[weezl]

Huh. I wonder if most people feel this way. I like to feel more like I'm sitting in a chair than sitting on the floor. That's why I'd never buy a sports car.

I find the seats in my F10 to be more comfortable. I had the "sports seats" in my E60 (or whatever they called them), and have the comfort seats now. Maybe you didn't go from sports to comfort?

I have the same seats that came with the ZSP then and now; in 08 and 11, the comfort seats with the gazillion-way adjust are standard. I just find the rear part of the seat cushion less padded in my 11 than in my 08. The rest is about the same, very nice feel. Luxury sport.

 

[Dave T]

Today is my first day of driving the new 550 after it got here from my ED trip. I noticed some more stuff for this list:

* I really like the new "lever style" parking brake. Since I have a standard, I use the parking brake every time I drive the car, and the little lever is easier than the normal long rod type parking brake. Takes up less room too. It will take some getting used to, though.

* Two things that I don't think they got right in the F10 and they didn't get them right in the E60 either are the heated steering wheel button and the lack of a place to put things down like sunglasses. As with the E60, the heated steering wheel button is on the steering column where you can't see it, and can't see whether it's lit up or not so you can tell if it's on. And I don't get why they don't give you a little open compartment to put stuff down like sunglasses or other small stuff that you want to put down when you get in the car and take with you when you leave.

- Dave

 

[tadtaggert]

the lack of a place to put things down like sunglasses. ..... a little open compartment to put stuff down like sunglasses or other small stuff that you want to put down when you get in the car and take with you when you leave.

I tried using the center console compartment, but it's taken up by phone/phone plate and the only place to throw change. Don't use the ashtray for change, it will soon get stuck.

I ended up using the drivers side glove box for sunglasses, it's better than I thought it would be and works out well.

 

[Dave T]

I tried using the center console compartment, but it's taken up by phone/phone plate and the only place to throw change. Don't use the ashtray for change, it will soon get stuck.

I ended up using the drivers side glove box for sunglasses, it's better than I thought it would be and works out well.

Maybe that's what I'll do as well, but it's not ideal. I'd rather have somewhere to put things "down" - not just a place to put things "away".

 

[idworkin]

I wish BMW would keep E60 suspension, steering, weight, dimensions, and seats. I could go for F10 look (although a bit blunt), and interior appointments.
I just feel the car is a bit too soft, too big, and too isolated. And due to the weight, I imagine 535 feels even more so. Ironically, the car is very capable, no less so than e60, it's more of the feel I guess.

Well said. I'm currently driving an '09 750 after having had 2 E60 550's (in succession - not at the same time . The decision to move away from the 550 was a hard one - but the deals on the 7's when my lease expired were hard to pass up, and the F10 wasn't out yet. While I love the 7, it's too big for me and I'll be going back to the 550. I thought it was a clearcut decision -- F10 550 when my lease is up. But after driving the car (2012, M-sport package, dynamic handling, no active steering) a few weeks back, I came away with mixed feelings. Love the look and feel of the car -- did NOT like the steering. Much lighter than my 7 (even on sport+), turning radius seemed worse (maybe because the 7 has active steering and the 550 I drove didn't?) -- while the car definitely moved, it didn't seem to have the same feel I had come to love in the E60. Now I'm contemplating getting a gently used 2010 550 - new i-drive, old steering. Call me crazy

 

[weezl]

Today is my first day of driving the new 550 after it got here from my ED trip. I noticed some more stuff for this list:

* I really like the new "lever style" parking brake. Since I have a standard, I use the parking brake every time I drive the car, and the little lever is easier than the normal long rod type parking brake. Takes up less room too. It will take some getting used to, though.

* Two things that I don't think they got right in the F10 and they didn't get them right in the E60 either are the heated steering wheel button and the lack of a place to put things down like sunglasses. As with the E60, the heated steering wheel button is on the steering column where you can't see it, and can't see whether it's lit up or not so you can tell if it's on. And I don't get why they don't give you a little open compartment to put stuff down like sunglasses or other small stuff that you want to put down when you get in the car and take with you when you leave.

