Yesterday’s CC Clue, a rather perplexing one I knew only the truest of Bimmerfiles would get, was from the last word of the title and image in reference to Dingolfing, Bavaria, home to BMW’s largest production facility where the 5 Series is produced. Some very great responses though!
I’ve dreamed of owning this car for almost my entire 25 years. I’ve always been a BMW fan, and for as long as I can remember it’s been my most favorite automotive brand and the one I’ve been most passionate about, even when my only experience with BMWs was my car models and what I saw of them on the road and in movies and TV. Though other BMWs have periodically been more exciting over the years, for most of my life, my most constant love and aspiration has always been the 5 Series and everything it embodies.
Late this past year, an opportunity to acquire another vehicle presented itself when mom found herself in the situation she does every 4-5 years or so, of her car approaching the age and mileage in which she usually trades it in. This time was a bit unusual, however, as Mom simply couldn’t come to terms with the idea of parting ways with her Mercedes GLK 350, a car she’s still very much in love with. Ultimately, we came to a mutual decision and agreement of keeping the GLK a few more years, lessening its daily use to better “preserve” it, and going in halves together on a brand new car that we’d each get to drive – Treat Yo’ Self at its finest!
With the still very new and fresh seventh generation “G30” 5 Series entering its second model year after an abbreviated introductory season, and my employee pricing plus the already good incentives guaranteeing an obscenely good deal, I thought it was the perfect time to obtain the car, which in one form or another, I had been dreaming of since the early-1990s. By far the most technologically advanced, luxurious, powerful, and expensive vehicle either my mother or I have ever owned, as if it wasn’t exciting enough, what made the whole process of this car extra meaningful was that we special ordered it, getting to build it exactly to our liking.
Consulting with mom over the build spec the entire way, so long as it had the few items she wanted, she gave me the majority of the creative freedom. Although I officially placed the order in late-September, I had been building this car online since the G30 arrived in January 2017, so I had a fairly concrete idea of how I’d ideally spec it out.
Without a doubt in my mind, I went with the stealthy yet elegant Carbon Black Metallic over Cognac Dakota Leather, a combination personally favored by my dealer GM for his own executive demos. Available only with the M Sport line, Carbon Black Metallic is a beautiful BMW color that has been offered for many years, with metallic shades of dark blue when the lighting hits it right. I always prefer rich-looking, warm interior colors, and the Cognac hit my sweet spot, with the Gray Poplar wood trim adding a striking contrast. On a side note, BMW’s standard Dakota leather is actually less chemically-treated and holds up over time much better than the extra-cost Nappa leather.
As for how I equipped it after that, I added the $4,900 M Sport Package (19″ Style 664M wheels, LED fog lights, M Sport suspension, M Sport steering wheel, Aerodynamic kit, Shadowline exterior trim, and Anthracite headliner). For 2018, the M Sport Package now includes the former Premium Package components (Comfort Access keyless entry, Power tailgate, Heated front seats, SensaTec vinyl stitched dashboard, Satellite radio, and BMW’s Gesture Control).
From there, I upgraded my “tier-less” M Sport to the $2,100 Executive Tier (Icon adaptive full-LED headlights, automatic high beams, Dynamic Digital instrument cluster, Active Park Distance Control, Surround View w/3D View, Parking Assistant Plus, and Soft-close automatic doors). Per Mom’s wishes I also added the $1,700 Driving Assistant Package (Active blind-spot detection, Land departure warning, and Head-up display).
After that, the standalone extra-cost options I added were the Heated Steering Wheel ($190), Harman Kardon surround sound stereo ($875), Apple CarPlay (what I’ve come to find as a useless option for $300, as BMW’s own interface is much better), All-weather floor mats ($210), and a BMW first aid kit ($50). Obviously, it’s very easy to keep pushing the MSRP up on any BMW but between leasing and all various discounts and incentives, the burden of extra cost equipment I added was essentially wiped away.
