My Car Review - BMW 530i

CorpusCallosum · 01-18-2008, 11:01 PM

BMW 530i Review - 6 Months After Purchase

A year ago I decided I am finally in a financial position that warrants buying a BMW. Now because of my new job it is completely paid for by the practise. I decided I would purchase a BMW 5 series but wasn’t sure on which model. After much debate I choose the 200kW 530i format as I feel it best suits Australia roads. I quickly choose space grey as my exterior colour but the interior combination took much deliberation and research before I decided upon black leather and aluminium inserts. The reason for the choice was that I am still very young (29) and not quite ready to settle down with beige and wood inserts of the typical luxury vehicle stereotype. Truth be told, the 5 series is a sports sedan and the interior matches the car perfectly.
The options included on the car include:
· 19 inch M sport wheels with standard tyres
· Navigation with iDrive
· Active cruise control
· Automatic transmission
· M Package
· Professional package
· Comfort seats
· Adaptive lights
· High bean assist (Great innovation – works brilliantly)
The first thing you notice about a car you’re purchasing is the exterior. I’m definitely a BMW fan but I am not blinded (Unless I am without my glasses) by the fact that criticism has followed this car all around the world for its looks. I however must be a ‘flame surfacing’ fan because when I saw my car for the first time it was love at first sight. The lines are exciting and passionate and add definition that almost every car is lacking. This is certainly BMW saying look out, this car is fast and will out handle you any day of the week. It provokes passion whether you’re a lover or a hater. The exterior is great! As mentioned I have the M sport pack which adds to the visual aggression with the M5 like front bumper and the aggressive multi-spoke wheels. It truly is a wonderfully well designed that has to be seen in person and taken in. Walk around the car and notice every single line that combines to create a fantastic form.
Next up is the interior. I hated the pre-facelift interior which is why I jumped the gun and bought the car the moment I saw pictures of the facelift version (thanks GermanCarZone!!!). The interior is of greater quality and easily more atheistically appealing with the inclusion of more aluminium on the dash. The door handles and bins are integrated better and look more sophisticated. The interior manage to be sporty and modernistic whilst showing classic luxury cues and conventions. The seats are the best part of the car without doubt. So comfortable and offer great neck support with the new comfort seat headrests. So far the vehicle is a smash hit from the superficial point of view.
iDrive, truth be told, my favourite part of the entire package. Who needs 1000 buttons to remember when you can work of a system similar to the laptop you use at work every day. I will admit that I am very technologically adept as I use some of the most advanced image guidance system in the world at work. I also spent 6 years studying medicine on my laptop reading and typing so I have picked up on the ins and outs of technology usage. That’s not to say it was a breeze the first time I used it. Tell me, was driving a car the first time an absolute breeze? No, but with practise, one week to be exact, I mastered iDrive and now use it subconsciously. Makes my life a lot easier I have control of the entire vehicle schematics with the press and roll of a single knob.
So that is the superficial view of the car finished. The most important thing is what we can’t judge with our eyes but with our other senses. This is where the right hand side of the brain goes out the window and the left hand side takes over. In laymen terms, we stop judging by appearance but start acknowledging actual scientific proof that we like what we see. Comparing the superficial exterior and interior to how the car drives!!!
To say the car isn’t sporty would be a sin. But it is more than just a sports sedan. The car is quite simply a metamorphous. It can change from the sports sedan that hurls into corners with grace and easy into a compliant and comfortable luxury sedan for the commute home from work after a long, long day. It’s an all-rounder that goes from my work car into my weekend sports car. The ride is perfect for me. Not to soft and not so firm that I bite my tongue every time I go over a speed bump. The steering is progressive and enhances the already brilliant driving experience. Coming from a Ford Falcon XR6 the car justifies its major hike in price by the steering alone. You just want to drive and drive the car day in and day out. I will always be a 5 Series owner. It’s the perfect car for me and the perfect BMW.
The active cruise control is a great feature that is very useful when I have worked a 30 hour shift. Sometimes I can lose concentration for a minor second and it’s good to know the car is there to adjust if I’m not completely in control. So far it hasn’t happened as luckily, being a neurosurgeon, I can maintain concentration with ease. Do not fear my fellow drivers!
So far it’s all been positives, any negative? Yes! The rear could have just a little bit more room. I would like a full size spare not a space saver but that isn’t going to happen. Sometimes when I have seriously tired hands from operating all day, the steering wheel can be a bit too big. Only then but, otherwise it’s perfect. The black leather is very good but compared to the E Class it “looks” cheaper. Doesn’t feel it just looks it because it seems to be loser around the chair whereas the E Class leather is firmly enclosed around the chair. I am also a fan of the chrome running along the side of the windows, it makes for a very luxurious looks but it doesn’t come with the sports package. I can survive without it but.
So what about the engine you ask? Silly question, it’s a BMW straight six. It’s heavenly and perfection. Perfectly powered for what you really need to drive around town and to work whilst having easily enough to get the car going when you plant your foot. The sound is incredible. It’s almost like cocaine, you just get addicted so quickly!
All in all I love my vehicle, nothing more, nothing less. It’s perfect for me!!! But don’t take my word for it; I’m a ‘fan boy’ none the less! The total cost of the vehicle was $143,700. Worth it? You bet!!! My camera for the life of me won; work, I keep getting Card error but I can’t format the car either through the camera or connected to my laptop. WHen it is fixed I will provide plentiful pictures for you all to gasp over!! Hope you have enjoyed my review. More than happy to write them up for you guys!!!

