I Just had a 2018 BMW 5 Series for a week

"LJ909" (lj909) 03/01/2018 at 12:29 • Filed to: None

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It was good. Better than I thought it would be considering how the previous gen was, but at the same time it wasn’t as great as I thought it would be either.

The 7th gen G30 5 Series debuted the beginning of last year. It rides on a shortened version of a platform shared with the 7 Series. The model I had seen here is a 530i with MSport design elements. It was handsome and luxurious at the same time. There were hits, but there were misses as well.

Hits:

Exterior design: Say what you want about the Germans cookie cutter designs, but this gen 5 Series does well to differentiate it self and make it look less like a larger 3 Series or a smaller 7 Series than others before it. Distinctive led DRL’s, tasteful (but non functional) side vents and handsome lines all work well on this car. I got a lot of looks, and a lot of assholes wanting to race for some reason.

Engine: Let me say this: this car does not feel like a 4 cylinder in sound and power delivery. The 530i is powered by BMW’s 2.0 TwinPower turbo 4 putting out 248 horses and 258 lb/ft of torque. 0-60 is about 6 seconds. This thing feels like its at least putting out 270 horses and 0-60 felt way faster than 6 seconds. It’s one of those cars that effortlessly reaches speeds and power delivery is smooth and there when you need it with no turbo lag. Another plus side? It’s pretty damn efficient too, even when you’re heavy footed. I easily turned nearly 27 mpg and 22 with being a boy racer. BMW claims 24 city 34 highway and I believe them.

Yes that’s a Clearly Canadian and no that’s not my pink charging cord

Interior design and features: Handsome and modern is how I like to think of it. For this being a “base” model, it came with a lot of nice features.Multi adjustable heated seats with adjustments for everything from side bolsters to the headrests, gesture controls, ambient interior lighting with like 10 different colors, moonroof, sat and hd radio, it was pretty loaded. Should be though. Optioned out this car is pretty much 60 grand.

Easily selectable drive modes: There are 3 different drive modes for the 5 Series that also changes the gauges as well: Comfort, which is the standard setting is a balance of the other 2, being both efficient but sporty enough to have power when you need it; EcoPro which measures how efficiently you drive. Gauges turn blue and throttle response is lessened, and when stopped, the car counts how long the start/stop system has the engine off. It will also show you how many mpg’s you have gained if you drive efficient enough and measures your anticipation response on the throttle; and finally Sport mode. Gauges turn BMW orange with the speedo gaining a digital speedo in the center. Throttle response is increased along with what seemed to be stiffer suspension and better steering response. You can easily reach 100 in this mode (I got up to 108 just on an onramp without realizing it).

Misses

Letherette seats: Look and feel nice, but unacceptable in a 60 thousand dollar car. Cheap ass BMW charges you another $1450 if you want actual leather seats.

Start/Stop system: I HATE start/stop systems and this one reminded me of why I do. I couldn’t tell if it helped efficiency or not, like most systems. But the main problem with it is that it was not smooth at all. It was rough to start, rough enough in fact that if you didn’t know the car had a start stop system, you would swear something was wrong with the car as it shudders to life from a stoplight. On top of that, it engaged and disengaged the engine at random times when it shouldn’t have, like pulling into a parking space crooked. You go to straighten up, brake, engine shuts off. Not even a few seconds later you put the car into gear to reverse or something and the engine turns on. 3 times in the span of a few minutes in low speed maneuvers. What’s even more maddening is I couldn’t figure out how to disable the system or even figure out if I could. The button pictured above didn’t seem to do anything.

Rear Legroom: Sharing a platform with the 7, you’d think the backseat would be more spacious than it were. I mean it’s not tight, but its not as big as you’d expect either. Getting your leg in the back is weird too. My grandmother had a time getting her foot in the car on a quick ride to Shake Shack.

Gesture Controls: You know, at first I thought this was just another gimmick that would get annoying, and I was right. Well kind of. Gesture controls allows you to operate SELECT (as in a few) controls touch free. Radio control, phone calls, navigation entries, all can be controlled by not even looking at the dash but just doing the correct gesture. Want to change a radio station? Take 2 fingers like you’re doing the peace sign but aim them at the dash, station changes. Want to lower or raise the volume? Make circle motions with a finger in front of the dash and the volume changes. Want to select that destination you just input with voice control? Just make a motion like you are pushing a button in the air towards the dash and its selected. It’s cool to show off with.

But it has annoyances. The volume control either turns the volume too low or too high (it’s honestly just easier to use the wheel mounted volume buttons), changing the radio station only allows for changing to the next station, not the previous one. And if you’re the kind of person that likes to talk with their hands, keep your hands away from the dash as you will accidentally turn the radio up or down, change a station or disconnect a call with random gestures. Its cool to use sometimes, but you will get tired of it fast.

The damn joystick like confusing gear shifter: I’m surprised owners haven’t had problems with BMW’s shifters like people did with FCA’s rotary shifters. I was confused. When I initially got the car, I damn near drove into a curb from being parked after not realizing that reverse is the forward position on the shifter. The position indicator at first glance can be confusing, along with the fact that the shifter stays in the same place no matter what gear you are in.

And finally, the driving experience left a lot to be desired. I think this is where the sharing of the 7 Series platform shines through and not in a good way. It’s not as soft as the previous F10 5 Series, which was horrible and disconnected, but its still not ultimate driving machine attack twisties either, even in sport mode. Turn in was ok, but the car still feels a little floaty and may understeer if pushed hard enough. Sadly I didn’t get a chance to see if it would or not. The 5 Series still leaves a lot to be desired and at 60 large for base model, even with the features my car had, competitors both cheaper and for the same price have caught up one way or the other. Be it performance, features or driving experience.

