Well, I have the lucky advantage I work at a BMW delearship so every now and again I get to take cars out, E92 M3 being the best

But last weekend I actually borrowed a car for the entire weekend to use as a wedding car for my brothers birthday. The car in question is the new BMW 5 Series F10. F10 being the designate for it like 3 Series being E36, E46, E90 etc.

The engine was the 3 litre straight six with 245bhp and a staggering 540Nm of torque. Lets say for a car this size, weighing nearly 2 tonnes, it shifts. This particular model was fitted with the optional carbon fibre rear lip spolier, high gloss black kidney grills and anthracite 20 inch cross spoke alloys. It looked the part. BMW have changed their corona (angel eye) rings to LEDs now which gives a much more pronounced look on the road. I'll try and get some pictures up I took on my iPhone, so quality wont be great but you'll get the idea.

The interior is exactly as you'd expect of an executive BMW. Plush leather, tasteful dark wood trim and lots of toys to keep you busy. This model comes with the 8-speed semi-auto gearbox. When left in drive and cruising at low speeds you barely notice it change gear its so smooth. Then you flip the fighter jet style gearshifter to the left, and have a sequential 8 speed clutchless opertaion, engaging 'm' sport shifting. At night time the door cards have a small light strip in them, invisible to the eye but giving the cockpit a nice orange glow below them.

The i-drive or conncted drive as they are now calling it is also a great way to waste time. You can check oil level, tyre pressure, service life of serice parts fitted, even atch a small video explaining adaptive headlights. You really could spend hours looking through all of the sections on there. There is also the option to have 3 small cameras fitted. One in the rear boot plinth and one either side of the front bumper. this means when pulling up to a junction with low visibility, you can press the simple camera button, and up on screen will show a split screen left and right view, giving you optimum viewing. Also when reversing you can use all three cameras to give the effect of 'bird eye view'. making parking such a large car, a fairly simple and unlaboured process. You can also select rear only, which will put on screen, the rear view only, with hatch lines indicating where you will end up with the current level of steer you are inputing, along with redlines indicatiing thelimit of steer you have available.

All in all it's a stunning bit of kit, and I valued it at probably £42k+ with all the other extras and upgrades. But, if you are in the market for a high quality executive saloon, definately give a look. Thanks for reading!

Nice

I do like the BMW 5 series and would have one if only BMW would stop be so tight with standard equipment.

Having said that I haven't looked into one since I bought my vRS so I may do when I come to change.

I like the 535's (Petrol or diesel)

My boss has a 535 and that thing is bloody quick his is 2 years old though so don't think it's the same as the one you drove as haven't they just changed the 5 series recently?

Nice

I do like the BMW 5 series and would have one if only BMW would stop be so tight with standard equipment.

Having said that I haven't looked into one since I bought my vRS so I may do when I come to change.

I like the 535's (Petrol or diesel)

My boss has a 535 and that thing is bloody quick his is 2 years old though so don't think it's the same as the one you drove as haven't they just changed the 5 series recently?

If it was two years that would have been an E60, and yes they are also awesome cars. The new F10 however, to its nearest equivelent previous model is about £400 more expensive, but they've actually included over £2000 worth of extra equipment as standard on the new which would have previously been an optional extra, if you get what I mean.

cool to have a good car stereo system

I just sold my E39 530i, and it was a great all-rounder. It was still running beautifully at 150k miles, too. Not sure if many cars before or since have been so well built.

whilst I can appreciate the BMW cars, I would never buy one for my daily as they have one massive problem, RWD, whilst Im sure its fun to drive and sporty. I saw so many last year in the hedges and ditches around here during the bad weather. And a personal friend couldnt even get his out of his drive!

This model comes with the 8-speed semi-auto gearbox. When left in drive and cruising at low speeds you barely notice it change gear its so smooth. Then you flip the fighter jet style gearshifter to the left, and have a sequential 8 speed clutchless opertaion, engaging 'm' sport shifting.

And at least on a BMW they fit the + and - operation in the correct way not the wrong way around like Skoda and Porsche et all do. When you are accelarating the G-forces are pushing you backwards. So the most logical and intuative way to select + or a higher gear to go even faster is to pull the lever towards you. BMW knows this and thus it works that way. On the other cars mentioned you have to push the lever forwards! Doh!

But back to topic: I like this F10. It is very classy looking and much more cohesive a design than the previous Dame Edna version with the horrid eyebrows for front lights. Did anyone clock you in it or look twice at you whilst driving it? I suspect not. They very much melt into the scenery now. But I still like them.