Black 5 series cars accompanying State visits

pburns

Are they Garda cars? Are they armoured? Hardly 520ds:D

Jesus they're tasty,

Also underlines for me the M-sport crap is not needed. Understated with a decent set of wheels much nicer IMO.

Northern Monkey

Were they not 760's?

Matt Simis

Northern Monkey wrote: »

Were they not 760's?

I thought so too, if so, very fast (and expensive) cars:
http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/pricesandspecifications/0,,1156___bs-Nw%3D%3D%40bb-N0xDSQ%3D%3D%40sit-bmwuk,00.html

544bhp, 0-60 4.8seconds (in a limo!), only available in "Li" stretched form. Available in MSport kit for £2k extra, no performance change though.

markfla

I believe they were donated by BMW for free, no reference sorry.

MetzgerMeister

Matt Simis wrote: »

I thought so too, if so, very fast (and expensive) cars:
http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/pricesandspecifications/0,,1156___bs-Nw%3D%3D%40bb-N0xDSQ%3D%3D%40sit-bmwuk,00.html

544bhp, 0-60 4.8seconds (in a limo!), only available in "Li" stretched form. Available in MSport kit for £2k extra, no performance change though.

Could you imagine a BMW M7?! Then again the 544bhp with the M-Sport kit is probably as close as you'd get to it.

unkel

Thanks for the link, Matt Simis. What struck me more is that the slowest 7-series does 0-100km/h in just over 7s. A huge diesel auto luxobarge with the same acceleration as todays hottest hatches!

As a comparison, the E38 petrol 728i does 0-100km/h in just under 10s and the diesel 725tds in over 12s...

Voodoomelon

The 5s led the motorcade, the x2 7s were in the middle.

bazz26

Anyone remember the fleet of silver Audi A8 3.0TDis doing the rounds back in 2003/2004 when Ireland held the EU Presidency? They were ferrying EU Ministers about the place from Dublin Castle during the EU sumits. Don't think they were State owned either.

AugustusMinimus

I simply can't understand people who prefer the bog standard bodywork to the M-Sport.

Does the standard bodywork even sell outside of bog standard Ireland ?

Voodoomelon

Its funny, if you look up the new 730ds on autotrader in the UK, they ALL have M sport kits. Look them up on carzone.ie and virtually none of them to. Savage looking beasts in sportguise.

unkel

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

I simply can't understand people who prefer the bog standard bodywork to the M-Sport.

My ideal daily car is a very, very powerful saloon that looks as inconspicuous as possible. So yes, I'd prefer the bog standard looks of a base model 5-series but with a powerful V8 or V10 engine under the bonnet

AugustusMinimus

unkel wrote: »

My ideal daily car is a very, very powerful saloon that looks as inconspicuous as possible. So yes, I'd prefer the bog standard looks of a base model 5-series but with a powerful V8 or V10 engine under the bonnet

A 5 series with an M-Sports bodykit is hardly conspicuous. I'd say about half the 5 series in Ireland have it.

Having 4 exhausts at the back on the other hand is.


The difference the kit makes to the front of the old 5 series is unreal.

unkel

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

A 5 series with an M-Sports bodykit is hardly conspicuous. I'd say about half the 5 series in Ireland have it.

Or more

Nearly all 5-series sold these days are the tiny engined 2l 4-pot diesels. With the M-sports package. To me the M package adds not much more to the car than some go faster stripes. But I suppose that's me and the vast majority of people don't agree with me

Not many will agree with me or even understand where I'm coming from, but I would love to own an auto 540 (4.4l) V8 E39 that looks exactly like a bog standard 2l 520i. On the standard 15" alloys

southernstar

Yeah I saw these in Cork and was blown away. Beautiful cars.

Thought they could be british as British security use these also apparently, but the same ones were used for Obama.

Nothing like keeping up appearances.

Mully_2011

unkel wrote: »

Or more

Nearly all 5-series sold these days are the tiny engined 2l 4-pot diesels. With the M-sports package. To me the M package adds not much more to the car than some go faster stripes. But I suppose that's me and the vast majority of people don't agree with me

Not many will agree with me or even understand where I'm coming from, but I would love to own an auto 540 (4.4l) V8 E39 that looks exactly like a bog standard 2l 520i. On the standard 15" alloys

I can see why people like it.but the f10 se isnt a bad looking car either. but yes Id agree with you I would take a higher powered car with an se kit over a lower powered one with an M sport kit

metzengerstein

ugly cars altogether,bmw should have kept their older designs much nicer .

Wolverine_1999

metzengerstein wrote: »

ugly cars altogether,bmw should have kept their older designs much nicer .

E39 and E46 before facelift :cool:

Anan1

unkel wrote: »

Or more

Nearly all 5-series sold these days are the tiny engined 2l 4-pot diesels. With the M-sports package. To me the M package adds not much more to the car than some go faster stripes. But I suppose that's me and the vast majority of people don't agree with me

Not many will agree with me or even understand where I'm coming from, but I would love to own an auto 540 (4.4l) V8 E39 that looks exactly like a bog standard 2l 520i. On the standard 15" alloys

I do, but the Irish have a particular soft spot for fur coat & no knickers. Might be something to do with our poverty-stricken, colonial past.

Nonoperational

Yep, the 520d M-sport is a poverty-stricken, all fur coat and no knickers type of car. Awful thing really...

