2015 528 Xdrive, what do you want to know?

"Jimmy Tango" (jimcalliu)
12/22/2014 at 00:57 • Filed to: None

tl;dr: today is the first day I have this Alpine White 528xi as a rental. I will return it on 12/27. Ask me the thing you may want to know about her.

vin number d621800. Check her option here:

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The stripper model as they called, the only optional package would be front seat heating if you don't count Xdrive as package. No line, no nothing.

But isn't N20 a great engine? Flick to sport mode and the underestimate 258 lb-ft is at your disposal. I mention this in my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and since both are equal in weight, this 528xi (3714 plus Xdrive) goes just as fast as the X1 (3714~3891lb, depends on options).

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And how is this better than a F30 328xi? So far I discover one thing: noise isolation. In F30, cabin noise is better than an entry level sedan, say Mazda 3; but it's hardly quiet. I could be in minority on Oppositelock but I want the cabin to be as quiet as possible. If I want drama, then give me that; before I ask, shut up about those wind breaking noise, I am cruising.

That's the one thing I picked about 328xi. I actually ask sixt specific about the 5 series when I know I need a rental for a week, and when I learn the 5 won't be available during my first day of rental, I picked up 328xi as my interim rental car (redundant?) before she hinted I could have the 5 next day. I drove on a road trip to conquer three snowy mountain passes and took pictures about Christmas light, and the 328xi was more than I could ask for....except the noise.

It got so loud that my wife had to voice the complaint, and I had to turn down from Sport to ECO-pro mode, which I believe the is the softest suspension setting, hence it can reduce the road feedback and lower the noise like 5dB. But we are still talking about 75dB on bad highways.

I had been really close to lease a 535i MSport — I believe I had a killer deal on the table, and it had most of options I want. But there is always the voice in the back of my head telling me that well-equip 335i could be better to drive. To be honest, between yesterday's 400 miles, 6 hours seat time and today's 5, I believe F30 drives better than F10. But I just couldn't let go the noise concern.

Anyway, back to this AW 528xi. The interior is beige, which I dislike, but this is the only F10 this Sixt location has. I manage to put a rear facing car seat in the back of passenger side and I can seat there. I also get my address in the navigation module, which comes standard in 5 series ($2000+ option in 3 series) , and here are the things I plan on doing with her:

Leave her at my carport all day tomorrow, I take bus to work (I work in downtown and parking is like $12.)

Take her to visit Porsche dealer as I am test driving Macan on Tuesday.

Take her to some short grocery drives on Christmas Eve.

Take her to Vancouver (again?) for a one nighter. (I really like dim sum.)

Not a lot of back road situation plus my 11 months old daughter and my wife will be traveling with me most of time, so burnout or excessive torque/rev session is off the table.

But let me know what I can answer if you have any question towards standard equipment (that 's all she has) or interior space (yes it will baby!).

DISCUSSION (16)

Manuél Ferrari > Jimmy Tango
12/22/2014 at 01:00

how do you like the handling?

FromCanadaWithLove > Jimmy Tango
12/22/2014 at 01:21

This or a 4-Series GC? I imagine the 5-series is more comfortable, and the 4GC is sportier.

Jimmy Tango > Manuél Ferrari
12/22/2014 at 02:12

So far I haven't take it for really fast turns, and has been all city driving. But the inherent shortcoming of F10 is it's so wide (186 cm/73.23 inches ), compound with the softer suspension (of which I meant the standard suspension, compare to 704 M Sport Suspension), you get the comfy drive but not a lot of body roll. Flick to sport mode does give you that delay upshift point and "tighter" feel over the wheel, and N20 has a bit of growl compare to your normal 4 cylinder appliance.

As I said, I haven't took it for really fast turns. But I didn't feel like driving a bloated sedan, which is how I experience with the new Altima and alike.

Driven both within 24 hours, I can say of confidence that 328xi wheel feel a tad more heavier than 528xi wheel while both in sport mode. Not a lot, (both are electric-assist, what are we kidding here) but you could tell. F10 steering wheel does feel a bit fatter (and this is not even M-Sport goodness wheel.)

I will try to give more update after more seat time on highway driving.

Jimmy Tango > FromCanadaWithLove
12/22/2014 at 02:17

I think you nailed it, and I only test drove a 435GC once, on a pretty good quality highway, and I cannot complain about the road noise cuz I was paying more attention to how much N53 grawl.

You could get pretty low seat setting in 3/5 series, as I often do in these car. I am not tall (6' ft) but I like a compact driving position. So first thing I do in 3/5 series is to lower my driver seat to the lowest.

In 4 GC, I sat in, and it was the height I want. I could go lower, but what's the point? 4GC was meant to be driven. And if I didn't have any concern over hauling family, that would be the one and only choice.

