Think you need a V8? Think again.
Cars full of character that we actually don't like are pretty rare. Some have charisma that overflows excessively, like the Ford Mustang, for example. Others seduce us by their charm and near flawlessness. The 535i is part of that group.
Okay, it's obvious that with a price range of $60,000 to $100,000, one shouldn't expect anything less from the 5-Series. And I'm not even talking about the $113,300 M5 here...
Sober yet aggressive shape
When the latest-generation 5-Series appeared in the fall of 2003, as a 2004 model, I was immediately struck by the beauty of this machine. The designs under the artistic direction of Chris Bangle drew a lot of criticism, but personally, I think they're all lookers, and the 5-Series is no exception.
The frowning headlights, the menacing look, the sloping hood and the open-wing taillights please me a lot. Painted in black, you can't really see the car's sculpted lines, but in lighter shades, we can see how the car looks both svelte and muscular.
However, its design won't go into the company's history books as a classic, because the 535i does have its fair share of sobriety.
Fantastic engine
By taking a quick glance of the technical data sheet, we notice that the car has a smallish 3.0-liter six under the hood, and we have the impression that its performance will be adequate at best. But a second look reveals some impressive numbers: 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque.
The Bavarian company set out to create an engine that's as powerful as a V8 but with the fuel consumption of a V6. By using two small turbochargers instead of a big one, turbo lag is cut down to a minimum; actually, it's virtually unnoticeable. In addition, the engine is almost as powerful but much lighter than the old the 4.4-liter V8 that was found in the 2005 545i.
Cars full of character that we actually don't like are pretty rare. Some have charisma that overflows excessively, like the Ford Mustang, for example. Others seduce us by their charm and near flawlessness. The 535i is part of that group.
Okay, it's obvious that with a price range of $60,000 to $100,000, one shouldn't expect anything less from the 5-Series. And I'm not even talking about the $113,300 M5 here...
 |
| A successful design signed by Chris Bangle. |
Sober yet aggressive shape
When the latest-generation 5-Series appeared in the fall of 2003, as a 2004 model, I was immediately struck by the beauty of this machine. The designs under the artistic direction of Chris Bangle drew a lot of criticism, but personally, I think they're all lookers, and the 5-Series is no exception.
The frowning headlights, the menacing look, the sloping hood and the open-wing taillights please me a lot. Painted in black, you can't really see the car's sculpted lines, but in lighter shades, we can see how the car looks both svelte and muscular.
However, its design won't go into the company's history books as a classic, because the 535i does have its fair share of sobriety.
Fantastic engine
By taking a quick glance of the technical data sheet, we notice that the car has a smallish 3.0-liter six under the hood, and we have the impression that its performance will be adequate at best. But a second look reveals some impressive numbers: 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque.
The Bavarian company set out to create an engine that's as powerful as a V8 but with the fuel consumption of a V6. By using two small turbochargers instead of a big one, turbo lag is cut down to a minimum; actually, it's virtually unnoticeable. In addition, the engine is almost as powerful but much lighter than the old the 4.4-liter V8 that was found in the 2005 545i.
 |
| A wonderful powertrain acclaimed by critics. |