miles in it and without charging ...it averaged 12.8mpg ... now I will admit I did drive it hard ...but no harder than my 520d which over 76,000 miles has an average of 39.8mpg.

Power wise, it’s fast... it’s hard to explain ..it feel fast, but not powerful ... now I know that doesn’t make sense... you have to drive one to understand ..it maybe due to the instant torque of the electric motor....might be cause you miss the feel of the power building, I must admit thou that under power it does have a pleasant engine note.

Overall I enjoyed having the use of it and driving a brand new car is always enjoyable, everything is nice and smooth and fresh.

I actually had a mineral white 530e SE on order since July this year and it was due for early Jan 18, but I ended up cancelling it last week, it was a company car scheme ..instead I’ve just decided to buy the 520d I’ve been using for the last 4 years, The least company offered me it for a great price, that good I can drive it for the next 12/18 months, sell it and still break even !, and as I’ve had it since new .. I know it’s been well looked after. My extended test drive didn’t make this decision lol, it was a lovely car, my decision is more linked to an up coming possibility to move companies.

I am going to keep my eyes open for a nice F10 535d or even revisit the company scheme once the new 3 has been launched.

[texasjohn]

These hybrids are a joke. I rented an Outlander PHEV over Christmas (Mitsubishi 4x4, about the size of an X3). It did 31.5MPG on a 65 mile run with cruise set at 75MPH. On the way back it did 20.4MPG with cruise set at 85MPH (there was a bit of decelerating and accelerating to be fair, as it was adaptive radar cruise control).

I've had an E63 5.5 BiTurbo and that would have returned about 32 on the outbound and high twenties on the return journey...

[MrPogle]

I don't think your experience is unusual. I know a couple of people with PHEVs and their experience is that unless you can use them on electric power for the vast majority of the time, there is no point.

[Piers]

I have a friend with an i8, BMW quote 134mpg, he gets less than 30mpg.

[Balster]

Interesting discussions and a lot of varied opinions on this thread, all of which make great contribution. I ordered a G30 530d MSport XDrive, with adaptive drive and most of the good packages with delivery for 1st March 2018. This is after nearly 4 years of F10 ownership. I agree that the F10 is probably a better looking car and the G30 is fussy, but my 4 year pcp is due so it made financial(and OH) sense to buy a new 5 series. And I was toying with a S Class, S8 or a new 7, but they were a nightmare to park and driving though some of Londons tight roads nearly gave me multiple heart attacks. Over all I am very happy with the purchase.