Gone hybrid, '14 BMW Activehybrid 5 M sport

[Scourge151]

After two V8s in a row, decided to get something with similar performance but cheaper to live with!

Mightily impressed so far, only been a fortnight and already its doing far better on fuel than my old 645ci. Drives really nicely, feels great through the corners by my reckoning, and the extra power in Sport mode is noticeable.

Hybrid stuff feels pretty seamless, doesn't get in the way and it's actually a fun enough game to try and see just how much you can do in Eco Pro. Creeping back home on electric power after a night shift is appreciated by the neighbours as well, I am sure.

[Scrump]

Sounds interesting, a few questions:
Does it really feel like similar performance to the V8s?
What engine does it have?
Is it a plug in hybrid and what is the range on battery?

[Scourge151]

Scrump said:

Sounds interesting, a few questions:
Does it really feel like similar performance to the V8s?
What engine does it have?
Is it a plug in hybrid and what is the range on battery?

In Sport mode, definitely. Compared to the 645 it is 0.4 of a second slower to 60 mph, definitely feels just as quick from the driver's seat.

It's the same 3.0 twin turbo straight 6 as the 535i, just with a battery pack and motor, so it's a self charging hybrid. So normally the car has 300bhp, but in Sport you get the boost from the electric motor so that kicks it up to 340bhp, also means instant torque in any gear. Pulls even in 8th.

Bmw reckons just under 4 miles range at around 30mph. Haven't proven that myself, but on the 430 mile first tank of fuel I used, using the eco pro mode got me an extra 25 miles of range, the car reckoned. Once the engine is warm, it will shut off at traffic lights, or if you are doing under 35 mph with enough throttle control. In Eco Pro it will cut the engine and coast if you are braking, or going down enough of a hill, which is good on long motorway trips, with a long enough slope you can still be doing 70 with no engine and charging up the battery.

[Triumph Man]

I like the look of these - out of interest, when you go to "start" it, is there actually a starter motor for the engine, or do you set off with the electric motor going and then the petrol engine kicks in later?

[mwstewart]

The perfect platform for a hybrid powertrain. Good choice

[Scourge151]

Triumph Man said:

I like the look of these - out of interest, when you go to "start" it, is there actually a starter motor for the engine, or do you set off with the electric motor going and then the petrol engine kicks in later?

It depends on if the engine is warm. On a cold start you will always get the engine starting as normal, it doesn't cut it in and out to drive electrically unless it's warmed up. Today, for example, started on the engine when I left home, after a short drive it started shutting off at traffic lights, driving away on electric power. After I had been driving for about half an hour, parked up, and came back to it, started on electric. In 'Eco Pro' mode it's far more intent on charging the battery or running on electricity, Comfort is a balance, Sport it doesn't run on electricity at all, or shut off when stopped.
From my couple of weeks driving, it prefers to reverse on the electric motor as well, providing there's charge in the battery pack.
Today was a motorway drive after popping to a couple of shops, then 30mph-odd town driving, then motorway home, my average so far for this tank of petrol is 29.9mpg.

The non M sport models will do better mpg, because they won't be on '19s and wide tyres, for reference. The wheels and tyres are the exact same size as on my old 645ci.

Also, be aware that these weren't popular here when they came out, so there aren't loads of used ones. However, they tend to be cheaper than a normal 535 sport, so there's that. Mine was advertised at £19684, '64 plate with 31k miles, approved used from a BMW dealer. Of the 5 or 6 on Auto Trader, it was the nicer one in my eye. If you put in bmw, 3.0 and above, petrol hybrid, you will easily find the 3, 5, and 7 series they put this hybrid drivetrain in.

[Scourge151]

Oh, there's normally 'Activehybrid' badges on the rear pillars, and boot, by the way. Mine was de-badged as part of the highline gloss pack, I think.

I shall be putting more photos up once I have washed it and actually taken some!

Edited by Scourge151 on Monday 11th February 17:38

[Scourge151]

From in the car park today, love how the carbon black reflects the light.

Also managed the single most ecologically sound journey in the car so far, driving to the depot with a boot full of broken down cardboard boxes for recycling. Entering and exiting the place on the batteries alone in silence.

I think the car might be a bit of a sleeper, as well. I parked up next to a guy in his beige F10 520d, and he was doing the angry, confused glaring all the time I was there. I don't know if it was the silent running or the boot opening and closing itself that did it. It's not big, nor clever, but it's a fun addition to the experience.

[Scourge151]

Still averaging about 30mpg on my commute, no real long trips for a bit now to stretch the car's legs further. Very much enjoying my ownership so far.

[Mr Tidy]

Looks good, but is 30 mpg really progress?