CC

PS. I asked my wife to sum up the car in ne sentence. "All of my friends want one, I actually have one! It's like having the boyfriend that every single girl wants because he looks great and you know he's the best drive..." I hope she was talking about me?

Here are some older pics I had already psoted on the site!!!

Better quality pictures are on the way!!!

Power · 01-19-2008, 01:05 AM

Fantastic Review - Deserves Karma!!!!

Thanks for the effort that went into this and I agree, It's a great looking car!!!

Thanks CC

ree · 01-19-2008, 05:40 AM

Great review - thanks for sharing your experience with us!! And like "Power" already mentioned this is a very good looking car. Those rims are stunning.

Power · 01-19-2008, 05:43 AM

I can't get over how nice that car is CC... It's absolutely stunning. The interior is amazing as well. A big jump from your XR6 no doubt??? Your one lucky guy but I guess you work hard for it and deserve it!!!

CorpusCallosum · 01-19-2008, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Power

I can't get over how nice that car is CC... It's absolutely stunning. The interior is amazing as well. A big jump from your XR6 no doubt??? Your one lucky guy but I guess you work hard for it and deserve it!!!

Quite right, the interior is a great plac to be. Until the FL 5er came out I was always getting an E500 because I thought the interior was much better. The new FL however made me change my mind and I have never regretted my decision.

The quality step up from the XR6 was astronomical!!!!

Thanks for the kind words guys - I enjoy writing reviews for you to read!!! Every litle bit counts

Power · 01-19-2008, 10:03 PM

I bet the quality step up was huge!!! Not that the Falcon is a bad car or anything...

I recommend reading this review guys its a good read and coming from an Audi fan I found it very believable and unbiased!!!

Thanks again mate!

KillerKarl · 01-20-2008, 02:39 AM

The old 530i, I've been in her what - 10 times now maybe more. Everything he writes about that car is true. Maybe he was just lucky but it is as close to perfect as you can get. My only gripe is that its a lil bit tight in the back when you have 4 large guys going for a drive. Otherwise inside and out its spotless. He looks after it like its his child!!!

Monster · 01-20-2008, 04:15 AM

Finally I can read the review, thanks heaps mate, it was excellent, and you have raised a few interesting points.

I haven't been inside a FL version of the 5 series but there is 1 thing I don't like about the i-Drive button in the pre FL version. The actual rotary control doesn't click into places when you rotate it, so I can't really feel if I have moved onto the next menu. Is it still the same with the FL version?

Almost every single Australian car mag or newspaper have criticized the variable ratio steering, and the bone breaking M sport suspension and wheels, so it is good to finally hear from an owner's perspective. How long did it take you to adapt to the variable ratio steering?

I agree with you about the E-class leather seats. It is probably one of the few things that could have been done better. The leather seats in the 5 series have beautifully done stitching, and the stitching follows the contour and the design of the seats, where else the stitching in the E-class appears to be a bit random. The slightly loose leather look in the 5 series does add to a sense of richness to the interior.

I think you can special order the chrome side window trims right? I have seen a M5 with them. Don’t trust your salesperson, they usually don’t know much.

The straight six engine sounds fantastic, I listened to one in the city a few days ago, if I didn’t turn around I wouldn’t have guessed it was from a 530i. Does the engine have a lot of low rpm torque or you have to rev it up a bit to get into the power range? Were you tempted to redline the engine and unleash the full 200kW, and what is the average fuel consumption like?

As for your wife, just imagine her reaction when you present her with the 650i.

CorpusCallosum · 01-20-2008, 04:54 AM

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