Owner Review: My experience with the Ultimate Driving Machine - My F10 BMW 5 Series 520i

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Basic information

BMW 5 Series F10 520i

Reason why I bought this car

I owned a 2009 2.4L Toyota Camry (XV40) when my first boy was born. That car fulfilled everything I needed, especially the interior space, comfortability and the most important reliability. However, as time flies, the quality of the engine oil seal and gasket started deteriorate, headlamp started turn yellow, paint getting faded, disc brake and brake pad getting thinner, engine mounting to be replaced…... I know it’s about time to have a major service and make over my lovely car although it still performed perfectly.

I visited a few workshops and car painting shops in order to have an idea how much I actually need to spend to fix all the problems I had. Unfortunately, the quotation I obtained wasn’t a pleasant one. The cost to make up my lovely car is enough for me to pay for the downpayment of another car! I started to rethink my plan and should I stick to the original plan? Or, what about looking for an affordable brand new car? Alternatively, should I look for a used car instead?

Car selection process

• I had a budget of: RM 150k
• Models that I have considered include: Mercedes Benz E Class E200 CGI 1.8L W212, Audi A6 Hybrid,

The reason why I choose this car

In 2019, I decided to let go of my lovely Toyota Camry and look for a comfortable sedan car. I had a budget around RM150,000 and I clearly understand that I couldn’t afford a brand new D segment car. To me, those C segment cars close to that budget are always not a good deal and thus, C-segment cars were out! Therefore, I marked down my budget and started to look for a lower priced used car and spare the rest of the budget for servicing if necessary.

Firstly, I was surprised by the 2013 Audi A6 with just over RM70,000 for a 6 years car. I was addicted to the futuristic sleek design and the completely eye-catching full LED headlamps. Suddenly, I was awakened from the Audi A6 dream as I noticed that the car was a Hybrid car. That was a good judgement why that car selling at RM280,000 back in 2013 has now become RM70,000. The quality and performance of the Audi are not questionable, at least for me. I believe the A6 is a good E segment continental car but the only question is the lithium-ion battery. There will be a lot of uncertainties since the car is powered by the used, unknown-condition lithium-ion battery, it would be a nightmare for the replacement for sure. Audi A6 Hybrid was out of the list.

After a few rounds searching online, my focus went to Mercedes Benz E Class CGI W212 and BMW 5 Series F10. These cars were priced right within my budget and I called some of the car sellers for car viewing appointments. The CBU car wasn’t my target as I was looking for a car with a lesser owner possible although specification could be more attractive than a CKD one. I firstly went to E Class E200 CGI 1.8L and my attention was on the bright coloured interior with comfortable car seat which gives a completely luxury experience. Leg room for the rear passenger is decent and the quietness of the cabin is absolutely a five star level. However, the overall design of the car body, headlamps and rear light looks outdated that led me to go for the next target, the BMW 5 Series F10 520i.

I was quite lucky to test on a well maintained 7 years car with mileage of sub 70,000km. The car's exterior design is not as boxy or squarish as the E Class and not as advanced looking as A6 at the first glance. Then, the size of the legendary kidney grille for me is just nice, it appears kind of aggressive looking. The combination of every edge or line from this car gives a muscular look which represents dynamism. The iconic day-time running light LED eagle eye in the headlamp is an eye-catching object whenever there is a F10 on the road. The sexy looking and future-proof rear LED light design is another attractive point of this car especially at night.

My first impression of the BMW F10 interior wasn’t as good as the E Class simply because the darkness of the cabin has shrunk the feeling of spaciousness. The quality of the car seat leather obviously not on a par with the E Class and the rear passenger’s legroom is not even as satisfactory as XV40 Toyota Camry.

User experience

• I have already done 30,000 km
• My average fuel consumption is 6.4 L/100km

On paper, the BMW 5 Series F10 520i is powered by N20, 2.0L turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with twin-scroll turbocharging, named “Twin Power Turbo”. The engine produces 184 hp and 270 Nm of torque with 0-100 km/h time of 7.9 seconds. I was surprised by this figure as these numbers exactly same as the E Class which I tested before but with only 1.8L engine. I was curious how good it would be if a slightly larger engine pushes the same weight of a 1650 kg car. Eventually, I concluded that I go for BMW 5 Series for sure after the test drive and here I want to share with you why I’ve made such decision.

