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BMW 5-Series Sedans
12737 messages, Last post on Feb 16, 2013 at 11:05 PM
You are in the BMW 5-Series Forum.What is this discussion about? BMW 5 Series, Sedan
#11363 of 12737 Re: Huh? [sorter] by shipo
May 16, 2006 (10:08 pm)
Replying to: sorter (May 16, 2006 6:33 pm)
Tell the truth, English isn't your first language. Right? 
I'm baffled by your post. BMWs recent engines (say since the late 1990s) have proven to be some of the most efficient ever made at any given power rating. Take both of their recent 3.0 liter I6 engines as an example. If you compare the 330i against say the G35, the 330i is more than a match for the G35 around a track (although not in straight line acceleration, which is only one metric), and at the same time able to deliver real world steady state highway fuel economy over 30 MPG. I've never even heard a G35 owner claim as much as 25.
In my case, my 530i was consistently able to eek out between 30 and 32 mpg during my frequent runs between New Hampshire and NYC, which by the way, isn't exactly Cruise Control territory.
Regarding Hybrids. Puleeze! That's a still-born technology if I've ever seen one. My bet is that BMW is pretending to pursue hybrid technology for political reasons. My hope is that they (or any of the other German manufacturers for that matter) never produce even a single hybrid car.
Said another way, the BMW 330d is capable of well over 40 mpg and still delivers very good performance. Why would anybody want a porky hybrid slug-mobile when wonderful driving machines like the 330d, 535d and E320 CDI are already being mass produced and simply waiting for the U.S.A. to get its ULSD act together? I sure as hell don't.
Best Regards,
Shipo
#11364 of 12737 Re: Advice for a 5'er "wannabe"? [breld] by markcincinnati
May 17, 2006 (5:26 am)
Replying to: breld (May 16, 2006 8:45 am)
Here's some advice: 2006 525xi stick's -- can be found, but difficult. This particular car WITH the stick shift will very likely satisfy many of your wants and nullify most of your concerns.
Theses models are subvented (the lease prices are low, that is.)
You can nearly have your cake and eat it too.
Prior year's 5's are NOT offered with AWD.
The M35x is a sweet car, but probably still going to be more money even now than the above suggestion. And, it is ONLY 5spd auto.
The A6 is only auto, but I love mine -- would TODAY rather have the 5er in X drive format with a stick. Rather have the Audi with the auto though.
In your situation, I would probably work on the 525xi w/stick as my first tactic.
#11365 of 12737 A thought about the war. . . by markcincinnati
May 17, 2006 (5:37 am)
. . .the Horsepower War.All of the Germans do, for whatever reason, seem to lag behind the Americans and the Japanese in HP. Hmmm, after two Bimmers and 28 Audis, THEY ALWAYS HAVE.
Yet, time and time again, "nothing satisfies, like beef."
The German cars in a broad statement, I will admit, are frequently less powerful than what might be considered ($) the competition; but, they perform in a way that is more dynamic and far more satisfying.
The Infinit M's "get it." But even they don't quite "have it" (but they are close.)
An Avalon may well (it is) be more powerful than a 5 with a 6 cylinder engine.
If that is all you want, go get it. You probably won't get many takers here on the notion that the Camry or Avalon, et al, can compete with a 5 series (or to carry the flags, A6 or E class) -- the Germans, despite some lower hp numbers are all about performance.
This is not to stick my head in the sand and deny they do need at least 10% more under the bonnet, at any one time, to keep fighting the "War."
The monthly (US) sales figures for this class of car are posted over on the LPS forum regularly. The top two are Germans. The bottom one is Japanese.
If voting with dollars counts for anything, you make the call. I didn't see the 5, the E and the Avalon on the same list. HP or not, it just isn't the same no matter how much you may wish it were.
- sdg380 (May 17, 2006 2:44 pm)
- ctl (May 17, 2006 4:36 pm)
Replies to this message:
#11367 of 12737 M5 by erickpl
May 17, 2006 (5:54 am)
WOAH!I drove an M5 with the V10 and SMG, and I'm not talking about a drive down the main street in town.