Now in recent years, it seems that whenever a new generation of any given BMW model is released, it’s instantly met with varying criticism from enthusiasts as being too soft and disconnected, and from the more general population as “not like it used to be”. The simple response to that is indeed today’s BMWs are not like they used to be — no car is like what it used to be any given number of years ago. With each next technological and engineering advancement, not to mention safety and environmental regulations, and various consumer demands and market trends, cars do change quite a bit, adapting to all these various forces.
As for how this pertains to BMW, yes, it is true that today’s BMWs are more comfortable, easier to drive, and larger than their same-named Series counterparts from the 1990s and before. The primary reason for this, is quite simply because that’s what sells. Like any automaker these days, BMW can sell way more cars with automatic transmission, electrically-assisted steering, and active safety gizmos galore, because that is what the large majority of buyers, especially luxury car buyers demand.
However, that doesn’t mean that today’s BMWs are not capable of offering equivalent levels of the Ultimate Driving experience as BMWs of yesteryear. Even in standard form, most current BMWs still offer superior driving dynamics and handling than their competition. True, while in standard form, BMWs are tuned more comfort-oriented, their selectable Sport and Sport + modes dramatically change the steering, suspension, and responsiveness far more noticeably than in cars from most other luxury brands I’ve driven. It truly feels like you’re driving a different car with the switch of a button.
Also often overlooked is the fact that most models can be equipped with optional M Sport and Dynamic Handling packages, enhancing performance by adding features such as adaptive M suspension, high-performance brakes, variable sport steering, and dynamic damper control. And of course, there are also still the real M cars.
In any event, I’m happy to report that the new G30 5 Series offers a Teutonic driving experience to my own personal liking, and one that should appease most drivers, both hardcore BMW enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike. You see, the beauty in the 540 is how it so masterfully blends comfort and performance. Even on 19″ rims, the ride is smooth and composed, with active dampers minimizing New England’s many brutal pot holes better than in the 2 Series that feels like I’ve quite literally “broken the car” with every one I cannot avoid.
Yet at the same time, there is no bounciness or wallowing typically expected with larger car — the 5 remains completely flat with no body roll, even under emergency maneuvers or taking sharp curves on twisting mountain roads at highway speeds. On the open road, it feels like a much smaller vehicle. You can thank the superb chassis, cornering brake control, and tauter M sport double-wishbone front and integral-V multi-link rear suspension for this. Steering is nicely-weighted, providing better than expected feedback even in standard comfort mode. Sport mode adds a significantly heavier feel to it which I prefer even more.
When it comes to the engine, I chose what I feel is the engine best-suited for daily driving in this car. Slotted above the 2.0-liter turbo inline-4 found in the 530i and the 2.0-liter plus twin electric motors found in the 530e, and below the two 4.4-liter turbo V8 found in the M550i and M5, the “B58” 3.0-liter TwinPower turbo inline-6 is the true sweet spot when it comes to the G30.
Making 335 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, it’s capable of propelling the 4,019-pound 540i xDrive from zero-to-sixty in a mere 4.7 seconds… fast enough for any freeway merge. The ZF 8-speed automatic, the same found in most modern BMW products, is geared more for comfort, making for a less responsive throttle in first gear when accelerating from stop if only a light tap is given to the gas pedal. Thankfully in sport mode, however, gear ratios are improved for performance, and the slightest tap on the gas rockets the 540 from idle. Oh, and did I mention it sounds fantastic in sport mode? Very purposeful and no-nonsense in a Germanic-like way. For a point of view driver’s seat experience, please watch Tedward’s video of my very car.
Styling of the new G30 5 Series is an evolution of its F10 predecessor, drawing design cues from the most recent 7 Series for a look I find smoother and sexier than the F10. Versus the F10, height is visually reduced while width is heavily emphasized by a wider grille, headlights, air intakes, and taillights. The front especially, comes off as more attractive, with less busyness to it than the F10.
