Beautiful picture. I might use it as the dektop background on my laptop

 

I took a test drive in a 520d yesterday. It had the standard automatic gearbox and exactly the same seats as you have but the car was white. I found the engine to be ok and not that much different to my E61 525d. Totally acceptable. The big difference compared to the E61 was the different feeling in the steering which I guess will take some time to get used to. I have been going back and forth all spring and summer between the choice of the 520dT or 525dT. Now that I finally decided on the 520dT I am pleased with the engine.

The standard automatic seems very economical and changes gears very rapidly when you start the car off. I think the sports mode is the best and closer to how I would change gears with a manual car. Do you know if the standard gearbox has a different program in the standard setting compared to the sports automatic?

 

That's interesting to read, because the difference between the E60 520d and LCI 525d was quite big IMHO. The simple reason was the extra torque and grunt the 3.0L 6 cyl had, that made it much more effortless driving. I owned the 520d (manual) for 80000km and the LCI 525dA for about 60000km. However, the 520d was still very capable and quick, almost as quick in fact, but it just did not have that effortless refinement, which in turn gave a very different driving experience IMHO.

So it sounds as though the new 520dA with its extra power and the extra torque has closed the gap between the two models. Or am I misinterpretting what you wrote?

 

I think it all depends on how you drive it and how critical you are. if you are flooring it the whole time, I think both are great but if you are cruising at speeds like 50-60, sudden acclerations does put a strain on the 20d engine. Find it a shame because bmw got it right with the engine on the 320d but somehow can't get it right on the 520d..

 

Not to my knowledge, no. The standard auto have no settings unless you get option Active Damper Control or Adaptive Drive, AFAIK.
On the other hand the price difference between standard auto and sports auto is only about ?300.

 

I can only say that coming from a petrol LCI 523iM the 520d is a real cracker!
I'm still in the break in period but I have tried sports mode and the 520d feels quicker and more powerful than my old inline 6.

Ofcourse, this is subjective. Everybody has his own preference.

 

I can get you an exact size if you like, just give me your screen resolution.

 

hey I totally agree with you - look at my sig, I even switched from a 535d to a 520d
I would have ordered a 520d f10 if the delivery was not half a lifetime

 

You still have the transmission sport mode when you flip the gear leaver to the left.

 

Congrats
Nice car & pics.