BMW F11 520D Touring Luxury

BMW F11 520D Touring Luxury

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Discussion

surveyor

Original Poster:

18,141 posts

191 months

Saturday 17th September 2022
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Very early days. Picked up a 2014 520D Luxury Touring today to replace my Volvo XC70.

Impressed so far and really like the colour... Not so keen on the gravel rash on the bumper. I will sort it at some point.


Willber

575 posts

176 months

Sunday 18th September 2022
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What made you change from the XC70? I wonder how it compares comfort wise and if you will miss the 5 cylinder engine.
This era of BMW are really nice and like that you have gone for a non M Sport model!

ballans

836 posts

112 months

Sunday 18th September 2022
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Luxury spec is the way to go. A few extra niceties while retaining good ride quality. I’ve got a 2016 in the same colour but I’ve got the panoramic sunroof and brown leather. That really lifts the interior.
Great cars, enjoy.

MrC986

3,559 posts

198 months

Sunday 18th September 2022
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I'll be interested as well to hear how you get on as I was looking for a decent sized premium estate car last year but in the end bought a CLS 350 CDI shooting brake having done my research on the BMW. (obviously not as large inside as a 5 series Touring!).

curvature

426 posts

81 months

Sunday 18th September 2022
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Nice car.

I’m a fan of the SE and Luxury models if the interior spec is right. My 330d Luxury tourer was a BMW show car and had every option available at the time.

In my opinion with the M Sport models you are paying for show items and nothing that makes the cars any better to drive. You also end up with expensive tyre sizes.

Brave Fart

6,036 posts

118 months

Sunday 18th September 2022
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curvature said:
Nice car.

I’m a fan of the SE and Luxury models if the interior spec is right. My 330d Luxury tourer was a BMW show car and had every option available at the time.

In my opinion with the M Sport models you are paying for show items and nothing that makes the cars any better to drive. You also end up with expensive tyre sizes.
Agreed. I bought a 5 Series for long distance trips, with comfort a priority. I found a F10 Luxury with comfort seats, Adaptive Drive, H/K, Pro Nav and 18 inch wheels and it fits the brief perfectly. I know some people prefer the sportier look of the M Sport versions, but I'm pleased with my car; I actually prefer the appearance of the Style 328 wheels that mine has to the 19 inch M Sport ones.

surveyor

Original Poster:

18,141 posts

191 months

Sunday 18th September 2022
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Mine is pretty base with a couple of options so discreet I don’t remember what they are! Seems comfortable so far!

In terms of the Volvo I was not a fan of the D5 engine which was noisier than I was used to after a ford ranger. The BMW is a bit slower - but not by much.







And I’m very happy I did not go for an m sport!

surveyor

Original Poster:

18,141 posts

191 months

Sunday 18th September 2022
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Welcome to BMW ownership! Was added to the system on Friday...


ballans

836 posts

112 months

Monday 19th September 2022
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If you haven’t already done so, get rid of the run flat tyres. I changed to Goodyears and the improvement to ride and noise was immense.
Not sure what mileage yours is on but mine has done 112k. The rear air springs will need replacing at approx 100k then things like EGR, O2 sensors will need doing. No big deal and all part of ongoing maintenance. Apart from that very reliable.

healeyneil

326 posts

154 months

Monday 19th September 2022
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Me too !

Snubs

1,233 posts

146 months

Monday 19th September 2022
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surveyor said:
Welcome to BMW ownership! Was added to the system on Friday...

I got a letter from BMW about that recall weeks ago stating the local dealership would be in touch. Yet to hear anything further though.

As for run flats, i bought mine on non-run flat tyres. I considered replacing them with the same but in the end replaced them with OEM Bridgestone run flats for three reasons:

1. I had a tyre deflate due to a nail on the M25 in rush hour traffic and the thought that i had run flat tyres and could slow down and get to the next services safely was really quite comforting (it was only after i got home i remembered they weren't run flats...)
2. There's no spare wheel or space saver, only foam.
3. Most importantly, if you get rid of the run flats and don't declare it to your insurer, it may invalidate your insurance for an undeclared modification.

Be damned if i could tell the difference putting run flats on. The change in steering weight from having correctly inflated tyres was far more noticeable.

surveyor

Original Poster:

18,141 posts

191 months

Monday 19th September 2022
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In theory, its booked in for collect and drop off appointment on the 2nd. I'll see what happens with that - our local dealer used to not have the best reputation, and I can see them protesting!

The dog approves...



An interesting comparison with my wife's car eventually to be changed to something smaller...


