We're now officially 37 years beyond the introduction of the first-generation 5 Series and we still haven't gotten over it. And now the 2011 BMW 535i sedan that we're driving near Lisbon, Portugal, and around the nearby racetrack at Estoril is part of the sixth generation of the 5 Series family.
How important is the 5 Series family to BMW's bottom line? Worldwide, the lineup of these premium executive sedans accounts for just over 50 percent of annual net profits. (Just think of what BMW can do with that money now that its cash-sucking Formula 1 circus act is finally done!) This is also a car that speaks to those who believe in the BMW brand, as 80 percent of 5 Series buyers have owned a BMW already.
After our early viewing of the new 5 Series last November, this is the first drive of the new, larger car, now built at the Dingolfing factory alongside the new 7 Series and 5 Series GT. And having now just diced up around 150 miles of tight two-lanes, open rural highways and high-speed motorways, we are ready to pronounce the 2011 BMW 535i sedan a class leader in several respects.
When we're in take-it-easy mode, the new 5 Series feels damned near ideal and not boatlike in the least. Then we punch Sport+ in BMW's Driving Dynamics Control and knock out all the stability control systems when it's safe to do so, and the gnarlier spirit of the 2011 BMW 535i glows through the handsomely toned-down interior redesign.
Not Begging Attention
We hardly need to remind you of how hard contenders in this market segment (especially those of the German persuasion) crave attention to set themselves apart. Just look at the entire mega-edgy Mercedes family of the current generation or the mega-curvy Audi explorations of late. And indeed the last 5 Series (the E60 body) will go down in history as perhaps the poster child C.O.A. of all C.O.As. But this new 2011 5 Series (the F10) reverses course and does so deliberately, as this 2011 BMW 535i shows us.
BMW Group Design Director Adrian van Hooydonk brought up a good few points about this transition in a conversation with us. "Our approach through history," he tells us, "has generally been to experiment quite a lot with every other generation of each model." This certainly helps explain the styling calm of the F10 car following the E60 storm.
The combination of BMW's new four-wheel-steer tech with electric-assist steering felt superb.
Van Hooydonk and his team, like all design squads these days, have had to give paramount attention to new regulations that attempt to minimize injuries among pedestrians in the kind of low-speed impacts you see in crowded cities (a big deal in Europe, apparently), and this recent phenomenon has really changed the styling game. It's why recent BMWs have returned to a larger, vertical dual-kidney grille. "A key player in being able to do this on the new 5 Series," says Project Director Josef Wüst, "was placing the grille lower to the ground." To aid this effort, the engine has been moved rearward 1.6 inches and then down 0.4 inch.
Stylingwise, the shape of the new bi-xenon headlights leave us just a bit underwhelmed, though the new rigidity-enhancing creases in the more curvaceous aluminum hood do add some pizzazz. Lastly, the profile of the 2011 5 Series sedan reveals a cabin set farther back in an almost coupelike configuration, which helps explain why rear seat legroom has increased just a half inch over the previous car, though the wheelbase is 3.2 inches longer and overall length has increased 1.8 inches. But, c'mon, it's still plenty of room.
New Tech Talk
Just as Audi and Mercedes have been working some magic with new front suspensions for their sedans, so, too, has BMW worked some dynamic wonders with the new double-wishbone setup that replaces its traditional front struts. As seen now in the 7 Series and 5 GT, this configuration helps lower the grille and hood for pedestrian safety while enhancing suspension compliance by isolating forces from the antiroll bar from the hub carriers.
You'll also notice the way the new electric-assist steering feels in your hands, because it seems neither numb nor over-assisted. There are just 2.1 turns lock-to-lock, which makes all maneuvers for parking easier than any pie you've ever eaten. Then if you opt for the optional four-wheel steering (which you should), your entire interaction with the steering interface feels like something you've always wanted but never knew existed.
At or below 60 km/h (37 mph), BMW's Integral Active Steering turns the rear wheels up to 2.5 degrees in the opposite direction to the fronts, helping the chassis react more quickly. Above 37 mph, the rears turn in the same direction as the fronts, making it easier to accomplish speedy moves without tossing around the rear passengers. It's not a revolutionary technology, but it is in this segment, and the 2011 BMW 5 Series benefits greatly from it.
