Calling E class estate drivers

[gIzzE]

Considering I could be in a really well specced 520d F11 touring at 3 years old for that money that is where I would put my money.

Someone I know has just sold his 2010 520d touring for that, and it had everything, Harman Kardon, Dab, internet, pano roof, adaptive xenons, 8 speed sport + 'box, and loads more as it was £51k list, that is where my £18k would go.

 

[st4]

Considering I could be in a really well specced 520d F11 touring at 3 years old for that money that is where I would put my money.

Someone I know has just sold his 2010 520d touring for that, and it had everything, Harman Kardon, Dab, internet, pano roof, adaptive xenons, 8 speed sport + 'box, and loads more as it was £51k list, that is where my £18k would go.

I thought you had an F10 and didn't get along with it?

 

[gIzzE]

I just didn't like it as much as my S211 at the time.
Certainly not for £20,000 more.

However, after swapping for an S212 I realised that the F11 was certainly a better car than the S212.

I think it was the fact the BMW didn't feel anywhere near as focused as my previous E61 535d and the E39 530i before that.
However, cars are growing up, and it is still the class leader for someone who wants to be able to press on in a very agile car.
It just felt a bit souless after the previous ones and was not as comfy as the S211.

I very, very nearly bought a 530d M-Sport touring with the adaptive suspension before buying the S212, I really wish I had of done.

I have just been offered a new F31 330d Sport for a days test drive, so will have a go with that, seems to be getting some huge praise.

 

[st4]

You'll like that F30. The E90 is IIRC a tad sharper than my 204, but the F30 moves it on further. They're a bit plasticy inside but the seats looks good and the car is very nicely styled.

Interesting to hear the F10 is sharper then the 212. I think yu=ou've got to with the BMWs add the adaptive drive or whatever its called. Non such equipped cars get little praise for their driving manner but ones equipped seem to do well.

Do us a favour and do a thread about the BMW 3er. It will be interesting to read your thoughts...

 

[C240Sport97]

I like the new BMW 3 series Touring.

Not over styled, not too big, and beautifully proportioned.

I am going to steer my sister towards it away from a new S204.

 

[gIzzE]

Do us a favour and do a thread about the BMW 3er. It will be interesting to read your thoughts...

I will do, may not be for a couple of weeks though as the snow has called it off this week and I am in London a lot over the next fortnight.

 

[st4]

I like the new BMW 3 series Touring.

Not over styled, not too big, and beautifully proportioned.

I am going to steer my sister towards it away from a new S204.

Its why I want gIzze to do that thread. It would be good for the forum, a few on hear have C classes and a review by a member would be a useful thing to have.

I too nearly bought a 320d. I'm happy with my choice. Interesting reviews place the 330d some 200kg heavier than a 320d but the economy is not so different but the feel of the car must be very different.

From researching owners forums, the 330d is deemed the one to have. I'd maybe try push your sister down that route, with adaptive drive and the ZF 8speed box its a compelling car.

Now that bangle bloke has gone, BMW are producing excellent styled cars.

I will do, may not be for a couple of weeks though as the snow has called it off this week and I am in London a lot over the next fortnight.

Just whenever you have the time and get the car, don't forget to take pics

 

[Mactech]

Despite my love of Mercedes E estates (I've had 3 if you include a 124 back in the early 90's), a bit of a passion for Jaguars and a 2 year love affair with a CLS....I would probably go for this. I'm really enjoying it! (despite the badge!)

 

[st4]

Now bangle has gone and the tailgaters have Audis BMW is safe to drive again

 

[gIzzE]

Despite my love of Mercedes E estates (I've had 3 if you include a 124 back in the early 90's), a bit of a passion for Jaguars and a 2 year love affair with a CLS....I would probably go for this. I'm really enjoying it! (despite the badge!)

I think the problem for me at the time was I was comparing the F11 520d we had with the previous BMW estates I had been in, the one before was an E91 335i (doing 0-60 in under 5 seconds) and the E61 535d which was DMS mapped.

It was never going to excite in the same way they did.

However, as an everyday family/work wagon, which is what it was doing, it was/is pretty much perfect.

I can't actually think of anything it does wrong, just at the time it was not exciting me enough to sell my S211 E320cdi for.

The 530d is probably the better used choice, it is never much more than the 520d's money wise and the owners seem to be getting pretty much the same mpg wise from it.
As much as I love my Mercs, that 5 series is always an absolute belter.

 

[gIzzE]

Now bangle has gone and the tailgaters have Audis BMW is safe to drive again

See, now I always liked the Bangle designs, my old bus...

 

[st4]

My mate has a 545i and I hate the look of the thing. I like the seats, a lot but the car doesn''t do it for me. The F10...well...its a cracker

 

[C240Sport97]

See, now I always liked the Bangle designs, my old bus...

I had a play on the way to Calais with an M5 Touring of this 5 series generation in my CLS55 ..

We had tonnes of fun, and when we chatted at the Tunnel .. driver commented on how he could not lose the CLS

Granted, easier to follow than lead, but even so ..

 

[st4]

Much easier to follow Sean, on the way to Ullapool I would never have gone that fast...

 

[C240Sport97]

Much easier to follow Sean, on the way to Ullapool I would never have gone that fast...

and my tyres were past their best, as were my brakes ..

 

[st4]

and my tyres were past their best, as were my brakes ..

Your engine wasn't

 

[Ian Donkin]

My 211 has 129,000 miles on it now and I can't believe the Jag will feel anything like so tight with this many miles on it, so I'd be staying with the Merc... or the current 5 (I hated my E61 5, but loved the E39 so much I went back to one post my E61).

 

[gIzzE]

My 211 has 129,000 miles on it now and I can't believe the Jag will feel anything like so tight with this many miles on it, so I'd be staying with the Merc... or the current 5 (I hated my E61 5, but loved the E39 so much I went back to one post my E61).

Why did you hate the E61?
Did you take off the awful run flats??

I nearly sold mine after a month but decided to put proper tyres on and it transformed it, made it feel like a real BMW again.

 

[Ian Donkin]

Why did you hate the E61?
Did you take off the awful run flats??

I nearly sold mine after a month but decided to put proper tyres on and it transformed it, made it feel like a real BMW again.

The run flats were one thing (and my neighbours 535d on 19's was better due to normal tyres), but it also had terrible economy despite a dealer upgrade of the engine map from BMW (it was an early 231bhp 530d) and the trim (leather and rubberised coatings) were ageing far too quickly for a new car.

I loved the performance and handling, but that was about it for me. It also wore its rear tyres really badly on the inside shoulders.

 

[gIzzE]

Yeah, inside edge wear is a trait of run flats, my old mans 5GT has now ripped through both of his while there is still 4mm in places. Not good.

Surprised about the trim though, mine was minty fresh after a pretty hard life.

Economy on mine was pretty dire too, 27mpg average, could see high teens when going for it and even after doing 9000 miles across Europe in 12 weeks it still didn't manage to hit 35mpg.
The later model was far better, would average 36 and see 45 on a run. The one with the newer 7 speed ZF 'box, around 57 plate.