Topic: Test Drive: 2012 BMW 528i xDrive

[jyarkony]

Genesis? LOL

I was just wondering when the thread would "leak over" from the Genesis article. Wing, you've got a sadistic streak 

yeah wing, don't make me come over to that Genesis thread and bring up the 5 Series....

[jyarkony]

this looks like a really nice car (which i am sure it is), but $72,345?!?!...ouch, that's a lot of money for a 528...i know buyers of this car are unlikely to cross shop it against the Genesis, but the Genesis can't be that much "worse" for $20k less?

I know!

but most of the $20K options are fluff... an M-Sport package was about the only package that seemed worthwhile to me, and then you have a masterful AWD executive sedan for under $60K... nowhere near as fast as the R-Spec, but plenty fast enough, and if you're not afraid of being branded a hedonistic, narcissistic, superficial badge whore (see Genesis thread), then you end up in a better overall car.

and before driving them both, i would have figured myself to go for the 335i over the 528i, but I don't think so anymore — I really liked the extra space of the 5 Series, and the seats are another step up too, plus I like the idea of turbocharged 2.0L moving this much car this well, i just wish they'd get a fix in for the start-stop and coarse idle/low-rpms.

[jyarkony]

this looks like a really nice car (which i am sure it is), but $72,345?!?!...ouch, that's a lot of money for a 528...i know buyers of this car are unlikely to cross shop it against the Genesis, but the Genesis can't be that much "worse" for $20k less?

I know!

but most of the $20K options are fluff... an M-Sport package was about the only package that seemed worthwhile to me, and then you have a masterful AWD executive sedan for under $60K... nowhere near as fast as the R-Spec, but plenty fast enough, and if you're not afraid of being branded a hedonistic, narcissistic, superficial badge whore (see Genesis thread), then you end up in a better overall car.

and before driving them both, i would have figured myself to go for the 335i over the 528i, but I don't think so anymore — I really liked the extra space of the 5 Series, and the seats are another step up too, plus I like the idea of turbocharged 2.0L moving this much car this well, i just wish they'd get a fix in for the start-stop and coarse idle/low-rpms.

Are you sure the M Sport package adds performance upgrades? I thought it was purely an aesthetics package. If so it kind of makes me laugh...having M badges all over a turbo-4 bmw 5 Series.

I was trying to build it as I wanted on the BMW configurator and it was a very mystifying experience... the only option I would pay for are the Comfort seats — in my press kit those were listed as part of the M-Sport package (i like the wheels in that package too, and the body kit, and yeah, i like my aesthetics), but if you choose just the comfort seats, the configurator adds the while Premium package for several grand... another funny thing is that if you try to add only the M rear spoiler, which is listed as a $0 option, the price suddenly jumps by $10,000 because it automatically adds the entire premium package and M-sport package, plus a free fleece blanket...can't a man just get a spoiler???

and the M badges... holy ridiculous, I was looking through my photos and while the badges on the door sill are goofy, they actually have an M-badge about the size of a thumbnail on the dead pedal?!?!? sure it's a nice aluminum dead pedal, but really, what's the point... ludicrous. It's probably just because they manufacture all the good dead pedals with the M badge for use in M cars and it's something else shiny they can throw in with the visual package.

[Julie]

Yes, M-Sport gives you just aesthetic changes.

Like the Audi S-Line. Or the Mercedes C-Class "AMG package"

While I like the visual changes and would personally tick the box to get them, I personally dislike all those M badges for aesthetic changes only.

[Mike]

Yes, M-Sport gives you just aesthetic changes.

Like the Audi S-Line. Or the Mercedes C-Class "AMG package"

While I like the visual changes and would personally tick the box to get them, I personally dislike all those M badges for aesthetic changes only.

Part of the Sport Package on the X3 was to delete items added on other packages.  So you pay a package to add items, then pay for a package to remove them again.  Facking Germans.

[Julie]

Yes, M-Sport gives you just aesthetic changes.

Like the Audi S-Line. Or the Mercedes C-Class "AMG package"

While I like the visual changes and would personally tick the box to get them, I personally dislike all those M badges for aesthetic changes only.

Part of the Sport Package on the X3 was to delete items added on other packages.  So you pay a package to add items, then pay for a package to remove them again.  Facking Germans.

Oh yeah, I remember that when I was looking at the X3 M Sport. I was like WTF?! 

[Jaeger]

$72k for a premium luxury sports sedan with a coarse 4-pot motor?    Yikes.  Is that price with every option included, or could you actually ramp it up even higher?

Jaeger

[tinnemeneer]

My 8 year old 645 convertible has given me a real life 10.7l/100km over the last 26000km or so. I'm not very impressed by the numbers of this new 528.
Probably the board computer isn't the most reliable way to measure the kilometrage (?) but I doubt it will be 5% off.

[jyarkony]

My 8 year old 645 convertible has given me a real life 10.7l/100km over the last 26000km or so. I'm not very impressed by the numbers of this new 528.
Probably the board computer isn't the most reliable way to measure the kilometrage (?) but I doubt it will be 5% off.

anything less than 12 in a sedan that size is good for me considering my usual mileage, so i was impressed by my low 10... i tend to cruise at a high speed, so am usually far above our government estimates. I've never met a V8 I could keep under 13 l/100 km... I don't know how you do it...