- Dave

I hate the parking brake, I have a 6M and don't like the feel at all. Plus, not sure what to do if brakes fail on the highway and need my emergency brake, you can't modulate it. The all-or none-ness is going to get people killed.

I used to put my glasses in the well of the NAV, now it is too small so I too use the left sided glove box. Harder to pick them up now without fingerprints on them but at least there is a place for them.

Agree on the steering wheel, can't see the light at all. And it does not stay on when I shut down and go to the ATM and return to start-up. The E60 had short-term memory and the F10 has none. Same with the A/C; there the long term memory is also non-existent. It keeps coming on at start-up, just like my E46 used to. Hated that, loved the E60 for not doing this, now its back. Grr,

Plus, my comfort access is not working at all, what a rip. Need dealer attention for this and also for alignment issue. Grr again.

 

[Dave T]

I hate the parking brake, I have a 6M and don't like the feel at all. Plus, not sure what to do if brakes fail on the highway and need my emergency brake, you can't modulate it. The all-or none-ness is going to get people killed.

You're right, I didn't think of that. It is dangerous. I do like that it takes up less room, though.

I used to put my glasses in the well of the NAV, now it is too small so I too use the left sided glove box. Harder to pick them up now without fingerprints on them but at least there is a place for them.

That's what I did too. It was too small, but it sorta worked I you didn't mind blocking the NAV screen. I don't like the "left side glove box", seems flimsy and not good for things you want to put down temporarily.

Agree on the steering wheel, can't see the light at all. And it does not stay on when I shut down and go to the ATM and return to start-up. The E60 had short-term memory and the F10 has none. Same with the A/C; there the long term memory is also non-existent. It keeps coming on at start-up, just like my E46 used to. Hated that, loved the E60 for not doing this, now its back. Grr,

Agree about the AC memory.

What happened with your comfort access? Mine seems fine, although I don't like it that you have to wait a few seconds when leaving the car before it will let you lock the doors via the button on the door handle. Plus it locks my trunk when leaving the car, even when I leave the doors unlocked.

 

[535MSport]

I think a driving comparison with the E39 would be more interesting as it was a true "cult" car that drove and handled and felt like a sports car.

 

[tadtaggert]

I think a driving comparison with the E39 would be more interesting as it was a true "cult" car that drove and handled and felt like a sports car.

Bah, 2 different cars built for two different reasons/markets/desires. You want the F30.

F10
Wheelbase 116.9 Length 192.9 Width 73.2 Height 57.6

E39
Wheelbase 111.4 Length 188.0 Width 70.9 Height 56.5

F30
Wheelbase 110.6 Length 182.0 Width 71.3 Height 56.3

 

[Dave T]

I think a driving comparison with the E39 would be more interesting as it was a true "cult" car that drove and handled and felt like a sports car.

Maybe, although I had an E39. When I got my E60, I don't recall feeling that I gave up anything with regards to the driving experience. I don't remember the backlash against the E60 when it came out having much to do with how it handled either. There was a lot of griping about "Bangle butt", but not this kind of complaints about how it handled.

 

[Needsdecaf]

Drivers door pocket very handy for things you want to "put down" like cell phone or shades.

Sent from my DROIDX using Bimmer

 

[tadtaggert]

Maybe, although I had an E39. When I got my E60, I don't recall feeling that I gave up anything with regards to the driving experience. I don't remember the backlash against the E60 when it came out having much to do with how it handled either. There was a lot of griping about "Bangle butt", but not this kind of complaints about how it handled.

This is as much the difference in weight between the E60 and F10 as anything. BMW went to the extreme in keeping the weight down on the E60, use of aluminum in the chassis/frame for example. The F10 starts out with a solid steel frame that is just heavier, let alone size increases.

Check out how many E60's had frame issues, collisions or not. The 5's got to a point that they were getting to the size that you either had to increase costs or increase weight. If they had just increased weight and done nothing else, then those complaining would have much more of a point. But by adding the 1 series and broadening the offerings, you can still get what you could before, it just has a different badge.

I understand some don't like that.

E34 and E39 are the two classic 5's. The F30 sits right in the middle from a size standpoint.