Roadfly.com - 2011 BMW 5 Series 535i Road Test & Review
Вставка
- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- For 2011 BMW completely redesigned the 5 Series. The 2004 - 2010 5 series was successful but wasn't able to maintain the momentum of the previous generation 5 Series mostly due to its styling. The 2011 5 Series changes all that! The new car is styled similarly to the new 7 Series with a visually long hood and aggressive front end.
Our test vehicle came with the 3.0 liter twin turbo mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. Also available is a new XF 8-speed automatic transmission.
All 2011 BMWs come with BMWs no cost maintenance program and a 4 year/50,000 mile warranty.
Host Ross Rapoport road tests and reviews the new BMW 5 Series and compares it to the Mercedes-Benz E Class and Audi A6 as well as Japanese competition like the Infiniti M56.
Vehicle: 2011 BMW 535i
Base Price: $49,600
Price as tested: $66,175
Engine: Inline 6 cylinder, twin turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Horsepower: 300 hp / 300 lb-ft torque
0-60 MPH: 5.7 seconds
Warranty: 4 years or 50,000 miles maintenance included
EPA: 19 city / 28 highway MPG
Host: Ross Rapoport
Roadfly.com - www.roadfly.com
Car Forum - www.roadfly.com...
RoadflyTV - / roadflytv
Facebook - / roadfly
Twitter - / roadfly
IMDB - www.imdb.com/ti...
I have had a very expensive experience with my German sports sedan. Infinity here I come.
I think the 5 series was refreshed for 2011 not 2010..the 2010 was still an e60
Excellent review with useful information. It's good to know about the pricing structure, which starts with a moderate base MSRP and quickly zooms into a top-tier price point. At $66K, you're near the sticker of a Lexus LS460, a more fully-featured premium sedan, with more room and upgraded amenities. Good video.
Well, that bordered on courageous. Nice to hear someone avoiding blind praise.
That guys small or the cars huge!
MAYBY BOTH?
The guy is small. Although he claimed be 5'11 with long legs but it never appeared that was as he claimed in all of his videos. He is more like 5'4" at most
you can get an m37 loaded with even more stuff in it AND awd for far less. and you probably wont be on a first name basis with your service manager
Ross. will you marry me? I'm a guy, but that shouldn't matter.
I've never been a BMW fan, but must admit that this car is nice; leaps better then its previous design.
I will just get a used one next year for 33k. 66k...jeez...common!
This has nothing to do with buying in bulk. Remember America is a huge country/continent while Norway is just a small dot on the world map. So we need to compare in percentage and per capita. Those taxes were put there buy the Norwegian government (because according to them owning a car is a "luxury"). To answer your question, I think that would be approx. 0, but there are actually quite a lot of 520d's that are sold (for the price of a stock 520d in Norway you could buy an M5 in America, lol)
well-said, Ross.
My 2005 BMW 530i sport was totaled and I started shopping for a newer BMW assuming they'd be even better. While it's a pretty car and well made, I HATED the handling. Anyone else? While the Sport package handled very FLAT when making hard direction changes, the 550 with the M sports package handled really mushy. I really tried to like it but hated it. No adjustments corrected the body roll on hard turns or slalom type driving. Bummed and disappointed.
its just how they are. it sucks
@OneOfOne Very well said... Infiniti is definitely the smarter choice these days.
this video was actually informative and not just a rant about a car, nice to know what to compare something to.
this engine's specs are highly underrated
This 5 series is the best! my dad has one with x drive and premium package he loves it
i’m buying this same car for 11,000$ with 70k miles lol looks like it deprecated a bit
Great deal
@SaveNurburgring because they're automatic-only in the US
why dont you guys talk a little more about the negatives?? that would help. thx :)
@bosh8867 Is your 535xi reliable? Just curious. I have been looking around and I think I am going to settle for 2009/2010 335 x drive coupe. I thought about a 535 and 550 same yr too but I always drive by myself. Well is it reliable and quite on the highway? I might have to test drive it myself though.
