The Motor Forum

Martin · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 9:56 pm Post subject: It's arrived......

Slightly ahead of the original plan, my new car was delivered this morning

To say I was excited this week is probably a slight understatement, but I was right to be, it really is a fabulous car. I know to some people, a 2.0 litre diesel saloon is dullness personified, but they are clearly wrong

It arrived at 10am as promised and although I managed to sit in it for 15 mins when it was handed over, I couldn't get away from the office until 4pm, which felt like an awfully long time!! First impressions were that it looked fantastic, I am so glad I went for Le Mans blue as it's a stunning colour. The quality feel is there from when you pull up the door handle and continues inside. Everything feels solid and is made from really good quality materials, it's definitely a step up from a 3 series and the Jetta doesn't compare!! The colour combo looks fantastic, I never thought I would have wood trim but I do and the M Sport bits like the (very comfortable and supportive) sports seats, steering wheel and (shortened) gear knob also help make the interior feel more special. The M Sport was the right way to go!

Quite a few people have looked at it today and it's 100% thumbs up so far, I've had 7 offers to look after it while I'm on holiday!! You lot are far harder to please....

The latest idrive is a huge improvement over the earlier system with the direct access buttons and buttons around the controller that takes you straight to Nav, Radio, Phone etc. The graphics on the Professional Navigation are very good and the there is huge customisation eg split screen functionality that can put most functions on either screen. I quickly learnt to work everything without resorting to the manual, including importing most of my music tracks onto its Hard Drive through the USB port. The only problem is that you can use everything on the move, even the car settings, which really shouldn't be allowed......

I drove like a granny all the way home as I believe in running cars in, so I can't tell you what it's like to drive like an Autocar tester, but I can tell you that it's surprisingly comfortable, very refined and a lovely place to sit. The ride is firm if you hit a pothole or drive over a grid, but it's actually more comfortable than I remember and a lot better than the Jetta mainly because the damping is massively better.

I doubt I will see 56mpg all that often as well :laugh: It would be great if I did as the combined range and mileage completed is 820 miles which would be great!!

Suffice to say, I absolutely love it

Is it the forums first 59er?
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Boxer6 · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 10:28 pm Post subject:

Nice wee addition to your holidays Martin! Glad you like it, and don't forget to take loads of piccies for us!!
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Just keepin' on keeping on.

Martin · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 10:31 pm Post subject:

Thanks! I have already taken a few, just uploading now....
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Gooner · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 10:43 pm Post subject:

You luck boy. I can just see you doing your finest Cheshire cat impression as it rolled up to the office this morning. Look forward to the pics.
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Martin · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 10:52 pm Post subject:

Right, here we go!

Apologies for the quality of a couple, especially the interior ones, but I was in a bit of a rush! The seats look a bit lighter on this screen, as does the wood trim, but it still looks great to me!!

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Martin · Posted: Fri Oct 02, 2009 10:54 pm Post subject:

It's a bit embarrassing to admit, but I still can't believe it's mine, it will take some getting used to!!
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Roadrunner · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 9:31 am Post subject:

Looks like a quality item. Excellent colour combo too!
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"Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble." Henry Royce

franki68 · Petrolhead Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 2382

Nice,great car...enjoy !

Mark · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:35 pm Post subject:

Top car and very nice. Wrong colour, though - and, the wheels are too small. Enjoy.

garry · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 2:24 pm Post subject:

Very nice but no, not the first '59. The colour scheme is very nice.

"him" · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 2:38 pm Post subject:

Martin · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 3:45 pm Post subject:

Sav · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 3:54 pm Post subject:

That looks stunning, Le Mans was the right choice. Are those xenons?
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Martin · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 4:00 pm Post subject:

Not Xenons, they are the standard lights which have been projectors since 2007 so they do look the same (when switched off). It does have twin corona rings for sidelights though, which I think look great and so much better than the latest trend for LED twat lights.
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Sav · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 4:09 pm Post subject:

I agree with that, the LED's on Audi's look terribly 'in your face' - BMW's solution is much better.
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Martin · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 5:09 pm Post subject:

Mark · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 5:35 pm Post subject:

Martin · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 5:51 pm Post subject:

It isn't too bad for not looking dirty, certainly better than black or even the dark blue of the Passat. This one isn't dirty, but I've already had 3.5 years with the colour, which also means I know how different it can look depending on the light (which I like).

For some reason, activating daytime running lights just puts dipped beam on all the time. If you just want the 4 corona rings to light up (which I do!) then you have to select sidelights which does leave the auto lights function redundant. The rear lights are very cool as well!

I've decided to reverse it onto my drive as the corona rings light up when you unlock it, which will make me happy at 6am on a cold morning.....
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Blarno · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 6:16 pm Post subject:

Looks like a beast and only a spotter will know it's not a 6 banger.
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simonp · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 6:37 pm Post subject:

There's a similar car (same colour) in my hometown that I think is a 530d. Colour's lovely, but the twat that owns it has stuck M badges on both ends!

I have to look at it on my way to work and every time I see it one word comes to mind... 'Why?'

His has nicer wheels, though!

(had to look these up 19" M double spoke style 172M)

Martin · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 6:45 pm Post subject:

It could be Le Mans, but Mystic blue looks similar and was an M Sport colour and deep sea blue is darker but could also be mistaken for it if you're not a proper 'spotter'!! Le Mans Blue has only become an option more recently, it was special order on the E60 for the first few years.