Monkeylegend

27,210 posts

238 months

Monday 19th September 2022
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Snubs said:
I got a letter from BMW about that recall weeks ago stating the local dealership would be in touch. Yet to hear anything further though.

As for run flats, i bought mine on non-run flat tyres. I considered replacing them with the same but in the end replaced them with OEM Bridgestone run flats for three reasons:

1. I had a tyre deflate due to a nail on the M25 in rush hour traffic and the thought that i had run flat tyres and could slow down and get to the next services safely was really quite comforting (it was only after i got home i remembered they weren't run flats...)
2. There's no spare wheel or space saver, only foam.
3. Most importantly, if you get rid of the run flats and don't declare it to your insurer, it may invalidate your insurance for an undeclared modification.

Be damned if i could tell the difference putting run flats on. The change in steering weight from having correctly inflated tyres was far more noticeable.
I have a 2015 528i SE on Bridgestone Turanza run flats and the ride and road noise are not an issue at all in my opinion.

I replaced the back tyres just before the last MOT and was pleasantly surprised by the cost as well. Black Circle supplied them for £112 each and it cost me £20 to have them fitted.

surveyor

Original Poster:

18,141 posts

191 months

Monday 19th September 2022
quotequote all
I'm on Flaken's of some sort. The noise and comfort is fine. Glad it's not M-sport though!

Monkeylegend

27,210 posts

238 months

Monday 19th September 2022
quotequote all
surveyor said:
I'm on Flaken's of some sort. The noise and comfort is fine. Glad it's not M-sport though!
I deliberately avoided the M-sport when I bought mine. The SE is a much more subtle car IMO.

surveyor

Original Poster:

18,141 posts

191 months

Monday 19th September 2022
quotequote all
surveyor said:
I'm on Falken's of some sort. The noise and comfort is fine. Glad it's not M-sport though!

stevemcs

8,989 posts

100 months

Monday 19th September 2022
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Has it got the M Sport seats ?

If you want me to look on BMW system I can see if it says anymore regarding the recall, BMW are currently carrying out software updates aka emissions fix

surveyor

Original Poster:

18,141 posts

191 months

Friday 23rd September 2022
quotequote all
stevemcs said:
Has it got the M Sport seats ?

If you want me to look on BMW system I can see if it says anymore regarding the recall, BMW are currently carrying out software updates aka emissions fix
Luxury seats, not M Sports Sears... I'd forgotten about the recall.. I need to do something about that.

One of the reasons for the change is a work patch which is a minimum of 4 hours away from where I live, hopefully on a temporary basis. I don't need to visit sites that often, but this week I ran out of luck.

The car worked well, but I am definitely going to be doing more walking than I would have done in the XC70! I've also noticed that it gets on occasions very carefully looked at, especially by kids who have been revving their nuts off in the local car park....

BMW out in the wild...


ballans

836 posts

112 months

Saturday 24th September 2022
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Monkeylegend said:
Snubs said:
I got a letter from BMW about that recall weeks ago stating the local dealership would be in touch. Yet to hear anything further though.

As for run flats, i bought mine on non-run flat tyres. I considered replacing them with the same but in the end replaced them with OEM Bridgestone run flats for three reasons:

1. I had a tyre deflate due to a nail on the M25 in rush hour traffic and the thought that i had run flat tyres and could slow down and get to the next services safely was really quite comforting (it was only after i got home i remembered they weren't run flats...)
2. There's no spare wheel or space saver, only foam.
3. Most importantly, if you get rid of the run flats and don't declare it to your insurer, it may invalidate your insurance for an undeclared modification.

Be damned if i could tell the difference putting run flats on. The change in steering weight from having correctly inflated tyres was far more noticeable.
I have a 2015 528i SE on Bridgestone Turanza run flats and the ride and road noise are not an issue at all in my opinion.

I replaced the back tyres just before the last MOT and was pleasantly surprised by the cost as well. Black Circle supplied them for £112 each and it cost me £20 to have them fitted.
Ah that’s interesting re the tyres. I got rid of the run flats and the improvement was huge. That was 5 years ago so I wonder if they changed the compound. Good news if they have. £112 is a great price.

What’s the recall?

GH421

45 posts

168 months

Saturday 24th September 2022
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The latest round of recalls is for software update.

I have had an 520d M sport F11 for 4 years. The rear springs are air bags which you can change for dirt cheap with ebay ones. Mines still going strong 1 year later.

Common issues are timing chains for pre lci, notorious so do extra oil changes. Every 6-7k. Rust in doors are common too but bmw should fix under goodwill.