 “The Ultimate Driving Machine'' is the slogan for BMW and yes, I chose the BMW 5 Series because the car is made to match what the slogan tells us. What firstly impressed me is the handling of the car. Remember this is an E segment sedan car (mid-size sedan in US) with 4913mm long, 1860mm in width and 1464mm in height, it still can be easily maneuvered even by shutting at the back alley or parking the car at a congested area. The precision and dynamism of the electromechanical steering is superb especially driving at high speed cruising on highway, thanks to the massive wheelbase of 2968mm as well. It gives me a high level of confidence when lane shifting at high speed, sharp cornering, avoiding potholes or obstruction on highways. The steering and the axle both react so perfectly and instantly wherever you steer or point to without any lagging.

It’s normal having a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the automobile market nowadays but how efficient the engine delivers the output to the wheel is a major technical knowhow. The BMW 5 Series F10 offers the brilliant ZF Friedrichshafen AG 8-speed automatic transmission gearbox (8HP45) to work seamlessly with the mill producing an excellent drivability. The performance of every single gear has been perfectly optimised minimises the energy lost when gear shifting. Driver can comfortably feel the fine-tuned gear ratio against the torque generated from the engine. As a result, the combination of engine and gearbox gives an excellent driving experience, not to mention there are five driving modes available which are Eco Pro, Comfort+, Comfort, Sport and Sport+. Thanks to the advanced engine control unit (ECU) which works smartly and spontaneously coordinating the power distribution and gear shifting.

The next thing worth highlighting is the suspension and chassis. The front and rear suspension are double wishbone and multilink respectively. These two types of suspension work perfectly with the chassis providing an excellent riding and maneuvering experience. The suspension stiffness is nicely adjusted, absorbing the forces between wheel and chassis. It is not too soft for riding and provides sufficient support during extreme driving or sharp cornering.  In other words, I can almost feel no body roll at all and keep my body steady at all times. Also, the chassis stiffness plays a main role for the overall stability of the car and it brings the driveability to another higher level.

Other than the brilliant performance, the seats provided are quite comfortable with power adjustable for both front seats. All seats provide sufficient support for thigh and lumbar giving me a kind of sitting on a sofa at home. It’s comfortable for long hours travelling no matter on high speed cruising or low speed city drive. The power adjustable steering wheel allows me to have a perfect and comfortable driving posture. The automatic rain sensing wiper, automatic headlamps, electronic parking brake with auto hold function are the standard features found in this 5 Series. Also, there are electronic sensors for everything including the tyre pressure, engine oil level, coolant level, battery etc. All information from sensors goes to ECU and ECU plays a main role as a brain controlling everything in the car.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Good NVH.
• Spacious cabin (in width).
• Large car boot (520L) as no spare tyre provided (run flat tyre).
• Sun shade for rear window and windshield.
• Three zone automatic climate control. Blowers at B pillar, floor and centre console for rear passenger.
• Passive cruise control.

Cons

• Short leg rooms for rear passengers (compared with E Class).
• Massive transmission tunnel for rear / four wheel drive setting.
• Insufficient storage compartment. 
• No advanced safety system e.g. blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, ACC, RCTA, etc.
• Too many electronic sensors which cause high maintenance cost.
• High maintenance cost for AGM battery.
• High maintenance cost for the engine control unit (ECU).
• Outdated 10.2 inch iDrive monitor screen and navigation head unit.
• A little bit jerking for lower gear at low speed as there is a brake energy regeneration system.

Ratings

Total Score: 4.5
Performance: 5
Quality & Features: 4
Space: 3.5
Ride Comfort: 5
Fuel Economy: 4
Price & Cost: 4

Summary

“The Ultimate Driving Machine”. Yes, it is indeed a wise choice, at least for me as I love and enjoy driving so much. It has been 2 years since I had the car and I never regretted my choice. Remember, no car in the world is the best car but the most suitable car for you is your best car.

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