Couple of Questions for F15 owners who came over from E70

2thdr · 05-28-2014, 03:20 PM

Looking at picking up a F15 X5 and test drove one for an hour yesterday. It was a 35i with M Sport, Dynamic Handling, and the 20" rims. It also had the MC Seats.

My two questions are whether you find the ride of the F15 to not be as teutonic as before. I realize that that is a weird way of describing things, but my impression was that the ride was not as "planted" as the E70. It seemed to become unsettled over irregular road surfaces. I think part of that may be the new steering, but it just did not seem to drive as well as the last one. Anyone else feel the same?

As well, the multi contour seats neither seem to have the same amount of padding nor do they envelope you as much as the previous Comfort seats. I did not find them nearly as comfortable as the old Comfort seats. Do other find the same thing?

Thanks!

ramsal · 05-28-2014, 05:30 PM

I had the E70 for 4 months before moving to the F15 (same equipment on both) and I noticed the following differences:

1. the F15 is not as jumpy out of the gate as the E70 which made me look like an overly aggressive driver when the lights changed from red to green.
2. E70 had a much stiffer stirring which is much improved on the F15
3. Seat wise I don't feel much difference in comfort although the seats have been redesigned and they seem somewhat smaller and thinner in the F15.
4. Drive is much smoother on the F15, no question. I'm not sure that I would describe the F15 as less planted from a drive-feel perspective but the E70 definitely looked like it was better planted on the road, it didn't look as tall.

Anyway, just my impression of the differences when I switched from one to the other. I think I also preferred the more aggressive lines of the E70, especially with the larger wheel flares.

JSteinMD · 05-28-2014, 07:51 PM

I had 2012 E70 50i for 3 years and have had my F15 50i for one week now. My impression at this point is exactly as you described. The ride is much more comfortable but does not feel like it is on rails as my E70 did. There is too much understeer when turning into corners at high speeds and the car does not handle with as much confidence. That being said, it is a much more luxurious vehicle and the 50i does not pull and lurch as much at low gears as the old one did. I am happy with the seats, no complaints there.

gorun · 05-29-2014, 09:54 AM

Ride - much better on the F15 less road noise as well, not as planted as the E70 in the corners, a lot more roll
Steering - biggest let down on the F15 - heavy, vague, slow, crap turning circle, E70 was better mind you I had AS
Comfort seats - old ones are much better, I do not feel cocooned in the new ones...they might have saved some weight but BMW have fked up the best seat in the automotive industry

atomic80 · 05-29-2014, 10:33 AM

For those of you that can change the driving mode, have you tried changing to "M mode" to see if that improves things? I notice that there's a huge difference between "comfort," "eco mode" and "M mode"

2thdr · 05-29-2014, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gorun

Ride - much better on the F15 less road noise as well, not as planted as the E70 in the corners, a lot more roll
Steering - biggest let down on the F15 - heavy, vague, slow, crap turning circle, E70 was better mind you I had AS
Comfort seats - old ones are much better, I do not feel cocooned in the new ones...they might have saved some weight but BMW have fked up the best seat in the automotive industry

Honestly this has been my opinion as well from a 1 hour test drive. The amount of padding seems reduced, their is less of a sense of being enveloped, and you can't tilt the front of the seat as far upwards as you could before. I have conditionally closed a deal on a 2013 X5M with low mileage in Carbon Black, but I still find myself considering an extremely low mileage dealer shuttle X5...5.0i loaded right up, even with the B&O sound. But my main reservations are the two that I listed above. Not sure if that seat is going to be comfortable in the long term. As well, really questioning how it feels on the road.

Atomic80, I may have forgotten to activate the M driving mode. May look into that.

Kind of unsure of which way I am going to go.

Thanks for any and all opinions. I appreciate the insight.

Ringo2712 · 05-30-2014, 09:42 AM

Had an E70 with 18' wheels for five years, now I've had my F15 with 20" wheels for two months. Definitely I can say that the E70 handled better and felt more planted than the F15 which should have an advantage because of the wider rubber. But the F15 is a lot smoother. Personally I liked more the sportier feel of the E70.

1230vani · 05-31-2014, 01:22 AM

I like my F15, have a few toys, it is a smooth and quiet car, i realized i am at times missing my old e71, most of all comfort seats, looks of it outside, robustness and handling of the car. I do not miss a bit dated cabin but i found myself to have a lot more fun driving during longer trips.

