530i vs. 530d
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most improtant:
�real and working like a charm forumsbuy real LED tails and PIAA 4700k fogs!!! for HAMANN full front apron you need H3
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and of course !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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� Individual leather interior (auburn+auburn alcantara)... and drive with sheer drivin' pleasure ... until 2009/2010 F10 comes or E60 possibly a 540d V8 diesel early in 2009 badly juiced!
I luv the petrol sound more the V8 of course but
I vote for ///D Diesel Power
I vote for ///D Diesel Power
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From: The United Kingdom
Originally Posted by MrTrilby' post='290891' date='Jun 1 2006, 02:44 PM
It's a bit silly because if you put it in manual and force it to stay in gear, I find the torque is there to use, it's just that the autobox seems to be stuck in a constant battle with itself over whether it should be in a high gear to save fuel or low gear for some fun. It does seem to take rather more concentration on how much throttle you give the car to progress smoothly at speed than you would expect from a premium auto.
The zf transmission seems to react as if it were attached to a petrol engine - not an oil burner.
That said - I test drove both cars and went for the diesel. The extra MPG was important, but IMO the diesel feels like a faster and more powerful car on the road.
There probably isn't anything in it on a track or in a race, but on a motorway - for midrange acceleration the 530d is like a rocket.
However, a big part of me is sorry that I don't have a high revving petrol.
A bigger question - is manual vs auto
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Originally Posted by needforspeed' post='290990' date='Jun 1 2006, 07:49 PM
I agree with this point about the auto box in the diesel. For me the sport mode and especially kick down are a little pointless given the massive wave of torque that shoves you along from 2000rpm (or 1750rpm in the new one).
The zf transmission seems to react as if it were attached to a petrol engine - not an oil burner.
That said - I test drove both cars and went for the diesel. The extra MPG was important, but IMO the diesel feels like a faster and more powerful car on the road.
There probably isn't anything in it on a track or in a race, but on a motorway - for midrange acceleration the 530d is like a rocket.
However, a big part of me is sorry that I don't have a high revving petrol.
A bigger question - is manual vs auto
The zf transmission seems to react as if it were attached to a petrol engine - not an oil burner.
That said - I test drove both cars and went for the diesel. The extra MPG was important, but IMO the diesel feels like a faster and more powerful car on the road.
There probably isn't anything in it on a track or in a race, but on a motorway - for midrange acceleration the 530d is like a rocket.
However, a big part of me is sorry that I don't have a high revving petrol.
A bigger question - is manual vs auto
But NO, 4 door sedan is too much for me. As nimble as it feels (the E60 m packed) i still want smth lighter, and more sporty.Back to the issue of the steptronic: YES i also have noticed that. It's ver very sensitive at kick-down (not the sensor at full throttle). But if you really learn it you can accelerate smoothley without triggering the downshift. In a way it's WOOOAAA to see the endless surge comgin almost from idle, seeing the tacho climbing only 1000rpms or so and the speedo going mad
. But in a way that attitude of the gearbox never affected me too much since if it downshifted even at 3000-3500rpm i have no problems due to the 2nd turbo.
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From: Essex, UK
Originally Posted by olli_535d' post='290952' date='Jun 1 2006, 04:17 PM
I thought the latest "light" block using magnesia compound is 258hp ?
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From: Stourbridge, UK
My Ride: 535D Sport Auto
From launch Top Gear stated that the 530d was the drivers choice! 
Having previously owned a 530d I say the sheer effortless mega performance blows you away everytime.
Not driven the uprated 530d or 530i but I would expect the 530i to feel lifeless after driving the diesel. I recently drove an M5 and a Porshe 911 and the first thing I noticed was the lack of low down pull.
In the UK the 530d is the only real choice in terms of performance, economy and resale value.
However the 530i sounds better.
Having previously owned a 530d I say the sheer effortless mega performance blows you away everytime.
Not driven the uprated 530d or 530i but I would expect the 530i to feel lifeless after driving the diesel. I recently drove an M5 and a Porshe 911 and the first thing I noticed was the lack of low down pull.
In the UK the 530d is the only real choice in terms of performance, economy and resale value.
However the 530i sounds better.
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My Ride: 04 525DSE Auto Olivin
Originally Posted by Merv the Derv' post='291122' date='Jun 1 2006, 09:39 PM
From launch Top Gear stated that the 530d was the drivers choice!
Having previously owned a 530d I say the sheer effortless mega performance blows you away everytime.
