By now you could probably figure out that I pretty much love this car and wouldn't mind owning it. On the other hand, the six-cylinder 530i model would be more practical even though it does not handle as crisply or respond to my acceleration needs as well. Nope, give me the V8, but to be practical, I'll take the automatic transmission. Did you read that, Dad?
Dad's view: Yep, but until the college going male gets through university you are limited to having your dream car one week a year.
AS for the 540i, the 4.4-liter, twin-cam, four-valve per cylinder, V8 engine has a variable valve timing, and produces 290 horsepower and 324 pounds-feet of torque in a smooth, potent delivery that can quickly become addicting. The five-speed Steptronic transmission is exceptional and certainly one reason that Jaguar uses it on the powerful Jaguar Type S R model.
BMW's traction control is noteworthy in that it is not intrusive like that found in the AMG Mercedes models. It lets you have some fun, without shutting down the engine and leaving you frustrated. In fact, the only reason we feel that BMW is more worthy as a driving car than the AMG Mercedes is the traction control settings. More than once while driving a supercharged Mercedes we found ourselves in the middle of the curve with the engine suddenly cut back by the computer so that the rear wheels wouldn't spin. The representative told us that it was because some people who bought these high performance cars don't know how to drive them correctly. Fortunately, BMW has more faith in its owner's abilities although the Mercedes C 32 AMG and E55 are still among our favorite cars.
There are options you can order with the 540i such as a 6-speed manual gearbox, a sports suspension with firmer springs and shocks, more aggressive anti-roll bars, larger tires, and a lower ride height. The 6-speed version also has a few interior trim pieces, but this option is really about performance. This optional Sport Package can run from $2,000 to $2,800 and is worth considering.