RE: BMW 535d Estate: Spotted
Discussion
I don’t know if the nav in a 535d is different to that in my 335d, but I have the standard business nav and it’s fine, it has DAB, Nav, and does Bluetooth audio - what more do you need?
Mines a pretty basic spec, it doesn’t even have xenon headlights, but Christ it’s quick, might not be an M3 but it’s bloody ballistic compared to anything else that is this versatile and economical.
It’s got the sport auto box with flappy paddles and is good fun to drive, I think if you’re looking at an X35D it’s for the engine, if you’re looking at one for the sat nav then maybe just get something else.
Mines a pretty basic spec, it doesn’t even have xenon headlights, but Christ it’s quick, might not be an M3 but it’s bloody ballistic compared to anything else that is this versatile and economical.
It’s got the sport auto box with flappy paddles and is good fun to drive, I think if you’re looking at an X35D it’s for the engine, if you’re looking at one for the sat nav then maybe just get something else.
CDP said:
In five to ten years when it's up for sale again nobody will give a toss what the satnav is, just the condition.
Personally it's the six cylinder engine that would make the difference to me.
Totally agree, built in sat navs are usually pretty rubbish anyway and require updating which most people can't be bothered with. I think I have used the one on my car once, Google maps on my phone in a cradle is better in every way. Personally it's the six cylinder engine that would make the difference to me.
Love that F11, my dad recently acquired an F31 335d and it is a seriously impressive machine. Shame they are auto only, but credit where it is due it is a very good gearbox.
I’ve got an f11 530d m sport as a family daily and it’s great. Does everything well, fast when you need it for an overtake and smooth as silk in all weathers. I wanted a 535 but couldn’t find one for less than 5k more and didn’t think it was worth the cash. I don’t regret it, can’t see why the 535 would be any better in real conditions. Planned to map it but haven’t bothered as it’s plenty quick as standard. Mine is a 2011 with pro Nav and my only complaint would be that the Bluetooth streaming is a bit temperamental and the Nav is basic compared to Waze so I just use that instead. I expect I’ll buy a newer one in a couple of years, can’t see anything else out there that does the daily thing so well.
athol said:
I’ve got an f11 530d m sport as a family daily and it’s great. Does everything well, fast when you need it for an overtake and smooth as silk in all weathers. I wanted a 535 but couldn’t find one for less than 5k more and didn’t think it was worth the cash. I don’t regret it, can’t see why the 535 would be any better in real conditions. Planned to map it but haven’t bothered as it’s plenty quick as standard. Mine is a 2011 with pro Nav and my only complaint would be that the Bluetooth streaming is a bit temperamental and the Nav is basic compared to Waze so I just use that instead. I expect I’ll buy a newer one in a couple of years, can’t see anything else out there that does the daily thing so well.
You’d only be getting another F11 and the G31 doesn’t come with a 535d option. Actually it’s a smart move to simply keep it for a very long time
Great thread, the 535d has always been a favourite of mine. All the positive comments also for me demonstrate what a shame it is that the demonization of diesel has obscured what capable all round cars, these large engine diesels are. I mean for touring duties why would you pick the petrol version when the diesel is so much more frugal and real world as fast.
greenarrow said:
Great thread, the 535d has always been a favourite of mine. All the positive comments also for me demonstrate what a shame it is that the demonization of diesel has obscured what capable all round cars, these large engine diesels are. I mean for touring duties why would you pick the petrol version when the diesel is so much more frugal and real world as fast.
The sports paddle shifts are nice and yes I do use it often even when in D to knock down a gear or two and then know D will take over. The actual paddles are so nice solid nothing like the very poor quality I saw in an Early M4. 8 speed gearbox is a dream.
4th gear (or for even more pace 3rd) from a 30mph up until the limiter in that gear is entertaining.