The 19s look rather too easy to kerb, but I do agree they are a lovely looking wheel. You can't have everything, I would have liked heated seats, Xenons, memory seats and a few other things but you have to draw the line somewhere and I've got a really nice spec with just a couple of (well chosen!) extras on top of a fairly generous std spec.
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woof woof · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 8:29 pm Post subject:

I like the colour but I'd have had to have got a darker interior, you better make sure you're nice and clean when you get in.

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woof woof's defence lawyer claimed that "Booze played no part in his typo's."

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Frank Bullitt · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 9:39 pm Post subject:

Looks lovely, clearly the wrong colour but lovely all the same (

) - I can imagine it was 'dog with two dicks Friday' yesterday!

My memory of the M Sport seats is they have about 850 different things to adjust - I hope that without 'memory' Mrs Martin doesn't adjust too much or it could take weeks to get back to your preferred option!
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Shame your mind don't shine like your possessions

Martin · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 9:54 pm Post subject:

I don't care how much you love silver cars, they are just dull, blue is much nicer

Mrs Martin hasn't driven it yet and says she doesn't want to...there would be too much pressure!!

We have a rule, when you drive the other persons car, the only thing you can adjust is the fore/aft movement! Luckily Mrs M is fairly tall, so it isn't much of an issue. I hate it when someone messes with my seat, because as you say, it takes ages to get it right!

The good thing about the seat adjustment in the 5 series is partly electric, so you don't have the 'character' you get in other BMWs!! The seat back and height is electric, the fore/aft and tilt are manual, as is the extendable squab. I think I've just about got it right, but I'm sure there is still tweaking to be done!
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Frank Bullitt · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:06 pm Post subject:

You just know my next car is going to be silver because it's the only one at the right price/ spec/ mileage - I'm destined to it...

My mate insists his wife doesn't change anything on his car apart from fore-aft; she's about 6" shorter than him and always ends up spending more time trying to check her rear-view than looking forward!
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Shame your mind don't shine like your possessions

DaveGibson · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 12:22 am Post subject:

I'd like to see my neighbour and his wife make do with only fore/aft adjustment. She's 5'1" and he's 6'5".

JohnC · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 6:05 pm Post subject:

Well done Martin. Nice car.
I wish they would offer the cream seat/black carpet and dash on other models.
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Every man is the architect of his own future.

Stuntman · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject:

Proper car, proper gearbox, proper colour

Have loads of fun with it!
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Drifting through life

Gooner · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:32 pm Post subject:

Looks very nice Martin, I hope you enjoy it. I'm a little surprised BMW still use manual handbrakes on the 5, but I'd be even more surprised if the next 5 does so likewise. But you can't argue with the quality of that interior. I imagine that's going to be a very pleasant place for you to spend the next 3 years on the road. Our MD has recently traded in his 06 525d for a 320d. I don't think I'd want to go to a 3 after having a 5.
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Martin · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:35 pm Post subject:

Pkh72 · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:46 pm Post subject:

That looks proper smart, enjoy

Roadsterstu · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 10:12 pm Post subject:

Looking grand! I've long liked the 5 Series. With the right wheels - like yours - they look very purposeful. Good colour choice too!

TimR · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 10:25 pm Post subject:

That looks nice aalthough my personal preference for the interior would be dark/black leather and no wood.

It also looks a bit of a lighter blue than mine. Maybe LMB gets darker with age

Or maybe mine just needs a good clean and polish

PG · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 11:25 pm Post subject:

Enjoy.
I got a lift off a colleague in a brand new X5 yesterday.

I liked it.

Parm · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:22 pm Post subject:

Looks great Martin. Love the colour combo.
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Jasper · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:54 pm Post subject:

I also like the rear lights on these, they remind me of Dame Edna Everage's glass's but in a good way.
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Racing · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 2:15 pm Post subject:

Jolly nice.
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Martin · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:51 pm Post subject:

I'm getting a bit frustrated with the 3,000rpm limit now, 500 miles down and still 700 to go before it's run in!! The engine felt really tight at first and it didn't really feel that quick, I was getting a little concerned!! It's like a different engine now, it's very, very smooth and the quietest diesel I've tried (quieter than the Mercedes 6 cylinder and better than I remember it in other installations) and is starting to feel quite punchy. It should be pretty good in a couple of thousand miles.

I've had the opportunity to push it a little more today on my usual A roads and it feels great, better than I thought it would actually. You can maintain your speed so easily as there is minimum body rollm you can tell what's going on and it deals with mid corner bumps really well. There is a fairly tight right hander on the A420 that was a bit uncomfortable past 70mph in the Passat (slightly less in the Jetta), because it tightens up and there is a bump in the middle, but this just sailed round at 70. I will try it a bit quicker next time......!

The steering is great, but overall it is taking a little getting used to, as the balance is so different. I can't wait until it's fully run in and I can push it properly. I'm sure it would be even better with more power, the 535d/550i etc must be amazing!

One benefit of running in is the fuel consumption, 52.6 average over 530 miles which means there is about 230 miles range remaining according to the computer! That's been over 260 miles of motorway driving (80-85) and the rest on A roads / dual carriageway.
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Dr. Hfuhruhurr · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:41 am Post subject:

Bob Sacramento · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:46 am Post subject:

I love the Le Mans blue, it's one of the few colours that BMW do well. It would definitely be on my shortlist and looks great with the light coloured leather.

The only thing I don't like is that key thingy sticking out of the steering coloumn - positively Dickensian that is.

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Keep Calm & Carry On.

Martin · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:53 am Post subject:

Bob Sacramento · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 3:31 pm Post subject:

Would I be banned from the forum for a not insignificant amount of time if I suggested it could do with a fake rear exhaust pipe on the right to balance up the rear?
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Keep Calm & Carry On.

simonp · Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 9:06 am Post subject: