RL vs. BMW 5
10-24-2007 | 08:23 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Finding my TL-S
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 524
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, TX
RL vs. BMW 5
So, my friends and I were talking today. We were comparing European luxary cars to Japanese luxury cars. all of them have bmw's and mb's, im the only one with a japanese. we were comparing the RL to a 5 seris, and i was just wondering, what are the pros of the RL over the 5? i couldnt think of anyting, partially because im never on the RL boards. please help me rebuttal!
10-24-2007 | 09:14 PM
#2
You'll Never Walk Alone
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,522
Likes: 846
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
1.) Interior quality, materials used
2.) Standard Features
3.) Bang for the buck, especially there's big discount
4.) Rarity
5.) Innovative and effective SH-AWD
Just to name a few..
2.) Standard Features
3.) Bang for the buck, especially there's big discount
4.) Rarity
5.) Innovative and effective SH-AWD
Just to name a few..
10-24-2007 | 09:36 PM
#3
socialism= the suck
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,023
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by BackToStock
So, my friends and I were talking today. We were comparing European luxary cars to Japanese luxury cars. all of them have bmw's and mb's, im the only one with a japanese. we were comparing the RL to a 5 seris, and i was just wondering, what are the pros of the RL over the 5? i couldnt think of anyting, partially because im never on the RL boards. please help me rebuttal!
a 535 will any given sunday outrun and out handle a RL. if your in the market for a car that you'll drive harder the 535 your car.
however if your more of bang for your buck type of person. The RL your ball of wax.
you'll pay more for the 535 is kind of pricey that's where the RL trumps the 535.
my brother in law has a 05 tech package RL. i've drove it. i would have waited on the 535 and plunked down the extra 5 or 10 grand but that's me.
10-24-2007 | 09:50 PM
#4
I can't find my garage
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,688
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
i personally like the styling of the exterior of the rl over the 5 series. interior design wise, ill say both is fair, thought i do like the rl's speedo. i also heard that the rl's sh-awd is great and a huge PLUS. Rl comes with more standard features and from My experience, i like the Rl's Navi better compared to the 5 series, as a matter of fact i dont like any of BMW's Navi's, theyre not as responsive as acura and kinda confusing to use.
10-24-2007 | 09:54 PM
#5
Pinky all stinky
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 20,665
Likes: 191
The RL used to have some pros over the 5-Series for me. But once the BMW became available with that turbo charged engine, the only thing I can give the RL is its better interior design (don't like the awkward curves in the BMW's interior).
And leave it to BMW to one up the competition...now that all the luxury car brands are beginning to use LEDs, the 5-series has neon tail lights.
And leave it to BMW to one up the competition...now that all the luxury car brands are beginning to use LEDs, the 5-series has neon tail lights.
10-24-2007 | 09:57 PM
#6
TSXmeister
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 568
Likes: 3
From: Las Vegas, NV
IMO...hands down BMW 5 series won me over the RL. I took a test drive on both a couple of weeks ago as far as driving dynamics the BMW connects to the driver better than the RL. But as far as reliability, I think this is where the RL edges the BMW. Also the exterior styling of the 5 series just looks sexy now!!!
10-24-2007 | 10:03 PM
#7
Suzuka Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,271
Likes: 236
From: Maryland
on all the reasons mentionned above. Bang for the buck,rarity, technology and navi. The navigation interface in our family mdx absolutely kills the one in my 335.the difference is really that huge.I've always been a huge fan of the RL interior as well.SH-AWD really works well from my experience.Other than that, I can't think of anything else.Call me crazy, but I've always loved the 5 series looks.It feels premium for some reason(No, it's not the badge).The N54 engine is a new big plus.There's a reason why it's the benchmark in it's category
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10-25-2007 | 07:39 AM
#9
Go Big Blue!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,700
Likes: 5
From: Orlando, FLA
Looks are too subjective. How can anyone really debate that? Having said that, I think both are generally good looking cars.