That thing is just ridiculously fast, and I didn't even have the M button pressed! In a stretch of asphalt no longer than a football field and a half, we got to 80+ mph right before having to use the brakes for a sharp left that faded into a gradual sweep.
Here's a pic of the car I'm talking about here, for those who haven't seen one.
I think I want an M5, but with 3 pedals. SMG was nice enough, but I would prefer 3 pedals with that kind of power.
My wife had test driven a 530i previously and was not too happy with it (I suspect it was the color choice of white outside and grey inside with the metal trim vs wood). But the M5 was incredible, save the red interior (blah). If she didn't need 4 doors and our retirement fund, I'd love to get an M6.
BTW, the Z4 M roadster is a blast to drive too, and as fast or faster. There is just NO practical use for a Z4 M roadster. But man, is it a kick in the pants to drive (in manual trim too!)
-Paul
#11368 of 12737 Re: M5 [erickpl] by shipo
May 17, 2006 (7:00 am)
Replying to: erickpl (May 17, 2006 5:54 am)
Hey Paul, I've often enjoyed some of your driving pleasures in a vicarious kind of way, and this is no exception. Thank for the B-Day present. 
Best Regards,
Shipo
- erickpl (May 17, 2006 7:48 am)
- cmr530i (May 17, 2006 2:22 pm)
Replies to this message:
#11369 of 12737 Re: M5 [shipo] by erickpl
May 17, 2006 (7:48 am)
Replying to: shipo (May 17, 2006 7:00 am)
Thanks. I don't auto-x like brave or div do, but I sure do have fun when I get a chance to open em up in a safe environment.
Happy Birthday!
-Paul
#11370 of 12737 Re: M5 [shipo] by cmr530i
May 17, 2006 (2:22 pm)
Replying to: shipo (May 17, 2006 7:00 am)
Happy B-Day, Shipo!
#11371 of 12737 Re: A thought about the war. . . [markcincinnati] by sdg380
May 17, 2006 (2:44 pm)
Replying to: markcincinnati (May 17, 2006 5:37 am)
With all these posts about claimed horsepower, I'm surprised that nobody pointed out that when the SAE recently called for more stringent testing for HP ratings, the bulk of the companies that ended up down-grading their ratings were Japanese! Being familiar with Japanese bikes, I'm long since used to optimistic dry weights, optimistic speedometers, and optimistic tachometers. There's always speculation as to where these numbers come from, but the SAE beef concerned what accessories were to be driven by an engine when measuring its output. Alternator? Water pump? Radiator fan? A/C? We should all know that the above items collectively account for dozens of "parasitic" hp, except that its pretty hard to drive without most of them.
Since I don't know that many of us are intimately familiar with just how the different OEM's actually measure the hp, I wouldn't be overly impressed by numbers which might be "optimistic", but would instead focus on real world measures, such as heads-up 0-60 and 1/4 miles times, and comments by testers who (consistently) say that "BMW's seem to get the most from their ponies". With bikes, the bike rags now strap them to a certified dyno, set them on calibrated scale, and then run them through the quarter, which is normalized for altitude and pressure. Until the car rags do this, too, all these claimed HP numbers are just that, claimed.
I'm not saying that the Japanese cars don't offer a lot for the money, they frequently do, but there's a reason many of us willing to pony up considerably more for a German ride, and there's a reason such cars have a market, notwithstanding any supposed HP deficiency.
#11372 of 12737 Re: A thought about the war. . . [markcincinnati] by ctl
May 17, 2006 (4:36 pm)
Replying to: markcincinnati (May 17, 2006 5:37 am)
It is a competitive world out there... looking at it from one aspect. Anyone with $25K can buy a ~270HP family sedan (BTW, it is all SAE so no "claim" no more). that objectively beat a BMW530 on a straight line. No argument about that. But there are certainly more to a car than that. To the least, what does people with $50K do, to make a statement, or simply wanting better? A $5 street watch and $5K rolax can tell time equally well, life is just much more complicated. I will simply put, they (530, E, A6) are better cars, and they cost $50K). Are they worth the difference? don't go there, no need, least of all just whisper, don't argue
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