F10 520i vs 520d
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SpeedBuster
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For those that are interested in a high quality tuning box from Germany, check out this link
For 520i,
http://www.speed-buster.de/en/chiptuning-box-bmw-520i-f10/f11-135-kw-184-ps/a-10109571/
For 520d,
http://www.speed-buster.de/en/chiptuning-box-bmw-520d-f10-f11-135-kw-184-ps/a-1928418408/
Interested please PM me for a short free trial.
Cheers
For 520i,
http://www.speed-buster.de/en/chiptuning-box-bmw-520i-f10/f11-135-kw-184-ps/a-10109571/
For 520d,
http://www.speed-buster.de/en/chiptuning-box-bmw-520d-f10-f11-135-kw-184-ps/a-1928418408/
Interested please PM me for a short free trial.
Cheers
Getting back on topic, I was struggling for a while to decide between the i and the d. Even to the extent that I went to test drive both cars twice. I ended up buying the i for the following reasons:-
- I still can't get over the narrow rev band of the d. To me when I rev a car hard to pick up, I need the vicarious feel of the engine revving to "high heavens" so to say. The i with the wider rev band allows for that but the d will to run out of rev a lot quicker due to the narrow rev band. To me, it kinda takes the wind out of my sail so to say. It's a personal thing and may not be true for everyone
- Though I usually drive my car hard there are also times when I just want to cruise. And during those moments, the i becomes a much better proposition for me. The d, although does come with pretty decent insulation to prevent too much vibration and engine noise from intruding into the cabin, still allows a bit too much for comfort in my opinion
- In the narrow parking lots of KL, the active steering on the i is really a treat for me. It makes what is a big car feel nimble and very maneuverable in tight spots. The active steering only comes with the i
Overall, I'm pretty happy with the car after a few weeks of owning it. Having come from owning the previous gen S6 engines, I was initially worried that I would struggle with the new 4-potters. I have been pleasantly surprised by it I must say. In the day to day driving, it is so easy to forget that it is a 4-potter. I will venture to say that the 4-potter engine is almost as smooth as the S6, especially when you're cruising with light accelerations. It is when I floor the car that I miss the growl of the S6.
On a side note, though I am not one for brand bashing, I have to say that the new 4-potter on the Beemer is a lot more refined than the same on the Mercs. Having driven a friend's E250 quite extensively, I now realised how rough the Merc's 4-potter can sound, especially when driving hard. It turns what is otherwise a pretty comfortable car into a rough sounding machine. The 520 in comparison sounds a lot more refined in the same situation. This is ironic given that an engine generation ago when both brands were still on 6-potters, one S6 and one V6, it was the Merc that boasts of having a more refined and quieter engine!
- I still can't get over the narrow rev band of the d. To me when I rev a car hard to pick up, I need the vicarious feel of the engine revving to "high heavens" so to say. The i with the wider rev band allows for that but the d will to run out of rev a lot quicker due to the narrow rev band. To me, it kinda takes the wind out of my sail so to say. It's a personal thing and may not be true for everyone
- Though I usually drive my car hard there are also times when I just want to cruise. And during those moments, the i becomes a much better proposition for me. The d, although does come with pretty decent insulation to prevent too much vibration and engine noise from intruding into the cabin, still allows a bit too much for comfort in my opinion
- In the narrow parking lots of KL, the active steering on the i is really a treat for me. It makes what is a big car feel nimble and very maneuverable in tight spots. The active steering only comes with the i
Overall, I'm pretty happy with the car after a few weeks of owning it. Having come from owning the previous gen S6 engines, I was initially worried that I would struggle with the new 4-potters. I have been pleasantly surprised by it I must say. In the day to day driving, it is so easy to forget that it is a 4-potter. I will venture to say that the 4-potter engine is almost as smooth as the S6, especially when you're cruising with light accelerations. It is when I floor the car that I miss the growl of the S6.
On a side note, though I am not one for brand bashing, I have to say that the new 4-potter on the Beemer is a lot more refined than the same on the Mercs. Having driven a friend's E250 quite extensively, I now realised how rough the Merc's 4-potter can sound, especially when driving hard. It turns what is otherwise a pretty comfortable car into a rough sounding machine. The 520 in comparison sounds a lot more refined in the same situation. This is ironic given that an engine generation ago when both brands were still on 6-potters, one S6 and one V6, it was the Merc that boasts of having a more refined and quieter engine!
Juan Powerblow
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Russell, I went through the i vs. d debate and completely agree with you. In particular, the 520i is quite a bit quicker than the 523i in F10 guise. Yet again, there are a lot of happy 520d enthusiasts and that's a good thing for BMW. Perhaps, in time, if fuel subsidy is completely removed, the d becomes the better ownership prospect for most
Juan,
I don't doubt that the d is also a great buy. In fact, I had originally thought of only the i but decided to do a bit of research on the Net and stumbled onto this forum. It is from reading all the posts here and also in the 320d threads that I was convinced that I should also consider the d. At the end of the day, my choice was a reflection of my personal preference and only that. It does not mean one is better than the other. Just what works best for each individual.