[nsmyhte]

$72k for a premium luxury sports sedan with a coarse 4-pot motor?    Yikes.  Is that price with every option included, or could you actually ramp it up even higher?

Jaeger

Its not coarse, thats just the noise the injectors make at idle.  Since diesel engines use direct injection, a direct injected gas engine makes a similar sound at idle.

[Julie]

$72k for a premium luxury sports sedan with a coarse 4-pot motor?    Yikes.  Is that price with every option included, or could you actually ramp it up even higher?

Jaeger

I wouldn't consider the motor coarse. It's just when you compare it to the very silky smooth in-line 6's, it's doesn't sound as refined. The surprising thing to me though was that, standing outside, it sounds like a diesel engine. (Which is different from how it sounds from the inside.)

[tinnemeneer]

My 8 year old 645 convertible has given me a real life 10.7l/100km over the last 26000km or so. I'm not very impressed by the numbers of this new 528.
Probably the board computer isn't the most reliable way to measure the kilometrage (?) but I doubt it will be 5% off.

anything less than 12 in a sedan that size is good for me considering my usual mileage, so i was impressed by my low 10... i tend to cruise at a high speed, so am usually far above our government estimates. I've never met a V8 I could keep under 13 l/100 km... I don't know how you do it...

It might be that 1 litre of 98 (Premium I guess) costs close to CAD 2.5 in the Netherlands.

I dunno.. we just returned from a weekend in Germany and we managed the same mileage even when driving 2 x 600 km with speeds ranging from 130 to  170 km/hr and with driving a lot of twisty roads (all alike =B-) ) when we got there. I try to look ahead and try not to brake when coasting will do, but I never miss an opportunity to let the engine roar when accelerating. I do use cruise control a lot and try to avoid city traffic. We use the car for longer distances mostly so that might help as well.
Other things I can think of
- milder climate and most km during summer.
- replacement airfilter which I clean around 3 times/year
- tire pressure check every 6 weeks or so
- I use cruise control a lot.

I also have another exhaust system which should help in theory but because the car now sounds so much better I'm sure it doesn't in practice.
I've not really driven other V8's so I don't know about that. I did manage to get around 9l/100 km with my E39 530i and even a bit better with my Stratus 2.5 before that. I don't know if these are good numbers as well.
Maybe next time you guys get to drive a car in Europe you should email me to do a mileage contest.

[quadzilla]

I wonder if the Euro cars have different gearing than here in NA? Sadly most people are more interested in getting off the line as quickly as they can vs high speed touring.

I remember reading a long time ago how Audi USA had to change the gearing as nobody like the slow off the line feeling.

[Fobroader]

By far one the best cars I ever had the pleasure in driving was an early 2000's BMW 540i with a manual and M-Sport package. The engine was surreal, Ive never heard or felt such an amazing engine as that 4.4 V8, the gearbox was silky yet mechanically sattisfying and driving position was perfect. It basically spoiled every other car Ive ever driven, nothing has come close to replicating that car, it was like having a torrid one week fling with Selma Hayek and then going home to Roseanne Barr. To hear that they stuck some bargain basement, salvation army 4 cylinder in the car is almost offensive, a 5 series deserves either a straight six or a v8 under the hood, a manual gearbox behind it and a limited slip rear end behind that. $70K for a 4 cylinder....uhh, no.

[quadzilla]

$70K for a 4 cylinder....uhh, no.

But the 5 series has been available with a 4 cyl for most of its life....just not here.

[Fobroader]

$70K for a 4 cylinder....uhh, no.

But the 5 series has been available with a 4 cyl for most of its life....just not here.

Betcha didnt cosgt $70K for the 4 banger though

[quadzilla]

$70K for a 4 cylinder....uhh, no.

But the 5 series has been available with a 4 cyl for most of its life....just not here.

Betcha didnt cosgt $70K for the 4 banger though

Sure if you add in options.  The base price is only $56,900

[Fobroader]

$70K for a 4 cylinder....uhh, no.

But the 5 series has been available with a 4 cyl for most of its life....just not here.

Betcha didnt cosgt $70K for the 4 banger though
[/quote

Sure if you add in options.  The base price is only $56,900

Still, almost $60K for a 4 banger, unless its in a STi or EVO, no. A luxury car with a the heart of a subcompact.......

[Jaeger]

Well I haven't driven it, but here's where I got the "coarse" concept from in the review:

"One efficiency measure that can be turned on or off in any mode is the auto start-stop, which turns the engine off whenever you come to a full stop. It is the most glaring flaw on this car. It is rather coarse and noticeable, the car shuddering every time the engine shuts down at a stoplight or in stop-and-go traffic. For a $70,000 car, as equipped, or even its $56,900 base price, or anything wearing this prestigious badge, this is disappointing for such an esteemed brand. The best way to put it is that I felt let down by a hero.

Beyond the lurching restarts, the engine demonstrates diesel-like refinement at low-revs; in other words, it quietly clatters, and the vibrations trickle through the steering wheel and seats — at one point I was wondering if this was just a massage option, but I checked the feature list, and it’s not."

All of the above is not in keeping with what I feel a $70k-plus premium luxury / sport sedan should be.  Others, of course, may well take a different view.

Jaeger

[rrocket]

All of the above is not in keeping with what I feel a $70k-plus premium luxury / sport sedan should be.  Others, of course, may well take a different view.

Jaeger

Those with blue/white colored glasses you mean?