BMW 535D - Opinions & experiences

[J381]

I'm looking to buy a 535D (2007> LCI model).
What's everyones thoughts, opinions and experiences of these?

What car rivals this for up to £20K?

Cheers

[GolfSupplierAU]

Been in one once, and the way it loped up to 135 mph off a motorway sliproad so effortlessly was incredible.

Unlike most diesels, it is also very keen to rev high.

[T1547]

Supposed to be very good, lots of twin turbo torque/power, reasonably economical, comfortable. I run a 2007 525d (mapped) and think its a great car. Plan to get into a x35d next....

Competition - the usual audi/merc offerings ie a6 3.0 tdi, e class 320 cdi. Or for me 535d vs 635d is the choice..

What do you drive now?

ETA merc cls 350cdi Grand Edition is also similar power and four door..

[Amirhussain]

My dads got one, 56 plate. Only ever put his foot down once when I was in it, but I loved the power of the thing.

[rsv gone!]

He's not very good at parking.

[J381]

T1547 said:

Supposed to be very good, lots of twin turbo torque/power, reasonably economical, comfortable. I run a 2007 525d (mapped) and think its a great car. Plan to get into a x35d next....

Competition - the usual audi/merc offerings ie a6 3.0 tdi, e class 320 cdi. Or for me 535d vs 635d is the choice..

What do you drive now?

ETA merc cls 350cdi Grand Edition is also similar power and four door..

Nothing worth mentioning.

635D is beautiful as well and a good rival...

[panholio]

rsv gone! said:

He's not very good at parking.

[theaxe]

I've run one for the last few years and it's probably the best car I've owned. The engine is fantastic and even more urgent in Sport mode.

The only things I don't like are the RFTs which seem to get bulges with alarming frequency (probably due to the state of the roads around here) and the way that Sport mode confuses steering weight with feel.

[rix]

Just flogged mine, an LCI SE, was a great car for the mix of pace, comfort, and economy but it wasn't qute as involving or sharp as I'd've liked. I think had it been a manual it would've made all the difference.

Still a brilliantly impressive car...

[FreeLitres]

No doubt an impressive car.

I couldn't justify sinking £20k into a diesel saloon though.

[LooneyTunes]

J381 said:

What's everyones thoughts, opinions and experiences of these?

Great cars, but have you seen the "stolen without keys" thread over in the BMW section? Makes quite sobering reading.

[-Bladerider-]

Best car I have owned,

Probably just about the fastest in the real world as well thanks to a decent sized tank and 35+mpg at 100+ speeds. Mine was a facelift estate 2007 which I bought new and ran for 3 years/100k miles

You need to seriously consider swapping the run flats to something better - I tended to run Dumlop Sportmaxx which it liked or spare Yokohama Advan Sports I used to be sponsored with. Made a huge difference, although I did once have a flat at high speed fully loaded on our way to a holiday when I still had the runflats and to be honest we didnt notice the tyre go flat immediately, only when I went round a motorway interchange at a fair lick.

Main dealer servicing I think is actually a must on these cars as the complexity is immense - you can even program how many seconds you want the headlights to stay on for when you get out and lock the car so you can see up your drive !!

I would have liked a panoramic roof on mine, but the toys list is never ending and frankly that isnt the breaking point for a second hand car I guess.

As for the competition - I drove the Merc 320cdi and thought it was comfy but dull and too old for me (I was only 34 when I bought my 535d Msport and I had already owned an Audi Allroad and knew how dull most diesel Audis are to drive and didnt find the newer model any more inspiring. I would give half a shout to the A8 4.2 Tdi as something pretty special, but in a different way to the Beemer and my next car will probably be a TDV8 RRS which I know is more expensive and less reliable than the X5 but its also less like a grey wheelie bin and somehow makes you feel like Ray Winstone !!

Hope that helps.

J.

[berry100]

Fabulous cars,had both saloon and estate of which saloon was dms'd, superb cruisers which can shift when pressing on with an array of gadgets, hell if you look hard enough you can even get one with HUD. Averaged around 28 to 33 mpg in my time, heavy foot!

[K321]

amirhussein, i know where that street is- if i was you i would get your dad to get your dad to lock the car in a secure garage. there has been a spate of BMW thefts in the area in the last month.

[VinceM]

Jaguar XF 3.0D S twin turbo. My brother has one and is very very quick. The BMW 535d is a nice car though. Both very complex when it goes wrong though.

[Contigo]

Boring as fk imo!

[Mr Wolf]

The only one in the UK!

Looks like a cracker

[J381]

VinceM said:

Jaguar XF 3.0D S twin turbo. My brother has one and is very very quick. The BMW 535d is a nice car though. Both very complex when it goes wrong though.

Hmmm, I never considered this to be honest. Gorgeous car, but I just don't know if I could own a Jag. Sounds daft but I still feel it's an older mans car IMO. Not necessarily a car for an old man, but older than me... I'm only 25. Still cracking though!!

Thanks for that as well because it's a car I never thought of :-)

[magnum555]

Owned one a few years back was a fantastic car, get one you wont regret it.

[philmots]

I've got the 335d.. Effortless performance.

There's a lot to go wrong but (touch wood) not that much does. The things that do go wrong are cheap fixes.

Boost pipe seals - £12 plus fitting (half hour)

Vac hoses split, £30 from BMW or a few quid for some generic hose.

Pressure converters are about £130 for each turbo.. When these go people (bmw inc) confuse it for full turbo failure.

That's about it from the top of my head.. The test is the same as 325/330/525/530 - all d's.

Get one bought, if you're bothered about big bills get it covered by BMW approved or the AA parts and labour which will take £500 sting out of most repairs.