I have a 2014 535d M sport and other than a brittle ride I love it, mine is pro-nav with HK and it is a lovely place to while away the miles. It can pick up its skirts and fly when needed to, on a stretch of dual carriage way I saw figures come up under full yahoo not far off my old boxster GTS would do.
Good MPG, more than 600 miles to a tank and it’s Euro 6 without the addblue b
ks. Excellent fit for me, the Husky has learned to hang on!
Good MPG, more than 600 miles to a tank and it’s Euro 6 without the addblue b
ks. Excellent fit for me, the Husky has learned to hang on!The engine/gearbox combination in this really is the reason to buy one.
I had a 2016 335d Touring and it was a fantastic car. Managed an indicated 50mpg on a trip from Milton Keynes to Sunderland (sticking to 70mph in eco pro) which was dull but impressive. Got about 37mpg rest of time with a very heavy right foot on lots of short trips and a weekly commute to docklands. Traction and usable performance in crappy British weather made it a really potent surefoooted B road prospect although a bit sterile.
Yes the 535d will be a bit worse on performance and economy compared with a 335d but not much and is a fair trade off for the space you get. In fact I think the 335d is 4.7 to 60 vs 5.4 in the 535d so very little in it.
I had the standard nav in the 335d and it wasn’t much worse than the pro nav in my current M4. It streamed music via Bluetooth etc and didn’t seem to have anything different but a smaller screen and no touch pad in the iDrive controller which is crap anyway. The 5 series nav could be different though as it’s a bit older.
I had a 2016 335d Touring and it was a fantastic car. Managed an indicated 50mpg on a trip from Milton Keynes to Sunderland (sticking to 70mph in eco pro) which was dull but impressive. Got about 37mpg rest of time with a very heavy right foot on lots of short trips and a weekly commute to docklands. Traction and usable performance in crappy British weather made it a really potent surefoooted B road prospect although a bit sterile.
Yes the 535d will be a bit worse on performance and economy compared with a 335d but not much and is a fair trade off for the space you get. In fact I think the 335d is 4.7 to 60 vs 5.4 in the 535d so very little in it.
I had the standard nav in the 335d and it wasn’t much worse than the pro nav in my current M4. It streamed music via Bluetooth etc and didn’t seem to have anything different but a smaller screen and no touch pad in the iDrive controller which is crap anyway. The 5 series nav could be different though as it’s a bit older.
Edited by 9k rpm on Sunday 18th November 21:35
Edited by 9k rpm on Sunday 18th November 21:44
Welshbeef said:
Does anyone have the
Comfort seats
Air cooled front seats
It’s a shame the M550d never came to the U.K. and it’s new m550d with 4 turbos best part of 500bhp too
I know! I don’t see why they don’t sell it, I see more M550d and 40d X5’s here than 25d’s and 30d’s.Comfort seats
Air cooled front seats
It’s a shame the M550d never came to the U.K. and it’s new m550d with 4 turbos best part of 500bhp too
An M550d would be an absolute weapon, I think I’d rather drive one of those than an M5, imagine 4 turbos feeding you all that torque throughout the Rev range, one after the other.
Chestrockwell said:
I know! I don’t see why they don’t sell it, I see more M550d and 40d X5’s here than 25d’s and 30d’s.
An M550d would be an absolute weapon, I think I’d rather drive one of those than an M5, imagine 4 turbos feeding you all that torque throughout the Rev range, one after the other.
Be interesting to know how they all work - is one electrically driven to give instant big torque from idleAn M550d would be an absolute weapon, I think I’d rather drive one of those than an M5, imagine 4 turbos feeding you all that torque throughout the Rev range, one after the other.
