2011 BMW 535d Sedan Review and Road Test – The Diesel Driver – The Joy of Diesel Driving

DRIVING THE BMW 535D

Of course, driving on the open road is where the 5er really shines.  While previous generations of the 5 Series were superior to similar vehicles from other automakers, the new 5er has achieved significant further improvements.  While I wasn’t a fan of the previous 5er’s active steering, the new version includes rear steering (the rear wheels steer up to 2.5°) that shortens the turning circle and improves high-speed stability.

There is no question that, even at 200 km/h (124 mph), the car drives as if it were on rails.  Indeed, I would not order a BMW without Active Steering after having spent time with it.

The 535d comes equipped with a silky-smooth, 3.0-liter twin-turbo I-6 engine which produces 300 hp (220 kW) and 425 pound-feet of torque. This takes the car from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 5.7 seconds, making it actually faster than the lighter and smaller 335d, which needs 6.0 seconds to get to that speed, which is the same for the current gasoline-powered 535i.  The previous generation 535d, which was no slouch, needed 6.4 seconds.

The 535d’s optional Dynamic Driving Control allowed me to choose from Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport +, thereby selecting settings for the adaptive shocks. The controls vary jounce and rebound characteristics independently and steplessly, as well as throttle response, and active anti-roll bars.  I kept the car mostly in sport mode except for some bumpy city streets where the comfort setting absorbed just about all of the potholes and rough pavement.   Driving in sport mode made the car feel much smaller and tighter.

The ZF eight-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and is one of the best we’ve seen.  It also plays a major role in reducing fuel consumption: witness the 535d’s impressive 38.5 mpg in the European cycle (highway driving).

On the EfficientDynamics front, the 535d not only comes with super-efficient eight-speed automatic transmission but also with electro-mechanical power steering, which further increases fuel economy.  Other EfficientDynamics features are included including brake energy regeneration, demand-dependant ancillary components, and active flap control.  Lower weight is achieved through doors, hood, front side panels, drivetrain, and suspension components made from aluminum.

The 5er Series gets some features that even the flagship 7er doesn’t get, most notably automatic parking.  Now possible thanks to electric power steering, the system uses ultrasonic sensors to see a parking spot and determine if it’s large enough.  If the space is 1.2 meters (4 feet) larger than the car, the push of one button starts a process that automatically provides the necessary steering inputs while the driver modulates vehicle speed.  I only tested this feature twice but it worked perfectly both times.

Click here to continue to Page 3 – Driver Assistance Systems in the BMW 535d

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