Could the 528i be the better Drivers Car for Real Roads?

Today I drove the 535i. In a word it was unrewarding. It had the Dynamic Drive, but even in Sport Plus, the car just felt too Lexus like. You could barely hear the engine and i hate to say it but it wasn't like classic BMW's which used Revs and short gearing to produce a lot of entertainment. This usually meant that BMW's revved higher but this was the energy you could feel through the whole car. You also got a reward for pushing the engine to high revs as you got more pull as you went. They didn't have engines with perfectly flat torque curves (535i) where there is very little reward for revving the engine more.

Athough I haven't driven it, I would guess that for those who enjoy cars(on public roads), the 528i may actually be more enteraining in day to day driving, you won't have to flog it to the nth degree to get that BMW feel.

With shorter gearing it will always Rev higher, and with 230 lbs of torque should still go quite nicely.

The other consideration is that it is 276 lbs lighter than an 535i and has a perfect 50/50 weight distribution.

If it is sprung the same as the 535i it should have less roll in the corners as well, if not aftermarket springs could easily be fitted.

Thoughts?

Just adding to my own post with 6-7% less running weight and 10.7% shorter gearing, that effectively will make the 528 feel like it has 270 lbs of torque compared to the 535i 300 (I know it probably makes more), and it's naturally aspirated so there is zero lag, even though the 535 is effectively zero, it's not zero it's not as crisp.

I think with 240 horses and 230 lb/ft tq the 528 is going to be very enjoyable to drive.

And how about those EPA numbers? 32 mpg highway!

The only negative of the F10 528i is the lack of a manual transmission. And even with ZSP and DHP, you can't get ARS.

Have the other responders driven the N55? I have a 335i and just ordered a 535i. There is ZERO lag with the x35 engine. I had two 328 loaners, there is no comparison in torque and power, IMO, to the N55. They are totally different cars, IMO.

Your 2008 335i uses N54. I felt some lag in the N55 in the F10 535i, a test car without the ZSP/DHP - with very steering, it felt like a Lexus.

The minute I pulled out of the dealers lot, I thought floaty. I am getting used to the size over my 328 but they dialed this one for luxury over sport. Mostly good as i am a highway driver mostly but I miss the 328 sport package. I do appreciate the turbo expecially with the manual I got.

I agree too. In a way it is nice to have Lexus like refinement/isolation, on the other hand, the 535i is now more like just another luxury sedan. I am afraid BMW would sell more 5 series because of it, even if it would lose some traditional BMW enthusiasts.

I felt the same with the e60 535i too, even though the F10 is another step toward refinement. My experience was the E60 550i w/M sport was tuned more for sport driving and sound than the E60 535i Sport, maybe that would be the case for F10 550i with M Sport in comparison to F10 535i.

Still, your point of drivng a 528 maybe more fun is still valid. I can hardly rev my 2008 550i without going way over local speed limit. I have been thinking I missed some of the high revving fun driving a really slow 4 cylinder VW Scirocco in the 80s. I guess how capable a car is has little to do with how fun it is to drive.

Nevermind....

Having test drove the new F10 535 and 550, and GT, I for one also find the 535 too tame. That's why I can't possibly imaging how a lesser output engine would make the car drive better. The only way to make the drive more fun is to go up to 550, not down to 528. My 2 cents.

Of the whole line up, I actually like the GT the most.

Originally Posted by RHtech

I guess how capable a car is has little to do with how fun it is to drive.

Great way of putting it. All the modern Big Cars just have so much capability that about the only place where you can fully exploit and enjoy them is on a Racetrack.

I remember back to my late 90's M3 with 240hp and that was enough power to seriously get in trouble if caught if you drove it to it's abilities (which I did a lot and fortunately never got caught).

However I now live in the People's Republic of Ontario where the officers put you in the same category as child molesters if they catch you 20 KPH over the limit.

The 528i could be the car for those of us who enjoy there cars on public roads. Any more HP is a waste. I would rather be able to use 90% of the available power 50% of the time than 50% of the available power 10% of the time. Given the right suspension set-up the 528i is the handling champ as well being 270 lbs lighter than the 535 and I think over 500 lbs lighter than the 550.

