The F10 530i: Oh How The European Market Taunts Us...

"JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7" (jayzayeighty) 12/19/2014 at 01:17 • Filed to: None

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The F10 5 series: a very modern, good-looking, comfortable, and stately sedan that has... a featherweight NA I6 putting out 275hp, hydraulic steering, and a 6MT? Yep, that's the rare euro 530i boasting the N53 DI six. I would throw on an LSD, some good wheels/tires, and headers/tune/exhaust on there in a heartbeat and drive the crap out of one of those. Daily drive that and track a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ? Sigh.

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CRider > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 12/19/2014 at 01:21

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A V6 Camry has a better power to weight ratio. Just saying.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > CRider 12/19/2014 at 01:29

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And it'll put a 308QV to shame. The fun of this would be rowing through the gears and revving out the engine in a large car that has enough power to be exciting while allowing you to push it to a screaming redline. It's a misfit for sure, but that can result in a more appealing car.

 V8 Rustler > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 12/19/2014 at 01:37

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A friend of mine has a 130i. The sound of a NA BMW I6 is glorious.

 V8 Rustler > CRider 12/19/2014 at 01:39

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And a minivan is faster than a BRZ. Does that make it better? No.

CRider >  V8 Rustler 12/19/2014 at 01:46

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That's not fair to the BRZ- everything is faster than that car.

CRider > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 12/19/2014 at 01:50

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But the Camry's 500lb weight advantage will make it feel super grounded in the twisties.

Too many M's > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 12/19/2014 at 02:24

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Make it a touring and you've got a deal.

promoted by the color red >  V8 Rustler 12/19/2014 at 04:59

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Now a V6 Accord, on the other hand, is pretty exciting if you get the manual.

Arben72 > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 12/19/2014 at 05:42

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2011 528 xdrive manual. Would check all those boxes.

Cé hé sin > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 12/19/2014 at 06:23

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Not many people actually buy these. BMW 5s are usually 2 litre diesels. I'd hate to think of the depreciation on something like this.

Cé hé sin > CRider 12/19/2014 at 06:24

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Ah, but Europe is a Camry free zone. Just saying.

Jack Does Cars > CRider 12/19/2014 at 06:51

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Could you say it's...Grounded to the Ground?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 12/19/2014 at 08:37

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You can get a 550i with a NA V8 and a 6-speed manual.......Hell you basically have an E39 M5 setup in a modern 5 series and it isn't even the fastest one .

I know BMW makes a damn fine I-6, but if I'm dropping the coin for a new 5-series, I'm getting the V8 w/ stick shift. Why? Because E39 M5 with a warranty.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 12/19/2014 at 09:08

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I'm pretty sure the latest 3-series is bigger than the E39 5-series.

The current 550i is a twin-turbo V8, and I don't see the manual option, are you talking about an older car? (found it - manual discontinued for 2014MY)

"The steering in the 550i is by far its greatest downfall. The electrically assisted system is linear, but it feels artificially heavy and is devoid of feedback, even when it's supposedly been livened in the sport or sport-plus settings. Coming from BMW, this is a huge disappointment, and the steering of the 550i can't hold a candle to the fine feel provided by the tiller in the Audi A6 . At legal speeds, the steering in the 550i isn't so lifeless as to be unforgivable, but it takes time to get used to. When pushing the car, though, we find that the lack of feedback leaves one guessing the precise amount of input needed to control the vehicle."

Sad...

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 12/19/2014 at 10:13

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I forgot the V8 did have turbos after all. And what steering system was tested in that review - There's an adaptable/variable system and a static system. I've read other reviews that say the normal 5-series models have good steering even without the M-sport pack but maybe the variable rack has different electrics that suck?

.....I am now a sad panda that the 550i does not have a manual though. I see used ones every now and again and think "Hmmmmmm.........I like it"

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 12/19/2014 at 11:24

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Better pick up a good used one while you still can!

I've got my modern interpretation of the E39 M5 already - an E90 M3. =)

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 12/19/2014 at 12:25

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THe problem with the M3 is that if you own one......you're now an "M3 owner", not just a BMW owner, but *M3* owner. And I've never quite liked that crowd nor then reputation they bring forward. At least M5 owners have a few camps so you ca avoid the "business exec on his cell phone" lot by getting the manual and avoid the "rich boy bros" by not plastering DINAN badges all over....Of course the real key is to not get the M version and get the next rung down with a stick but now you can't do that new......A sad, sad day........

 V8 Rustler > promoted by the color red 12/19/2014 at 12:27

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You mean 2015 Mustang?

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 12/19/2014 at 12:30

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I refuse to let other's biased perceptions prevent me from experiencing joy in life.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 12/19/2014 at 12:38

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davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 12/19/2014 at 12:45

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themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 12/19/2014 at 12:48

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If I had more time at work today I would totally MS paint on front and rear spoilers and some racing livery......or make some badly painted parking lines on the track.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 12/19/2014 at 14:08

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Ha! I've heard it all man, but I'm telling you, the car is worth it...

Took the long way home from work on some rural backroads (I get half-day Fridays) and wound it out a few times in your honor.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 12/21/2014 at 11:57

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The E60 550i is basically what you're describing, but I wouldn't kick a 2013 550i 6spd out of bed. The 5 series(es) for me would be a 3.8 E34 M5 and an E60 6MT 550i. The F10 535i is a great car for non-jalops with its ridiculously techy drivetrain and all, though. The reason I like this F10 is simply because this is the ultimate expression of the non-M I6. Considering that this engine weighs 150+ lbs less than an S54 while being as efficient as the 28i's turbo four, is known to run 275k miles without replacing any key components, boasts the ability of revving to 7100 and making almost 100 NA hp/l stock, and is heatsoak free is just incredible. Truly a testament to over-engineering. They stopped production in 2012, though.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 >  V8 Rustler 12/21/2014 at 12:09

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No argument here! There's nothing else like it. The sdrive30i Z4 came with what is basically as loud as the 330i PE, and it's pretty fantastic.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Arben72 12/21/2014 at 12:10

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Good point. 3IM+headers+tune and you have about the same level of performance.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Cé hé sin 12/21/2014 at 12:11

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It'd be used, though.