[Ghostriderf80]

Originally Posted by phennighausen

Well I took my F10 535i xDrive into the dealer for a repair and was lucky enough to receive one of their first G30 loaner cars. I thought I would write a little review with impressions on the differences/improvements from the F10 generation. Overall it’s a solid upgrade and don’t think anyone will be disappointed.

View post on imgur.com

Exterior

I really don’t have much to say here. It just looks like a newer 5-series. Nothing outlandish but a really nice refined piece of design. When seeing the G30 parked next to an F10 (wish I had taken a pic) you can really see the “newness” of the G30 and slightly wider stance. I feel that the design is best on the standard sport line trim, the M-sports lower air dam is a little too wide and short. My biggest complaint really is the selection of rims that BMW currently offers. I wish there was a simpler 5 spoke type design and most of the designs are a little too busy for me.

Interior

Wow! They have made some really great changes on the inside of this car. The overall feeling of space is increased. One of my passengers immediately commented that there was more legroom because the glovebox doesn’t hang down into the passenger footwell as much as the F10. I’m so excited that they have made the sport seats standard in the USA! Although, I fear that American’s of a certain type may not enjoy them so much, but I loved them. No need to upgrade to the multicontour. I cannot stress enough that the sensitec seats do not do the G30 justice, with the addition of the sport seats the rough texture makes it difficult to slide in and out of the car often resulting in an untucked shirt. I also do not like the odor that they provide to the interior. The steering wheel with paddles feels great to hold and has the usual buttons. I’m not sold on the partial bezel digital gauge cluster but the graphics look great and it has wonderful details. The upper dashboard trim doesn’t have the expensive dense feel of the F10’s and the sensitec stitching isn’t a big improvement, certainly doesn’t fool me into thinking it’s leather. The ambient lighting is a mega-crowd pleaser and is integrated beautifully to the trim lines of the interior.

Driving Experience

This is another area where the G30 takes a big step forward from the F10. I have to make sure I reiterate that I am coming from an F10 535i xDrive which has the hydraulic steering and is quite a bit heavier than a base G30 530i. I immediately noticed how they have decreased the amount of turns from lock to lock. Going around a cloverleaf that I take every day is much more pleasant now that I do not have to cross my arms as I do in the F10. The weighting is much lighter than my F10 but didn’t really bother me. The road feel is about the same. Overall the G30 just feels a lot more nimble and doesn’t roll in corners so much. The engine is astoundingly quiet (I thought the F10 528i was quiet!). It has more than enough power to give you some RWD fun and make quick work of my commute. For normal driving I see little reason to upgrade to the 540i. The transmission is just as quick here as the F10 and has no complaints from me. Glad the shift paddles are standard now! My loaner had the base 18” wheels and rode extremely smoothly, my F10 has 19’s so it’s hard for me to tell if the ride really is that much smoother. Either way it’s plush when you need it to be and can be flicked through corners with ease.

Infotainment

iDrive as before is simply the best. Audi has great graphics and a pretty interface but for ease of navigation I think iDrive is ahead. However I do have some gripes with the newest version. In an effort to simplify the experience and make it more accessible for touch I feel that they have created a few too many submenus. I liked how on NBT I could just go to Vehicle Info and scroll to the trip computers. Now I have to go to “My Vehicle” and then to “Driving Data” and then select “Trip Computer”. This is repeated throughout the system, it can easily be learned but was a little distracting at first. Also “Technology in Action” what does that have to do with the “Sport Displays”! Lastly, this may be something to do with this car not having Carplay or the wireless charging but when I plugged my iPhone in there is no shortcut to Podcasts or Audiobooks like on NBT and when I did switch from Bluetooth to USB I got the error like I used to get on my CIC that I can’t do both at the same time and I have to manually configure it instead of the seamless switch like with my NBT system.

Details

These are a few random observations that show some bigger changes BMW is making to its vehicles that I came across. After 15 years of BMW making stalks that always immediately return to center much to everyone's initial disdain they have brought back normal stalks just like in every other car. I actually missed the electronic ones since the stalk never snaps back into place as you went around a corner and the wipers reset every time you cycled the power to the car.

Next, for some reason they have decided to reinstate the coolant temp gauge instead of the oil temp gauge they've had for years. I'm not sure why they did this, I find the oil temp to be more useful than coolant temp. Finally, I REALLY miss the quick center vent fresh air adjuster. I know you can get to it by pushing the Menu button and then going to the adjustment menu but that's annoying seeing how I adjust that often. It's a feature only BMW’s have had and I've grown to really like it.

Summary

Overall, I think this new 5 is a great improvement over the last generation and the driving dynamics exceeded my expectations. I can see myself having one after my F10 ages and I can get it in Moonstone. A few things on the options that I would point out. Definitely get the leather seats the stitching detailing and comfort is worth it. I would not really bother with the “icon adaptive lights” because most likely they’ll be dumbed down for the US and the standard ones were great. I think the dynamic dampers would be worth it especially considering they are now a standalone option. I would pass on the sensitec dashboard and instead choose the ceramic controls which I feel make a bigger difference to the interior. The standard stereo actually sounded pretty good, better than the F10. I would want to try the HK system before I committed and totally go for the B&W system if I had money to burn.

I had an F10 M5 and believe me it was a BOAT and I felt like a fat man driving it. Worse it felt like jeremy clarkson beer gut. The new G30 is even bigger, sure it lighter, but its massive like an old eldorado cadillac. Great for the advances in technology. I will wait for the new 3 series M3. In the meantime I can at least enjoy my new M3 comp which was such an upgrade. In regards to the G30 - It looks good when scaled with massive building around and side by side it makes the F10 look tiny.