Not driven the uprated 530d or 530i but I would expect the 530i to feel lifeless after driving the diesel. I recently drove an M5 and a Porshe 911 and the first thing I noticed was the lack of low down pull.
In the UK the 530d is the only real choice in terms of performance, economy and resale value.
However the 530i sounds better.
Having previously owned a 530d I say the sheer effortless mega performance blows you away everytime.
Not driven the uprated 530d or 530i but I would expect the 530i to feel lifeless after driving the diesel. I recently drove an M5 and a Porshe 911 and the first thing I noticed was the lack of low down pull.
In the UK the 530d is the only real choice in terms of performance, economy and resale value.
However the 530i sounds better.
Spot on
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From: Cleveland, United Kingdom
My Ride: On Order, due in May - 2007MY 530D SE, Silver Grey, Black Dakota, Auto, Brushed aluminium shadowline,sports seats / wheel, hi fi speakers, mats, space saver wheel and a few more bits
Originally Posted by JWBMW' post='291131' date='Jun 1 2006, 10:01 PM
Spot on
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This is very much a "you vote what you own" kind of a situation. Since I own a petrol N52, I'll add some Fox style balance to this thread.
I doubt highly that the petrol would feel like much of a slouch, especially since it has more horsepower. I can break the tires loose upon downshift if I so choose. There is serious power to be tapped. The visceral feeling of torque on the diesel is probably very nice, but those sensations aren't always indicative of what's happening on the stopwatch.
Since when did not having to row the gears become a goal of true "drivers"? The interaction with the car and the manual shifting is a key part of driving enjoyment for me. I don't mind downshifting to tap into more power. That's actually quite enjoyable for me - along with the resultant kick in the pants.
I also love making the engine sing to the 7000 RPM redline.
I'm pretty sure the petrol engine is -way- lighter. I remember TopGear bemoaning the brick in the front-end and the resultant weight and balance penalties when they tested their last diesel E60. The N52 is super light and makes the car the nimblest E60.
I doubt highly that the petrol would feel like much of a slouch, especially since it has more horsepower. I can break the tires loose upon downshift if I so choose. There is serious power to be tapped. The visceral feeling of torque on the diesel is probably very nice, but those sensations aren't always indicative of what's happening on the stopwatch.
Since when did not having to row the gears become a goal of true "drivers"? The interaction with the car and the manual shifting is a key part of driving enjoyment for me. I don't mind downshifting to tap into more power. That's actually quite enjoyable for me - along with the resultant kick in the pants.
I also love making the engine sing to the 7000 RPM redline.
I'm pretty sure the petrol engine is -way- lighter. I remember TopGear bemoaning the brick in the front-end and the resultant weight and balance penalties when they tested their last diesel E60. The N52 is super light and makes the car the nimblest E60.
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From: Bucharest, Romania
Originally Posted by UUronL' post='291190' date='Jun 2 2006, 01:28 AM
This is very much a "you vote what you own" kind of a situation. Since I own a petrol N52, I'll add some Fox style balance to this thread.
Not true. You just have to take the facts into calculation. That's it. No taking sides.
I doubt highly that the petrol would feel like much of a slouch, especially since it has more horsepower. I can break the tires loose upon downshift if I so choose. There is serious power to be tapped. The visceral feeling of torque on the diesel is probably very nice, but those sensations aren't always indicative of what's happening on the stopwatch.
Agree on this.
Since when did not having to row the gears become a goal of true "drivers"? The interaction with the car and the manual shifting is a key part of driving enjoyment for me. I don't mind downshifting to tap into more power. That's actually quite enjoyable for me - along with the resultant kick in the pants.
Let me put it this way. You probably didn't buy an E60 just to drive like a true driver. There are better cars out there even in the courtyard of bmw. You probably bought it to peace almost every aspect. To make a compromise in a way. Manual shifting is fun if done properly, but you tend to forget one thing. That most of the E60 buyers love to shift very rarely when the road permits you, traffic, weather, and so on and so for. That's why most of them bought a steptronic or a smg, because especially with the smg, choosing this you can make the best out of the 2 worlds. You can have the confort needed on rugh hours when you make 1 mile in 20 minutes (and i guarantee that there is no pleasure in manual shifting there), you can shift quicker that most of the drivers in manual, and the car gets a better resale value. Being trully honest here, there are ALOT of more + for the automatic/smg.
I also love making the engine sing to the 7000 RPM redline.
