Sunday 18th November 2018

BMW 535d Estate: Spotted

Unmoved by yesterday's RS6? Here's the counterpoint...

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It's true; some of the PH collective will not be interested in an extremely powerful Audi estate. I can understand why that might be, I mean not everybody has a huge wodge of cash to blow on running a monster V10 that you'd barely use a quarter of the potential of in the real world. So, since I also write for What Car?, I shall put my sensible cap on and come up with a performance estate that satisfies both the heart and head: the BMW 535d.

"Boo, diesel" some of you (including my colleague Mark Pearson) will cry. But, just consider that this 310hp diesel engine will pull the ample proportioned 5 Series estate to 62mph in 5.4 seconds - which is less than a second off what the RS6 can achieve - and you'll realise there's something special about the BMW. It's also only 14lb ft shy of the 479 lb ft of torque you get in the big Audi, which is not bad considering that there's a 2.2-litre Honda Civic diesel sized gap between the 3.0-litre, six-cylinder 535d and the 5.2 V10 Audi RS6.

All F11 5 Series estates come with rear air suspension to keep things level when loaded up, so this car should still maintain a decent amount of ride comfort even though it's an M Sport model. Being a £50,000 car when new, it has plenty of equipment as standard, but this one has the advanced navigation system as well as power folding and auto dipping side mirrors.

The knowledgeable among you will know the 5 Series Touring is one of the few cars left that allows you to open the boot glass separately from the boot itself, which is very handy if you find yourself in a tight spot. The boot floor is nice and low, too, so an elderly dog with arthritis can still make it into the back without needing a leg up.

Best of all is the fuel economy. At 49.6 mpg combined it will go nearly 2.5x further on a gallon than an RS6 and need a stop for fuel every 700 miles rather than the 300 in the Audi. Okay, enough of the dull and trivial, but the point is the 535d is plenty fast in the real world for most drivers and suitable for most wallet sizes as well. It can't quite match the Audi for depreciation, but it is a younger vehicle after all, and £18,980 isn't much for a car that cost as much as a house four years ago. A small bungalow in Yorkshire, admittedly, but a roof over your head nevertheless.

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SPECIFICATION - BMW 535d ESTATE

Engine: 2,993cc, six-cylinder, turbocharged
Transmission: 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 308@ 4,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 465@ 1,500-2,500rpm
MPG: 49.6mpg
CO2: 149g/km
First registered: 2014
Recorded mileage: 45,292
Price new: £50,845
Yours for: £18,980

See the full ad here.

[ELROR]

Nice. Fuel economy more like 30mpg though, and 530d gives 90% of performance, is cheaper to buy and cheaper to run. I'd go for the 530d.

[snake_oil]

It's got the cheap nav. I'm out.

[Big GT]

snake_oil said:

It's got the cheap nav. I'm out.

Why would that make a difference?
Why is it missing some roads, does it not recognise Lincolnshire?

Great car. Personally i would go for the 530d or xf 3.0d s sportbrake.

Either way these are one of the very few irreplaceable cars due to there alround ability

[anonymous-user]

If you don't care about high mileage there's a 2011 with more toys on auto trader for under £10k

[GTEYE]

Big GT said:

snake_oil said:

It's got the cheap nav. I'm out.

Why would that make a difference?
Why is it missing some roads, does it not recognise Lincolnshire?

Great car. Personally i would go for the 530d or xf 3.0d s sportbrake.

Either way these are one of the very few irreplaceable cars due to there alround ability

The Pro Nav makes a difference to resale and desirability- so a potentially risky move to buy one without. It’s not just the screen it’s the extra multimedia features that make the difference.

It’s the question everyone will ask when you’re selling so beware.

[Wynn Duffy]

The wife has a F11, its a so called poverty model 20d, it really can do 700 miles to a tank, something which the 535d will never be able to do in the real world, unless you coast everywhere, its hard enough to get 600 miles out of ours.
Its quick enough for her, got the bog standard Nav, we are planning on keeping it till it stops, so not bothered about the lack of large screen etc, we just plug the ipod into the USB port instead.
I would not buy a Sport Model without the VDC though, it makes a massive difference.
And its a 5 Series, although I keep calling it 'the Volvo' in reference to her old car, 850 T5, which we had for almost 20 years, as such it is a worthy successor, if not as mental.

[Arsecati]

Still nothing as cool as a quick estate car. Though I actually have an A6 Avant 3.0TDi, I'm still happy to admit that the 5 Series Estate is still a damn fine looking car! Hell, an E-Class Estate looks great too - I guess I just like estate cars!! 😆

[cerb4.5lee]

I've always liked these and I had the same engine in a 640d, the performance/economy mix really impressed me. I prefer the twin turbo diesel in this to the single turbo diesel, because I find it a little less laggy and it has more punch higher up the revs.

[vikingaero]

I like it. Not sure why, but personally the recent BMW styling seems to date a couple of years before other cars.

[crispian22]

I've been running a E350 estate for the last 4 month's,a trip to a well known mercedes tuner has resulted in 297hp and 526ftlb,they're an absolute weapon

[Shiv_P]

What an odd spec. 535d but no pro nav

[AC43]

Love the looks of them.

[cerb4.5lee]

Shiv_P said:

What an odd spec. 535d but no pro nav

No sport auto with paddles either.

[ucb]

cerb4.5lee said:

Shiv_P said:

What an odd spec. 535d but no pro nav

No sport auto with paddles either.

Most 535d estates that I have found for sale are of similar spec.

[aaron_2000]

ucb said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Shiv_P said:

What an odd spec. 535d but no pro nav

No sport auto with paddles either.

Most 535d estates that I have found for sale are of similar spec.

I found it to be the opposite. Wouldn't have one without the Media Pro pack, sport auto, the M Sport Plus (IIRC that's what it was) with the better wheels and sun protection glass. I'd bet this was some form of company car, more reason to go find another. I actually really like this, brilliant spec and it reminds me of an Alpina

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[snake_oil]

aaron_2000 said:

I found it to be the opposite. Wouldn't have one without the Media Pro pack, sport auto, the M Sport Plus (IIRC that's what it was) with the better wheels and sun protection glass. I'd bet this was some form of company car, more reason to go find another. I actually really like this, brilliant spec and it reminds me of an Alpina

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Wow. What a find. That's what I'm talking about

[Dapster]

aaron_2000 said:

I found it to be the opposite. Wouldn't have one without the Media Pro pack, sport auto, the M Sport Plus (IIRC that's what it was) with the better wheels and sun protection glass. I'd bet this was some form of company car, more reason to go find another. I actually really like this, brilliant spec and it reminds me of an Alpina

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

That's insane! £75k for a diesel estate! Must have been a dealer demo or display model where the dealer was let loose to tick EVERY box. No-one spending their own, or their company money would do that surely?

[Schermerhorn]

vikingaero said:

I like it. Not sure why, but personally the recent BMW styling seems to date a couple of years before other cars.

Because BMW havent added hexagons or slits and slats all over the bodywork like Audi have lately....

[cerb4.5lee]

I love seeing properly well specced cars like that one, an eye watering cost on options for sure.

[Schermerhorn]

Does the F10/F11 5 series come with Xdrive in the UK or is that just for Euro spec models?