[Flyboy-fil]

I thought I'd say hello to you all as I've enjoyed reading this forum over the last month or so, wish I'd seen it prior to ordering.

I've a B47 engined 520dSE F11 or order for 1st September delivery (car arrived in the uk at the beginning of August after only 31 days from placing the order.

I've currently been running a Volvo XC90 which is a great car but the running costs are beginning to get me down, 30mpg (so long as not too much town driving) and it likes premium diesel too , £285/year road tax, typically £3-400/year on servicing and as it's 5 years old I'm sensing an increased maintenance cost. All in all I could save up to £2,000/year in running costs which makes the decision an easy one. As I'm chucking he XC90 in as the deposit the moment I take possession of the 5 I start saving (yes I know I have to pay out more over the next few years but month by month there's less outgoings). The XC90 is without a doubt a nicer place to be in if you're in the rear (or middle in its case) so the kids have insisted on Heated Read Seats in compensation. Whilst it handles bumps fabulously the ride is very jiggly on normal Uk roads and a slight steering correction can be felt throughout the whole car as the large body rolls a bit. But as 80-90% of driving is either commuting or taking the kids short distances to school or club etc it's rare that we actually go out as a family and enjoy the huge space and flexibility it offers.

So to the BMW, my first since 1997 when I had a 318iSE, as it's been mainly Audis since.

520d B47 SE Touring in Sophistico Grey Auto with Paddles
Pro Media
Those heated read seats
Sun protection glass
Advanced speakers. (Would have liked Hk but only so much £££££'s)
Folding mirrors
LED fogs (why does this car not have them as standard)
M-Sport style aluminium interior trim. Breaks up the black as leather is black. (Too much collecting dirty footballers to consider a lighter colour)

But after ordering and reading this forum I regretted not adding Enhanced Bluetooth but reading one of the other threads here it seems I'll get Bluetooth music streaming, which was the main reason I wanted it...so happy. (Even though I've seen there are ways around not ordering EBT)

Now just to wait until the 1st....

[AP]

we'll be waiting for the pics

[Piers]

Welcome, and we love pics on here

[gspannu]

Welcome to the club. Post some exterior and interior pics...

[Flyboy-fil]

Me too, I'd love to see the pics. (Once I get it). 0930 is the time.

[GMTRB5]

Congrats, sounds great

Yep looks like the BT audio streaming comes as standard now (as it should on a car like this!)

[gspannu]

Originally Posted by Flyboy-fil

Me too, I'd love to see the pics. (Once I get it). 0930 is the time.

Pictures !!!

[gspannu]

Originally Posted by Flyboy-fil

.....

But after ordering and reading this forum I regretted not adding Enhanced Bluetooth but reading one of ....

....

You can code 6NS since you already have Pro Media.
I enabled one for another similar car only last week (with the newer engine and standard BT streaming). EBT (6NS) enables 2 simultaneous phones, office functionality and voice.

[Flyboy-fil]

Originally Posted by gspannu

You can code 6NS since you already have Pro Media.
I enabled one for another similar car only last week (with the newer engine and standard BT streaming). EBT (6NS) enables 2 simultaneous phones, office functionality and voice.

I may pay you a visit sometime if that's ok. Thanks.

[gspannu]

Originally Posted by Flyboy-fil

I may pay you a visit sometime if that's ok. Thanks.

You are welcome...

[Flyboy-fil]

OK, well I've had the car a week now and as there has been a question or two about the B47 engine here's what wrote on another thread.

"I didn't have the N47 and only tried 2 520's and 1 X3 with that engine so my comments are less of a comparison and more of how the B47 feels.

When pulling away the engine can be heard but once moving it's very quiet indeed. Around 30-40 is upwards and certainly on motorways it's inaudible. I havent 'given it a welly yet' as it's only a few days old and I suspect that you'd hear it once again under heavier load. I actually think it sounds more like a 4cyl petrol, as in a but of a quiet droney sound and un-diesal like. Not unpleasant at all though, in fact nicer than a typical diesel racket . Again I'm being gentle but it seems to have good power and torque available.