I bought an 07 RL earlier this year and cross shopped with the 535 and GS350 so it's fairly fresh in my mind. MB is too pricy for the reliability and quality of product so I didn't even consider the E. The M35 was an option but the dealer is on the wrong side of the city so I never got a chance to test drive one before I pulled the trigger on the RL.
The RL ride is very good. Not as soft as the GS but not as firm as the 5. Just right for me (now that I'm in my 40's
), but the 535 certainly seemed to handle better with the little bit of pushing I could do on the test drive. Then again, how often do you need to take a right turn at 35 mph 
. Also, I've heard people talk about the RL not having enough torque at the low end, but I didn't notice much of a problem there. It seemed balanced enough.
The SHAWD was fantastic. During the test drive I could immediately appreciate how better balanced the car felt during acceleration and turning. I couldn't even tell it was a FWD biased car. However, since owning it now for 6 months, I now can really appreciate the system. It's fantastic. The car feels like it's riding on rails except under the harshest conditions. For laughs I took in in a state park on wet grass in the morning and tried to spin it out. Really had no luck. The car holds it's line under amazing conditions with the integrated VSA and SHAWD systems working together. Great feature if you live in snowy areas.
The general ride and comfort of the RL definitely seemed better if your commuting and driving 30-60 minutes one way. The seats are A1 in the RL and the general ergonomics of the interior was superior to the BMW. On top of that, the Voice Recognition in the RL is so superior to ANYTHING else on the market that I now find myself hardly ever reaching for the controls; "CD - Play Disk 3 Track 2", or "Radio 98.9 FM" are two phrases I often utter.
In fact, the VR is so good it's easier to set a Nav destination by voice then by hand. It's amazingly good.
Of course, on top of all that, there's the price difference. The 535xi comparably equiped was $11k more! In fact, I bought the RL with CMBS, so you can't even get a 5 series comparably equiped because they don't offer the Collision Mitigation. Also, I never saw any 5's with Adaptive Cruise Control (at least not on this dealers lot). My RL MSRP'd for $55 (after $2k of accessories). The 535xi with less features was $67k
BMW is a great car maker and the 5 is a great car. I always liked BMW. Their priorities are actually slightly more in line with mine then Acura. However, I guess I'm too frugal because I always end up in a BMW showroom when I'm shopping for a car but always come out empty handed. Case in point, just finished shopping a new SUV. It came down to Acura and BMW (as it often does). The MDX was $750 on a 3 year lease. The X5 was $995. Guess what's in my driveway now.
By the way, I'm not really brand loyal. I tend to go with the best car. Just seems Acura had the two winners in it's class for me this time around.
I bought an 07 RL earlier this year and cross shopped with the 535 and GS350 so it's fairly fresh in my mind. MB is too pricy for the reliability and quality of product so I didn't even consider the E. The M35 was an option but the dealer is on the wrong side of the city so I never got a chance to test drive one before I pulled the trigger on the RL.
The RL ride is very good. Not as soft as the GS but not as firm as the 5. Just right for me (now that I'm in my 40's
), but the 535 certainly seemed to handle better with the little bit of pushing I could do on the test drive. Then again, how often do you need to take a right turn at 35 mph . Also, I've heard people talk about the RL not having enough torque at the low end, but I didn't notice much of a problem there. It seemed balanced enough.The SHAWD was fantastic. During the test drive I could immediately appreciate how better balanced the car felt during acceleration and turning. I couldn't even tell it was a FWD biased car. However, since owning it now for 6 months, I now can really appreciate the system. It's fantastic. The car feels like it's riding on rails except under the harshest conditions. For laughs I took in in a state park on wet grass in the morning and tried to spin it out. Really had no luck. The car holds it's line under amazing conditions with the integrated VSA and SHAWD systems working together. Great feature if you live in snowy areas.
The general ride and comfort of the RL definitely seemed better if your commuting and driving 30-60 minutes one way. The seats are A1 in the RL and the general ergonomics of the interior was superior to the BMW. On top of that, the Voice Recognition in the RL is so superior to ANYTHING else on the market that I now find myself hardly ever reaching for the controls; "CD - Play Disk 3 Track 2", or "Radio 98.9 FM" are two phrases I often utter.