Textured Soy Protein > LJ909 03/01/2018 at 13:11

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Yes, the shifter is stupid. I had one for 3 years and while I got used to it I never liked it.

I actually like the fake leather base upholstery options in luxury cars. It’s more hippie-friendly, cheaper, and wears less over time.

You can turn off the stop start.

Unfortunately BMW has softened the non-M or M Sport cars considerably. Whereas before even a base model had that inherent BMW-ness, now they’re more boring. Even some of the sportier trims are sorely lacking in steering feel. I’m not some “I must feel every pavement ripple in the steering wheel” snob, I just want there to be feel in response to turning.

Some of the newer BMW sporty models, they’re competent, and you can chuck them around, but it’s like, you turn the wheel, they point where you want them to, they hang on well, you can steer them with the throttle, but while the car is reacting to your inputs, there’s no sense of any of that happening in the wheel.

Chariotoflove > LJ909 03/01/2018 at 13:20

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So then, Stinger GT? :D

LJ909 > Textured Soy Protein 03/01/2018 at 13:22

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I got used to the shifter as well but never cared for it. Its something I would begrudgingly deal with on a daily basis. Excess for no reason.

The letherette is ok. Its just at 60 large, real leather shouldn’t even be an option. I do like how easy it is to wipe down though.

I just figured out how to turn off the stop start. It annoying resets though when you turn the car back on.

I agree with you though. The sport trims are nothing more then just that, trims. How this car drives, I wouldnt feel comfortable putting it through its paces. Like you said its competent, but theres no feel or feedback from the steering or chassis.

LJ909 > Chariotoflove 03/01/2018 at 13:24

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Definitely. At 31 grand, a base Stinger with the turbo 4 would be a better buy.

Textured Soy Protein > LJ909 03/01/2018 at 13:37

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My comment about no steering feel was based on test driving an M235i xDrive. My E92 335i xDrive has a bunch of suspension mods that increase steering feel but even with its relatively soft stock suspension it was more communicative than that M235i.

The rwd models with M Sport packages have quicker steering ratios so that might make the steering feel better. Dunno, haven’t driven one.

I actually wish SensaTec upholstery was available on more trims. On the 4 series and below you can have SensaTec on M Sport but on the 5 on up (including X5) it’s only on the base models. Leather is standard on 6 and higher.

Honestly the thing about BMW that pisses me off most right now is they only support Apple CarPlay which they want to make a subscription, and nothing for Android Auto.

LJ909 > Textured Soy Protein 03/01/2018 at 13:44

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Right now the most pure BMW driving experience you can get would be any model of the 2 Series. Its the only BMW left thats a proper BMW.

They should make SensaTec an option for those that want it. Like I said its easy to clean and to live with. Spills are no worries.

That pisses me off about them too. And Carplay is an option when its standard on other models that are way cheaper.

Montalvo > LJ909 03/01/2018 at 13:46

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I was given a new 330i as a loaner while getting a rim fixed and in many respects it was quite a nice car. There was a lot I liked about the updates to the idrive system and the interior was generally nice to be in. However the seating position felt way to high, I really missed my two missing cylinders and I hated the electric steering on it. Putting the settings into sport helped but it couldn’t get rid of the feeling that there was a disconnection from my inputs. It was a good car but not a good BMW. I still stand with the E9X as being a better package.

LJ909 > Montalvo 03/01/2018 at 13:51

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Putting the settings into sport helped but it couldn’t get rid of the feeling that there was a disconnection from my inputs. It was a good car but not a good BMW.

This. This is exactly how I felt about this car. It was a good car if it was from another brand. But for it being a BMW I was left wanting more.

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > LJ909 03/01/2018 at 15:01

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The side vents actually are functional. they combine with the outermost vents on the front bumper to create an air curtain around the front tires to lower drag.

LJ909 > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP 03/01/2018 at 15:03

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I didnt not know that. Helps with efficiency.

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > LJ909 03/01/2018 at 15:05

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They are working every angle they can to limbo under the mpg requirements. Virtually every vehicle except the 3 series has them now.

LJ909 > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP 03/01/2018 at 15:06

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Well it helps. This thing got pretty good gas mileage. I averaged about 27.

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > LJ909 03/01/2018 at 15:09

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I had a loaded 435i xdrive for a week once, somehow got 34mpg and I wasn’t even remotely trying to be efficient. In the harshest of sport modes that thing would crack off the fastest, most violent shifts I have ever experienced.

LJ909 > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP 03/01/2018 at 15:23

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Yea the Sport mode in this thing was pretty damn fast with shifting too and even had a little blip with it as well.

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > LJ909 03/01/2018 at 15:37

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That 8HP transmission is really nice. Almost good enough that I could see myself giving up my DD manual for it. Almost.

Victorinoo > LJ909 03/02/2018 at 09:23

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To stop the engine from turning off at inconvenient times you are supposed to press the button UNDERNEATH the engine start button. It has the rotating arrow encapsulating the letter “A”.

wbizarre - OEM fetishist > LJ909 03/07/2018 at 12:20

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Sorry to be pedantic: It’s better than you thought it would be, but not as great as you thought it would be?

LJ909 > wbizarre - OEM fetishist 03/07/2018 at 12:38

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Yes. Better than the F10 For sure. But still not Ultimate Driving Machine material.