Anan1

gpf101 wrote: »

Yep, the 520d M-sport is a poverty-stricken, all fur coat and no knickers type of car. Awful thing really...

It is, but sure it's not too bad to tax.;)

pajo1981

The F10s are truly handsome cars alright.

No tacky m-sport kit required.

Matt Simis

unkel wrote: »

Nearly all 5-series sold these days are the tiny engined 2l 4-pot diesels. With the M-sports package. To me the M package adds not much more to the car than some go faster stripes. But I suppose that's me and the vast majority of people don't agree with me

Not many will agree with me or even understand where I'm coming from, but I would love to own an auto 540 (4.4l) V8 E39 that looks exactly like a bog standard 2l 520i. On the standard 15" alloys

I do agree aside from suspension the MSport is go faster stripes. However I like to have my cake and eat it, Ill take something that looks mean and different with a monster engine.

Unless I was a diehard street racer, I have no need for subterfuge either way (MSport on 4pot or SE on V8). On the 7series, MSport doesnt add much, its just a personal preference in this case IMO.

Anan1

Matt Simis wrote: »

Unless I was a diehard street racer, I have no need for subterfuge either way

If you're going to be doing the hooligan IMO you're a lot better off in a bland-looking car.:)

Lex Luthor

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

A 5 series with an M-Sports bodykit is hardly conspicuous. I'd say about half the 5 series in Ireland have it.

Having 4 exhausts at the back on the other hand is.


The difference the kit makes to the front of the old 5 series is unreal.

they still look bland...dont like that 5 at all at all at all

Max Power1

Lex Luthor wrote: »

they still look bland...dont like that 5 at all at all at all

While the m-sport front is infinitly better, they are no match for the e39 imo

ofcork

That engine in the 760 is a v12 twin turbo apparently it is the fastest bmw to 60.

copacetic

Anan1 wrote: »

I do, but the Irish have a particular soft spot for fur coat & no knickers. Might be something to do with our poverty-stricken, colonial past.

This received wisdom is getting a bit old, it's posted all the time as if in all other countries everyone buys big engines and goes nuts with the options lists.

In the UK, they reckon 72% of 5 series sold will be 520ds and most of these will be m sports.

Saab Ed

Am I the only one around here so who thinks every 5 Series since the Bangle era is horrible bar none. The previous generation one (B65Ft Z type series 12 or what ever its called ) is a far better looking car in every respect. BM's have all been horrible since about 2002.



>>>>>>>>>>>> Cue Bangle defending / Bashing ( which is not intended , I really do think 5 series are awful )

Arthur Daley

Saab Ed wrote: »

Am I the only one around here so who thinks every 5 Series since the Bangle era is horrible bar none. The previous generation one (B65Ft Z type series 12 or what ever its called ) is a far better looking car in every respect. BM's have all been horrible since about 2002.



>>>>>>>>>>>> Cue Bangle defending / Bashing ( which is not intended , I really do think 5 series are awful )

The 5 can grow on you I find. But the 6 series is ugly, and the 3 series E90 is a non entity. The last 7 series was a big let down for all concerned. Crucified by the S class.

pburns

copacetic wrote: »

This received wisdom is getting a bit old, it's posted all the time as if in all other countries everyone buys big engines and goes nuts with the options lists.

In the UK, they reckon 72% of 5 series sold will be 520ds and most of these will be m sports.

That means Paddy will be clamoring for a nice 130bhp 516d before too long;)...

Not too long ago I would have said that you need a 530d and that the 520d is Paddy-spec but like it or not the trend for the foreseeable future is lower capacity engines with increased economy (and more power per CC). There's even a 4-cylinder S-class out now. The Brits always speced their cars better. Just 'cos they're following the same path doesn't make it right.

I still think a standard 5 with 18'' wheels looks way cooler - it's not trying so hard:cool:...

Silvera

In response to the original poster's question...

The BMW's used for the Queen',and Obama's, visit were imported from Germany. They arrived on a car transporter complete with German registration plates. (They were obviously since re-registered on 11-D plates). I believe they are armoured, and were leased for a short period.

Anybody notice that the '11-D' Range Rover which transported the Queen around is in fact a UK-owned vehicle?;)
(Note the UK tax disc in the windscreen)

incidentially, the 2 x water cannon trucks leased from the PSNI (for the period of the two state visits) previously sported '05-D' plates. I didnt see what plates they had attached this time. Same numbers??

Interestingly, the dept of justice could also have opted for 'ZZ' temporary plates for any of the above vehicles (ZZ plates are valid for 30 days) .

-Chris-

Silvera wrote: »

In response to the original poster's question...

A novel diversion, but I'll allow it... :D


@everyone - back on-topic please. We've debated the "is a 520d M-Sport a real BMW" question a million times.

Rawhead

The big give away is that all the BMW's were left hand drive. All the German big 3 lend cars out for these occasions, it's pure advertising gold.

One of the BMWs was loaned by a certain family of Limerick scumbags and the state ain't giving it back. It's armour plated.

ofcork

That particular car is the previous model 7 series and is used by the gardai on a regular basis i believe.

-Corkie-

Rawhead wrote: »

The big give away is that all the BMW's were left hand drive. All the German big 3 lend cars out for these occasions, it's pure advertising gold.

One of the BMWs was loaned by a certain family of Limerick scumbags and the state ain't giving it back. It's armour plated.

Is that the silver X5???. Some machine in fairness. There was some nice bikes on the Escort aswell..