Originally Posted by Gene

so how is everyone liking their new f10's? nice to see some "old" members back

Originally Posted by sdg1871

Mixed feelings Gene.

I love the looks, the comfort and, with the Dinan Stage 2 flash, the power. This beast would torch my E60 550i in a stoplight war or in highway passing power. In fact, with the Dinan flash, it is so powerful that many of my passengers have screamed/gotten scared when I floor it. And the sound system in my (the upgraded one the year before BMW rolled out the B&O killer sound system) is outstanding -- a quantum leap over the sound systems in my previous 5 Series car. The xDrive is also outstanding giving the car wonderful traction in the snow and a no drama rapid takeoff from a start under full throttle.

But, as compared to my E60 550i M Sport, there is little to no exhaust noise, no road noise, little road feel and a generally heavy feeling. The car just feels heavy and not particularly responsive to the steering wheel as compared to my E39 540i or my E60 550. Stated differently, my car's transient response blows and is too sluggish. The reality is that the car is every bit as tenacious in grip around the twisties but the joy of driving is gone -- there is just so little road feel or connectedness to the car/road. The car is a porker and needs a serious weight reduction.

Also, my F10 550 has been the least reliable by the three V8 5 Series cars I have had. I have had to replace the fuel injectors TWICE. The water pump failed. The turbo cooling pump failed. The turbo coolant lines burst and had to be replaced. It has spent a lot of time in at the dealer leaving me with a loaner. By contrast, my E39 540 had no repairs in three years and my E60 550 only had one repair in three years -- a failed starter motor.

Also, the stock M sport suspension is ridiculously soft -- even on sport plus. As a result, I got the Dinan springs which improve things considerable and make the car more controllable and responsive. But even with the Dinan springs, my F10 550 lacks the suspension tautness and transient response of my E60 550 and is geared much more toward comfort than sport.

Finally, my car cannot handle sustained high performance driving. Last year I did a car meet driving Pennsylvania State Route 125 and Gold Mine Road -- the best twisty roads within 3 hours of NYC. My E60 550 handled these roads brilliantly and I beat the crap out of the car on those roads. In contrast, under wide open throttle going up a mountain when the car had been doing mountain driving for like 15 minutes, my F10 550 threw and engine malfunction light and went into limp home mode. Not good at all for an almost $80k car that is supposed to go fast.

In sum, I sort of feel that with this car, BMW has become the new Lexus -- uber comfortable, good looking but soft and lacking in road feel or driving enjoyment. My next car will likely not be another F10 but more likely the Mercedes E63 S. And that makes me very sad as I am a BMW guy through and through.

Originally Posted by seoulman

Sorry to hear that you are having so much trouble with your 550i.

Originally Posted by sdg1871

Thanks. It has certainly not been the bullet proof ride my last two V8 5 Series cars were. It sure does have a parking lot and road presence that the others lacked. I can certainly see why the F10 far outsells what the E60 did (by like 100k units a year) -- most customers value size, comfort, luxury and prestige/looks over fun to drive (just not we enthusiasts who are a sliver of the market).

I am dying to test drive the M5 Competition Package as the car mags claim that BMW finally got the suspension right on that model. Still probably won't get it next as with that much power I want all wheel drive.

Originally Posted by seoulman

I had an E60 528i RWD and yes, I felt that it was more responsive in the handling department. However, I really don't have any issues with the handling of the F10 530d. It's not as 'tossable' but it handles spirited driving fairly well IMO.

As for the M5 and all wheel drive, apparently the next generation M5 will have it. I look forward to when it comes out!

Originally Posted by sdg1871

Yes it certainly seems that way from the interviews given by the head of the M division. I mean the E63S has been stomping the M5 Competition Package in acceleration tests as especially in high power cars, all wheel drive is such a huge advantage off the line.

My lease on my 550xi runs out in February. Revised M5 won't be there in time for me. Next car is probably the E63 S. Don't want that much power with RWD only especially living in the Northeast. I am a one car guy and that car needs to be totally drivable all year round.

Originally Posted by seoulman

Although I'm a huge fan-boy of the M5, I agree that it needs AWD. The E63 S is a beast and with AWD, it happens to be a better performing car than the M5 (according to the automotive media). If premium gas wasn't US$ 9.50 a gallon here in Korea, I would have gotten either the M5 with the Competition Package or an E63 S.

Originally Posted by sdg1871

$9.50 a gallon?? Yikes! My sympathies.

I have driven the E63 S and it is a beast. Makes my Dinan Stage 2 550i xDrive feel very very slow. And with a $3500 Renntech ECU reflash, you are at almost 700 horsepower and doing the quarter miles in the very low 11s. M5 needs an AWD option to keep up with that kind of acceleration from a stop.