08 GS350 -vs- 08 BMW 535i -vs- 08 MB E350
06-03-09, 08:32 AM
#46
executive matchup
I've had a GS450h for 2.5 years, and I will be replacing it with a BMW 535i after my lease expires. There are a number of reasons for this. Here are some:
1. The rattles, creaks and squeaks are killing me, and the dealer is now refusing to fix them. I've searched BMW 5-series forum at bimmerfest.com and found almost no rattle complaints. I drove the 535 and 550 and found them to be rock-solid, a lot more so than the GS even before all the noises began.
2. The handling of 5-series even without the Sport package is greatly superior to the GS.
3. I HATE HATE HATE not being able to use the navigation system or address book while driving in my GS. There's no such problem on the BMW.
4. I hate the weak-*** climate control system on the GS compared to the BMW's one. It takes forever to cool or heat the GS interior because of very weak air flow. Furthermore, the BMW climate control system is significantly more customizable; you can adjust flow to various parts of the car very precisely.
5. My lease payments on a BMW priced HIGHER than GS would be $150 a month lower than for the GS. That's because of BMW's high residuals and low money factors.
6. FREE MAINTENANCE. Need I say more?
7. I find the interior to be more luxurious than on the GS. The Dakota leather beats GS leather hands down. One minus is that 5-series has a lot less internal storage than the GS. I will have to learn to live with that.
There are couple GS features that I will miss: steering column that gets out of the way automatically when you turn off the engine, cooled seats.
1. The rattles, creaks and squeaks are killing me, and the dealer is now refusing to fix them. I've searched BMW 5-series forum at bimmerfest.com and found almost no rattle complaints. I drove the 535 and 550 and found them to be rock-solid, a lot more so than the GS even before all the noises began.
2. The handling of 5-series even without the Sport package is greatly superior to the GS.
3. I HATE HATE HATE not being able to use the navigation system or address book while driving in my GS. There's no such problem on the BMW.
4. I hate the weak-*** climate control system on the GS compared to the BMW's one. It takes forever to cool or heat the GS interior because of very weak air flow. Furthermore, the BMW climate control system is significantly more customizable; you can adjust flow to various parts of the car very precisely.
5. My lease payments on a BMW priced HIGHER than GS would be $150 a month lower than for the GS. That's because of BMW's high residuals and low money factors.
6. FREE MAINTENANCE. Need I say more?
7. I find the interior to be more luxurious than on the GS. The Dakota leather beats GS leather hands down. One minus is that 5-series has a lot less internal storage than the GS. I will have to learn to live with that.
There are couple GS features that I will miss: steering column that gets out of the way automatically when you turn off the engine, cooled seats.
2) BMW is known to be a better handling car. if a better handling car is what you wanted, you shouldn't have bought the GS.
3) easy fix - get a dvd/navi override kit or do the wire hack. minor inconvenience that can be overcome.
4) i have no problems in keeping cool, in fact i think it's too cold sometimes!
5) & 6) no comment
7) subjective...i personally don't care for BMW leather seats
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