Maybe the reason people are complaining about the sat nav is the fact that if they didn't spec the pro sat nav, they likely didn't spec much else. Why would you spend the £18k on a base spec 535d when you could get a much much nicer one for the money? I get that you buy it for the engine, but if that's really the case, but in reality, if you're buying a car for it's dynamic engine, you're probably not considering a diesel in the first place.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I've got a E90 330i with this engine and I'm not sure I'd describe it as 'lovely'... it's a bit rattly and unrefined when idling, like a diesel, apparently because of the direct injection, and I'm far from alone in having found mine a bit flaky. But it somehow manages to be OK anyway: it is good to drive, it revs cleanly and smoothly, it sounds nice when accelerating hard (without needing a showy exhaust), and it will do 70mph in 2nd gear. Fuel economy is better than I was expecting too.It's a bit gutless at low revs though, which might be a bit questionable for a 5 series? - though the shaded bit on the rev counter on mine starts at 6750, rather than the 6500 shown in the photos for this one, so maybe the 5 series got a slightly different engine or something.
But either way, if you want a modern 5 series with a NA straight six, better buy it, because good luck finding another one. And this one certainly does have a nice, bright interior, much better (in my view) than the more usual mausoleum/S&M dungeon.
Edited by to3m on Monday 19th November 00:08
Why are people complaining about car Sat navs these days, just use Google maps on your phone, much more up to date, provides dynamic routing and is free, whats not to like. However back to the BMW, it's a diesel piece of st, everyone knows there is only one king of the mega quick estates
t, everyone knows there is only one king of the mega quick estatesto3m said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I've got a E90 330i with this engine and I'm not sure I'd describe it as 'lovely'... due to the it's a bit rattly and unrefined when idling, like a diesel, apparently because of the direct injection, and I'm far from alone in having found mine a bit flaky. But it somehow manages to be OK anyway: it is good to drive, it revs cleanly and smoothly, it sounds nice when accelerating hard (without needing a showy exhaust), and it will do 70mph in 2nd gear.It's a bit gutless at low revs though, which might be a bit questionable for a 5 series? - though the shaded bit on the rev counter on mine starts at 6750, rather than the 6500 shown in the photos for this one, so maybe the 5 series got a slightly different engine or something.
But either way, if you want an NA straight six, better buy it, because good luck finding another one. And this one certainly does have a nice, bright interior, much better (in my view) than the more usual mausoleum/S&M dungeon.
The thought of a 530i with the N52 engine and the extra weight equals a world of disappointment for me. Which in fairness goes against the grain because I'm not a massive fan of diesel engines overall.
A torquey diesel engine does suit Bmw's better for me though...because of the weight they have to drag around.
to3m said:
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I've got a E90 330i with this engine and I'm not sure I'd describe it as 'lovely'... it's a bit rattly and unrefined when idling, like a diesel, apparently because of the direct injection, and I'm far from alone in having found mine a bit flaky. But it somehow manages to be OK anyway: it is good to drive, it revs cleanly and smoothly, it sounds nice when accelerating hard (without needing a showy exhaust), and it will do 70mph in 2nd gear. Fuel economy is better than I was expecting too.It's a bit gutless at low revs though, which might be a bit questionable for a 5 series? - though the shaded bit on the rev counter on mine starts at 6750, rather than the 6500 shown in the photos for this one, so maybe the 5 series got a slightly different engine or something.
But either way, if you want a modern 5 series with a NA straight six, better buy it, because good luck finding another one. And this one certainly does have a nice, bright interior, much better (in my view) than the more usual mausoleum/S&M dungeon.
Edited by to3m on Monday 19th November 00:08
I was looking for a manual 6 cylinder petrol E91 earlier this year and only considered ones with the N52 engine based on what I had read about injector issues, HPFP problems and coking up on the N53s.
The N52 in my 325i is very (maybe too) refined but revs happily to 7,000 rpm which is about 70 in second - I think the high gearing is what makes it feel a bit gutless at lower engine speeds. It's significantly higher geared than my Z4 Coupe that has the 3.0 litre N52 engine for some reason - maybe emissions?
Anyway as to3m says, if you want an N/A petrol straight 6 BMW you need to get one while you still can!
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