The G30’s most noticeable advancement by far, and the primary reason I ruled out my other choice, the 440 convertible, is its interior. Over its predecessor and lower series BMWs, the new 5 Series boasts a dramatic upgrade in interior materials, layout, and technology. Soft leather covers the seats, armrests, door panels, center console and the muscular M Sport steering wheel, while Sensatec leatherette covers the dash and upper door panels.
Among the most rewarding part of special ordering is the ability to select interior leather and trim. After all, the interior is where you’ll be spending most of your time, so I always feel that a visually appealing interior is a must-have. As I mentioned earlier, I greatly prefer my interiors to have warmer tones versus the stark coldness of black leather and aluminum trim that’s ever prevalent in modern BMWs. From the minute I saw the Cognac over Gray Poplar Wood trim from an early promotional shot, I knew it was the ideal interior of my 5.
The front sports seats are among the most comfortable and supportive I’ve had the fortune of experiencing, with the proper amount of cushioning and bolstering in all the right places. Befitting of the 5 Series class, the front seats are rightfully more plush and throne-like than in my 228. As in the 2 Series, power adjustable side bolsters come in handy for my slim build, effectively cradling me through corners. A total of 16-way power adjustments plus 2-way manually adjustable thigh cushions come standard, something that made the optional 20-way power Multi-contour seats for $750 seem unnecessary. In hindsight, however, I somewhat regret not adding them for their massage function.
We took delivery of “Blitzen” the Bavarian Beast back on December 23, making for a wonderful early Christmas present, and now some three-plus months and 3,000 miles into ownership, I cannot express how much I am in love with this car. It’s everything I ever could have wanted it to be, and I savor every chance I get to drive it. I will say that while the 2 Series is a car that fits me like a glove, I’m happily growing accustomed to the 5 Series and its more spacious, comfortable, and opulent surroundings — and its added performance.
I never expected the car I’ve fantasized about in my daydreams for so many years to actually be in my garage at this point in my life, but when the opportunity presented itself, I couldn’t pass on it. It still feels like a dream, but I suppose that’s what owning your dream car should feel like. Five is such a perfect number, and this 5 is truly the perfect car for what I wanted in an additional car. Oh, and Mom likes it too!
Photographed: Chickatawbut Overlook in the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, Massachusetts (Boston skyline in the distance) – April 2018
My Car Of A Lifetime Series
Wow…congratulations! I can tell you’re very proud of that beautiful machine! The 5 series has always had a special place in my heart, as it’s the first car I ever went really fast in. It felt the most in its element when being driven like that; it truly came alive. Of course, that was a thousand years ago in an E28 5-series, but that experience forever attached me to a BMW and their inline-sixes.
BMW builds a lot of great engines, but their inline-sixes have always been their specialty. There’s nothing quite like feeling rev just the right amount, so you know it’s working, yet never feeling like they are struggling to put out whatever amount of power you need.
Very nice!
You are correct about the 5-Series being the sweet spot of BMW. Their other offerings are great, but the straight-six 5-Series has always appeared to be the high spot of their range.
And good job on the interior color. It is so much better than black.
Thank you Jason! I swore off all-black interiors after my mom’s 2007 X3. And it truly is a sweet spot type of car. I honestly wouldn’t mind the size of the 3 Series, but the current F30 3 Series just can’t come close to the refinement of the G30 5. And, still having the 2, it’s nice to drive something larger for the difference.
Very sharp, Brendan! Seems like there are a mind boggling array of options available, but you describe them with an impressive degree of comfort and familiarity. My favorite is the “Land Departure Warning”, which I’m sure could come in handy in costal Massachusetts 🙂
Working for the company helps, but in all honestly, constantly configuration BMWs and MINIs online has helped the most in learning all of the options and packages, which are ever changing by the model year.
The lane departure warning has come in handy those few times when you momentarily take you eyes off the road, giving a vibration to the steering wheel to alert you. My mom hates it though, as constantly swerving to avoid the endless amount of potholes in the road causes it to kick in more than she would prefer.
