Thoughts from a 528 loaner

Originally Posted by The X Men

The 528's premium package cost more than the 535's due to the fact that some standard options on the 535 is optional on the 528's premium package. Also, the 528 does not have standard heated front seats. Couple that with the current holiday incentive of $2000 for the 535 and only $1000 for the 528, the cost difference is merely $3000, hardly worth it in my opinion.

dood.. heated seats not standard in 5 series.. not even in 550i..

everything else sounds right. i would know - i pondered on both of them heavily and chose 528i. It has everything i NEEDED and everything i WANTED.

and i bought a nice pair of shoes with the free $4500!

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

So I have had a 2013 528i loaner since Tuesday, although I have only driven it one day (long story). In that time, I've put about 60 to 70 miles on it. Thoughts are as follows:

• Throttle is VERY smooth. I have not experienced one bit of lag, delay, lurch, whatever. I'm very jealous. I wish my 2011 535 drove like this.
• Throttle / transmission response is decidedly better than my car. You give it some gas, it downshifts and goes. None of that "think about it" that hampers my car.
• Eco pro is fun to play with, but definitely a hinderance when you need to move through traffic.
• Stop start is much improved over the F30 loaners I've driven, but still noticeable compared to, say, an M35 hybrid. Still needs work, ut it doesn't annoy me too much. Driving my MDX today I kept waiting for the engine to cut out and I was sad that I was wasting gas.
• The 240 HP N20 is definitely more than enough engine for the base car. The sound is much, much better than in the F30. It's pretty peppy, not fast, but certainly not slow. And in decidedly stop and go driving, I am averaging about 26 MPG. Again, more than enough for the base model 5er, does not let down the side for BMW.
• Definitely do not care for the standard seats.
• Can really feel the reduced weight over the nose and the lighter 17" wheels. The car feels very nimble.

Overall, I have to say I'm ver impressed with the baby funfer. Good job to BMW making the 4 pot really work in this car.

The first two points really tempts me to trade my laggy car in!

Originally Posted by Ralph1201

dood.. heated seats not standard in 5 series.. not even in 550i..

everything else sounds right. i would know - i pondered on both of them heavily and chose 528i. It has everything i NEEDED and everything i WANTED.

and i bought a nice pair of shoes with the free $4500!

The heated seats are only $450, so you really only saved about $3500 by going with the 4 banger. Personally, I would skip the $4500 shoes and upgarde the 4 banger to a 6 cyl.

Originally Posted by The X Men

The heated seats are only $450, so you really only saved about $3500 by going with the 4 banger. Personally, I would skip the $4500 shoes and upgarde the 4 banger to a 6 cyl.

do u have any idea how those shoes feel? its like.......

never mind, u drive your 6 cyl and be happy, i drive my 4 banger and be happy and have my shoes too.

I know by some comments people just think its nuts that there is a 4 banger in the 528. Drive it, you'll be pleasantly surprised how much get up and go it has. I know I was SHOCKED!!!! Right now I'm getting 28 to 29 mph combined city/highway driving from that engine in my F30 and expect to get close to that in my new F10. That makes a difference to me. I don't need my 5 to race, so I'm perfectly fine with the 4 banger. I never thought I'd say it about a 4 cylinder engine but facts are facts - I gave it a chance and was SHOCKED when I drove it. Click the sports mode button and it's on steroids, that shocked me too. If they hadn't told me it was a 4 banger, I would have NEVER known. People are just stuck on the number 4 - give it a taste, you'll love it. HAHAHAHAHAHAH

I never drove 528 4-cyl yet, but I drove it on F30.

I didnt like the 4-cyl on F30 at all. It was very rough and unrefined. Remind me of my college Honda Civic but with more power due to turbo.

Everyone has different needs so no need to justify either engine choice to others

I have a 535xi and i am barely getting 16mpg since i do mostly stop and go local driving in Sport mode 99% of the time. MPG sucks but to me its worth it for the fun i have during those short trips

Alan

Originally Posted by RDZumbaugh

I know by some comments people just think its nuts that there is a 4 banger in the 528. Drive it, you'll be pleasantly surprised how much get up and go it has. I know I was SHOCKED!!!!

I had one short test drive and an extended test drive of the 528xi before I bought my 535xi. The power is sufficient to move this big car, but if I am going to spned $60K on a sport sedan, I want more than sufficient power. Also, one of the 528xi I drove had a lot of lag, much more than my 535xi. I guess the lag problem is pretty much random across F10 models.

Originally Posted by The X Men

I had one short test drive and an extended test drive of the 528xi before I bought my 535xi. The power is sufficient to move this big car, but if I am going to spned $60K on a sport sedan, I want more than sufficient power. Also, one of the 528xi I drove had a lot of lag, much more than my 535xi. I guess the lag problem is pretty much random across F10 models.

I find the 535 to be rather lackluster in terms of power. Most would say; “sufficient power” can be found in the 550.
So this line of thinking starts another chapter in the “If I’m going to spend this much for this car, then I…..” book of reasoning.

The bottom line is; we chose what we chose and shouldnt have to, or feel the need to justify it.

Any choice is a good choice as long as the chooser enjoys it.

Originally Posted by bighungry618

I find the 535 to be rather lackluster in terms of power. Most would say; “sufficient power” can be found in the 550.
So this line of thinking starts another chapter in the “If I’m going to spend this much for this car, then I…..” book of reasoning.

The bottom line is; we chose what we chose and shouldnt have to, or feel the need to justify it.