In fact, the VR is so good it's easier to set a Nav destination by voice then by hand. It's amazingly good. Of course, on top of all that, there's the price difference. The 535xi comparably equiped was $11k more! In fact, I bought the RL with CMBS, so you can't even get a 5 series comparably equiped because they don't offer the Collision Mitigation. Also, I never saw any 5's with Adaptive Cruise Control (at least not on this dealers lot). My RL MSRP'd for $55 (after $2k of accessories). The 535xi with less features was $67k
BMW is a great car maker and the 5 is a great car. I always liked BMW. Their priorities are actually slightly more in line with mine then Acura. However, I guess I'm too frugal because I always end up in a BMW showroom when I'm shopping for a car but always come out empty handed
. Case in point, just finished shopping a new SUV. It came down to Acura and BMW (as it often does). The MDX was $750 on a 3 year lease. The X5 was $995. Guess what's in my driveway now. By the way, I'm not really brand loyal. I tend to go with the best car. Just seems Acura had the two winners in it's class for me this time around.
Last edited by SpicyMikey; 10-25-2007 at 07:43 AM.
10-25-2007 | 10:08 AM
#10
Senior Moderator
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 17,903
Likes: 1,672
Originally Posted by BackToStock
So, my friends and I were talking today. We were comparing European luxary cars to Japanese luxury cars. all of them have bmw's and mb's, im the only one with a japanese. we were comparing the RL to a 5 seris, and i was just wondering, what are the pros of the RL over the 5? i couldnt think of anyting, partially because im never on the RL boards. please help me rebuttal!
10-25-2007 | 10:30 AM
#11
Chloe @ 17mo
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,931
Likes: 0
From: Snohomish, WA
Originally Posted by SpicyMikey
Looks are too subjective. How can anyone really debate that? Having said that, I think both are generally good looking cars.
I bought an 07 RL earlier this year and cross shopped with the 535 and GS350 so it's fairly fresh in my mind. MB is too pricy for the reliability and quality of product so I didn't even consider the E. The M35 was an option but the dealer is on the wrong side of the city so I never got a chance to test drive one before I pulled the trigger on the RL.
The RL ride is very good. Not as soft as the GS but not as firm as the 5. Just right for me (now that I'm in my 40's ), but the 535 certainly seemed to handle better with the little bit of pushing I could do on the test drive. Then again, how often do you need to take a right turn at 35 mph . Also, I've heard people talk about the RL not having enough torque at the low end, but I didn't notice much of a problem there. It seemed balanced enough.
The SHAWD was fantastic. During the test drive I could immediately appreciate how better balanced the car felt during acceleration and turning. I couldn't even tell it was a FWD biased car. However, since owning it now for 6 months, I now can really appreciate the system. It's fantastic. The car feels like it's riding on rails except under the harshest conditions. For laughs I took in in a state park on wet grass in the morning and tried to spin it out. Really had no luck. The car holds it's line under amazing conditions with the integrated VSA and SHAWD systems working together. Great feature if you live in snowy areas.
The general ride and comfort of the RL definitely seemed better if your commuting and driving 30-60 minutes one way. The seats are A1 in the RL and the general ergonomics of the interior was superior to the BMW. On top of that, the Voice Recognition in the RL is so superior to ANYTHING else on the market that I now find myself hardly ever reaching for the controls; "CD - Play Disk 3 Track 2", or "Radio 98.9 FM" are two phrases I often utter. In fact, the VR is so good it's easier to set a Nav destination by voice then by hand. It's amazingly good.
Of course, on top of all that, there's the price difference. The 535xi comparably equiped was $11k more! In fact, I bought the RL with CMBS, so you can't even get a 5 series comparably equiped because they don't offer the Collision Mitigation. Also, I never saw any 5's with Adaptive Cruise Control (at least not on this dealers lot). My RL MSRP'd for $55 (after $2k of accessories). The 535xi with less features was $67k
BMW is a great car maker and the 5 is a great car. I always liked BMW. Their priorities are actually slightly more in line with mine then Acura. However, I guess I'm too frugal because I always end up in a BMW showroom when I'm shopping for a car but always come out empty handed. Case in point, just finished shopping a new SUV. It came down to Acura and BMW (as it often does). The MDX was $750 on a 3 year lease. The X5 was $995. Guess what's in my driveway now.