05-28-2014, 03:20 PM	#1
2thdr Lieutenant 59 Rep 553 Posts Drives: '18 Macan GTS/'18 GT3/''21 X5M Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta iTrader: (0)	Couple of Questions for F15 owners who came over from E70 Looking at picking up a F15 X5 and test drove one for an hour yesterday. It was a 35i with M Sport, Dynamic Handling, and the 20" rims. It also had the MC Seats. My two questions are whether you find the ride of the F15 to not be as teutonic as before. I realize that that is a weird way of describing things, but my impression was that the ride was not as "planted" as the E70. It seemed to become unsettled over irregular road surfaces. I think part of that may be the new steering, but it just did not seem to drive as well as the last one. Anyone else feel the same? As well, the multi contour seats neither seem to have the same amount of padding nor do they envelope you as much as the previous Comfort seats. I did not find them nearly as comfortable as the old Comfort seats. Do other find the same thing? Thanks!
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05-28-2014, 05:30 PM	#2
ramsal Second Lieutenant 58 Rep 251 Posts Drives: 2017 X5 & 2018 M3 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	I had the E70 for 4 months before moving to the F15 (same equipment on both) and I noticed the following differences: 1. the F15 is not as jumpy out of the gate as the E70 which made me look like an overly aggressive driver when the lights changed from red to green. 2. E70 had a much stiffer stirring which is much improved on the F15 3. Seat wise I don't feel much difference in comfort although the seats have been redesigned and they seem somewhat smaller and thinner in the F15. 4. Drive is much smoother on the F15, no question. I'm not sure that I would describe the F15 as less planted from a drive-feel perspective but the E70 definitely looked like it was better planted on the road, it didn't look as tall. Anyway, just my impression of the differences when I switched from one to the other. I think I also preferred the more aggressive lines of the E70, especially with the larger wheel flares.
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05-28-2014, 07:51 PM	#3
JSteinMD Enlisted Member 27 Rep 38 Posts Drives: 2014 F15 X5 50i SAV Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	E70 to F15 I had 2012 E70 50i for 3 years and have had my F15 50i for one week now. My impression at this point is exactly as you described. The ride is much more comfortable but does not feel like it is on rails as my E70 did. There is too much understeer when turning into corners at high speeds and the car does not handle with as much confidence. That being said, it is a much more luxurious vehicle and the 50i does not pull and lurch as much at low gears as the old one did. I am happy with the seats, no complaints there.
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05-29-2014, 09:54 AM	#4
gorun Lieutenant 46 Rep 528 Posts Drives: W166 ML63 PP Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Where the roads are crap... iTrader: (0)	Ride - much better on the F15 less road noise as well, not as planted as the E70 in the corners, a lot more roll Steering - biggest let down on the F15 - heavy, vague, slow, crap turning circle, E70 was better mind you I had AS Comfort seats - old ones are much better, I do not feel cocooned in the new ones...they might have saved some weight but BMW have fked up the best seat in the automotive industry
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05-29-2014, 10:33 AM	#5
atomic80 Lieutenant 404 Rep 561 Posts Drives: 997TT Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bellevue, WA iTrader: (0)	For those of you that can change the driving mode, have you tried changing to "M mode" to see if that improves things? I notice that there's a huge difference between "comfort," "eco mode" and "M mode"
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Couple of Questions for F15 owners who came over from E70

05-30-2014, 09:42 AM	#7
Ringo2712 Private 20 Rep 62 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 40i M Sport Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Panama iTrader: (0)	Had an E70 with 18' wheels for five years, now I've had my F15 with 20" wheels for two months. Definitely I can say that the E70 handled better and felt more planted than the F15 which should have an advantage because of the wider rubber. But the F15 is a lot smoother. Personally I liked more the sportier feel of the E70.
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05-31-2014, 01:22 AM	#8
1230vani Colonel 653 Rep 2,705 Posts Drives: G05 40i LCI Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: N/A iTrader: (0)	I like my F15, have a few toys, it is a smooth and quiet car, i realized i am at times missing my old e71, most of all comfort seats, looks of it outside, robustness and handling of the car. I do not miss a bit dated cabin but i found myself to have a lot more fun driving during longer trips.
	Appreciate 0 Quote