BMW built the first 5 Series almost 40 years ago. Since its inception BMW has used the 5 to bridge the gap between the small, nimble 3 Series and the stately, luxurious 7 Series. For years the 5 did so gracefully, all the while maintaining its status as a true driver's car. Meanwhile, priorities were changing.
Over time the BMW brand and model lines evolved. In 1999 it entered the SUV market with the X5. In 2008 the 1 Series was launched in the U.S. as the 3 Series, 5 Series and 7 Series sedans gradually grew in proportion. But with increased dimensions comes increased weight. Weight puts a strain on maneuverability and acceleration. After five generations of this process BMW has arrived at the 2011 BMW 5 Series. Does its size now move it out of the niche it held for so long? Is this the year the 5 Series falls from its perch upon the luxury-sport fence and has to choose a side?
In the past we've tested a long-term 1 Series, 3 Series and 7 Series. We've yet to send a 5 Series through our 12-month test gauntlet. With the changes to the 2011 BMW 5 Series, it seems the time has come.
What We Got
Our decision to add a 5 Series to the long-term fleet was easy. It was more difficult to choose which variation of the sedan to test. Eight cylinders built a strong case for the 550i and under normal circumstances would seal the deal. But we were looking for something different. The turbocharged inline-6 of the 535i ranks among the best engines on the market. But again, that would be the obvious choice. We instead opted for the normally aspirated, direct-injected 240-horsepower inline-6 of the 2011 BMW 528i.
Base MSRP on the entry-level 528i was just over $45,000. We loaded it with every option under the sun, inflating the price to $60,050 and essentially equaling the starting MSRP of a 550i. Comfort is important to us. Our Deep Sea Blue Metallic 5 has it all: keyless entry, heated seats and steering wheel, rearview camera, side- and top-view cameras, split-fold rear seat, navigation, eight-speed automatic and Sport package, including 18-inch Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT tires.
For 2011 the 5 Series is significantly redesigned. This is our primary motivation for adding a 2011 BMW 528i to the fleet. But we question whether these updates are all for the better.
Why We Got It
BMW overhauled the 5 Series for this, its sixth generation. Over the years we watched the 5 grow like a healthy American waistline and there is no hiding it now. For 2011 it is longer, wider and heavier than those before it. It's large enough to be confused with a 7 Series, and for good reason. To support its new dimensions the 5 now sits atop a platform derived from the 7. At some point the added size is going to tip the previously held balance between luxury and performance. Is this the year? Does the luxury of the 5 outweigh its dynamic attributes? Or is it still a driver's car?
The eight-speed automatic transmission is also new for 2011. Our full test of the 535i only scratched the surface. Senior Editor Josh Jacquot noted, "That the 535i is available with an eight-speed automatic transmission — about three too many speeds in some situations — is emblematic of the newest generation of the company's core midsize sport-luxury sedan. This is an exponentially more complex thing than the car you first met as the 5 Series." To uncover the true character of the new 5, we are going to need more time.
BMW spends almost as much time fine-tuning the driving dynamics of each vehicle as it does inside the cabin. There is a reason we didn't skimp on the options for our 528i. We want to test all of the extras. In addition to offering an array of powertrain and chassis adjustments at the push of a button, BMW also tweaked the interior to accommodate the drive more comfortably. A slight reorientation of the controls toward the driver was thoughtful. Will we notice? And the fourth generation of iDrive promises more ease of use than prior iterations. Will the electronic gadgetry win us over or leave us wanting more? There is only one way to find out.
We ordered our 2011 BMW 528i and reserved a space for it in our long-term test garage. Next up, we drive it for 12 months and 20,000 miles.
Current Odometer: 1,035
Best Fuel Economy: 29.1 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 19.3 mpg
Average Fuel Economy: 24.0 mpg
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.
Follow the long-term road test blog for updates about our 2011 BMW 528i.