It's not much fun to have a car and not be able to wring it out.

It's why GTI's are so much fun, as you can actually use the power.

Originally Posted by Bremen Ben

Having test drove the new F10 535 and 550, and GT, I for one also find the 535 too tame. That's why I can't possibly imaging how a lesser output engine would make the car drive better. The only way to make the drive more fun is to go up to 550, not down to 528. My 2 cents.

Of the whole line up, I actually like the GT the most.

Same here. I'm waaaaaaay too insecure for anything less than the 550.

Originally Posted by soonerinline6

The minute I pulled out of the dealers lot, I thought floaty. I am getting used to the size over my 328 but they dialed this one for luxury over sport. Mostly good as i am a highway driver mostly but I miss the 328 sport package. I do appreciate the turbo expecially with the manual I got.

Pretty much mirrors my experience after driving the 528i yesterday. More than adequate power and acceleration for driving in town or on the interstate or autobahn. Steering though precise didn't have the road feel of my 335i. Didn't give the brakes a good workout. Luxury over sport. Roomier rear seats and much better cupholders than the 3 series!

Originally Posted by tturedraider

I think with 240 horses and 230 lb/ft tq the 528 is going to be very enjoyable to drive.

I just got to thinking about this again the other day in relation to my own car. Though the 528 makes only 240 hp and mine makes 255 hp, the 528 has 10 lb/ft more torque than my car, which has only 220 lb/ft. I'm curious now how that might affect the comparable performance of the two engines.

Not sure about the engines, but the car (F10 528i) should perform much like your car - after you've loaded your car with a full complement of passengers and luggage.

Originally Posted by morrisond

The 528i could be the car for those of us who enjoy there cars on public roads. Any more HP is a waste. .

Completely disagree.

I have had several BMWs with the "base" engine and a few with the performance engine (like my 535, 300HP Turbo). There is no comparison.

Originally Posted by 5Xwen

Completely disagree.

I have had several BMWs with the "base" engine and a few with the performance engine (like my 535, 300HP Turbo). There is no comparison.

+1. People who own an x28i will think the x35i is "a waste", IMO. I have a 335i and am waiting for my new 535i. I've had 328i and 528i loaners, and believe me, they are different vehicles -- totally different character from their higher HP/torque counterparts.

Originally Posted by markl53

+1. People who own an x28i will think the x35i is "a waste", IMO. I have a 335i and am waiting for my new 535i. I've had 328i and 528i loaners, and believe me, they are different vehicles -- totally different character from their higher HP/torque counterparts.

You obviously haven't read and didn't take the time to read in this thread one single thing about the naturally aspirated engine that is in the 2011 528i.

I bought my E90 330i used. Because the engine I wanted was its 255hp/220 lb/ft tq naturally aspirated six. And I've driven plenty of 335s.

Originally Posted by tturedraider

You obviously haven't read and didn't take the time to read in this thread one single thing about the naturally aspirated engine that is in the 2011 528i.

I bought my E90 330i used. Because the engine I wanted was its 255hp/220 lb/ft tq naturally aspirated six. And I've driven plenty of 335s.

Actually, I think I've read every reply in this thread. And, I was agreeing with a poster who had replied to another reply that HP beyond the 528i was a waste. We weren't talking about your 330i which falls somewhere in between. To me, the 328i and 528i are "adequately" powered, and I'm not sure there's a valid argument against my statement that the 335i and 535i impart the feeling of a much different car, yet totally driveable "on public roads". The power delivery is effortless as compared with the x28i versions. And, some people will argue that nothing less than the power of a 550i will suffice.

Originally Posted by markl53

Actually, I think I've read every reply in this thread. And, I was agreeing with a poster who had replied to another reply that HP beyond the 528i was a waste. We weren't talking about your 330i which falls somewhere in between. To me, the 328i and 528i are "adequately" powered, and I'm not sure there's a valid argument against my statement that the 335i and 535i impart the feeling of a much different car, yet totally driveable "on public roads". The power delivery is effortless as compared with the x28i versions. And, some people will argue that nothing less than the power of a 550i will suffice.

OK. It's just that you quoted the guy who said he completely disagreed that any more power than the 2011 528i is a waste.