[MilehighM3]

Originally Posted by hyperboost

one thing I want to point out is, all F10 5er does NOT have hydraulic steering. I see you have an individual F10 but it still does not have hydraulic steering.

X drive cars have hydraulic steering as another member pointed out.

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by MilehighM3

X drive cars have hydraulic steering as another member pointed out.

G30 too?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by ZigmundUK

G30 too?

EPS across the models.

G30
Electronic Power Steering EPS or Integral Active Steering (with variable rack geometry).

It was commented at the time, that BMW used HPAS on the F10 xDrive models due to "packaging constraints".

[Surly73]

Originally Posted by phennighausen

Actually I believe the F10 535i xDrive did have Hydraulic assist while the F10 528i xDrive had EPS for packaging reasons. See this article from Car and Driver.

Yep mine does. Still nothing like my past BMWs

[Quicksilv3r]

In no way is the G30 a "more refined" design than the F10. If anything, the G30 is stupidly exaggerated. Everything from those Kia Optima tail lights to the excessive bumper overhang at the front wheels (not to mention the wheels themselves). Best part about the G is the interior.

[usmabmass]

Originally Posted by Quicksilv3r

In no way is the G30 a "more refined" design than the F10. If anything, the G30 is stupidly exaggerated. Everything from those Kia Optima tail lights to the excessive bumper overhang at the front wheels (not to mention the wheels themselves). Best part about the G is the interior.

Its all personal preference of course. Sode by side, to my mind the g30 instantly makes the f10 look outdated

[ZigmundUK]

Originally Posted by usmabmass

Its all personal preference of course. Sode by side, to my mind the g30 instantly makes the f10 look outdated

Yeah of course we're all speaking on a personal perspective so all opinions have their place.

I think the g30 looks better not just newer. I always thought the f 10 was a little chunky and mushy at the back. The bonnet (hood) lines were distinctive but a little too much imo.

Interior rocks. Can't wait - hopefully about a week to go!

[midwest 340xi 6sp]

Originally Posted by R N M

Here is my 2cents after driving it:

If you are leasing F10 and need replacement, you will be perfectly happy with new G30.
If you own F10 and are happy, you are not missing much with new G30.

I felt the same after testing a 530 G30. Very nice car, interior especially an upgrade, exterior is more refined imo. But not enough for me to run from F'10. BMW took very little risk in evolving from one gen to the next.

[NV GUNS]

Originally Posted by Surly73

If I could only get the steering weight/feel of my E39 with the ratio of the G30..... wishful thinking

100% agree with you, nothing beats the E39 steering. E60 was good but still blows away the F10.

[Brake_Late]

Originally Posted by ArturPL

I've been inside one at dealership, I've seen tons of pictures yet I haven't noticed that. I guess You have to drive one to actually do. This is really crap. I use it all the time in F30 and I probably will move to G30 at some point

Raced along side one down 91 Westbound heading back from track day today
at Thermal Club looks sleek LED headlights very nice

[PARTS@STBMW]

Awesome, thanks for sharing!

[Drift Master]

Originally Posted by Brake_Late

Raced along side one down 91 Westbound heading back from track day today
at Thermal Club looks sleek LED headlights very nice

92 mph on the HUD and I think he was passing you

[Brake_Late]

Originally Posted by Drift Master

92 mph on the HUD and I think he was passing you

Not even close.
I let him catch up for the shot more like lol
Then I buried him right after.

[Drift Master]

Originally Posted by Brake_Late

Not even close.
I let him catch up for the shot more like lol
Then I buried him right after.

What are u driving and what model 5 series is this can't seem to make it out In the pic

[Amgeater2]

Lol here it comes the hater juice...: let me guess you have an f10

[Brake_Late]

Originally Posted by Drift Master

What are u driving and what model 5 series is this can't seem to make it out In the pic

In driving an F36
And owning.

He's in a brand new 530? And my GT is an F07 ? MSport

[54Me]

Originally Posted by PhoenixWolf

I have not heard the BW system but it can't sound good enough for me to pay that much for a sound system...

Oh, brother, yes it can. "Listen and you will see"...

[BDO]

Originally Posted by Amgeater2

Lol here it comes the hater juice...: let me guess you have an f10

Lol. It's amusing and sad at the same time.

[marsb007]

Anyone care to comment whether they changed the "luxury seating package" to include actual cooled seats vs. whatever the hell they're doing in the F10? Or are they the same?

How's the massage function? I think they added massage in addition to active seats...

[phennighausen]

Originally Posted by marsb007

Anyone care to comment whether they changed the "luxury seating package" to include actual cooled seats vs. whatever the hell they're doing in the F10? Or are they the same?

How's the massage function? I think they added massage in addition to active seats...

I have not played with the luxury seats but am willing to bet the seat ventilation feature will work about the same it has since the E60. If only they could figure out how Porsche does it... I hear the massage is pretty good with decent intensity. Definitely more featured then the butt rub of the F10!

[marsb007]

Originally Posted by phennighausen

I have not played with the luxury seats but am willing to bet the seat ventilation feature will work about the same it has since the E60. If only they could figure out how Porsche does it... I hear the massage is pretty good with decent intensity. Definitely more featured then the butt rub of the F10!

I hope you're wrong, but unfortunately, you're probably right...