I have to say that this forum has been the most helpful source of information and knowledge for me to come to my decision. A big thank you to all for willingly sharing your knowledge and experience
PS. Yes I did come across your little "drag test" in your 520 with a supposedly 523 and don't doubt for a minute that the torque behaviour of the turbo engine gives the 520 a big edge over the 523 in a drag race
I don't doubt that the d is also a great buy. In fact, I had originally thought of only the i but decided to do a bit of research on the Net and stumbled onto this forum. It is from reading all the posts here and also in the 320d threads that I was convinced that I should also consider the d. At the end of the day, my choice was a reflection of my personal preference and only that. It does not mean one is better than the other. Just what works best for each individual.
I have to say that this forum has been the most helpful source of information and knowledge for me to come to my decision. A big thank you to all for willingly sharing your knowledge and experience
PS. Yes I did come across your little "drag test" in your 520 with a supposedly 523 and don't doubt for a minute that the torque behaviour of the turbo engine gives the 520 a big edge over the 523 in a drag race
Juan Powerblow
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Russell;771585 said:PS. Yes I did come across your little "drag test" in your 520 with a supposedly 523 and don't doubt for a minute that the torque behaviour of the turbo engine gives the 520 a big edge over the 523 in a drag race
I think you can tell from my tone in that post I was very surprised with the outcome. Read a similar experience by Ivan Khong in a review of the 520i in The Sun. I'm just pleased that no longer does BMW have a 'weak' link in the 5 series range. The F30 320i and F10 520i nothing compared to the 318s and 520s of the past. The price of F10 520i can do better though coz admittedly, spending another 40k on the 528i with added power and kit makes a lot of sense unless they drop the 520i price.
Actually I don't know whether it will make any business sense to drop the price of the 520i any further. Don't get me wrong, as a consumer I will definitely want it cheaper but from a business point of view I wouldn't drop it any further if I'm BMW because
(1) at the end of the day, the difference between the 520i and the 528 is no longer 2 different engines but the same engine in differing state of tunes and no matter how you try to pitch it, buyers will always see it as that i.e. the same engine. So to ask a buyer to pay more than 40k for what is the same engine but with more power, some extra body kits and accessories will be asking too much. Bear in mind that not everyone has the same preferences. For eg. I have a friend who prefers the look of the 5 without the body kit and was trying to get a 528 without the kit. And because all the new one comes with the bodykit, he was even considering spending money to change it back to normal! For others, more power from a higher tune of the same engine equals lower reliability over the long run. So if the gap widens, BMW might sell more 520s but it could be at the expense of the 528s. And I suspect the 528 is probably the higher margin product so why do that.
(2) And this is probably most important, the gap is similar to the gap between the E200 and E250 which are essentially the same thing i.e. same engines with different tunes. Competitive pricing strategies...
(1) at the end of the day, the difference between the 520i and the 528 is no longer 2 different engines but the same engine in differing state of tunes and no matter how you try to pitch it, buyers will always see it as that i.e. the same engine. So to ask a buyer to pay more than 40k for what is the same engine but with more power, some extra body kits and accessories will be asking too much. Bear in mind that not everyone has the same preferences. For eg. I have a friend who prefers the look of the 5 without the body kit and was trying to get a 528 without the kit. And because all the new one comes with the bodykit, he was even considering spending money to change it back to normal! For others, more power from a higher tune of the same engine equals lower reliability over the long run. So if the gap widens, BMW might sell more 520s but it could be at the expense of the 528s. And I suspect the 528 is probably the higher margin product so why do that.
(2) And this is probably most important, the gap is similar to the gap between the E200 and E250 which are essentially the same thing i.e. same engines with different tunes. Competitive pricing strategies...
sixpotters
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If one goes into the technical specs of the 2.0 litre engine between the 520 and 528, one will notice its not just about tuning. compression ratio are different too that means the crankshaft strength and whole lot of internal part might be different. Intake manifold/Exhaust manifold might be different. Food for thought.
andrewlim8
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sixpotters;772096 said:
Both 320i and 328i engine code is N20B2000
Both Compression Ratio, Bore Stoke is the same.
Both items are sharing the same part number
Engine Block SAME
Intake Manifolds are the SAME
Exhaust Manifold (Turbo) SAME
Cylinder Head SAME
VANOS Valve SAME
Vacumn Control + Pump SAME
Throttle Body SAME
Intake Airbox SAME
i got this info from f30post.com, dunno how reliable the info is
sixpotters
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| Compression ratio : 1 | 520i=11 | 528m=10.3 |
taken from BMW Malaysia website. BTW, bore and stroke has to be same otherwise it would be different CC.
paultantk
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saya tamau 520d... mau 530d!!!
http://www.oto.my/car-for-sale/22273/recond-2011-bmw-5-series-530d-kuala-lumpur
http://www.oto.my/car-for-sale/22273/recond-2011-bmw-5-series-530d-kuala-lumpur
docrayboy
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paultantk;786935 said:
Me too....the 535i drinks petrol like a fish drinks water.....put in 20 ringgit of fuel and you drive 5 minutes and its gone! (I was in the car with a car-reviewer and they only give him one free tank of fuel, so he stingily topped iup 20 ringgit by 20 ringgit after the first tank!
dzuljazz2001
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paultantk;786935 said:
:top::top::top: ... yeah, diesel it is! :4:
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