Og til dere norske som evt. måtte være her, vi betaler for skole og helse over skatteseddelen, og vel så dét.
@kr0pp thats true its hard ti switch brand, had the previous 5 series loved it, have the current 3 series loved it, love the new Audi S5 but i might have to settle for the new 5 series. I'm a Loyal fan i got to say
I'm really curious to see how the new GS stacks up against this, should be interesting!
Great review
Very nice review and unlike others you have referred to also to the rivals and said a few things more about their characteristics. This is the most objective view I have ever seen. Good job!
Very good review. It was to the point, non biased, informative and covered everything most people would hope to learn. Keep up the good reviews good sir!
@MaartenSjaak Sorry, but I'll have to one-up you. In Norway, the cheapest 535i you can get (sedan, rwd, manual gear, noe extra options) is $ 161,000. A fully equipped M5 will cost you a whopping $ 380,000, two thirds of that being taxes to the state.
funnily enough, between me and my immediate family, so do we... Yes your comment is legible, I was able to read it very well... I just happen to disagree with it. Its just an opinion. I prefer the 5 whereas someone else may prefer the XF. They're both better than the A6 and the E class IMO anyways.
Excellent review, finally someone that compares the car reviewed to its peers. Keep it on.
Lexus is advertising like crazy on youtube in the adverts prior to vids and the promoted vids at both the top and bottom of search results.. I guess they are hoping people will come back to their leather Toyotas after they lost the U.S. luxury sales crown last year.
He's right about the German pricing and how it can quickly go up in a blink of an eye. Where I live you go to the rich neighborhoods where all the Republicans live you see BMW's, Mercedes', Porsche etc. But if you go to like middle class neighborhoods like where I live you see more Infiniti's, Acura's, etc.
Oh, really? And our city streets felt like... alleys? ^_^ I think it's more correct to look at it the other way, we are the unlucky, as roads in Sweden and most of Europe (take the German Autobahn for instance) are great. Norwegian roads are regarded as being some of the worst in Europe, below countries like Albania. Yes, cold climate does take its toll on roads, but it is all dependent on the road maintenance (which in Norway is, pardon my language, shitty).
Yes, that's right, but I do believe that you get a lot more out of your dollars there in the US than we get for our kroner here. Check out the Big Mac index, I think Norway is number 1. In addition to the wicked prices in Norway, I'm sure you also noticed the horrible roads we have here. Our infrastructure is terribly undersized and is way behind on maintenance. Bad roads, more tear and wear on the cars, more maintenance on cars, making it even more expensive to own a car in Norway.
I'm talking about Norway, not the US. I think the absolute cheapest car you can get in Norway is around $20,000 (type Chevy Spark, Hyundai i10). The point here is (which I pointed out in my other comments) is that you can get this 535i for $50,000 in the US, but in Norway you need to pay $220,000 for the same car. An M5 starts at $320,000. I just wanted to point out the insanity in Norway (although irrelevant for most people), and that 50 grands for a 535i isn't a whole lot.
Well, Norwegians' average income is in fact also in the area of around $50,000 to $100,000. The reason for Norway's high GDP is because of the $600+ billion oil fund, which is quite a lot when you divide it by Norway's 5 million people. So $100,000 for a car is still the same wether it's in Norway or the US. Many people can't afford it, and need to buy old rusty pieces of junk with four wheels instead. But I'd gladly pay the money it took if I had that amount of money needed for a 535i.
Second part of answer: if the government here had had some sort of connection with reality and removed all extra taxes on cars, I think Norway had seriously been one of the most profitable markets in the world. Norway has a nominal GDP per capita of almost $100,000 whereas the US has around $50,000 per capita. There would have been more Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, Ferraris and Lamborghinis rolling in Norway than you see today in places like NYC, LA, London, Paris and Dubai.
