PGT

thanks....its a blast. took my buddy for a ride last night at a local car meet. He's got an STI with a built, hi-compression motor on meth and HUGE turbo. He was impressed with how sneaky fast the E550 is and how hard it pulls.

I was planning to debadge mine but several people have told me not to. My #1 reason to do it was that my boss has an '09 E350

K-A

Nice, yeah, you don't really expect it, but the 550 motor is a beast, almost 400 HP and smooth as silk. I've driven S550's, and they pull nice and linear, and hard.... So I can assume the E550 just feels that much better.

Yeah, it's a preference thing. Kind of nice to show the Boss up, just hope he doesn't get jealous and use it against you!

PGT

my timing was poor....my annual review is next week and its kind of hard to say 'show me the money!' when I just got a new ride :P

OceanView

K-A,
Thanks for the review.

As much as I wanted to like the new 5 series I find the front too ugly, especially the lower area. The E class is very distinctive and masculine whereas the BMW is a bit feminine looking to my eyes.

Is your interior color Ash white? I was looking for that combo but no one had one in stock. I was wondering how it looked. Could you post some shots of your interior?

Thanks

ash_cpe

E 350 is not the lowest model, I bet if you saw the E200 "classic" you will be glad that you got an E 350 AMG kit!

kl07rph

I totally agree, it's like BMW didn't put any effort into styling the front w/ the new EU pedestrian regulations.

K-A

Ahh, that kinda sucks! Oh well, at least you can forget about all that stuff on your drives home!.

I agree. I'll wait in fairness and see how the M-Pack looks for the F10 (which will change the lower area), but the whole front design seems a bit "lazy", for lack of a better word.

It's actually the Almond/Black combo, it's the combo that really sold me on the W212's interior, as I wasn't the biggest fan before!

Yeah totally! That really does seem to be the case here. A BMW Rep on another Board even stated that they didn't put the R&D money into the front end like M-B did with the W212, to keep it having that "slant"/not forcing it to be so blunt and bulbous. Of course he said they put that money elsewhere. I'm glad M-B went to great lengths to keep the E's front more dynamic than the EU Regs would usually allow it.

Apparently with M-B's C-Class, etc. (lower models) they won't be investing that money, and will making the best of what the EU Regs will allow. While the E and S (at least for now), get the special treatment.

K-A

Oh, and here are some interior pics:

Ninjaryder

Maybe I'm in the minority here but I think the new F10 makes sense in terms of exterior styling. It has a classic BMW look but updated to give it a modern appearance. The other up side of this car is it looks just like a 7 series for thousands less. I'm in no way a big BMW fan but if I were I'd be jumping up & down over the styling improvements over the E60!

OceanView

I looked at the pics again and noticed that the brackets for the side view mirrors on both cars are black. Is this some new Euro trend? Just seems odd to use black on white cars.

K-A

I totally agree. I for one am not gonna hate the F10 just because I own an E, or to make me feel better about my Purchase, etc.

It is a HOME-RUN for them, ESPECIALLY compared to the "ugly duckling" E60, just a massive stylistic improvement. This 5 looks like a proper BMW, evolved, while in the 5'ers lineage, the E60 will always look like the odd duck.

I see the F10 as a true progression from the legendary (and timeless) E39 5-Series.

The W212 is a challenging design, a love it or hate it in a sense: If you love it, the F10 won't grab any emotion out of you and will just be "blah", if you hate it, the F10 will be the perfect alternative. The F10 is meant to not challenge, but be a very sensical, easy on the eyes design. Like the W211 was basically.

K-A

Yeah, I noticed that too.

I think it's probably either a stylistic thing and/or a cost-cutting measure (using the same black piece instead of painting them monochromatic with the rest of the Car).

BRETT0429

WHERE OR HOW DID YOU DO THAT TO THE TAIL LIGHT THEY LOOK GREAT?
THANKS
BRETT

K-A

Thanks.

I got 'em done at a Tint/Sticker Shop. It's basically a special Tint formulated for Lights (thicker/more durable than regular window Tint).

QuadBenz

K-A, I'm posting this here because I know you'll be interested in this.
The M-Sport 5 Series has been revealed. http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=400307

K-A

Grr, I know I saw it.... Another twist to my F10 VS W212 story. Thanks for posting though.

I dunno what to think.

On one hand, it stays true to how I wish M-B kept their AMG Package, meaning it'll definitely be too expensive for everyone and their Grandma to care to have, and it's fairly excessive, with the badges, the Seats (seems those come with it?), etc.

Also, it looks WAY more dramatic, and different from the original model than I thought it would. It seems this is BMW's way of saying "we have some tricks up our sleeves", in terms of keeping up with the W212's more dramatic and eye catching elements that some people were criticizing the F10 in not having.

On the flip side, it looks edgy, aggressive, and will definitely make this car stand out and look "special" compared to the normal F10's, but I dunno if I'm actually feeling the front bumper. It kind of has a look that would belong on an Eclipse in a "F&F" Movie, and something about the outer line on the lower air dam.... Reminds me of Darth Vader, lol.

Either way, NOW I gotta go see this bi*** in person when it's out.

Anyone know when it'll be avail, or U.S Pricing on the M-Pack?

ESIX3POWER

Very True, its alittle too extreme for my taste,soo soo Eclipse like..

MBNUT1

Hate to say it but this is the first time I thought a BMW looked better than a Mercedes. From the back the car looks very Jaguar-like. Trouble is I just don't trust BMW's from a reliability standpoint. Better the devil you know in that department.

K-A

That's weird. That's exactly what I thought about the rear. Looks exactly like a Jaguar. The high boot, the tiny almost "oval" instead of square window-shape, taillights, etc.

I guess I'll hold final judgement on this M-Pack when I see it in person. One thing it will do, is that that presence that the front of the normal one doesn't have.... For better or worse.... Depending on how nice it'll be.

Also, this will surely draw the younger crowd who might have seen the F10 as too reserved in.

Another thing about it is, the aggressiveness of the front bumper is in stark contrast to the elegance and understatedness of the rest of the car.

K-A

F10 M-Pack Officially revealed....

Hmm, well, I like the rear as it's a big improvement in leaning out the bulbous OG's rear, I like the chrome badge on the sides, the interior looks outstanding, and the front sucks. They are waay overcompensating with the front bumper, the OG's is mellow, and this one is overdesigned, way too angular for the car, and doesn't flow with the cars smooth lines at all.

Overall, critical thinking aside, still a great looking car, but I'm still happy with my purchase so far.

Oh, and those rims are weak!!

christiaan

Still E class.. was tough, but E wins...

OceanView

Looks better than the standard model. I would like to see it in person.

ash_cpe

+1. It looks like a Pontiac GTO from the front IMO, I wonder how much it cost to get this over the standard model.

steelgrey

That smilely mouth looks very much like the new Mazdas. I am not a fan. In particular the Miata (now MX5) looks terrible. In all honesty to me it looks very much like a Japenese tuner aftermarket front (only the lower part of course).

K-A

Yeah, I'm very happy to say I'm not feeling the front bumper at alllll. The Alpina front for the F10 is nice though, although their rear sucks, while I actually like the M's, lol.

It looks like "M" tried to out angular the W212 with that front, forgetting which car it was intended for. Also, it looks like someone at "M" Division is watching way too much Star Wars, as they drew major inspiration from Darth Vaders helmet.

It looks terrible here IMO.... I almost thought it was a fake::