BMW 520d (161 model)

kingstown

opinion valued..

Had a look at trading my 131 520d over the weekend and the Nav system in the current SE model is a business system, while in the Lux model the Nav's in a much large screen and is pro system.
Don't have Nav in my current car, i think it came as standard in the 132 models

Has any one any knowledge the pro system and whats your opinion ?
Basically is the larger screen worth the €1900 upgrade or would you spend on something else.

Thanks

landmarkjohn

Very hard to beat smartphone navigation, I would spend the money on something you use all the time like comfort seats or maybe LED lights.

kingstown

Thanks Landmark

I'm just thinking that if i change the car i'll like something different in the dash.
I have had 2 x 520d's (2010 & 2013) with basically the very same same layout and while i like the car thought upgrade in the dash would be something different.
I take your point about smartphone nav - i use it going through Dublin myself.

Cheers

bazz26

The Pro system has a bit more to it than just a wider screen, the navigation has more features than the standard version, split screen function, higher resolution display, faster processor, multimedia player including DVD, Real time traffic information, BMW Connected Drive (internet applications) and it also has a 20GB hard drive. Some people say that the F10 dashboard needs the wide screen to look complete but honestly mine has the standard Business NAV screen and it doesn't bother me, does the job.

Depends on the individual whether or not it's worth 1900 extra though but as I don't buy brand new cars these days so its not really a decision I would have to make. You won't see much of that 1900 back come sell on time but it might make it a bit more appealing to a buyer.

carsfan

I think the lux model has a few more extras other than pro nav over the se.better alloys, trim , ambient lighting etc.
Might be better to get a lux rather than an se with pro nav from a resale view.

kingstown

Thanks Bazz

defo going for the Active lights @ €800. Have them in my 131 car and think they are the best thing i ever got in a car.
i also got the the flappy paddles on the steering wheel but wouldn't get them ever again- used them once or twice that's all.

Might look at upgrading to 18" wheels instead. Recon the car would run better on these.

Did have a test drive of a 520D M sport which had 18" wheels and really liked the drive.

Have anyone got one? what your opinion on it as a practical car?

kingstown

Thanks Bazz

defo going for the Active lights @ €800. Have them in my 131 car and think they are the best thing i ever got in a car.
i also got the the flappy paddles on the steering wheel but wouldn't get them ever again- used them once or twice that's all.

Might look at upgrading to 18" wheels instead. Recon the car would run better on these.

Did have a test drive of a 520D M sport which had 18" wheels and really liked the drive.

Have anyone got one? what your opinion on it as a practical car?

blingrhino

kingstown wrote: »

opinion valued..

Had a look at trading my 131 520d over the weekend and the Nav system in the current SE model is a business system, while in the Lux model the Nav's in a much large screen and is pro system.
Don't have Nav in my current car, i think it came as standard in the 132 models

Has any one any knowledge the pro system and whats your opinion ?
Basically is the larger screen worth the €1900 upgrade or would you spend on something else.

Thanks

What type of money to come up 3 years if you dont mind me asking op.

bazz26

Have factory fitted 18" alloys on my F10 SE and find the ride very comfortable. The 18" wheels also fill the F10's arches alot better than the 17" wheels which just look lost. Have the flappy paddles on the steering wheel and adaptive headlights too on mine, the adaptive headlights are really worth the extra money imo.

Also if you can afford the M Sport then I'd go with that, the F10 in SE and LUX is too conservatively styled imo and they look so much better in M Sport spec.

ION08

landmarkjohn wrote: »

Very hard to beat smartphone navigation, I would spend the money on something you use all the time like comfort seats or maybe LED lights.

To be honest, I would go for it on aesthetics alone as opposed to actual functionality.

You can tell the dash was designed around the larger screen. The small screen with the two obvious blanking plastics on either side really cheapens the interior for me and looks dreadful.

Oafley Jones

ION08 wrote: »

To be honest, I would go for it on aesthetics alone as opposed to actual functionality.

You can tell the dash was designed around the larger screen. The small screen with the two obvious blanking plastics on either side really cheapens the interior for me and looks dreadful.

I agree, it looks absolutely awful. The pro screen really makes that dash.

kingstown

yes the test drive in the M really impressed me, recon a lot to do with the 18" wheels
Never really thought of a M before because i'm not really into flash cars. I like a nice car hence the 5 series.


Dealer is working out a deal on the M as we speak, so fingers crossed he's thinking along the same lines as me (money wise...!)

Theboinkmaster

Oafley Jones wrote: »

I agree, it looks absolutely awful. The pro screen really makes that dash.

100% agree with this, I have an f10 with pro nav and when I was searching I just wouldn't look at any without the pro nav as the smaller screen on the dash really ruins the look of the inside.

I use the DVD player a fair bit actually, and the 20gb HD for music is great.

maddness

I've a 520D MSport and while it does look that bit better than the SE I would choose a Luxury spec for the same price. The MSport in a 1 or 3 series makes a considerable difference to the drive but I find in the 5 series it makes little or no difference the driving experience. It really is just a trim option and still feels soft and heavy to drive.
The Luxury has a far better spec than the SE too, 18" wheels, Pro Nav, nicer trim etc.
Judging from your previous posts I the the Luxury could be the one to go for.

maddness

I've a 520D MSport and while it does look that bit better than the SE I would choose a Luxury spec for the same price. The MSport in a 1 or 3 series makes a considerable difference to the drive but I find in the 5 series it makes little or no difference the driving experience. It really is just a trim option and still feels soft and heavy to drive.
The Luxury has a far better spec than the SE too, 18" wheels, Pro Nav, nicer trim etc.
Judging from your previous posts I think the Luxury could be the one to go for.

maddness

Every time I post recently it posts twice??