Any choice is a good choice as long as the chooser enjoys it.

It really comes down to what one demands from a car. I really do not think the general public would say the 550i have barely sufficient power, most people, including myself, think the 550i have more than enough power. However, I do agree that no one should have to justify their choice of car purchase.

Originally Posted by Alan L.

Everyone has different needs so no need to justify either engine choice to others

I have a 535xi and i am barely getting 16mpg since i do mostly stop and go local driving in Sport mode 99% of the time. MPG sucks but to me its worth it for the fun i have during those short trips

Alan

At least i am not alone. I am getting 16.8 mpg, but like you I drive the car in sport or sport + only. Driving the car in comfort or eco is just plain boring...

Originally Posted by bighungry618

I find the 535 to be rather lackluster in terms of power. Most would say; “sufficient power” can be found in the 550.
So this line of thinking starts another chapter in the “If I’m going to spend this much for this car, then I…..” book of reasoning.

The bottom line is; we chose what we chose and shouldnt have to, or feel the need to justify it.

Any choice is a good choice as long as the chooser enjoys it.

I agree with you on the 535i power. I really wanted the 550i or M5, but driving 30k miles a year required me to do a cost/benefit analysis. The 535i gave me the balance of "just enough power" and somewhat decent fuel economy. This car really needs the N63 or S63 to be called fast.

My 550 xi was underpowered, but the stage 2 Dinan flash puts it about right. It is regrettable that the new M5 isn't offered in AWD, as I would have purchased that in a heart beat. The Dinan stage 2 in a 550xi puts it on par with the new S6 (while saving me about 15 grand). Honestly, the only car I have ever owned that I thought felt spot on power wise was my 07 911 Turbo, curse me for needing something more practical.

Guys, please tell me where exactly do you live when you can say that 528, 535 and even 550 (?!) are underpowered. I sincerely want to move there. Badly.

In my experience, where I live, 520d would be impossible to drive to its potential. Also in my experience, where I live, I cannot properly reach revs to satisfyingly shift my 1.9 liter diesel daily driver without risking rear-ending somebody. Let alone my N55 car.

Originally Posted by Mark K

Guys, please tell me where exactly do you live when you can say that 528, 535 and even 550 (?!) are underpowered. I sincerely want to move there. Badly.

I'm not really part of this discussion, but this comment caught my attention.

I live in Utah (specifically, Utah county) where the freeway is wide, smooth, and relatively sparse during even rush hour. The canyon roads are smooth, two lanes each way, and leave plenty of room to pass other vehicles and drive as fast as you feel comfortable (both from a safety perspective and an "optional tax" perspective). And also generally, the highways and roads are in fairly good condition.

Additionally, there are several back roads in the mountains that are fairly quiet early in the morning or late in the evening (e.g. the alpine loop on the Sundance side) that have fairly good visibility that allow you the opportunity to live out some of your Rally Racing dreams from your XBOX days.

I grew up in Seattle (actually, Bellevue). To the NE, E, and SE of Bellevue along the Cascades, there are tons of back roads that are unbelievably beautiful that back in my day were less traveled. And they were well maintained. I doubt it is the same today.

Whenever someone on these forums mentions the potholes and crowded roads in their area, I feel bad. I think that would suck and I don't think I would want to live there. Most often where we live is a function of our job, so there are limitations to our ability to leave move.

Here, there is room to open these vehicles up, and it's a pleasure. But obviously, I don't think it is possible to use any of these vehicles to their full potential on city streets and highways. But when someone says their 550 doesn't have enough power, I sort of know what they mean. They mean that while on the freeway in 4th, they want to floor it and blow by people and take advantage of semi-long stretches of empty lane, their car doesn't push them back in their seat enough for this to be as enjoyable as it could be.

Unfortunately, how often these opportunities arise has a lot to do with where you live. Here in Utah, the opportunities are frequent.

-Corey

I live in a similar state Corey, somewhat rural portion of Eastern Washington. Numerous back roads which are wonderful to drive and long stretches of sparsely populated highway. You hit the nail on the head with the passing. I like to be able to pass with impunity as there too many left lane lolly gaggers with a chip on their shoulder when they see a premium car behind them.

Originally Posted by getz

I like to be able to pass with impunity as there too many left lane lolly gaggers with a chip on their shoulder when they see a premium car behind them.

Yes, do not flash your brights or you are guaranteed a worst case scenario. You have to move quickly on your own.

-Corey

Originally Posted by cordoor

Additionally, there are several back roads in the mountains that are fairly quiet early in the morning or late in the evening (e.g. the alpine loop on the Sundance side) that have fairly good visibility that allow you the opportunity to live out some of your Rally Racing dreams from your XBOX days.

I don't play racing games on an XBOX - I don't own an XBOX. I do, however, go to the track occasionally with my car (the one in sig picture).

I only drive this car when there's no other drivers on the road (evenings in summer and weekends year around). Yes, on twisty roads through woods - we have them here. And I still think it is overpowered. For driving in traffic (any kind of traffic) it is ridiculously overpowered.

We really don't have that much horrible traffic around here and I learned all backroads to stay out of the worst of it. However, you cannot pretend to never have anybody in the front of you at the intersection or whenever the traffic is forced to stop. That's when the problems arise. When 99% of drivers around me learn what the rightmost pedal is actually used for, then it will be a different story. Mind you, it is not about going fast, but getting to 40 mph in less than 1/2 mile. For that kind of "standard" acceleration rate that 99% of the drivers apply, even 520d is way overpowered. Just as I said in my first post.