BMW 535xi (0/5)
Email This Post
| View all reviews for BMW Cars | | Discuss BMW 535xi | Any xi 5-Series, like the X3 and the X5, uses xDrive all wheel drive. Power is sent from the gearbox to all four wheels, but is split up using a series of clutches that are under the guidance of on electronic brain, with feedback provided by the DSC stability control system. Under normal conditions, the torque is actually split 40-60 front to rear, but to ensure that the 535xi corners like a BMW rather than plough straight into
tire-squealing understeer, torque is quickly sent to the rear wheels (up to 100-percent, actually). xDrive is constantly working to be two steps ahead of you, so it’s really rare to plant a wrong tire, even if the weather conditions are fowl. A solid set of winter tires will make the 535xi just about unstoppable in even the worst winter storm.
Bundled in with xDrive is Hill Descent Control, a feature normally found on SUVs. Although in no way was the 5-Series designed to be driven off-road, and I can’t for the life of me figure out when such a feature could be used (maybe on a really steep, icy grade), I suppose it’s nice to know that it’s available when you need it. Much more useful, however, is the Hill Start Assist, which holds the brake pedal and therefore the car in place for a couple of seconds after letting off, giving you time to switch over from brake to throttle when heading up steep inclines.
As for the engine, nothing new has changed; the 300-horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque strong 3.0-liter inline-six is as good as ever,silky smooth and always game. This is a nice step upwards from the non-turbo 530xi in terms of power; it’s progressive, quick, and has the guts to thrill. Due to its two small turbochargers smearing torque clear across the rev range, they literally eat the 170-pound weight gain caused by the differentials and gubbins that make the car all wheel drive; the 0-60 mph acceleration difference between the xi and the i has narrowed to 0.1 s, down from the 0.2 s gap in the previous car, with an overall improvement of 0.6 seconds between the 530 and 535. Power is always there when you need it.
The 535xi is a fantastic all-round sedan, verging on perfection. Comfortable, spacious, beautifully crafted, advanced and in perfect control 100-percent of the time, I really can’t think of a way of improving on it, except, perhaps by ordering it as a wagon. This car, then, is like Radiohead. It’s quirky and progressive, and with every passing generation it becomes a little more quirky and a little more progressive, always staying on the very forward front of cutting edge. But beyond the dividing styling and unique interior, there’s no hiding that this is one of the best sedans on the market. With each passing model, the 5’s following gets stronger and stronger, with cars like the 535xi proving why.
Content Provided by
