2010 BMW 530d - A less than impressive compromise, with no steering feel?

How is it to drive?

The chassis is less impressive, however. This particular car has the basic 5 Series set up with standard passive dampers and unfortunately it feels like the compromise that it is. Grip is good and you can get a decently relaxed flow going down a smooth road, but over bumps there is a thumpiness and wallow that certainly doesn’t smack of ‘The Ultimate Driving Machine’. The speed-sensitive steering doesn’t have any feel either, which exacerbates the feeling of piloting a very big car (which it is) with slightly hard-to-place extremities. As Ollie said ‘it feels and behaves more like a 7-Series’.
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bmwMotorsport - 4/28/2010 11:26:50 PM

+9 Boost

"New 2010 BMW 5-Series with a fast and frugal six-cylinder diesel. 0-62mph is dispatched in just 6.3sec and yet it will do 45.6mpg on the combined cycle. It costs £37,100"

"The engine is as fantastic as you would expect. BMW has long produced brilliant diesel powerplants (a 330d was the first diesel ever to make it into an eCoty contest) and it pulls as smoothly and cleanly as ever."

you left some stuff out.

Steve - 4/28/2010 11:38:36 PM

+4 Boost

I guess we all filter out that which is inconsistent with our beliefs, and zoom in on the stuff that agrees with us. Did you miss "And unfortunately for BMW the Jaguar is the more desirable" and the 2.5/5 star rating, bmwMotorsport?

I always take reviews with huge grain of salt. Each reviewer is subjective, and expresses his opinions as though they were The One Truth. And then we on this list piss on each other and argue who is right.

bmwMotorsport - 4/29/2010 12:01:25 AM

+8 Boost

that's what i was suggesting about agentzeros post..."And unfortunately for BMW the Jaguar is the more desirable"..saw that. its a British mag article...patriotism.

Agent009 - 4/29/2010 10:58:13 AM

+1 Boost

Hey BadMan, glad to see AgentZero is using his alternate ID. This is a good link, and points outs some good issues.

BondMI6 - 4/29/2010 3:54:34 AM

+1 Boost

Reading the article it states that if two options are ticked- Adaptive ride and anti roll then the problem(s) would be solved.

So basically like any Bimmer you have to have it optioned out to get the best from it and which obviously raises its' cost above the competition etc...

And........so what? Bimmers have been this way for a long time so why niggle. Optioned out it beats the competition- you just have to pay for it.

bmwdrvr - 4/29/2010 9:36:11 AM

+2 Boost

actually thats not true BMWs of the past didnt have all these electronic aids which is why the steering felt heavier on center as opposed the odd electronic steering feel which Im assuming they are talking about. The irony of all this is the same mags trashed the new M3 when it was released saying it had lost it way and other nonsense yet now all of sudden its still the benchmark?? you really have to take some of these reviews with a grain of salt and that goes for other brands as well I think sometimes these are more hype than actual reviews.

JUGNU - 4/29/2010 7:15:00 AM

0 Boost

The steering feel of new 5 is now complained by almost all Magazines.

JUGNU