This is because we have taxes on how much emissions a car has, the weight of the car and the size of the engine. This is of course in addition to the national VAT which is 25%. And one more thing, the gas price. You complain about prices of 3-4 dollars a gallon. Here, we pay 14-15 NOK per LITER. In your language that is about 10 dollars per gallon! I know how I sound like, and to those of you who thinks that: YES, I am f*** jealous.
You Americans have no idea about how lucky you are when it comes to cars. You have by far the best road network in the world (maybe competed by Germany and southern European countries), and you probably have the cheapest cars in the world. I continue to be baffled by you considering $60-70k and even $100k for a car to be a lot. Like in this review, the BMW costs some $66 grand. Here in Norway, a fully specced 535i xDrive costs about 1,311,200 NOK, which by today's rate is $226,900.
good review however the jokes suck- SEC coming to the office? Also, a corp biz employee would be chauffered in a 7 series or Bently; they would not be driving a 535 and would not carry around paper boxes.- also, dont blame the car cause you got a ticket dude. The car tricks you! Oh no the car used the Jedi Mind Trick on me!- finally WHO THE HELL PAYS MSRP YOU START WITH THE INVOICE PRICE- finally shhh Audi offers a manual too
Yes, your highways could easily have handled unrestricted speed (my opinion). Still faster than us, we are allowed to go max 100 km/h :P
Yeah, I can admit to that, it's more personal than steel and glass skyscrapers. Still, I can't help the feeling living in a 19th century country. Funny how a car review can turn into a discussion about living standards and politics!
@tsx104ever although i do admit u get more for ur money with the e350, i question its reliability. Mercedes has a problem with all its technology and engine systems failing pretty early into ownership and BMW is leading the way with the best reliability out of the german saloon makers, so that extra 3 grand would be worth it in my opinion
Don't like this review. He's pretty much discouraging viewers to get this car. Hey Mr Reviewer, may I remind you that true buyers of luxury cars wouldn't have an issue with its price. If you think 60,000 is too heavy for you, then this is not your segment. Go to a Hyundai delearship. The Sonata is a great buy as well :)
@Jamboolio His designs clashed with BMW's values: rather than create a discrete, yet confident body, Bangle created ugly and provocative designs. The new models (X3, Z4, 5,6,7) are much more conservatively styled like BMW's of old. Ultimately, what made old BMW's so popular was the fact that they were ordinary-looking cars with performance-car underpinnings.
Ross, I disagree, the last gen 5 series had much more character and now cost a lot less. You can get an m5 for 40K with about 35k on the clock. Say what you want about Chris Bangle, but his 3, 5 and 7 series car designs are timeless. When this new generation of 5 series is put/pushed out the door, "no one" will remember it.
i really enjoyed that SEC joke.
I like the design, but it's a little to big for a 5 series, if you ask me. Even though I wasn't the biggest fan of the design of the previous 5, I thought its dimensions were perfect.
This one just pushing more towards the 7 series, then its previous models.
Dude looks like my grandmother behind that seat. A few more inches forward and he will be driving from the dashboard.
How many BMW 535i's are purchased in Norway each year compared to America? There's like a BMW dealership in every city. We buy more pay less, it's called buying in bulk, another American Tradition...American's do things big, sorry!!
you can get a cady for 30 grand less but it handles and last 40 grand less, and its true once you own a BMW and enjoy the long lasting quality of the finishes and its superior handling, you don't want anything else except AWD in snow country!
Good review as usual.
BTW if the SEC is coming to raid you and you are at that level, then you probably drive a 7 series. lol
BMW's pricing is insane. At that price I am getting a CTS-V and I will wreck this car's life.
You want german sports sedan, you pay more. End of story. You want something cheaper then yes go for the cadillac and omg the acura but I dont see people in the market for german sport sedan cross shopping with acuras.