By the way, I'm not really brand loyal. I tend to go with the best car. Just seems Acura had the two winners in it's class for me this time around.
I bought an 07 RL earlier this year and cross shopped with the 535 and GS350 so it's fairly fresh in my mind. MB is too pricy for the reliability and quality of product so I didn't even consider the E. The M35 was an option but the dealer is on the wrong side of the city so I never got a chance to test drive one before I pulled the trigger on the RL.
The RL ride is very good. Not as soft as the GS but not as firm as the 5. Just right for me (now that I'm in my 40's
), but the 535 certainly seemed to handle better with the little bit of pushing I could do on the test drive. Then again, how often do you need to take a right turn at 35 mph . Also, I've heard people talk about the RL not having enough torque at the low end, but I didn't notice much of a problem there. It seemed balanced enough.The SHAWD was fantastic. During the test drive I could immediately appreciate how better balanced the car felt during acceleration and turning. I couldn't even tell it was a FWD biased car. However, since owning it now for 6 months, I now can really appreciate the system. It's fantastic. The car feels like it's riding on rails except under the harshest conditions. For laughs I took in in a state park on wet grass in the morning and tried to spin it out. Really had no luck. The car holds it's line under amazing conditions with the integrated VSA and SHAWD systems working together. Great feature if you live in snowy areas.
The general ride and comfort of the RL definitely seemed better if your commuting and driving 30-60 minutes one way. The seats are A1 in the RL and the general ergonomics of the interior was superior to the BMW. On top of that, the Voice Recognition in the RL is so superior to ANYTHING else on the market that I now find myself hardly ever reaching for the controls; "CD - Play Disk 3 Track 2", or "Radio 98.9 FM" are two phrases I often utter.
In fact, the VR is so good it's easier to set a Nav destination by voice then by hand. It's amazingly good. Of course, on top of all that, there's the price difference. The 535xi comparably equiped was $11k more! In fact, I bought the RL with CMBS, so you can't even get a 5 series comparably equiped because they don't offer the Collision Mitigation. Also, I never saw any 5's with Adaptive Cruise Control (at least not on this dealers lot). My RL MSRP'd for $55 (after $2k of accessories). The 535xi with less features was $67k
BMW is a great car maker and the 5 is a great car. I always liked BMW. Their priorities are actually slightly more in line with mine then Acura. However, I guess I'm too frugal because I always end up in a BMW showroom when I'm shopping for a car but always come out empty handed
. Case in point, just finished shopping a new SUV. It came down to Acura and BMW (as it often does). The MDX was $750 on a 3 year lease. The X5 was $995. Guess what's in my driveway now. By the way, I'm not really brand loyal. I tend to go with the best car. Just seems Acura had the two winners in it's class for me this time around.
10-25-2007 | 03:26 PM
#12
Suzuka Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,271
Likes: 236
From: Maryland
Originally Posted by SpicyMikey
Case in point, just finished shopping a new SUV. It came down to Acura and BMW (as it often does). The MDX was $750 on a 3 year lease. The X5 was $995. Guess what's in my driveway now.
10-25-2007 | 04:10 PM
#13
Go Big Blue!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,700
Likes: 5
From: Orlando, FLA
yea, remember we were going back and forth trying to decide? I was going to wait and then my Sienna started getting some wierd noises and clicks from the front end so I decided to dump it sooner. I was going to wait to see what the redesigned RX looked like in the spring but I couldn't wait any longer. Besides, the RX is ugly. I'm afraid it's still going to be too girly looking
10-25-2007 | 04:28 PM
#14
Suzuka Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,271
Likes: 236
From: Maryland
Originally Posted by SpicyMikey
yea, remember we were going back and forth trying to decide? I was going to wait and then my Sienna started getting some wierd noises and clicks from the front end so I decided to dump it sooner. I was going to wait to see what the redesigned RX looked like in the spring but I couldn't wait any longer. Besides, the RX is ugly. I'm afraid it's still going to be too girly looking
10-25-2007 | 05:22 PM
#15
Asian07RL
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 453
Likes: 2
From: Warrington, PA
Originally Posted by SpicyMikey
Looks are too subjective. How can anyone really debate that? Having said that, I think both are generally good looking cars.