All-Important Sport Package
BMW is going to try and keep the cost of the fully optioned Sport package to around $4,500 for North America and, honestly, this is another add-on for the 535i that you should add on. The main subset for this package is the BMW Adaptive Drive, a triple threat of Driving Dynamics Control (modulating suspension damping, steering assist, throttle response and shift points for the optional eight-speed ZF automatic), faster-acting Dynamic Damping Control (lowering ride height by 0.4 inch) and Active Roll Stabilization (BMW's active body control, which works through hydraulically actuated antiroll bars).
Other Sport package features include 19-inch wheels and tires (18-inchers are standard kit, while 20-inchers are available), sport seats, plus black chrome exterior window trim.
An additional goodie is the sport configuration of the new eight-speed automatic with which our 2011 BMW 535i came equipped. It includes the ZF-built transmission itself, of course, as well as BMW's best M Logic three-spoke steering wheel (left paddle for downshifts and right paddle for upshifts) applied to the new five-clutch (yikes!) slush box.
But, as we discovered on the 13-turn, 2.6-mile track at Estoril, a former Formula 1 circuit, there is no substitute for the fantastic ZF six-speed manual transmission that comes as standard equipment for the 5 Series when you want the perfect gear and revs at every moment. Such a choice would place you among the elite 5 percent of all 5 Series buyers worldwide who don't care much about resale value but do really like to decide all matters when it comes to shifting.
Tracking the Changes
Most of our time with this fairly heavily optioned 2011 BMW 535i involved dashing around the coastal hills in the rural region around Lisbon. We had 245/45R18 96Y Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GTs under the fenders along with most of the items from the Sport package.
The combination of BMW's new four-wheel-steer tech with electric-assist steering felt superb throughout all of the hundreds of quick left-right-left maneuvers we negotiated at speed. We preferred the Sport mode in the DDC, especially the ability to make customized modifications within that mode through the fourth-generation iDrive interface. (Portuguese roads and drivers are not of the highest quality, so a little electronic oversight is best.)
All the while, the calm within the redesigned though still driver-oriented cabin was up there with the finest we've ever experienced (excepting all Rolls-Royces, of course). The Dunlops transfer a modicum of road sound while the wind noise, even during our top-speed run, proved incredibly low (the bodywork has a 0.29 Cd).
Five laps of Estoril showed off the ability of this big car (the biggest in the segment) to feel less big than all of its competitors. The 2011 BMW 535i comes with the new turbocharged 3.0-liter N55 inline-6 with its single twin-scroll turbo, and when the car weighs in with the new eight-speed automatic, the scales register 4,058 pounds. This is some 177 pounds more than the outgoing car (even though the new eight-speed automatic actually weighs 7 pounds less than the old six-speed automatic), but that's the price you pay for a larger package and a 55 percent increase in structural rigidity. Fortunately the combination of 300 horsepower at 5,800-6,400 rpm and 295 pound-feet of torque from 1,200-5,000 rpm gets the new 535i four-door to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds.
Of course, if you want the track-eater setup, you'll have to wait until the fifth-generation BMW M5 shows up in public late this year.
Much Good News Coming
When we first saw the 2011 BMW 5 Series, the Munich executives told us that the base price of the 2011 BMW 535i would stay the same as the 2010 BMW 5 Series, which has a base price of $51,250. Well, maybe it was the intoxicating Portuguese sea air, but these same execs have just told us that the decision has been made to price this new and improved 5 Series below the outgoing model. Are we looking at a possible $49,999.99 base price for the 2011 BMW 535i? Wait and see.
Meanwhile, when deliveries of the 2011 BMW 5 Series begin in June 2010, the 2011 BMW 550i will be part of the program. With its revamped, twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 making 402 hp, the price of the 550i will go up just slightly above the current car's $60,600 tag. Perhaps this is a reaction to the overall decline of BMW sales during 2009, notably the 190,000 5 Series cars sold during the year after several years at more than 230,000 sales (the Audi A6 is now the segment leader, in fact).
