[Eric500]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Full review: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...ve-test-review







Finally got high quality pics of the Dakota blue and fine line cove trim too!

The review is to be expected. Though I question using the E43 as competition?

[ZigmundUK]

The blue looks much nicer in m sport stitching. But still can't shake that British airways seating thing. :

[Nivarox]

Thanks for finding, it's a restrained blue hue ,not too braggart tone . I will get ready my coffee , biscuits and notebook to enjoy some good quality reading

[AP]

regarding the steering, that's not great news.
I do miss the steering from my E39 530i msport which was nigh on perfect imho.
other reviews state it is better than the f10 , will have to see when I get a test drive.

[Germanauto]

I've been as critical of BMW as the next guy but I think they got the new 5er right. The general consensus seems to be that the G30 is not the ungainly boat the F10 was. This actually has some impressive chassis tuning and as always, BMW delivers in the powertrain department. The tech is great, the interior looks fabulous, and while the exterior styling isn't anything to write home about it's still more dynamic/sporty looking than the competition IMO.

The average 5-series driver, in my observation, is an 40+ professional who uses the car as a daily commuter. Things like tech and comfort have become more important to customers over the years and the emergence of global markets (where such cars are almost exclusively a status symbol) has dictated the "softening" of such vehicles. It's difficult to imagine any region other than Europe of the U.S. having the greatest influence on future products, but that really seems to be the case now.

As long as the 5er is better to drive than its competitors I suppose that's OK. The 5er has become so big that it doesn't even appeal to old school enthusiasts such as myself. Getting an M3 makes more sense. The 3 is the perfect size too, hopefully they get the G20 right.

[Germanauto]

One thing to add...I don't know why BMW keeps sending test cares with lame all-season tires. Those significantly reduce road feel. Even in my E90 sport, the car went from handling like it was on rails with its stock performance tires to being noticeably "softer" with all seasons. It was worth the handling trade off to avoid getting expensive new performance tires so frequently, but it definitely negatively impacts the feel of the car.

[ano0oj]

impressive numbers from the 540i and 550i! Can't wait to see what the M5 holds for us

[TheBingoBalls]

Originally Posted by AP

regarding the steering, that's not great news.
I do miss the steering from my E39 530i msport which was nigh on perfect imho.
other reviews state it is better than the f10 , will have to see when I get a test drive.

It is better than the F10, but not by much. Overall, the G30 is a better car and is an improvement over the F10 but don't expect it to be BMW of old (E39 or E60). The F10 felt and drove like a big luxury sedan. The G30 improves on this and drives more like a sport-luxury sedan.

[midwest 340xi 6sp]

Well, if the G30 is truly a pivot back to sport, I'd be happy. Not sure thats the case after reading this. I am looking forward to driving one soon and making my own judgement.

But I am not holding my breath for an E39 type driving experience in a 5'er again.

Hard to believe I've owned 3 generations of 5 now. I'd have to put my E39 540i as the #2 car in my BMW's owned list behind only the E46 M3. It was that good!

[Phatcat]

The new 540i xDrive is 16 pounds lighter than the F10 535i xDrive C&D tested before, both twin turbo six.

So just as I thought, when you add in all the new bells and whistles, G30 won't be much lighter than the F10.

[Blubaron79]

Wouldn't be a Car and Driver or Motor Trend article if it didn't bring up Steering.

It's almost their go to crutch when they cannot find anything wrong with BMW's.

[goj]

Originally Posted by Blubaron79

Wouldn't be a Car and Driver or Motor Trend article if it didn't bring up Steering.

It's almost their go to crutch when they cannot find anything wrong with BMW's.

Car and Driver is poor journalism in my opinion. Many articles are published online with mistakes. So much of every article is focused on complaining about price.

But what's even worse is that the way they nit pick and spin their articles seemingly makes being a car enthusiast all about talking crap about cars you don't like/compete with the car you own.

What happened to liking cars for what they are? Not this trend of hating on cars for what they're not.

[pharding]

It is fine car and BMW a great job in general, except that the hybrid analog/digital instrumentation is hideous. Given how much the moderately optioned G30 costs, it is very surprising that this clumsy hodge podge is foisted onto the US buyers of this expensive car. The digital instrumentation of the E Class and upcoming Audi A6 are much more elegant.

[goj]

Originally Posted by pharding

It is fine car and BMW a great job in general, except that the hybrid analog/digital instrumentation is hideous. Given how much the moderately optioned G30 costs, it is very surprising that this clumsy hodge podge is foisted onto the US buyers of this expensive car. The digital instrumentation of the E Class and upcoming Audi A6 are much more elegant.

A bit dramatic much? Not even the nitpicky auto journals say this... enjoy your new car lol..

[babaikram]

Originally Posted by Midwest 535i

Well, if the G30 is truly a pivot back to sport, I'd be happy. Not sure thats the case after reading this. I am looking forward to driving one soon and making my own judgement.

But I am not holding my breath for an E39 type driving experience in a 5'er again.

Hard to believe I've owned 3 generations of 5 now. I'd have to put my E39 540i as the #2 car in my BMW's owned list behind only the E46 M3. It was that good!

Don't base your decision on only one review. Read other reviews. The overall consensus of the reviews is that road feel is good at least much better than F10, even the highly critical Topgear review says this. The handling is noticeably good as well

[secretanchitman]

Originally Posted by goj

A bit dramatic much? Not even the nitpicky auto journals say this... enjoy your new car lol..

It absolutely looks out of place on this car with the money you pay for it, especially considering that the 3, 4, 6, 7, X5, and X6 get this. Hell, the G30 around the world gets the digital instrument cluster so why do we have to get the half-assed one in the states?

I don't think he's being dramatic at all - it's a valid complaint and all of the promo shots have the full digital instrument cluster. For me, the lack of 4-Zone Climate Control (again!) is a big no-no and again, BMW doesn't have that option in the states for whatever reason.

Back on topic though, good to see that the car drives well but the steering not so much. I'll have to do a test drive myself and try it out.

[ZigmundUK]

I love how the author blames the Chinese. Like when all else fails 'them chinamen caused this!'

[Saphirschwarz]

Originally Posted by ZigmundUK

I love how the author blames the Chinese. Like when all else fails 'them chinamen caused this!'

"Blame" is maybe a lil too strong but they cant ignore a market like this...

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by babaikram

Don't base your decision on only one review. Read other reviews. The overall consensus of the reviews is that road feel is good at least much better than F10, even the highly critical Topgear review says this. The handling is noticeably good as well

Agree, and it's how I'm looking at the G30. We need a spread of reviews to see how individual specifications influence the drive and resulting opinion. I'm forming the opinion the G30 is following the F10/F11 in being specification sensitive. May not be quite so sensitive, but suspension, wheel size, tires, options, are influencing the reviews.

[Stratus650]

" not a hint of steering feel"

I guess that sums it up for the ultimate driving machine

[440xiGCMsport]

Originally Posted by Blubaron79

Wouldn't be a Car and Driver or Motor Trend article if it didn't bring up Steering.

It's almost their go to crutch when they cannot find anything wrong with BMW's.

It is the go to because the steering does suck. There is a dead spot on centre and no feel. It is also light at high speed.
BMW guys complain about Audi steering being to light but the BMW EPS is lighter than the Audi hydraulic steering in my 2010 S4.
BMW still need to pay more attention to the EPS tuning.

[Yay-Z]

Dang, not even a hint of steering feel?