Does it have a system that provides steering assist to keep you in the lane as well? I can handle lane departure warning systems, but the steering assist (as experienced in MIL’s new Pilot) was too much, especially since I was driving it on curvy Route 2 on a trip to North Adams last year.
At least on BMWs, lane keep assist (different from just lane departure warning) requires adaptive cruise control, something I never use. I don’t like giving up that much control 🙂
How exciting! You don’t explicitly say, but I would guess that this new one will lessen the pain of turning the 2 series in at the end of its lease? Whatever replaces the 2 is going to have a hard time satisfying you after getting to live (even part time) with this.
Thinking back, I don’t think I have ever driven a 5. The inline six sounds like Goldilocks’ choice: just right.
It is a truly satisfying experience every time I get into it, and I think not getting to drive it every day makes if feel more special when I do. And the inline-6 truly is the “just right” choice for this car. I’ve driven every other engine, with the exception of the M5 (unfortunately).
Both the gasoline I4 and the hybrid I4 are just a bit to sluggish off the line, especially the 530e plug-in hybrid which is some 600 pounds heavier. The M550 is very, very powerful, but the added weight of the V8 makes its handling and “light on its feet” feeling inferior to that of the inline-6 540.
I’m not really sure what the plan is after the 2. I still have one more year on the lease so I have time to decide. Likely, either myself or my mother will fully assume the 5 and the other will get a new lease. If it is me taking over the 5, I will likely just turn in the 2 without a direct replacement and going back to just one car payment. We’ll see though 🙂
I’m twice your age, and harbored a similar longing for much, much longer before finally buying. As an adolescent in the early 80’s, I fell hard for the original 3 Series coupe, but it was always beyond reach for me. Then there was always a reason I shouldn’t – I was raising a family, the coupe is impractical. I only wanted a manual transmission, wife at the time wouldn’t drive one, prices of BMWs kept going up and it seemed it would never happen – it remained on my bucket list, a perennial saved eBay search and AutoTrader search popping emails to me. In 2014, a colleague I was working with was diagnosed with cancer, and it hit me quite hard. He was younger than me, had so much going for him, was really likable, and when he passed away not 6 months later I realized like so many before me we really have no idea when something like that might happen – he thought he wasn’t feeling well due to some food he ate but then couldn’t shake it. I realized I was being silly, life is short, there’s responsible and practical and then martyrdom, I made more than enough money to buy the car I’d always wanted, and so I did. A 435, same color combination as yours, and I love it and am so glad I did it. I should have done it sooner. Fabulous driver car that is still beautiful. It’s as large a car as I want in a daily driver (for classics I like old big boats), my kids are grown so who cares about the back seat. It hit the spot perfectly. I do regret the 19 inch wheels, but with M Sport you have no choice (18s won’t fit over the calipers) as I think the roads in the northeast aren’t good enough for the bigger wheels, plain and simple. I wish manufacturers would give a no cost wheel size option depending on our driving preference). The 435 has the same motor as yours, and with the 6 speed you can wind it out and it feels and sounds beautiful (I’ve had loaners with their 2.0 4 cylinder and there couldn’t be a less BMW feeling and sounding engine. Big turbo lag too, which the Audi 4 doesn’t have). The steering is lighter than a BMW “should be” as they say, but that’s true of all cars now, and it’s much better than Audi and Mercedes (probably gives them a couple of mpg in the tradeoff). In sport mode the steering will tighten up some, but you can feel its artificial-ness a little too much. The additional torque in sport mode is something though, while the stiffening of dampers is really too much for street travel on top of the 19s. On a track, it’d be awesome. I did swap my run-flats (which have come a long way but not far enough) for regular rubber and I use up trunk space with a space saver spare, a trade off well worth it for both improved ride and the ability to actually change a tire myself rather than be beholden to roadside assistance (last winter I had 5 pothole driven blowouts and I resolved never to have run flats again at $500 a pop and no ability to change a tire). As sedans and coupes die off, even more so if you want a manual transmission, I’m glad I hit my bucket list while it was still available.
