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| How is the BMW 520iA ? Image from Locky's English Playground |
This BMW 520iA belongs to the F10 model (saloon), for 'A' possibly stands for 'Asia' or 'Automatic'. It has a top speed of 233km/h (145mph), 0-100km/h (0-62mph) in 7.9 seconds, maximum torque 270 Nm (199 lb-ft) at 1/min @ 1250-4500 rpm. It may not have a sports car's specification, but it has a quite a sporty look.
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| Image from BMW Hong Kong |
The Pros
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| The cool-looking head Image from Locky's English Playground |
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| Clean engine Image from Locky's English Playground |
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| Side view of the interior Image from Locky's English Playground |
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| Rear camera Image from Locky's English Playground |
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| Back seats Image from Locky's English Playground |
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| Trunk, 14 cubic feet of space Image from Locky's English Playground |
The trunk is alright. My baby girl has a "monster pram" from MotherCare but I can fit it into the trunk just nice after folding it up.
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| Sunroof Image from Locky's English Playground |
The Cons
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| Driver's seats Image from Locky's English Playground |
Buttons, loads of buttons. This could just be my complaints, but brands as famous as BWM produces intelligent cars such as this series 5 should not have so many buttons!! Otherwise, it becomes really cumbersome to operate, metaphorically.
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| Can you see 2 'P's? Image from Locky's English Playground |
The operation is really tricky even for a IT guy like me. So many buttons to remember, each button does just one thing. Want to start the car? You don't need a key, just step on the brake, pull the P handbrake button, then shift the gear stick from P to D, then release the foot brake pedal, then onto the gas pedal and the car will move. If I never told you that this is an automatic, you'll think that this is manual. I'm not sure if this is only BMW but the Mercedes Benz automatic has fewer steps to get the car moving and of course, parking and reversing.
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| Start Stop Engine and ECO mode button Image from Locky's English Playground |
Why do you want to off the ECO mode? BMW claims that it saves you miles with its innovative "auto-off-engine" functionality. Whenever your car comes to a stop for more than 5 seconds, your engine goes off. If you step on the gas pedal again, the engine revives and your car drives. Amazing!
Sounds amazing, but when the car restarts, your car literally trembles, it's really uncomfortable. Because imagine you are in a traffic jam and your car stops, trembles, stops, trembled... you will probably want to off this ECO function too. Wanna off it, okay, remember to do it every single time.
The BMW is too intelligent to remember your settings, so you have to remember to do it yourself.
If you forget the steps and the buttons, you'll end up like me, once drove the car backward when everyone had an leg out of the car, once drove the car forward when I was supposed to stop the car, and once my dad stopped the engine on the road while driving.
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| Button to unlock trunk Image from Locky's English Playground |
Wanna open the boot? You need to open the door at the driver's seat first and then bend down to find a tiny weeny button which then releases the boot door upon pressing. Come on!!! Are you kidding me?
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| Centre console at the middle back seat Image from Locky's English Playground |
What's more, I have always disliked the centre console, and so the presence of it in a big car as such annoys me even more.
If you want to get out of the car, you need to pull the door handle TWICE to get the door open! Yes, twice! For what? Safety reasons? Bonkers!! So if you pull once it must be your mistake, twice means you are sure you want out? Imagine you have to turn the knob on the toilet door twice to confirm you want to get out.
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| The steering wheel always block the speedometer. Image from Locky's English Playground |
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| Speedometer and tachometer with needles Image from Locky's English Playground |
Too many instructions, too much memorization, too much hassle! Feels like I hire a housemaid to help with housework but I have to remind her to do everything from mopping the floor to cooking meals, otherwise, she won't do it.
Come on! I buy a car so that I want my car to take care of me, not for me to take care of it!
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| Image from Locky's English Playground |
If I were not given the choice of Tesla Model S, and I only have this 520i and the two old Mercedes Benz to choose from, I will choose the old-timers for sure.
BMW is just too dumb as a smart car.