Add A Comment »
34lc762 says:
01:29 PM, 11/13/2010
At $45,000 nicely equipped, I would be a buyer. I keep looking at this new 5 Series, the math does not work out. 528 is over-priced and the more powerful engines are simply not attractive any more at any price to be honest. BMW engineers and marketers better get their act together soon otherwise they will ruin this company. Even If I were crazy about this new efficient dynamics strategy (in fact I am a sucker for efficiency), it comes at such a price that my perceived savings on gas in the next 5 years would be paid upfront and evaporate if I purchase a BMW. This is a different world now, people keep their cars much longer and they are more price sensitive. 528, being the base model seems to overlook this fact. I guess new millionaires in emerging markets paying 3 times as much as we do here in the US, are driving the sales revenue but it will not continue forever. Every company has to stick with its "core customer base". If you alienate them, you will never survive in the long run when your flings with other segments are over.
Frankly, this non-turbo inline 6 cars are the only real BMWs left today after they decimated the soul of the company with the efficient dynamics/turbo non-sense (meaning going from high revving fun Bimmers to some weird Merc-like torque craziness). Finally, Dear BMW: If developing that technology was so expensive that you have to sell a 528 at 60 grand, what is the point? I am confused.
chriscollins says:
03:52 PM, 10/08/2010
wow, seriously.
whickersham says:
05:34 AM, 10/08/2010
BMW Suck Blahaha, BMW drivers are snobs blahbahahb, BMW is the worst car company on earth, blahaah! I have never seen so many haters on one page. Its one thing to say you don't like a particular vehicle, but to make blanket negative comments about one of the most successful car companies on earth, the car company that defined and continues to define the sports sedan category is stupid. Has it crossed your mind that a person who buys a camery does not buy it race at lights at stop lights and a person who decides to buy a BMW 528 is obviously not buying the car to race anywone. If they were they would step up to 535i. I perfer BMW over Audi but I am MAN enough to admit that Audi makes great looking and world class cars. I don't call all audi or benz owners arrogant or other stupid names.
nicholasrage says:
11:22 AM, 10/06/2010
It seems like a lot of car "enthusiasts" today lack curiosity. IL tries something different from the other auto blogs and publications out there and they keep getting flamed for it? They clearly stated the reasoning behind their choice. Sure, the price is ludicrous for what people are used to getting for 60k, and the car isn't particularly fast, but a 535i with the sport premium package is too obvious a choice. I deeply appreciate IL for trying something different with this car.
Just because it's not what YOU would do, doesn't mean everyone's gone mad.
ttopjohn says:
12:53 PM, 10/01/2010
I'm amused by the fact that your long term 528i has a higher MSRP than C/D's long term 535i. There's has the sport package. That's it. Which means a 6 speed manual transmission and 3 pedals. Guess which one I'd order?
s_p says:
03:48 PM, 09/30/2010
I ran the numbers once on a BMW lease vs buy. First off, most people don't realize that BMW leases are subsidized to bring the costs down. That means enough people will be able to "afford" them that they'll have a nice supply of 3 year old "CPO" models which they can sell again. I thought I read somewhere once that BMW makes more money on reselling the CPO cars than they do on thew new leases, but who knows. Also one thing most people don't know is that the European Delivery pricing is significantly cheaper - 7% is it? Also the lease residual value even if you do 'ED' is based on the *US MSRP* rate pricing, which makes 'ED' leasing particularly attractive money wise. If you're really being frugal, you don't even need to blow a couple grand in Europe. You can fly in, take delivery of the car, and fly back out over a long weekend for less than $1000 easily.
Compared to buying, you're going to need a hefty down payment that you won't need for a lease. If you lease, you can take the money that you might have had set aside for the DP and dump it into investments which appreciates (mostly, lol) rather than depreciates, which further brings down the cost of a lease. You'll need to own the BMW for awhile to break even, it'll be out of warranty and maintenance coverage, so you need to add that into your "cost to own" column to the tune of $200/mo just to keep an out of warranty BMW on the road (repairs) and maintenance isn't cheap either.