I've had my E91 325i for about a year. Admittedly it doesn't commute or go out in rush hours, but the OBC is showing 34.4 mpg average.

I've had my Z4 Coupe for nearly 3 years and the OBC is showing 33.2 mpg - probably because I like to drive it as intended.

You might as well have a proper car!

[anonymous-user]

Mr Tidy said:

You might as well have a proper car!

Strange comment - a 300~340bhp (the latter is similar to the 540i) 5 series isn't somehow a 'proper car'? This place makes me laugh sometimes.

Nice car OP, don't see many around, so will be interesting to hear your experiences. I had carbon black on my 640 GC and it's great when it's clean (more very deep blue), but it's a bugger to keep it that way, particularly at this time of year!

[Scourge151]

Mr Tidy said:

Looks good, but is 30 mpg really progress?

I've had my E91 325i for about a year. Admittedly it doesn't commute or go out in rush hours, but the OBC is showing 34.4 mpg average.

I've had my Z4 Coupe for nearly 3 years and the OBC is showing 33.2 mpg - probably because I like to drive it as intended.

You might as well have a proper car!

Compared to averaging 22-24mpg in my 645, yes it's definitely progress. Plus £150 cheaper to tax.

That's with 'driving it as intended' on the way home from work a few times a month in Sport with the full 340hp on tap, as well as the commute and sitting in traffic. On the initial long drive home it averaged over 35mpg.

I don't know how that compares to someone running a normal 535i, but you're that surprised that your lighter cars do better mpg? I think it's a pretty sound balance considering I can only house and run one car at a time.

Edited by Scourge151 on Saturday 30th March 11:02

[Scourge151]

had ham said:

Nice car OP, don't see many around, so will be interesting to hear your experiences. I had carbon black on my 640 GC and it's great when it's clean (more very deep blue), but it's a bugger to keep it that way, particularly at this time of year!

It is proving that way! I gave it a good waxing with Armorall and that's definitely helping a quick wash be more effective. Lush colour, my parents' E39 M5 is the same.

[Scourge151]

I did promise some more photos, so here's the interior, engine bay, a comparison with my Mum's GS300h, and the only hybrid badging left around the car.

Edited by Scourge151 on Saturday 30th March 13:04

[Pizzaeatingking]

Nice car, I considered a 335i ActiveHybrid before going for my 340i.

The regular 335i around town would struggle to get above 25 mpg from what I can gather, so a larger, heavier 5 series managing 30 mpg is decent progress IMO. I think if they can develop this in the future to somehow offer 20 mile or so range they'll be onto a winner, people can use the electric for commuting and petrol for longer trips and hooning (with the added power boost)

[Scourge151]

Pizzaeatingking said:

Nice car, I considered a 335i ActiveHybrid before going for my 340i.

The regular 335i around town would struggle to get above 25 mpg from what I can gather, so a larger, heavier 5 series managing 30 mpg is decent progress IMO. I think if they can develop this in the future to somehow offer 20 mile or so range they'll be onto a winner, people can use the electric for commuting and petrol for longer trips and hooning (with the added power boost)

I thought similar, as the Active3 would have better performance, and economy, but I like to have a bit more room!

I haven't driven the plugin bmws to know what they're like, but have read on here people get 70mpg-odd if they're charging regularly.

[JonnyVTEC]

Pizzaeatingking said:

Nice car, I considered a 335i ActiveHybrid before going for my 340i.

The regular 335i around town would struggle to get above 25 mpg from what I can gather, so a larger, heavier 5 series managing 30 mpg is decent progress IMO. I think if they can develop this in the future to somehow offer 20 mile or so range they'll be onto a winner, people can use the electric for commuting and petrol for longer trips and hooning (with the added power boost)

If they can develop it?

They have, twice.

[Pizzaeatingking]

JonnyVTEC said:

If they can develop it?

They have, twice.

Oh have they? I've not looked at newer stuff tbh, what's the range at now?

[Scourge151]

Pizzaeatingking said:

Oh have they? I've not looked at newer stuff tbh, what's the range at now?

There's a 330e and 530e which are 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder petrols with a battery pack that you can plug in and charge, there's now a 5 and 7 iPerformance which is probably a new name for the models. A total of 7 plugin models currently on offer.

[AlmostUseful]

Scourge151 said:

Pizzaeatingking said:

Oh have they? I've not looked at newer stuff tbh, what's the range at now?

There's a 330e and 530e which are 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder petrols with a battery pack that you can plug in and charge, there's now a 5 and 7 iPerformance which is probably a new name for the models. A total of 7 plugin models currently on offer.

Yeah, they’re really not the same as a twin turbo 3.0 straight 6 with additionally battery power are they!