Enjoy your new car!
Enjoyed this very much!
I couldn’t agree more when it comes to living life to the fullest and treating yourself to things and experiences that make you happy so long as they are within your means. There’s nothing worse than regrets or those “what if’s”. My rule of thumb is as long as I will derive a good amount of joy from it and I can afford it while still saving a substantial portion of my income, then it’s worth it.
The 435 is an awesome car. I had the chance to rent the convertible version out in California for a few days last summer and I loved it. I have the 2.0 inline-4 in my 228, and haven’t ever found any real turbo lag, which I have found in the Audis I’ve driven. I think the automatic transmissions’ gearing have a lot to do it. For example, in the 530 with the inline-4 I did find it to be more hesitant off the line.
Brendan, congratulations, it sounds like a beautiful and awesome car! I can’t help but share my counterpoint., however, as this five series embodies many of the trends at BMW that turned me from a lover to a hater:
1. Tumblehome, raked windshield and coupe-like roofline that steal headroom in every seat and create a closed and claustophobic atmosphere in the cabin.
2. Huge, wide console and protruding dashboard that reduce interior space further.
3. Weight in a “sports sedan”. Over 4,000 pounds just sounds more like a muscle car than a sports sedan, although it sounds as if the horsepower and electronic aids enable it to feel light on its feet.
4. All wheel drive. I just love the lightness and feeling of two wheel drive vehicles. If I need winter traction, I’ll take front wheel drive. If I want an enthusiast car I’ll accept the winter traction penalty of rear-wheel drive.
5. (Nitpick) Model number inflation. It’s a 3.0, and should be a 530;-). I understand the reasoning given the turbos and power “as if” it were a 4.0. I also understand that the 320i had a 1.8 and the 533i had a 3.2. Nonetheless, it’s a 530!
6. (Nitpick) Proliferation of option packages. I think your options cost 33% than my entire vehicle! (2013 fiat 500 pop with 5-speed, bought used last year for $7,500).
7. BMW’s use of the stereo to play an engine noise track in the cabin. I’m not positive, but I believe that glorious sound you’re hearing is an artificial or at least enhanced track played over the stereo.
So please forgive me for the counterpoint and I’m sure another person could have said the same to me, that the e3 Bavaria was better, when I loved and drove my father’s e28 533i, e34 525i and e34 530i (v8)!
Thanks Matt. While I don’t really agree with most of your, I do highly respect your thoughts on this, and I can certainly see where you are coming from. You are not alone with a lot of your nitpicks with present-day BMW.
Trust me, we all miss BMWs with larger-displacement naturally aspirated I6s with model designations reflecting actual displacement and “all-natural” exhaust sounds. Unfortunately, its simply a sign of the times. Greater consciousness of our eroding environment and regulations to reflect this limit what automotive brands can continue to do, and BMW is not exempt.
Nice car Brendan.
Your life sure is different than mine, somehow I prefer to have a bunch of old and/or undesireable stuff than one nice thing. This applies to cars, motorcycles, guitars..
Not to wives though. 😛
I agree with you Doug, and I always describe myself as a “quantity over quality” kind of guy. I think at least some of that has to do with having space to store and use many outside toys (like cars), which I’m sure is at least somewhat at a premium for Brendan being close to Boston. Either way, I appreciate those who buy new cars, as it allows used cars to become available for purchase that wouldn’t be otherwise 🙂
And being at 11 years and counting in my first (and with any luck, only) marriage, I certainly agree regarding wives also!
Haha, to each and their own. It’s what makes the world go ’round 🙂
Funny, I was like Brendan when I was his age, but I’m now more like DougD and Cresys (although I have one nicer vehicle among my three).