Theboinkmaster

maddness wrote: »

I've a 520D MSport and while it does look that bit better than the SE I would choose a Luxury spec for the same price. The MSport in a 1 or 3 series makes a considerable difference to the drive but I find in the 5 series it makes little or no difference the driving experience. It really is just a trim option and still feels soft and heavy to drive.
The Luxury has a far better spec than the SE too, 18" wheels, Pro Nav, nicer trim etc.
Judging from your previous posts I think the Luxury could be the one to go for.

I disagree I wouldn't buy a non msport, looks very ordinary in SE.

Theboinkmaster

maddness wrote: »

Every time I post recently it posts twice??

Just current boards.ie technical glitch after recent outage.

maddness

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

I disagree I wouldn't buy a non msport, looks very ordinary in SE.

The MSport does look better (to my eyes anyway) but the Luxury offers more toys for a similar price.

carsfan

I had two 520d's.
One was se. on 18" wheels and the second was m sport on 19" but with m sport suspension deleted. The ride comfort was fine on both in my view. The m sport looks better especially on the 19" wheels but they are dear to spec on top of m sport. Driving both cars is identical. I had pro nav in the m sport and I rhink it finishes the interior really well and is great with the hard disc etc. I don't think on a bare se. it is worth getting pro nav alone.
If I was going for another I would seriously consider the luxury with the turbine 18" alloys and the sports seats from the M sport which are very comfy.

what to do?

You mentioned extra spec on the 132 model over your own...

Presume you know a new 5 series is on the cards. I wonder whether the 162 cars (current model) will be offered with some higher spec to shift stock??

HandsomeDan

The all new G30 5 series is being released next year. You'd be nuts to buy an new F10.

kyote00

Just my opinion.... but seems crazy to change a car for the sake of a bigger nav system and screen. As someone else said, upgrade for sure but maybe get some options which are useful for comfort or driving...

Can the head unit be replaced in your current car with a modern app radio ? (i.e. with 3g, wifi, tv, camera etc) and full integration with your phone....

(I have a pioneer app radio in my 2003 corolla -- wifi, reverse cam, tv, full app integration (i.e. I get txt, whatapps, slack messages onto car screen if I want) -- all integrated with steering wheel controls...)

20GB hard disk ... wow ... is that what the 20 in 520 stands for ....:D

bazz26 wrote: »

The Pro system has a bit more to it ..... it also has a 20GB hard drive. .

RedorDead

HandsomeDan wrote: »

The all new G30 5 series is being released next year. You'd be nuts to buy an new F10.

Why? Generally better deals on outgoing cars both in price, product and finance terms. Generally better reliability as well. Normally at the end of a lifecycle the model reliability is as good as its gonna be for that car and the first year or so of a new cars production is fraught with difficulties and recalls.

New car is nice and all that but the clever buyer waits at least a year before buying a new model to let teething issues sort themselves out.

Theboinkmaster

Does anyone else hate the direction bmw are going with their interiors - with the nav screen popping out of the dash? I think it looks muck - f10 has it properly integrated in the dash and turned slightly towards driver which I think is perfect.

markad1

Theboinkmaster wrote: »

Does anyone else hate the direction bmw are going with their interiors - with the nav screen popping out of the dash? I think it looks muck - f10 has it properly integrated in the dash and turned slightly towards driver which I think is perfect.

I hate the new screen popping out. It looks like... oh we forgot the screen..no problem just pop it in there.
It gives a much nicer finish when its part of the dash.

Stallingrad

RedorDead wrote: »

but the clever buyer waits at least a year before buying a new model to let teething issues sort themselves out.

Maybe clever in terms of reliability but not so smart when it comes to resale. A 2017 F10 will be worth a lot less than a 2017 G30. The new G30 will be bristling with 7 series tech that will make the f10 look like a dinosaur.

HandsomeDan

RedorDead wrote: »

Why? Generally better deals on outgoing cars both in price, product and finance terms. Generally better reliability as well. Normally at the end of a lifecycle the model reliability is as good as its gonna be for that car and the first year or so of a new cars production is fraught with difficulties and recalls.

New car is nice and all that but the clever buyer waits at least a year before buying a new model to let teething issues sort themselves out.

Better deals on outgoing cars because they are inferior in every way to successive model and you'd want to be insane to buy one.

HandsomeDan

markad1 wrote: »

I hate the new screen popping out. It looks like... oh we forgot the screen..no problem just pop it in there.
It gives a much nicer finish when its part of the dash.

It too low down when it's part of the dash.

Oafley Jones

HandsomeDan wrote: »

It too low down when it's part of the dash.

I really like the new c class but the infotainment screen does look like an after market solution. I can see it being changed for the mid life update and brought in line with the e and s class... In fact I'm sure there was rumours already suggesting this.

Theboinkmaster

HandsomeDan wrote: »

It too low down when it's part of the dash.

Disagree - sure it's in line with the instrument cluster