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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 Car&Driver August 2010 issue |
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06-26-2010, 05:34 PM | #1 |
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Car&Driver August 2010 issue
This Car&Driver August 2010 issue has a comparison test on the new 2010 BMW 535i Sport vs the 2011 Infiniti M37S vs the Audi A6 3.0T Quattro.
3rd place: BMW 535i Sport 2nd place: Infiniti M37S 1st place: Audi A6 3.0T Quattro
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06-26-2010, 06:18 PM | #3 |
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Well they basically blasted the new 535i for the too light steering and numb on center feel when driving the car. These are the same thought when I test drove the 535i & 550i twice. They also stated that the new platform is too heavy since it's based from the 7-series platform. A lot is blamed from switching the steering system to an Electric power assist which doesn't give too much feed back.
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06-26-2010, 06:32 PM | #5 |
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To be fair, the numbers in the review were all really close. But they complained mostly about the lack of steering feel. And, quite frankly, I agree with them in that sense.
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06-26-2010, 06:52 PM | #6 |
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I do like the car, I'd still buy it over the Infiniti and the outdated A6. But I have to agree with them also in that sense.
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06-26-2010, 06:56 PM | #7 |
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I drove the a6 & 535i at the ultimate drive event...
car&driver must be kidding? the a6 in first place? This must be a joke, the time i spent in the a6 i did not find one positive aspect for this vehicle, from its steering to its styling to electronics. I wouldn't even compare the a6 to a 535i- what a shame car and driver.
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06-26-2010, 07:28 PM | #8 |
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06-26-2010, 07:32 PM | #9 |
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What dynamic drive option did the f10 have (the dynamic suspension, sport button etc)?
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06-26-2010, 08:25 PM | #10 | |
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The car feels very large and heavy compared to my 335d, although the actual difference in weight is only about 100 kgs or 220 lbs. The car that I drove was equipped with Sport Package and Executive Package (no active steering). The steering felt direct but very numb on centre and very uncommunicative compared to my 335d. Being completely unfamiliar with the auto transmission shifter in the 5, it took me about a minute to figure out how to get the car from Park into Drive and to locate the Parking Brake release switch. Once underway, I immediately noticed the rather small side mirrors, much smaller than the ones on my 335d. Rearward vision is also compromised in the new 5er. The engine seemed very docile and muffled compared to my 335d engine; maybe it was the big difference in torque or maybe it was just me. The 5 rides very well, although there were muted thumping sounds coming from either the suspension or the tires as I drove over uneven and broken pavement. I found it difficult to get just the right seating position and kept trying to find a way to adjust the headrest angle which slopes too far forward for me. The only adjustment seems to be for height. When I first got into this car, I had high expectations. But after returning to the wheel of my 335d, I felt much better about my current ride. In comparison to the 535i, the d feels so much more alive and responsive, and much more fun to drive. The 535i offers more comfortable seats, more space and a smoother ride. However, the very numb steering and the subdued response from the engine left me disappointed. In terms of styling, the new 5 is definitely a good looking machine (in lighter colours), but it does look very large compared to a 3 Series. The interior is well executed design-wise, but in all black, it feels very confining, especially in the back seat. For me at least, the 5 does not meet my expectations.
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06-26-2010, 09:13 PM | #11 |
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I am 27 years old and i have a 335xi coupe and I drove the new F10 BMW and I feel that the new BMW 5 is an amazing car to drive. Smooth, sporty, comfortable with no compromise. I careless about 'numb" steering since its still good enough. If you want a more direct one, then get the dynamic handling package. That does not mean the car is bad. I feel the 5 series is much better than my 335xi coupe in refinery and feel. The 3 series feels harsh and exhausting to drive at times over bumps, etc. Also the 3 series are sensitive to the road crowns and have heavy steering in the parking lots. I am ready for the F10 and it is downright the best 5 series in years.
And no, I do not miss the feeling of the 335xi over the F10 at all. F10 meets and exceeds my expectations! |
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06-27-2010, 12:25 AM | #12 | |
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IMO, the new 535i sedan does not come close to either of these cars as far as the fun to drive quotient is concerned and all round balance. No question I was hoping to be impressed with the new 5er, but instead my impressions were similar to those reported by the British "Autocar" magazine. Quite simply, the car feels too big, too heavy and too isolated from the road surface. And with its huge turning circle, it is not very agile for city parking manoeuvres. I plan to test drive some of the competition before I decide on my "ultimate driving machine".
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06-27-2010, 01:00 AM | #13 | |
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06-27-2010, 01:51 AM | #14 |
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Are they testing the BMW 2010 535i or the 2011 535i (F10)?
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06-27-2010, 02:37 AM | #15 |
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That article is so like Car and Driver. They are prone to pick one thing that they perceive as a shortcoming and trumpet that and just ignore the other fine qualities of the 5er. They have done that for the last 8 years. Audi makes a fine product. However very few people, if any, would claim that an Audi A6 is better than a BMW 5er, especially the new F10. I personally do not care for the drive train of the Audi A6 and I find the Infiniti M37 to be an inferior imitation of a BMW.
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06-27-2010, 07:48 AM | #16 |
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What I find funny is that some of you say: "The 535i feels heavy compared to my 335d".
No shit Sherlock?! Drive a 740i and you "might" have the same impression as well. |
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06-27-2010, 10:23 AM | #17 | |
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If you get the dynamic handling package, then it will meet your expectations no doubt. Might need to test drive one before trying the compeititors. I have an Audi A8L, Lexus GS, and Mercedes ML in my garage along with the BMW. The 5 series felt more better than the GS, E Class, and A6 in terms of handling. |
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06-27-2010, 12:05 PM | #18 |
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I will try to test drive a 535i with the dynamic handling package before making up my mind. But really, does the 535i need this expensive option package in order to transform it into a decent handling machine ???
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06-27-2010, 12:34 PM | #19 | |
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06-27-2010, 02:13 PM | #20 |
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I thought the same thing too when I drove a car without Dynamic Handling Package. Then I tried Dynamic Handling on Sport mode, and it stiffened up and I could feel the road much better. It was a deal breaker without it. Also, I tried one with IAS and it further improved the handling at highway speeds with curves and quick maneuvers. It felt and handled like a much smaller car. If anyone is real fussy about handling, need to evaluate this one too.
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06-27-2010, 03:33 PM | #21 | |
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As far as I'm concerned, I'm happy they're there -- BMW can take the profits from all of those cars and continue to develop all the cool stuff (like the Dynamic Handling Package) that those of us here want/need.
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06-27-2010, 04:19 PM | #22 |
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The model tested only had the Premium Package 1, Sport Package, Dynamic Handling Package, and Sport Auto.
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