Other news is that we will not be getting the new BMW 535xi Sport Wagon when it launches in Europe at the end of 2010; reason being that 2009 saw just 878 Americans buy the current version. As for the appearance of the BMW 535d with its turbocharged inline-6 common-rail diesel, things are looking pretty good. It's a pretty nervy decision, though, as there will be a BMW ActiveHybrid 5 Series coming our way and diesel power made up some 30 percent of BMW X5 sales in November 2009.
Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.
Add A Comment »
perrier61 says:
12:53 PM, 06/07/2010
BMW wake up!!!! How much cheapear and cold of interior can you make! Who designed those cup holders along with the ugliest lid! Outside it's not any better- ugly front, fat ass= very disproportioned. Performance??? What performance- 2 tenths of a second maybe better than the Infiniti M37 for $8,000 more in average. Features- nothing standard. Back up camera, I-pod, USB, air-con seats, crapy Navigation, leather, no hard drive and cluster f%^& butons.
You tell me, proffessional IL journalist- where is the value, the beauty and the make sence factor in this Ultimate Purchase Mistake??? How much longer are you going to glorify this rip-off of ugliness???
dbnthedon says:
05:32 PM, 01/25/2010
I like the design as a whole but I might be the only one who is getting tired of the old tired and true interior layout and dash.
trjnflip says:
02:40 PM, 01/25/2010
i have no doubt the performance of this vehicle will be great but it just looks so bland.
pbrahma says:
10:41 AM, 01/25/2010
Looks too much like the 7 and 3 series. BMW should consider hiring more than one designer...
nissmazlover says:
10:17 AM, 01/25/2010
WOW...how BORING can you get?!? Was SO looking forward to the new 5 series and seeing how it would compare to the A6/E Class, but we get this yawnfest instead. Seriously, I actually yawned while looking at the pics. Not even the interior inspires anything. It's just all so insipid. What's up with BMW being so uber-conservative? I don't like it. Might be a "better" car, overall, but let's face it: the styling of a car is what is seen first and is, usually, people's first consideration. The new A6 and E Class, and the upcoming Infiniti M series, blow this BMW OUT of the water - at least, in the looks department.
kdoodoo says:
09:40 PM, 01/24/2010
Where is the sportiness? That is just extended,long, ugly like 7 series.
That is long and without that rear wheel steering the handling will suck.
It is great that Mercedes took that the designer who designed the 7-series.
kfalch says:
04:56 PM, 01/23/2010
Rigth now im not really feeling the design, but at first I did'nt with the E60 and E65 either. Now though I think that the E60 har aged really, really well. I looks better than ever, even the E65 still looks modern and sharp. Compare these to the current A6 and A8, then the Audi's look old and boring! God the A6 looks so boring and dull, im feeling sleeping just writing about it.
My bet is that even though this new 5 dose'nt look all that exciting now, it will certanly grow on me with time, and in my opinion, that makes a really good design.
Even the new X1 looked weird when I saw the first pictures, but after seeing that thing in person, my god it looks great!!
On a last note, im don't like that BMW are putting the same interior in all their cars, the 5, 5GT, 7, X5 and X6 all have the same dash! Even the X1 looks almost the same.
ba27 says:
07:29 AM, 01/23/2010
Overall, I'd have to say "meh".
Styling is OK, but not as cohesive as the best designs out there.
Interior looks to be an incremental improvement over the E60.
It may start at <$50K, but I have no doubt that an appropriately-optioned example will be right at the top of the mid-luxury class.
I expected (hoped for) better.
financeman2 says:
09:09 PM, 01/22/2010
I personally like the direction BMW has taken with this new model. While conservative, the body lines are classy and should prove somewhat timeless, unlike the E60 version. I am glad the styling people at BMW did not go the direction MB went with the new E series. I find the new E series incredibly unattractive....
In some respects, this new version seems somewhat similiar to the E39 I currently own, though vastly updated. The big question now is reliability. In looking at the various blogs, and substantiated by Consumer Reports, the current 535 has had some fairly signficant reliability issues. I would like to consider replacing my E39 with this updated model; but will wait a year or so to see if there are any significant bugs.