Thankfully we have both: People to buy them new, and people to enjoy them as older, used vehicles. It’s sort of like an ecosystem, when you think about it.
That’s a beautiful car, love the interior color choice. Congratulations!
Thanks! Once you get used to the warmness of brown-toned interiors, it’s hard to go back!
A very sophisticated choice, Brendan, and it looks sharp, there’s nothing like being able to spec something out exactly as you’d want it instead of paying for undesired items and having to compromise on other things. I’m somewhat ashamed to admit that it’s gotten difficult for me to tell the difference between a 5 and a 7 at first glance, which works in the 5’s favor if you know what I mean!
BMW for many years resisted the lure of the turbo as well as AWD, but over the last decade surely has embraced both, apparently helping result in increased sales (the whole point, right?) even as what built their brand has slipped away a bit.
I hope it treats you well for as long as you have it and look forward to what happens in your garage a year from now!
Thanks Jim! The ability to spec it out was a lot of fun!
And I won’t hold it against you. The 5 and 7 share a lot of styling cues, and the 5’s hood has become especially long. If you don’t see them on a regular basis they can look similar.
Congratulations, Brendan. Beautiful car, and I can just see you behind the wheel with a smile on your face. Enjoy!
Thanks Paul! It truly does put a smile on my face every time I slip into the driver’s seat, let alone look at it in the garage or in a parking lot.
Looks great, and I love the interior. I thought the colour was blue, not black, at first.
We’d all go for different colours and options of course, but yours seem a pretty full set. How are you finding gesture control – it’s had a mixed press over here?
Thanks Roger! The Carbon Black Metallic is a very cool metallic, as it does look more blue or black depending on the light.
I personally like Gesture Control, and find myself about ready to use it whenever I’m in another car without it. I primarily use it to skip to the next song from my Spotify library, which I never have an issue with. That action’s standard setting motion is essentially using two fingers in a “scissor” motion.
To turn up the volume, the standard preset motion is to spin one’s wrist in a circular motion, which proves a bit more spotty, as you have to be directly under the camera in order for it to work properly. For that function I usually just use the steering wheel mounted volume controls, something I’ve been using ever since I started driving. But to change the song, it works perfectly.
Like me with the Alfa, you’re scratching an itch, which is always rewarding 😉
And there’s something about a straight six 5 series or 3 series that seems just right!
Awesome – Congratulations, Brendan! An excellent tie-in to last Saturday’s post.
Thanks Joe! As you can tell, I scheduled them purposely that way 🙂
Congratulations! Great choice – the new 5 definitely looks more aggressive and has more “presence” than its predecessor.
Thank you! I agree. I do still like the F10 5 Series a lot, but with the new G30, BMW corrected the styling elements that tended to give the F10 a bloated, overweight look to it.
Congratulations! I especially like the interior’s colors and materials, stunning!
Thank you! The interior color combination is my favorite and BMW did a really good job with the materials.
Congrats. It is always nice to obtain ones dream car.
Am I to assume that you are retaining your 2 Series until the end of the lease? So you are a two BMW family now.
Thank you! It really has been a rewarding experience of ownership so far and I smile every time I walk out to it.
But yes, I still plan on keeping the 2 Series for the time being and Mom still has her GLK. I’ll likely keep it until the end of its lease, unless Mom decides sooner that she wants a new car of her own, likely an X3 or X4, the latter of which I’m pushing as the new one is beautiful!
In that event, she’ll likely trade in the GLK for a lease I can get her, and I might be able to turn the 2 Series in early and have the payments pulled ahead, though there may be too many. I still truly enjoy the 2 Series though, so I’m fine keeping it.
Good plan. The 2 Series is a wonderful car with good power for its size and great cornering and it reminds me of my favorite of the BMW models (the E36 3 Series hatchback)
I am sure you will enjoy the 5 Series
Congratulations! Beautiful car and love the exterior/interior color combo.
Thank you!