Finally, an unfair specification comparison between my dream car Tesla Model S and BMW 520i.
Vehicles
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Tesla Model S
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BMW 520i |
| Power | 416 - 428 hp @ 5000 rpm | 184 hp @ 5000-6250 rpm |
| Torque | 599 Nm (442 lb-ft) @ 0 rpm | 270 Nm (199 lb-ft) @ 1250-4500 rpm |
| Top speed | 125 -134 mph (201-215kph) | 145mph (233kph) |
| 0 - 60 mph Acceleration |
4.2 - 5.9 seconds
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(0 - 62 mph) 7.9 seconds
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| Fuel Consumption | 208-265 miles range n(EPA) | 680 - 725 miles (based on 70L tank capacity and data from combined fuel consumption) |
| Warranty | 8 years or
125,000 miles / unlimited miles
whichever comes first battery warranty |
2 years |
| CO2 Emissions | 0 g /km | 149-139 g /km |
| Seating capacity | 5, expandable to 7 | 5 |
| Total cargo capacity | 1795.3 liters(63.4 cubic feet) | 396.4 litres (14 cubic feet) |
| Sunroof | Panoramic | Present |
| Vehicle
price in HKD
| $579k - $1.038M
(First Registration Tax waived
until 31 March 2017) |
$495k
($100k+
First Registration Tax included) |
| Estimated fuel cost
in 4 years based on
60,000 miles in HKD | 60,000 / 208 miles x 60kW x $1.349 = $23,348 (based on the cost of electricity from Hong Kong Electric ) |
60,000 / 725 miles x $16.92 x 70L = $98,019
(based on price of
premium unleaded gasoline from Sinopec as of today -- $16.92 / L) |
| REMARKS | Free charging possible at various car parks and government parking lots. Hong Kong Electric is currently the most costly electricity provider in Hong Kong. In a recent shareholder meeting, HKE has vowed to maintain the price of electricity at $1.349 for the next 5 years. |
Gas price fluctuates, generally follows a long-term uptrend. |
Resources:
Auto: Mercedez Benz C180 Kompressor Review @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2013/11/auto-mercedez-benz-c180-kompressor.html
Technology: Fun Facts About Tesla Model S We All Should Know @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2013/11/technology-fun-facts-about-tesla-model.html
Technology & Opinions: My Tesla Model S Hands-on Review @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2013/10/technology-opinions-my-tesla-model-s.html
Auto: Mercedez Benz C180 Kompressor Review @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2013/11/auto-mercedez-benz-c180-kompressor.html
Tesla Motors
http://www.teslamotors.com/en_HK/models/specs
2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year: Tesla Model S @ Motor Trend
http://m.motortrend.com/oftheyear/car/1301_2013_motor_trend_car_of_the_year_tesla_model_s/
Model S Features @ Tesla Motors
http://www.teslamotors.com/en_HK/models/features#/interior
BMW
http://www.bmwhk.com/com/en/newvehicles/5series/sedan/2013/showroom/technical_data/index.html
2013 Tesla Model S Base Sedan 0-cyl. Electric 1-speed Direct Drive Features and Specs @ Edmunds.com
http://www.edmunds.com/tesla/model-s/2013/features-specs.html?style=101400294
2013 BMW 5 Series 528i Sedan 2.0L 4-cyl. Turbo 8-speed Automatic Features and Specs @ Edmunds.com
http://www.edmunds.com/bmw/5-series/2013/features-specs.html
2014 BMW 5-Series Interior @ U.S. News Best Cars
http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/BMW_5-Series/Interior/
Oil Calc - Mobile @ Consumer Council
http://www.consumer.org.hk/mobile/oilwatch-en/
Power bills set to soar for Kowloon and New Territories households @ SCMP
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1377334/electricity-bills-increase-4-cent?page=all
Transport Department - Guidelines for Importation and Registration of Motor Vehicle
http://www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/licences_and_permits/vehicle_first_registration/guidelines_for_importation_and_registration_of_mot/