It's obviously not a 530/5 but impressive non the least.

I was also impressed by the bluetooth (not enhanced) music streaming as I'd read many many threads by drivers unhappy with it, or lack of it. The standard one now streams music but also shows album art and allows full control of playlists etc via BT. Also if the phone is USB'd in and you disconnect it will continue via BT after a few seconds.
(Pro Media but std BT)"

Specialist cars did a great job with the hand-over etc and it was really gleaming as I drove it out into the rain on day 1....then left it in a LHR car park for the next 4 days so probably only had 4 days with it.

To the spec: ProMedia is well discussed on these forums and I can only add how good I think it is. The heated seats are great, better than the outgoing XC90 as the heat is stronger and higher up the backrest, almost to shoulder height. And the same in the back as I heated those too.

I'm pleased I added the Sports steering wheel with paddles. I know I don't use them often but sometimes you can pre-empt a change which can smooth things a bit. I like the size of the smaller wheel.

I added Advanced Loudspeakers, then wished I'd gone for HK's when it was too late. Still would have liked the HK's but the Advanced ones aren't bad at all. I can get the car vibrating to the start of Timbalands Apologize so there is enough bass for most people and the sound is clear. To be honest for a car of this level, this should be the standard loudspeaker. I'd rate them as good but not excellent and well worth having if you didn't or couldn't stretch to HK's.

Privacy glass is well privacy glass, no explanations but as a family we like it a lot.

Folding mirrors, again surprised this isn't standard on a car like this. Annoying that they unfold at 15mph, or won't fold above that speed!!!!! Example was on a narrow country road where I had to slow down to walking pace continuously, I would have left them folded on my XC90...probably getting up to 20-25mph between oncoming cars. Now I had to keep folding every time as I slowed (it was narrow). 40mph would have been better...even 30mph but 15 is too slow.

Now to the bits I'm possibly a little disappointed about:

Seats, OK only the standard SE ones and it's probably me being fussy but I prefer a flatter seat base with little or no side bolstering on the base. As the car is new the slightly raised sides seems to aggravate the nerves in my legs. This is why I stayed away from the Msport seats and even comfort seats are raised more than the standard ones. Hopefully as it gets used the stiffness will decrease and the sides will soften. Also wonder why the whole adjustment isn't electric? All but fore-aft has electric adjustment so the power, cabling, and switches are there so it seems a bit odd not to have made them completely electric instead of just part.

Secondly, at speed (well 70-80) on the motorway there is a vagueness around the straight ahead position at times. The car is on standard 17" wheels and someone mentioned this happening to his as well. It's not bad but not as 'planted' on the motorway as I was expecting, especially compared to wife's A3 Sport. I'm sure larger wheels or lower profile tyres would help but at the expense of ride. Maybe different tyres....eventually.

All in all it very good car if you want a comfortable, refined, and economical family car. The SE isn't a sports car but it still handles very well. Good handling isn't just for sports cars as the way a car stays very composed in corners and retains body control at all times is a function of how a good handling car aids ride quality.

Pictures....doubtful...not my sort of thing.

Oh and if you've read the 'Precious' thread on the UK F30/31 forum, yes we've eaten in it, drank in it, let the kids friends get in and admire it, and let other people press the buttons/change the music etc etc

[gspannu]

Originally Posted by Flyboy-fil

I Folding mirrors, again surprised this isn't standard on a car like this. Annoying that they unfold at 15mph, or won't fold above that speed!!!!! Example was on a narrow country road where I had to slow down to walking pace continuously, I would have left them folded on my XC90...probably getting up to 20-25mph between oncoming cars. Now I had to keep folding every time as I slowed (it was narrow). 40mph would have been better...even 30mph but 15 is too slow.

Can be coded to higher speed values...

[Flyboy-fil]

Originally Posted by gspannu

Can be coded to higher speed values...

Hmmm, a visit is getting more appealing all the time.
Thanks