Beautiful car- congrats. This is a case where you and I would be at polar opposites (no pun intended) as to what type of sedan we’d spec out for ourselves- but I do understand the thought process and the emotion behind it.
Bottom line for many of us. After you park the car and walk away from it, you want to be able to look back and grin at what you see. I do it every time.
Thank you! I couldn’t have said it better, and I tell people that all the time when buying a car – you want to walk out to it every day and smile when you look at it!
BTW, what would your ideal spec be?
Charger R/T Road & Track. I’ll admit it- I’m a sucker for a domestic V8 powered RWD sedan. If I had a do-over, I’d have gone with the Scat Pack and fewer convenience/comfort items. But we don’t live in “Perfect,” the car was close enough, in stock, and there were huge incentives at the time.
Wow, Brendan, what a beautiful automobile! Congratulations!
For some reason, I’m immensely pleased that you chose the inline-6 as the powerplant.
And as always, your writing is superb.
Thanks Dan!
Congrats on bagging the new set of wheels! Thanks for tip on leather upholstery.
By the way, I wonder what compelled BMW (as well as Audi and Mercedes-Benz) in the North American market to use the American least-common-denominator taillamps that illuminate red for turn and brake signals like many American cars and trucks. That does contradict the heavy emphasis on safety and clear communication between motorists.
I saw a batch of US-bound 5-Series with export numberplates at BMW Welt showing the entire taillamp flashing in red for turn signal, and nobody at BMW Welt could explain to me why BMW uses ‘different’ taillamps for the US market. Perhaps you can ask around and find out for us?
On the other hand, I recently drove a sorry-not-for-US M550d xDrive Touring. What a beast! What’s so staggering is the number of turbochargers: FOUR! Yes, four turbochargers motivating three-litre six-cylinder DIESEL motor putting out 400 hp and 760 nm of torque. The acceleration and Autobahn driving is astounding. You must experience M550d once in your life!
https://www.bmw.de/de/neufahrzeuge/5er/touring/2017/technische-daten.html#tab-10
Thanks and of course!
As far as the taillights are concerned, they are actually the same units on EU vs US spec. It’s only the software coding that results in the differences. I obviously prefer the EU-spec, and am actually trying to get the coding changed on mine. I imagine the reason for the difference is the U.S. regulations.
I’m super envious of you getting to drive the M550d Touring! The G30 Touring is an absolute beauty and it pains me that BMW does not export it here.
Bruh. Classy AF. You’ve specced it out probably exactly how I would have and that interior is just gorgeous… the classic BMW dash design but with all of that fine, fine leather.
I wish I had the time on my visit this year to head up to Boston and drool all over it but I don’t think I will :/
If I was sharing a car with my mother, I know she’d take good care of it… but if it was a car like this, I’d have to answer a lot of questions about how to work the gadgets and what this switch means and that light means…
Thanks Will! And I know we’ll meet up again at some point soon!
Believe me, Mom is just starting to get used to all the tech haha.
Superb choice, Brendan, you got a bucket-list car at what is likely a much younger age than the typical demographic! I had a 530i for a week and was thoroughly impressed with most everything about it, especially: the well-planted chassis, the quality of the interior, and the drawing-room quiet.
People who grasp their pearls at the thought of a four-cylinder engine in a 5-Series haven’t hit the gas in one of these. That said, my full time BMW has a straight six and they’re legendary for good reasons.
Car magazine reviewers are becoming tiresome, driving via the rear-view mirror and subconsciously lamenting their lost youth as loss of road feel, or how a luxury autobahn beast just doesn’t cut it against a ZL-1 Camaro. You’ve got a dream car, have a ball!
Wow–very nice choice. As others have mentioned, it’s rare that someone of your age gets to experience a brand new 5-series, let alone one specced out exactly as you wanted it. I’m with you on interiors, too–I’m done with black if I can help it. That cognac is really nice and fits the car extremely well. Enjoy it!