535d Sport Touring 50-75 times
04-05-2006, 04:26 AM
#31
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Audi already do a v8 diesel in the A8 which I came very close to buying. I tried the older 4.0 version and it was excellent with similar output to a 535d. It was also the best sounding diesel I have been in, with virtually no clatter and a nice bassy V8 sound. The current engine is a 4.2 which is now up to 335BHP, lighter and more efficient than the older engine.
The 535d engine predates the alloy engine in the 530d which is partly where the weight advantage comes plus it has more plumbing for the extra turbo. I was presently surprised that this does not make a great deal of difference to the handling (in the dry at least). Moving to a V8 does not necessarily have to add weight. I seem to think that the BMW V8 petrols are lighter than the M3's straight six. If you extrapolate the 535d's output up to a 4 litre it would be 360BHP even before DMS got hold of it....hmmmmm
The 535d engine predates the alloy engine in the 530d which is partly where the weight advantage comes plus it has more plumbing for the extra turbo. I was presently surprised that this does not make a great deal of difference to the handling (in the dry at least). Moving to a V8 does not necessarily have to add weight. I seem to think that the BMW V8 petrols are lighter than the M3's straight six. If you extrapolate the 535d's output up to a 4 litre it would be 360BHP even before DMS got hold of it....hmmmmm
04-05-2006, 05:11 AM
#32
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Originally Posted by needforspeed' post='264832' date='Apr 5 2006, 08:53 AM
On bmw.co.uk they give a different figure for auto and manual:
i only quote figures from bmw.de and bmw.bg .. you uk people are messed up
get it DMS'ed...
And the 535d feeling like a supercharged merc... please
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2...2&q=amg&pl=true
it acclerates nicely, but staing that all hell breaks loose, is simply because the above respondant has never been in anything ridiculously quick.
I would recommend a 550+bhp SL55 amg or maybe a 560bhp Tech-art Porsche turbo... now thats what i call all hell breaking loose. even an f430 would do. (check one of my previous threads about my road test of a ferrari f430 spider)
04-05-2006, 11:04 AM
#33
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Originally Posted by 700700' post='264890' date='Apr 5 2006, 02:11 PM
I would recommend a 550+bhp SL55 amg or maybe a 560bhp Tech-art Porsche turbo... now thats what i call all hell breaking loose. even an f430 would do. (check one of my previous threads about my road test of a ferrari f430 spider)
Not really sensible alternative's to a 535d are they ?
04-05-2006, 03:31 PM
#34
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My Ride: 530d Touring
Model Year: 2007
Originally Posted by needforspeed' post='264832' date='Apr 5 2006, 09:53 AM
... at the moment I'm not completely sure I'm happy with the 530d as is - I'm enjoying it, but also missing the chuckability of my e46 coupe.
I can't quite decide between the following:
1. Trade in for something smaller / more sporty
Possibilities:
M3 (secondhand only - and a big worry in regard to maintenance costs - but a dream car for many years)
New 330ci or 330i touring (to get a nice 3 months warranty.
Downside re the M3 and coupe is obviously that the e90 version is on it's way and it will start to look dated quickly.
2. Get a 535d now - (this is going to be financialy very painful)
3. Get it dms'd (reasonably cheap fix) keep it for 12 months then look at swapping for a new e90 330i coupe or possibily still an e46 330i (or M3 - which my heart wants and my head says no to).
What would you do?
I can't quite decide between the following:
1. Trade in for something smaller / more sporty
Possibilities:
M3 (secondhand only - and a big worry in regard to maintenance costs - but a dream car for many years)
New 330ci or 330i touring (to get a nice 3 months warranty.
Downside re the M3 and coupe is obviously that the e90 version is on it's way and it will start to look dated quickly.
2. Get a 535d now - (this is going to be financialy very painful)
3. Get it dms'd (reasonably cheap fix) keep it for 12 months then look at swapping for a new e90 330i coupe or possibily still an e46 330i (or M3 - which my heart wants and my head says no to).
What would you do?
Well, I took out a new M3 CS smg yesterday and now really want one, you can't compare the 535d with an M3, the M3 was no faster than my car, that is DMS'd, and you can tell that straight away but it is the way it feels that makes all the difference, you really know that the 5 is a big car after being in this thing for just 2 minutes.
The 330i or 330Ci just would not make sense, the 535d is faster and more fun than a 330Ci imho, so that would be worth getting and then getting it DMS'd, but if you are going to change to a smaller/sportier car then it has to be an M3, if you change for anything else I bet you will regret it like you are now.
The 530d is a great motorway crusier, nothing more.
The 535d after a bit of tuning is a massive jump up, I had my sales guy grinning like an idiot in mine yesterday, and we had just been out in the M3 for half an hour on the same roads which says a lot. He actualy said he thought I would be mad to swap mine for the CS.
So I have decided to keep hold of this until the new M3 arrives.
04-06-2006, 03:39 AM
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Originally Posted by 700700' post='265247' date='Apr 6 2006, 12:33 AM
No, but the 535d does not involve any part of hell breaking loose...
A damn good all-rounder but no exotic sports car... But try getting your shopping and 2 kids in a Ferrari et al.
04-06-2006, 03:56 AM
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Originally Posted by colejl' post='265402' date='Apr 6 2006, 11:38 AM
That's a bit harsh! 
are great cars, just not supercars
04-06-2006, 05:30 AM
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My Ride: 530d Touring
Model Year: 2007
Originally Posted by colejl' post='265402' date='Apr 6 2006, 12:38 PM
That's a bit harsh! You know what I mean. I was really replying to needforspeed's comment on whether to change the 530d for something else. He said he misses the chuckability of the 3 coupe, well compared to an M3 which is one of his considerations the 530d is just a great motorway cruiser, one of the best and the reason I choose the 5. I think of the 535d in the same light too, just a bit quicker and a bit more instant. The difference between a 530d and DMS's 535d though is quite apparent, and noticable at the next level! But still no sports car like the M3 is, but then nor is the M5, it is an animal and a supercar but hardly a sports car, it does what it does and does it better than anything else, but it's not a sports car......................................is it?
04-06-2006, 11:01 AM
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Originally Posted by gIzzE' post='265445' date='Apr 6 2006, 02:30 PM
You know what I mean. I was really replying to needforspeed's comment on whether to change the 530d for something else. He said he misses the chuckability of the 3 coupe, well compared to an M3 which is one of his considerations the 530d is just a great motorway cruiser, one of the best and the reason I choose the 5. I think of the 535d in the same light too, just a bit quicker and a bit more instant. The difference between a 530d and DMS's 535d though is quite apparent, and noticable at the next level! But still no sports car like the M3 is, but then nor is the M5, it is an animal and a supercar but hardly a sports car, it does what it does and does it better than anything else, but it's not a sports car......................................is it?
the 5 really does handle superbly and I think it probably corners better than the 3, but it 'feels' heavier and much bigger. I had a run on some twisty roads today and really enjoyed it - for the most part the car was ABSOLUTELY glued to the road and I think I was cornering harder than I ever would have in my coupe.....
I think that the problem is that I've had 3 e46 coupes in the last 5 or so years and during all that time my 'ideal' car has been the M3. I chose the 530d for all the right reasons. It's a super quick mile munching executive cruiser and as I said above the handling is MUCH better than we have any right to expect given it's size.
It also takes my family and all their bits in absolute comfort....
But..... I feel like I may have missed my one opportunity to own the e46 M3......
My local dealer has a second hand one and I'm going to test drive it...