Manuél Ferrari > Jimmy Tango
12/23/2014 at 21:55

Interesting. It does seem like the perfect BMW for me because I have two RWD 3ers. If I sold one and got an AWD 5 Series then I could switch between small and no good in the snow to big and good in the snow.

Did you ever drive the AWD version of the E60? They are pretty cheap now. And some of them are manual

Jimmy Tango > Manuél Ferrari
12/23/2014 at 22:51

No, I didn't have the seat time on E60. Word on the street is that E60 is slightly better than F10 in handling department since the steering wheel is not numb nuts electronic. I am not really familiar with E60, but I 'd say whatever you get (F10 or E60), get one with M-Sport or some sort of Sport package. Or even spend the money swap out the sway bar and/or suspension coil. Non-M Sport suspension is just too soft in many's opinion, me included.

I know not everyone is pro-leasing, but F10 528 can be leased so cheap that you 'd be owe yourself a favor not to do it. Even if you want to buy, just use leasing as an evaluation, which all you lose is acquisition/bank fee ($725 by the end of year, 2015 will be $795). If I were to custom build one, I may save the money from going to 535 and spend on performance improvement tunes, or change to dinan suspension if I want to get Xdrive.

Manuél Ferrari > Jimmy Tango
12/23/2014 at 22:58

I've been in an E60 but never drove it. I have read that the handling is nicer because it drives like a bigger 3 series instead of a smaller 7 series. And the steering definitely seems like it would be better.

I agree about the 5 series being M-Sport. If not then it looks so boring. The other day I found a black, 6 speed, M-Sport, AWD 535 for a really nice price. It was not in my state but I would fly out to see a rare car like that and drive 6 states home.

I just read your post on the Macan. Now I'm conflicted. I could keep the E46 and E90 M3 and add a sweet and rare AWD 6 speed 535 for a reasonable price. Or I could trade the M3s for a Macan. Hmm...

Manuél Ferrari > Jimmy Tango
12/23/2014 at 23:01

Also - CPO AWD F10 would be an option. Not as exciting without the stick but very luxurious. And F10s are so damn cheap if you lease or get used. You can buy a 3 year old one CPO and get a LOT for your money.

Jimmy Tango > Manuél Ferrari
12/23/2014 at 23:49

In my mind E46 (I bet you baby yours) and E90 M3 are both potential unicorns. To me, practical reason and new technology aside, you hardly would be impressed by 535.

I had a E46 330ci for 3 year (she was totaled this year, I really gotta write her eulogy as it happened in June and I still haven't came around doing it.) and I am still looking for her silhouette in newer BMW offering (4GC came close). If I had to trade one, I probably would do M3 for a Macan. But I haven't talked about the shortcoming of Macan, which I am not sure if they would deter you away...(more on that if you are interested to know...)

Jimmy Tango > Manuél Ferrari
12/23/2014 at 23:52

Ditto, I had wasted countless hours on CarMax. Based on my online forum research, 2011 are to avoid, at least the early production batch. Some of the gadget I want to say come out 2012 or later. Plus I have already got pretty sweet leasing deal that render CPO would be more of ownership than anything.

I am also a mad person believes in renting everything could be better. That's outside of Oppositelock interest so I will refrain myself :)

Manuél Ferrari > Jimmy Tango
12/24/2014 at 02:02

I don't baby the M3s because no babies yet.

That's the only reason I can afford my metal babies, haha

Bummer about your E46 :(

I do want to learn the Macan's shortcomings! Badly

Manuél Ferrari > Jimmy Tango
12/24/2014 at 02:07

leasing can be good!

I've done it for business

Good write off

Jimmy Tango > Manuél Ferrari
12/24/2014 at 02:36

lol, I meant taking good care, not trashing it or put obsurd mileages on it

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > Jimmy Tango
12/24/2014 at 09:46

How's the power? Base enginge+heavy car+awd, does it still feel spritely?

Manuél Ferrari > Jimmy Tango
12/24/2014 at 15:57

oh haha!

The E46 is babied. Don't drive it a ton and it only has 42,000 miles on it.

The E90 is not babied. It's my only sedan so it gets used for Costco runs, carrying work stuff around, and it carrying people around.

Jimmy Tango > wbizarre - OEM fetishist
12/25/2014 at 00:31

i really like N20 engine. To be honest, it's more than enough for everyday driving. You might have trouble go from 80 to 100mph, but...why?

If you so desire, the tune is not as expensive as the gap between 535 and 528. I think the nippicking I have on 528 (assuming rwd and MSport) is too heavy. But you would be surprised how it's the same as X1.

I guess all the new (luxury) cars are heavy now, despite the door all felt lighter than my e46.