[RCUK]

Recently went on a driving holiday to Germany with some friends and went to 'visit' the ring as it was a stop on our way back to Lille.

Anyway.... somehow we managed to convince ourselves to drive the track - and what an experience it was!! The track really does live upto the hype - no playing on a console can fully prepare u for the scariness of it.

Regarding the car however...

Now had the car for 4 weeks and done 3500miles on it so i think its time to review it - 1400 of those miles over 3 days in Germany.

Comfort wise the thing is amazing - everyone said it was like sitting in an armchair, which i think is also its downfall. Ive previously had an E46 and an E90 and both handled amazingly well and inspired confidence, this one really doesnt.

We drove the blackforest which has a lot of twisty roads and i found it to be extremely wallowy and very unsettled in corners at any great speed. I think potentially the M sport would be a lot better given the lowered suspension - so much so that im considering now having the springs changed.

Typical BlackForest road:



The brakes held up really well and inspired real confidence when jumping on them - including one incident when a truck pulled out on me as i passed 130mph.

Power wise the car is pretty damn good. I hit 143mph on the autobahn (GPS verrified) and i think it would have had a few more miles on it had we not run into traffic. It could do with a few more horses - so a remap is on the cards now as it should push me from 184 to nearer 230 which will also cure the lack of low down power when coming out of a corner and nailing the throttle.

Think part of my problem is that i came from a 3.0 remapped diesel which pushed 265bhp and the drop is being noticed.

I do recommend anyone who has the chance to get to germany and really drive. The roads are amazing and it was an excellent way to run the car in and learn how it handles at speed.

Do find the car a bit twitchy when driven in a straight line - always needs correction. Think the bridgestone turanza's may need to be changed, and tempted to upgrade alloys to 18" to keep the balance of ride quality and handling in tact.

[Shake n Bake]

I have 5500 miles on my F11 520d and echo many of your comments. It's a lovely comfortable place to be; a very pleasant environment to spend time. It definately is wallowy. I wondered if that was just my having an estate. Taking any corner at speed there is a much longer delay is feeling the weight transfer over to the outside rear wheel than I have experienced in any other car. I would imagine these two are linked right? A lower stiffer suspension would give me a less comfortable ride.

The power is sufficient, the fuel economy amazing and responsiveness pretty impressive (in sport mode).

I don't have any twitchiness in a straight line though. You can let go of the wheel and it stays perfectly straight unless you are driving on a significantly cambered road of course.

Very few irritations for me. The most significant being that the £2000 pro media system doesn't come with a touch screen (whereas systems 20% that price from non-executive marques are).

It's definately a car I recommend to friends, alerting them to the wallowy ride as a caveat.

[Touring]

Im going to the Ring next weekend. I have around 350 laps with my 330 ESS, but looking forward to test the 520d. I have the EDC system on it, and will get the ac-schnitzer suspension installed in Lübeck on the way down. Hope that will work fine on the Ring :-)

[RCUK]

350 laps??

Thats a different league!!

Love to hear how you find the 520d on the track.

[The Mewster]

Regarding the comment about the non-touchscreen nav, having used the system in the Jag, I certainly prefer I-drive.

Problem is that the touch screen is too far away, so it's a real stretch, and actually quite difficult to use when driving, especially on a bumpy road.

[EdM5]

Originally Posted by Touring

Im going to the Ring next weekend. I have around 350 laps with my 330 ESS

350 laps:


Last summer I did 8 laps on the Nordschleife with an e92 M3, my heartrate plus adrenaline levels are still sky high

[SpawneyGet]

Enjoyed the read very much. Thanks!

As a ring virgin, how does one arrange a few laps there? Need to book in advance? Costs?

[RCUK]

You just turn up at the ring for lunch ... and then a 'mate' convinces u that not going on the ring would render you flacid in the nether regions.

So then 24 euros gets u on the track.

The WORST thing about it is that since ive come back - i just wanna go back and drive it again!!!

But... driving it does give u the right to purchase a ring sticker.

For me driving the ring was an ambition - so very happy i did get to tick that off my list.

BUT>>> remember the risks!!! Your not insured in the ring - and your liable for everything damage wise.

A few months ago a guy with an M3 was checking his oil in the car park and didnt screw the cap on properly. So he went out and leaked oil on the track. A few bikers and cars skidded off and the M3 driver was liable for all the damage caused - which is unlimited liability.

He had to sell his house to cover the damage costs.

So if your going to the ring be aware of the financial risks. If you want to minimise them you can hire cars from companies based near the ring which are insured to drive the ring.

[EdM5]

Originally Posted by SpawneyGet

Enjoyed the read very much. Thanks!

As a ring virgin, how does one arrange a few laps there? Need to book in advance? Costs?

You can either book a training with BMW Fahrertraining. They'll teach you the basics of good car control and most importantly: an instructor with a pace car will show you the best race line. You'll probably get an e92 M3. It will cost you app. 800 eur for a full day. The training course is however in the german language.

Or you can take your own car to the ring, pay a small entrance fee (about 10-20 eur, no need to book) and burn some rubber. You should definitely check with your car insurance company first, as damage caused on a race track is often excluded.

By the way, public roads in the surrounding Eiffel area are just as stunning.

[VirtualS]

Not to take this too much off-topic, but I am thinking of visiting both the 'Ring (for 2 laps at the most) and Spa-Francorchamps for a full trackday with a 550i.

Does anyone know if the brakes on the 550i will be able to hold up to a trackday at Spa, or should I hire a car from RSR Nurburg or other vendor?

[Touring]

Originally Posted by VirtualS

Not to take this too much off-topic, but I am thinking of visiting both the 'Ring (for 2 laps at the most) and Spa-Francorchamps for a full trackday with a 550i.

Does anyone know if the brakes on the 550i will be able to hold up to a trackday at Spa, or should I hire a car from RSR Nurburg or other vendor?

Take some new pads with you just in case. You will wear out the front brakepads in a weekend on Nürburgring at least, and its impossible to get new ones on a sunday. And the 550 is a heavy car!

[RCUK]

Really wanted to see Spa .... thats next on my to drive list!

Just happy to do Eau Rouge - and see the gradient there!

[EdM5]

Originally Posted by Touring

And the 550 is a heavy car!

Yes indeed.
You'll probably have a lot more fun with a more nimble and lighter car like an M3 or a 135i.

[SpawneyGet]

Thanks.

Another one for my "Must To Do" list!

[Robin_NL]

Nice thread, last time I was at the Ring was > 3 years ago, done only 10/15 laps so far. But the wife and kids....

[kave]

I am going to the "Ring" as well in June, but it's the swedish Gotland Ring