I bought an 07 RL earlier this year and cross shopped with the 535 and GS350 so it's fairly fresh in my mind. MB is too pricy for the reliability and quality of product so I didn't even consider the E. The M35 was an option but the dealer is on the wrong side of the city so I never got a chance to test drive one before I pulled the trigger on the RL.
The RL ride is very good. Not as soft as the GS but not as firm as the 5. Just right for me (now that I'm in my 40's ), but the 535 certainly seemed to handle better with the little bit of pushing I could do on the test drive. Then again, how often do you need to take a right turn at 35 mph . Also, I've heard people talk about the RL not having enough torque at the low end, but I didn't notice much of a problem there. It seemed balanced enough.
The SHAWD was fantastic. During the test drive I could immediately appreciate how better balanced the car felt during acceleration and turning. I couldn't even tell it was a FWD biased car. However, since owning it now for 6 months, I now can really appreciate the system. It's fantastic. The car feels like it's riding on rails except under the harshest conditions. For laughs I took in in a state park on wet grass in the morning and tried to spin it out. Really had no luck. The car holds it's line under amazing conditions with the integrated VSA and SHAWD systems working together. Great feature if you live in snowy areas.
The general ride and comfort of the RL definitely seemed better if your commuting and driving 30-60 minutes one way. The seats are A1 in the RL and the general ergonomics of the interior was superior to the BMW. On top of that, the Voice Recognition in the RL is so superior to ANYTHING else on the market that I now find myself hardly ever reaching for the controls; "CD - Play Disk 3 Track 2", or "Radio 98.9 FM" are two phrases I often utter. In fact, the VR is so good it's easier to set a Nav destination by voice then by hand. It's amazingly good.
Of course, on top of all that, there's the price difference. The 535xi comparably equiped was $11k more! In fact, I bought the RL with CMBS, so you can't even get a 5 series comparably equiped because they don't offer the Collision Mitigation. Also, I never saw any 5's with Adaptive Cruise Control (at least not on this dealers lot). My RL MSRP'd for $55 (after $2k of accessories). The 535xi with less features was $67k
BMW is a great car maker and the 5 is a great car. I always liked BMW. Their priorities are actually slightly more in line with mine then Acura. However, I guess I'm too frugal because I always end up in a BMW showroom when I'm shopping for a car but always come out empty handed. Case in point, just finished shopping a new SUV. It came down to Acura and BMW (as it often does). The MDX was $750 on a 3 year lease. The X5 was $995. Guess what's in my driveway now.
By the way, I'm not really brand loyal. I tend to go with the best car. Just seems Acura had the two winners in it's class for me this time around.
I bought an 07 RL earlier this year and cross shopped with the 535 and GS350 so it's fairly fresh in my mind. MB is too pricy for the reliability and quality of product so I didn't even consider the E. The M35 was an option but the dealer is on the wrong side of the city so I never got a chance to test drive one before I pulled the trigger on the RL.
The RL ride is very good. Not as soft as the GS but not as firm as the 5. Just right for me (now that I'm in my 40's
), but the 535 certainly seemed to handle better with the little bit of pushing I could do on the test drive. Then again, how often do you need to take a right turn at 35 mph . Also, I've heard people talk about the RL not having enough torque at the low end, but I didn't notice much of a problem there. It seemed balanced enough.The SHAWD was fantastic. During the test drive I could immediately appreciate how better balanced the car felt during acceleration and turning. I couldn't even tell it was a FWD biased car. However, since owning it now for 6 months, I now can really appreciate the system. It's fantastic. The car feels like it's riding on rails except under the harshest conditions. For laughs I took in in a state park on wet grass in the morning and tried to spin it out. Really had no luck. The car holds it's line under amazing conditions with the integrated VSA and SHAWD systems working together. Great feature if you live in snowy areas.
