The e60 530d is gone ....

I now have this ...

https://img376.imageshack.us/img376/...324copycp3.jpg

https://img174.imageshack.us/img174/...326copypj3.jpg

Looking good mate, but you must get the blacklines put on!! :thumbsup:

Hey nfs. Congrats. It looks super. Looking forword for a realistic comparo.
Thanx!

Thanks Gizze and BetterMakeWay .... here is my initial comparison:

The e90 m-sport is tiny compared to the e60. Actual usable space inside isn't much less, but it sits about 1ft lower than the e60 and is shorter and narrower. The e90 windsheild is small and right in front of your face.

So the immediate impression is much more cosy and intimate - but the space in the e60 is part of it's luxury 'feel'.

I've already broken the run-in rules for the e90 and redlined it. The engine note is gorgeous. My earlier BMW petrol engines had a very refined tone, but the 330i starts off with a lovely low rumble, which turns a bit raspy at 4500rpm and is an outright snarl at 6000rpm plus. It's addictive.

It actually feels a bit slower than the 530d so far, but that's because I am having to get used to changing my own gears and thinking about the powerband. It's pretty highly geared, so to get 'kick in the back' acceleration from say 40mph, you need to downshift to 2nd.

Manual gearbox like all new BMW's is very stiff and needs a lot of use to loosen up. 2nd was quite notchy initially, but it's starting to feel smoother already.

I think I probably missed the lazy diesel power and the step gearbox for about half an hour ...... but now my brain is back in manual driving mode and I am loving it.

I-drive makes much more sense with nav and I'm finding it all quite intuitive.

Phone is much better, because I am closer to the mic.

The m-kit is beautiful, especially the extra chunky little steering wheel and I am loving the colour and trim internally and externally.

Sports seats are hugely nicer than the standard e60 seats which I think were designed for a giant (I am 6'2") I'm immediately back to the very low laid back seating position I loved from my e46 coupe's.

The car seems to retain the very stable GT like handling of the e60, with a more eager turn in - some of this is going to be down to the m-sport suspension.

Stereo has more bass, but is less clear.

All in all, I feel more comfortable with the e90 - it's closer to my vision of BMW than the 530d.

I know it's new, but it has the 'carved from stone' feeling of quality that I had in my old BMW's, but felt was lacking in the e60.

Overall the only thing I feel I am losing is space. The boot is great in the e60 as is the rear leg room. But if I am honest it feels more comfortable immediately, like coming home.

I think if I were to come back to the e60 (and I think I will in the end) it would only be for a manual m-sport model.

It was sad to see it go and I am a bit tickled to see that the dealer has put it back on the market for ?23,850, given that I paid just ?24,000 (including free aux input) for it six months ago.

It did look well on it's 19 inch rims when I left it :(

To be honest - I'd sort of love to be able to have both cars, because they are so different.

That's very interesting; I'm considering the same change, from 535d to 335d or 335i. Can you post your impression about the new car and a comparo between.

Hey NFS, did you washed out your E60? It shrinked :D

Seriously, congrats, beautiful small beast there! :thumbsup:

had it, hated it (330i) .. maybe it was because i had just sold the m3 to get it :(


looks good though

I think you missed the post above!

I think the main thing about the e60 compared to the e90 is that the additional size and internal space lends it a real luxury feel.

The e90 really handles like a baby e60 with some of the old nimbleness of the e46.

I think a manual, petrol engined e60 sport would also have given me everything I wanted, but I can live with the loss of space. In fact given the tight, narrow roads and parking spaces we have in the UK the dinky e90 has it's advantages.

I'm sure it's no M3, but then there is no new-build M3 right now and the V8 one will be a little rich for me.

It's more of a sports car than I expected though - supple handling and a great exhaust note.

Very nice :thumbsup: reminds me of my work colleauges car.