Bottom line was that yeah you'll eventually break even "owning" a BMW, after about 8-10 years, but at that point you'll be in an 8-10 year old BMW, it'll be a repair and maintenance headache and might not be reliable for non-local trips, and the new model will probably be a lot cooler and better. All that headache just to break even? Just lease! That's for Euro Delivery though. US delivery is much higher pricing, and the buy vs lease break even point comes a bit sooner I think. So whatever floats your boat. My wife and I can stand to head to Europe as a little getaway every so often and we might have done so anyways, so why not go pickup a new car at a super low price and have fun flogging it on the autobahn while we're there? :-)
fireflyer239 says:
07:06 AM, 09/30/2010
I love the whole leasing vs. buying argument. Sure, there are those who drive leased BMWs who simply cannot afford to purchase new, but many more are leased to folks who can EASILY afford to purchase. Why? Well you see, the people with more money most often get where they are because they work SMARTER, and understand that you WANT to own things proven to APPRECIATE, like real estate (over the long term anyway lol), your wifes diamonds, collectible items etc. You DON'T want to own things that DEPRECIATE, like 99% of mass-produced cars. Joe six-pack sells his Harley, takes the ten grand he gets, and dumps it into a new GM SUV that plummets in value by another ten grand the moment he drives off the dealers lot...but he feels good because he OWNS IT man! He views this ownership as a sign of success. Then, when his wife is divorcing him to run off with a guy who has real money and Joe has to sell his SUV for barely half what he paid, he finds out through conversation with his lawyer that the lawyer LEASES his BMW or Mercedes, which puzzles Joe. The lawyer, confident and aware of his own success, doesn't feel the need to say he owns this daily driver; what matters to him is being smart with his money (he does however own the '67 Vette in his garage).
bobbygm says:
12:44 AM, 09/30/2010
Ditto Coolb944. Well written. Well articulated. Car mag publishers take note.
And BMW, please give us the basics as an option.
myob says:
08:06 PM, 09/29/2010
FYI you HP fetishists. I've owned 3 bmws and an infiniti. Don't kid yourself that even the M35 is anything remotely as refined in the engine, NVH, and ride dept. The Infiniti will be more troublefree, but you have to realize that cars are more than testing numbers. If you buy based on what you think you're supposed to prefer because of some test numbers, you will be disappointed in the long run. If you can't afford the 535i or 550i you won't be miserable in a car that hits 60mph in 6.6 sec. And the idea that one needs a "premium" stereo and an overpriced nav system, yet a sport package is not necessary, to have a "well equipped" bmw, is sad evidence of the emphasis on electronic wizardry vs driving experience.
That comment earlier about 4,000 being leased is hilarious.
The lesson there is, if you insist on leasing a car you can't afford, at least get one with folding seats so you can get a good night's sleep. Because after you lose your home/apt you may be sleeping in it.
myob says:
07:04 PM, 09/29/2010
I agree a 2002 540i used with low miles would be a great car. And that they are almost impossible to find in good shape. Best handling car I've ever driven.
I agree that BMW's have gotten too complex (and to a degree, pricey because of that) and that it would be nice if they made a more basic version of each car for those who value the real things bmw does better (handling, steering and braking feel) and aren't trying to make a fashion statement or buy a $50,000 toy for when they can't get at their smartphones to play. When you strip off the "neat" stuff it'd be interesting to see what you could get a nice BMW for. Instead they purposely screw up the lower priced models to force you to buy more gizmos at high profit margins. (check out those base model wheels on most BMW's)
It's funny that 6.6 sec to 60mph is sniffed at these days as if it's unsatisfying. The afforementioned 540i of a decade ago wasn't much quicker than that. I suspect much of the desire for better 0-60 times is bragging rights and expectations based on reading car mags rather than any real lack of performance in the real world.