One other concern; resale. Traditionally BMW has been rock solid in this area. However, in the last few years, likely related to the economy, resale has suffered. I suspect reliability concerns have not helped the situation.
carfreak13 says:
03:16 PM, 01/22/2010
For some reason the styling looks more dated than its predecessor.
blueguydotcom says:
03:04 PM, 01/22/2010
Aston - BMW has always had a pretty consistent look. Only with the e90/e60 did they go wildly different. The e39/e46 looked alike.
aston_dbs says:
02:19 PM, 01/22/2010
Mmmhh... What's wrong with this picture?
This 5 looks either like a slightly bigger 3, or a slightly smaller 7.
Hope BMW is not mimicking Acura (slowly losing their mind by putting the silver beak on EACH line: RL, TSX, TL, RDX, MDX and finally... ZDX) in developing similar style for EACH of their lines...
What's next for the 6? Looks like a slightly bigger 3 coupe?
supersport79 says:
01:30 PM, 01/22/2010
I'll pass and continue to drive the doors off my G8. I maybe lacking in the area of technology, but I more than make it up in driving experience.
blueguydotcom says:
12:16 PM, 01/22/2010
Joe,
No interest. They pretty much lost me for life with the way they design their turbos (like Audi/VW's turbos). I never warmed to the turbo as it simply wasn't as much fun to rev as the smooth inline 6. I'd get a 328 (or 528) when my 335i was in the shop and it'd remind me why I liked BMWs... smooth, high revving engines matched to fun chassis. Sure they had automatics but even with an auto I found the engines more fun to drive than the lackluster N54. I like the build of power and torque and found I never really embraced the turbos in my Cooper S, our Audi or my 335i. The flat torque with the sudden drop off just didn't make me happy the way my ZHP's engine would build and build until it let loose a barrage of nice and power.
At least the Cooper had the little twist of overboost which created the illusion of sudden power. Yes, I know the 335is has that too.
Further, I'm still not sold on turbos lasting the long term. A good inline 6 will run and run. A turbo...100k before you redo the turbos?
gurman says:
11:12 AM, 01/22/2010
The nose of this car is FUGLY. Huge, pig snout nostril air intakes.
Bulbous convex "nose job" around the air intakes.
The headlight fairings look gimmicky and forced. The taillights mimic the Infiniti G35 sedan's.
BMW has gone from avant-garde cutting edge design to boring GM-esque committee hack jobs.
Bring back Bangle!
bemerfreak says:
11:05 AM, 01/22/2010
@icecubefosho
the honda civic and corolla are great cars in there own segment and have been very very reliable cars and that is why they are still here as for impala well no comment. Yes infiniti will go all out with bmw but the new m37 looks alot like a rwd maxima.If the 5er was never created there would of never been a m37. I dont want you to think i dont like nissan because i do i own a 07 armada, love the power from that beast. As for 50k for a bmw come on the gs350, m35, e350, and audi a6 all perty much go for around 50k thats why there called a luxury sedans.
nutsaboutcars says:
09:57 AM, 01/22/2010
This cars looks pretty sexy I like it and I hope they put quality in to it this time around
zim65 says:
09:49 AM, 01/22/2010
The latest wagon tanked because they forced awd and the uprated motor on its buyers. If they had offered a rwd 528iT, there would have been many more takers. Time to look for a nice used E39 Touring.
icecubefosho says:
09:36 AM, 01/22/2010
@bemerfreak
Obviously you're a fanboy and you're entirely biased judging from your name. In fact, not driving the competition is very stupid on your part. Brand loyalty makes you naturally biased. I know for damn sure I'm biased since I love Nissans. I still drive and admire other vehicles from different brands.
I have driven my cousin's 2007 335i Coupe and it is a very sharp car. With that said, we're talking about the 5 series and its a fine car. The problem is, nobody is going to take their 535i on the track. Well maybe a few people. The Jaguar is the far more composed vehicle. Its steering IMO feels superior towards the BMW. The ride doesn't get disrupted with bad roads, something that an overly sporty suspension like a BMW with its packages suffers from. On top of it all, theres really something about a V8 engine. Test drive an XF this week and tell me how you feel. No I'm not talking about the XFR which is a class above the M5.
As for your longevity comment. The Honda Civic has been around for 38 years. The Toyota Corolla for 44 years. The Chevy Impala for 52 years. Does the amount of years mean they're somehow great cars? No.
Again for $50K, I wouldn't get the 5 over an XF.