The general ride and comfort of the RL definitely seemed better if your commuting and driving 30-60 minutes one way. The seats are A1 in the RL and the general ergonomics of the interior was superior to the BMW. On top of that, the Voice Recognition in the RL is so superior to ANYTHING else on the market that I now find myself hardly ever reaching for the controls; "CD - Play Disk 3 Track 2", or "Radio 98.9 FM" are two phrases I often utter.
In fact, the VR is so good it's easier to set a Nav destination by voice then by hand. It's amazingly good. Of course, on top of all that, there's the price difference. The 535xi comparably equiped was $11k more! In fact, I bought the RL with CMBS, so you can't even get a 5 series comparably equiped because they don't offer the Collision Mitigation. Also, I never saw any 5's with Adaptive Cruise Control (at least not on this dealers lot). My RL MSRP'd for $55 (after $2k of accessories). The 535xi with less features was $67k
BMW is a great car maker and the 5 is a great car. I always liked BMW. Their priorities are actually slightly more in line with mine then Acura. However, I guess I'm too frugal because I always end up in a BMW showroom when I'm shopping for a car but always come out empty handed
. Case in point, just finished shopping a new SUV. It came down to Acura and BMW (as it often does). The MDX was $750 on a 3 year lease. The X5 was $995. Guess what's in my driveway now. By the way, I'm not really brand loyal. I tend to go with the best car. Just seems Acura had the two winners in it's class for me this time around.
I bought the Acura RL even I can afford the 5 series and the E.
The reliability of those two car manufacturers keep me away from purchase them.
10-25-2007 | 05:38 PM
#16
Go Big Blue!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,700
Likes: 5
From: Orlando, FLA
Actually I got a white one too. Don't have a photo of it yet, but it has;
- Parchment interior
- Tech - Entertainment package
- Chrome Side Steps
- Front fender garnish
- Cargo Mat
- Cargo Net
- Roof Rails
- Wheel Locks
- Wood Wheel
- Wood Shifter
- Parchment interior
- Tech - Entertainment package
- Chrome Side Steps
- Front fender garnish
- Cargo Mat
- Cargo Net
- Roof Rails
- Wheel Locks
- Wood Wheel
- Wood Shifter
10-25-2007 | 06:06 PM
#17
Suzuka Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,271
Likes: 236
From: Maryland
Originally Posted by SpicyMikey
Actually I got a white one too. Don't have a photo of it yet, but it has;
- Parchment interior
- Tech - Entertainment package
- Chrome Side Steps
- Front fender garnish
- Cargo Mat
- Cargo Net
- Roof Rails
- Wheel Locks
- Wood Wheel
- Wood Shifter
- Parchment interior
- Tech - Entertainment package
- Chrome Side Steps
- Front fender garnish
- Cargo Mat
- Cargo Net
- Roof Rails
- Wheel Locks
- Wood Wheel
- Wood Shifter
.Same setup to me.I have an aspen whiteSport/Tech with the bordeaux leather interior.Left over 07 or 08?How do you like it so far?Again, congrats. 
10-25-2007 | 08:44 PM
#18
Go Big Blue!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,700
Likes: 5
From: Orlando, FLA
Originally Posted by nokiaman
.Same setup to me.I have an aspen whiteSport/Tech with the bordeaux leather interior.Left over 07 or 08?How do you like it so far?Again, congrats. I like it a lot. Wish it had keyless start. But, other then that, it's perfect. Doesn't quite have the power of the X5, but it has all the power I need. I'm not pulling any trailers. I think it handles just as good as the X5, is bigger, and has a more luxurious interior. The third row is tight but, unlike the X5, it's actually useable. Plus, the best part is I got an extra $20k in my pocket
$70k for a well equiped X5? That's way overpriced. It was hard to justify it. For a few bucks more you could have had a 750i
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