BMW 535d xDrive - a wolf in sheep's clothing
The BMW 535d with xDrive is amazing. It is one of the most drivable cars on the market, which additionally provides high comfort and low fuel consumption. Has the perfect car been created? Not completely...
All fans of the brand from Munich will surely remember the emotions caused by the premiere of the previous generation of the “five”. Chris Bangle has made a real, unprecedented - and there is nothing to hide - an unexpected revolution in the image of BMW. Years later, we can say that it then went too far into the future. In the case of the test series 5, which received the designation F10, the situation is somewhat different.
The living BMW 5 is… dignified – perhaps the best word to describe this car. We can already say that design is timeless. The design team led by Jacek Frolich decided not to experiment, and thanks to this we can admire the essence of BMW. Looking at the "five", we'll certainly notice an element of the larger 7 Series, but the smaller brother still tries to emphasize a small, sporty note. Removed all unnecessary additions. The embossing from the headlights, through the doors, to the tailgate is the only highlight. But what!
Compared to the previous generation, coded E60, the F10 is larger. Firstly, the wheelbase has increased by 8 centimeters and now stands at 2968 14 millimeters. It is also 58 millimeters wider and millimeters longer. At first glance this is imperceptible, but it is confirmed by dry data. More recently, a small facelift was carried out, which was limited to minor changes to the brand-specific radiator grille and the addition of LED indicators in the mirrors.
Even though the wheelbase has been extended from the previous generation, it can be difficult to keep up with a tall rider. Best of all, people no taller than 190 centimeters will feel in the back seat. Passengers taller can not only hit the ceiling lining with their heads, but also touch the plastic (!) seat lining in front of them with their knees. The high middle tunnel is also a problem. The trunk has a capacity of 520 liters, but the ability to carry bulky items is effectively limited by a small loading opening. We can conclude that the "five" is a car in which the priority is the driver. And not only the huge range of seat adjustments allows you to find the perfect fit.
Let's start with the steering wheel. This is one of the best "wheels" we can find on the market at the moment. On a long journey, we will appreciate the heated and ventilated seats with electrically adjustable headrests. The dashboard, although it consists of a large screen, still displays speed in the traditional style known from older models. The head-up display shows the most important information on the windshield, so we don't have to take our eyes off the road. The icing on the cake is iDrive. Although its predecessor was problematic to say the least, it is now one of the simplest and friendliest systems to be found in modern cars. Checking mail, reading messages, viewing navigation items directly from Google Street View... There is also an instruction that will tell you what to do when the battery is low. But will iDrive work then? I sincerely doubt it.
The workmanship is top notch and the materials used look great. There is no talk of hard plastic or any savings. The design of the cabin will not come as a surprise to people who have already had contact with the Bavarian brand cars. It's a proven solution, but it's not without its drawbacks - there's definitely no small cell phone storage that's sure to find its place in cup holders. An interesting fact is that the fire extinguisher is placed close to the passenger seat, which makes it perfectly visible. This look is a bit offensive in an interior full of wood, leather and other expensive materials.
So it's time to go. We press the button and a pleasant hum of a diesel unit reaches our ears. Pleasant diesel rumble? Exactly! It's hard to believe, but the straight-six gurgles wonderfully, slowly rolling through the parking lot. Unfortunately, the quality of the interior soundproofing is not the best in the class. Wind noise is felt at high speeds. At the same time, the car is economical. In the city, you have to take into account the fuel consumption of 9 liters, and on the highway this result is two liters lower. As a result, we can achieve a range of 900 kilometers without refueling.
Although the marking on the hatch says otherwise, the volume of the unit is three liters. The engine produces 313 horsepower and 630 Newton meters available at 1500 rpm. Together with a great eight-speed gearbox, they make an amazing combination. It is enough to press the gas pedal hard, and the landscape outside the window turns into a blur. Achieving a speed that will lead to a large penalty is a matter of a few seconds.
The first kilometers in the BMW were a disappointment for me, at least in terms of handling. Despite the fact that I received a lot of information through the steering wheel, and the car itself was extremely predictable, in the end it turned out just .... too soft. The suspension dampened bumps remarkably, but the “five” swayed and seemed a little sluggish. This is because the drive mode switch was in the Comfort + position. After switching to Sport +, everything has changed 180 degrees. The car hardened, the gearbox dropped two gears in the blink of an eye, and the heavy weight (depending on the configuration, even more than two tons!) disappeared as if by magic. After a few turns in this mode, I began to wonder if the M5 version was needed at all. Depending on the needs of the BMW 5 can be a very comfortable limousine or ... a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Prices for the tested version start from PLN 281. For this price we get quite a lot (multifunction steering wheel, dual-zone air conditioning, 500-inch wheels with run-flat tires or heated washer nozzles, for example), but the list of accessories - and the prices of individual accessories - can be intimidating at first glance. The BMW 17 Series can be equipped with a heated steering wheel (PLN 5), a head-up display (PLN 1268), adaptive LED headlights (PLN 7048 10091) or even a navigation system Professional for PLN 13 133. Do we like good sound quality? The Bang & Olufsen system costs “only” 20 029 zlotys. If we often travel long distances, it is worth choosing convenient seats for 11 460 zlotys. They are not only comfortable, but also look great, especially covered in Nappa leather for PLN 13. As you can see, there is no problem in the total cost of add-ons exceeding the cost of the car itself.
The BMW 5 Series is a great car. Perhaps passengers will complain about the seat in the back, and some will look unfavorably at the exposed fire extinguisher. We probably won't be able to move the furniture. However, if you are looking for a car that can provide comfort and an unforgettable driving experience, you should be interested in the offer from Bavaria.