As for the interior, its the same thing we've seen over and over again.
The Infinti M56/M37 will hit the 5 series with all its got. Hopefully it will shake things up a bit... Well it did lead to a new generation of the 5 series.
1487 says:
08:55 AM, 01/22/2010
Exterior- 100% derivative of the 7 series. Just smaller.
Interior- totally derivative of the 7 series. Its an improvement over the current car but that isnt saying much at all. I wish BMW would give each level of car a different interior instead of just dropping the same interior in the 5 and 7.
Current car looks better and with this mass the base engined car isn't going to be all that fast. Combine a 240hp I6 with 3900+ lbs and you get mediocre performance at best.
Let's hope the next A6 gets it right because this and the E are moving in the wrong direction.
wikiwiki says:
07:51 AM, 01/22/2010
Looks really nice. But why do ALL cars have to keep getting bigger and heavier? Everything from the Civic to this car is getting too big. Imagine putting all this new technology in smaller, lighter cars? They would get 50+ mpg!
joefrompa says:
07:35 AM, 01/22/2010
BGDC - Perhaps you need first to drive the new single-turbo twin-scroll engine? It might not be what you actually want, but it will feel different from the twin turbo.
...
My general comments are that I love the look. The press photos shown are of a more base car...that should've been obvious to anyone who follows BMW at all. The press car edmunds has got the sport package, which gives black "shadowline" trim around the windows and 19" wheels. It also lowers the car a tad. The press photos show a non-sport-package 5-series.
I think this car has a nice look to it that will really be enhanced with an "aero kit", some appropriately sized wheels, and a tad bit of a drop. Right now, it looks more family sedan in these photos.
The interior looks awesome. I'm wondering where the cupholders are, and if they actually have decent ones. :)
The new suspension and steering sound phenomenal. With all the isolation though, I'm wondering if it feels just like a superb handling vault, rather than the perfect blend of comfort and sport that made the 5-series famous.
jmess says:
07:08 AM, 01/22/2010
All that technology and they still drop the ball by not providing a real limited slip differential.
1487 says:
06:45 AM, 01/22/2010
PS:
The wheels on this test model are disappointing to say the least.
1487 says:
06:43 AM, 01/22/2010
current model looks better as does the A6. I think this might be more attractive than the ugly E class however. Not impressed with the shape and we all know the price with OPTIONS is going to be through the roof. Who cares about the base price in a BMW? Sure they may drop it by $1000 or so but with popular options the car will be over $60k in no time. I'm thinking a loaded V8 will be $75k-$80k with the M5 coming in close to 6 figures.
ChromieD says:
03:31 AM, 01/22/2010
to carlOver: the new 530d is great, too, yep. I have a pal who just drove it at this event and I love the E60 version already. He says the performance is good, but there is just that mandatory power/torque hesitation versus the 535i. Can't argue with the mileage at all, or the government incentives in Europe for these superb diesel technologies.
carl0ver says:
02:43 AM, 01/22/2010
the front looks too soft. i actually prefer the styling of the last gen model
sebastien2 says:
01:59 AM, 01/22/2010
And what do you think about the performances of a F10 BMW 530D???
mercedesfan says:
10:56 PM, 01/21/2010
I have to say I'm a little disappointed with the styling. I was really excited when I first saw press-photos, but here it just doesn't have the presence I was expecting. In fact, from some angles it is indistinguishable from the 3-Series. It's a classy design to be sure, but I just always expect something special from BMW and I'm not getting it here. Oh well, it took me a while to warm up to the previous generation as well, so I'm sure when I start seeing them on the road I'll convert.
Either way, I'm happy BMW has taken a more traditional approach with this generation. The 5-Series has always been about the drive and that is what has always made it a favorite of mine.