Yes i like that also, not in my E60 cuz i can't. Not that i need it but anyway. A 320i can sing even further if you know what i mean. The 2000cc petrol engine. But what's the point in this when you get thrased by a diesel. ALSO did i mention the posibility of an ecu remap? Ohhhh if i say so then you'll say it's not fair to compare stock vs tuning. With only 2k or so you can have the car done to deal with every L6 petrol engine non-M (530d that is). Skaffa reached 311bhp. How sick is that? THOSE are just plain facts. No sides here either. Really now. If we take into equation the 535d remaped you can take on the V8s. AGAIN alot of + points that are just facts not fairytales.
I'm pretty sure the petrol engine is -way- lighter. I remember TopGear bemoaning the brick in the front-end and the resultant weight and balance penalties when they tested their last diesel E60. The N52 is super light and makes the car the nimblest E60.
Yes i agree on this. Unfortunatley the diesels are quite if not very heavy engines. Due to the materials needed to make the engine block to sustain that much compression and the druability of the parts. But that's a factor that in a way affects the overall weight of the car. The front end was toughend up, according to the same Top Gear, resulting in a good handling, not spoiled by any wrong weight distribution. Jeremy Clarkson even said about the 535d vs 545i: "The 535d is cheeper to buy, cheeper to run, more quiet and as far as i can tell just as confident in the bends". The only drawback is indeed the extra kilos on the car compared to a petrol equivalent but it's not like it has a tone more. It's just a few kilos. Not noticeable unless you are going on a hundreds of a second lap.
Not true. You just have to take the facts into calculation. That's it. No taking sides.
I doubt highly that the petrol would feel like much of a slouch, especially since it has more horsepower. I can break the tires loose upon downshift if I so choose. There is serious power to be tapped. The visceral feeling of torque on the diesel is probably very nice, but those sensations aren't always indicative of what's happening on the stopwatch.
Agree on this.
Since when did not having to row the gears become a goal of true "drivers"? The interaction with the car and the manual shifting is a key part of driving enjoyment for me. I don't mind downshifting to tap into more power. That's actually quite enjoyable for me - along with the resultant kick in the pants.
Let me put it this way. You probably didn't buy an E60 just to drive like a true driver. There are better cars out there even in the courtyard of bmw. You probably bought it to peace almost every aspect. To make a compromise in a way. Manual shifting is fun if done properly, but you tend to forget one thing. That most of the E60 buyers love to shift very rarely when the road permits you, traffic, weather, and so on and so for. That's why most of them bought a steptronic or a smg, because especially with the smg, choosing this you can make the best out of the 2 worlds. You can have the confort needed on rugh hours when you make 1 mile in 20 minutes (and i guarantee that there is no pleasure in manual shifting there), you can shift quicker that most of the drivers in manual, and the car gets a better resale value. Being trully honest here, there are ALOT of more + for the automatic/smg.
I also love making the engine sing to the 7000 RPM redline.
Yes i like that also, not in my E60 cuz i can't. Not that i need it but anyway. A 320i can sing even further if you know what i mean. The 2000cc petrol engine. But what's the point in this when you get thrased by a diesel. ALSO did i mention the posibility of an ecu remap? Ohhhh if i say so then you'll say it's not fair to compare stock vs tuning. With only 2k or so you can have the car done to deal with every L6 petrol engine non-M (530d that is). Skaffa reached 311bhp. How sick is that? THOSE are just plain facts. No sides here either. Really now. If we take into equation the 535d remaped you can take on the V8s. AGAIN alot of + points that are just facts not fairytales.
I'm pretty sure the petrol engine is -way- lighter. I remember TopGear bemoaning the brick in the front-end and the resultant weight and balance penalties when they tested their last diesel E60. The N52 is super light and makes the car the nimblest E60.
Yes i agree on this. Unfortunatley the diesels are quite if not very heavy engines. Due to the materials needed to make the engine block to sustain that much compression and the druability of the parts. But that's a factor that in a way affects the overall weight of the car. The front end was toughend up, according to the same Top Gear, resulting in a good handling, not spoiled by any wrong weight distribution. Jeremy Clarkson even said about the 535d vs 545i: "The 535d is cheeper to buy, cheeper to run, more quiet and as far as i can tell just as confident in the bends". The only drawback is indeed the extra kilos on the car compared to a petrol equivalent but it's not like it has a tone more. It's just a few kilos. Not noticeable unless you are going on a hundreds of a second lap.