ChromieD says:
10:36 PM, 01/21/2010
Good news on the great 528i. It arrives here later in the year 2010. Technically that IS the better engine build. Plenty of power and torque, too. Sometimes good to wait.
tp660 says:
10:17 PM, 01/21/2010
I'm glad to see that the new generation of BMW sedans are going back to classic BMW designs. This looks much, much better than the previous 5 Series. Now they just need to work on their interiors. Seriously, the craftsmanship is good but it seems like virtually every BMW has the same interior design.
bemerfreak says:
09:58 PM, 01/21/2010
38 years later and the 5er is still here bmw has to be doing something good as you can see with this new F10. I cant wait for this summer when it will hit the market this will be my next car.I have never owned a bmw but i have long waited for this model. People hate this car because it does look alot like the 3 and the 7 but this car was made for people who have been loyal to the brand not for someone who likes the xf, a6 or gs300. Yes icecubefosho the xf is handsome but if you dont like bmw that sucks for you everyone always hates a winner, looks alone are one thing but the feeling you get when you drive bmw is something no other car can match.the only people who know what i am talking about are the ones who have driven a bmw or own one.
double_duece says:
09:25 PM, 01/21/2010
@cjasis: You said it.
@desmolicious: I'd go with one some of the other contributors said and go with older Beamers. I just made a post about this sort of thing on my car blog. I miss the simplicity of a good car. I get that new tech can make things better, but it can get to the point where it's overdone. Take Joan Rivers' face for example. Speaking of things that are hard to look at, I'm not in love with the way the new 5-series looks either.
christian316 says:
09:01 PM, 01/21/2010
Are you kidding me? The car is looking more and more generic. I'm sorry, but this thing is not a great looker... I'm American, so I suppose saying the current Malibu is a better looking car will draw attention, but what a styling disappointment. I want a 1987 era 5 series - that was a car that stood out, and still does.
I'm tough on cars, not people - John 3:16
icecubefosho says:
08:40 PM, 01/21/2010
The front looks great.
The rear looks like a Lexus and a 7 series. I miss the old E39's with clear taillights. I really hate the rear.
The hood seems to have borrowed the new Nissan Altima's style with the flowy curves. Not a bad design cue though.
Not a fan of the interior color choice Edmunds got.
Still for $50K, my pick would be the more exclusive and handsome Jaguar XF
clarkma5 says:
06:47 PM, 01/21/2010
I am lovin' the new look, but when it comes to all that suspension adjustability and active this and that I gotta wonder...how many people take all these adjustable suspension choices and just leave them in one position all the time? I gotta imagine it's the vast majority of drivers, and I think BMW (or any car company) would be better off 9 times out of 10 by just developing a good conventional setup that costs less, weighs less, is less of a potential maintenance problem, and so on.
the_car_master says:
06:42 PM, 01/21/2010
Has the back of a 3series, bad news with the wagon
cr_driver says:
06:23 PM, 01/21/2010
Gotta love the leader, gotta love the segment leader.
The E60 just won a motor trend comparison tests that involved 7 other great cars of this highly contested segment. Quite amazing.
And Insideline says the F10 its bigger, its better. And they say they are ready to pronounce this new baby from bmw a class leader. Just with a first drive.
I just love, love, this car. Like the elegance and sportiness of the outside, and crave seating in the interior with those luxurious materials and the great dinamics and pull of those engines.
Very powerful engines that are extremely fuel efficient as well.
And now with 55% more structural rigidity? Darn, thats gonna feel so so solid.
More good news? Even a lower price for the 535i? LOL, come on, thats the icing on the cake.
If I were in the car market right now, a 535i would be THE one. LOL
calspecial68 says:
05:42 PM, 01/21/2010
Loving the new restrained look. Inside and out. The suspension seems a bit too complicated for my taste though so i wouldnt penny up for that thing. I do just fine by myself thank you. Im intriuged that they have been able to keep pulling ponies out of straight sixes for so long. Whats the EPA rating on this bad boy?
desmolicious says:
04:38 PM, 01/21/2010
I wonder if the manual transmission really is any good. I love manual boxes, and it seems that reviewers always gush on how you should get BMWs with manual boxes if you're a 'real' sport driver. But the manual box in my last BMW - 2006 330i, quite frankly was mediocre.
The tough thing is that in the US you basically have to special order a manual box BMW (unless it is an M3) so more often than not you don't know what you're going to get until it shows up.
blueguydotcom says:
04:36 PM, 01/21/2010
Any word on the 528? The 535's saddled with the N55 and honestly after owner a turbo BMW it's just not an enjoyable engine compared to their free-revving engines.
cjasis says:
03:37 PM, 01/21/2010
Genuine shame about the wagon.