Aloha, Mahalo for the great review. One sold the other day on craigslist for 22k it had 30k miles and was a creampuff. I didn't like the color. Another one will come and I will wait...
Yay a MANUAL!!!!
definitely worth it
Thats weird, every other review I've read and watched on this car said the steering was very numb...
@OneOfaKind949 what are you talking about? m37 is rated @ 26 HWY, my x3 is rated @ 16-24 and i constantly get 16 mixed. when infinity start boosting their engines thats gona be awesome
japanese luxury cars are cheaper than those European cars. I believe that Infinity M-class is better and cheaper, but i just can't resist wanting to buy the BMWor M-Benz names
You sated that the steering is "wonderfully communicative." However, every major automobile magazine called the new electric steering system numb and uncommunicative
i like this guy, good review but it must be said he is lke the richard hammond of roadfly, that seat makes him look smaller than he prolly is. has he had his teeth whitened?
@twkijc He probably had Enron stock! LOL
fantastic content. do we have a year ownership follow up review of the 2011 w/ manual trans?
@Scudeyyy More like XF > A6 > 5 Series > E Class
@Jamboolio Agreed. Even Mercedes is copying the infamous butt on the new C Class. It's a stately design language that's gives the cars distinction.
@minskrap911
In Holland you pay € 62.600 for the plain 535i, the high executive version will hit € 72k. A M5 costs 132k in euro's, lawl
300bhp from a twin-turbo 6cyc??? The Acura MDX 6cyc offers 300bhp and its not turbo charged. BMW needs to up the psi on those turbos!
Hi price? No problemo. Just get a used one a few months later. Just like a foreclosed house. The street price is what it's really worth.
How many speakers are in this car?
I like this guy very informative, clear and straight. Good Review
525 IS NOT MY FAVORITE IT'S NICE IT'S STYLING LANGUAGE IS GOOD IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE THE NEW 7SERIES BEEMER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wait, I'm confused. I thought that the only the CTS-V came w/ a manual option. Surely, it doesn't cost 30g less.
Good review. Does anyone know the track playing?
how is it that that one has a six-speed transmission but i cant build it like that on BMW's website? :(
@steverooni99
sorry jessi :P
I meant: where is jessi?
(i'm european, that explains my bad english)
I have to agree,RWD for the win.Proud owner of a 240sx rwd :D,honda...GET ON SOME RWD ALREADY!
yet another great and detailed review, keep up the good work.
I really like this guy...he talks about the good and bad, and he reminds me of Richard Hammond...
Its pretty stupid that an ipod connector isn't standard when my Focus and Acadia both have them.
I just have 1 question, maybe you guys can help with. I am considering a 2011 535Xi. I have heard that the steering is pretty numb ( electric ) Is that really true, or has it been somewhat overstated by magazines / internet over the years because we were spoiled by the awesome steering of the E39 Series? Thanks for any who reply :)
The 5 Series is finally a sexy car. The last generation was just plain ugly and old looking.
I don't get y people hate the previous genration, I think that one looks better than this one.
@thuglifezeem716 its just your opinion man. imo the new 5 is much superior to the a6.
It's all personall opinion between the 5 series and the r class. Personally I like the e c
just curious, how long do you have a car for before you have to give it back/review it?
28 mpg highway is pretty impressive. Infinitis get 24 at the most with their V6.
if you go on bmw's site it says that this car gets 30mpg??? wats up with that
you can pick up one of these beauties for less than 18k! add a few thousand for an extended warranty and you're set!
Hareem Zain
Go on cargurus these things are worth like 4k( high miles ) to 12k
Hareem Zain
I’d never pay 20k for a 2011 of any Sedan ( unless it’s a super car ) , for that much I might as well save up 5k more and get a 2018 Honda or Toyota , it’ll be less miles on it and brand new for that year lol, you’re crazy fam
I personally think that the new Lexus GS is a better mid-size luxury sedan:)
I'm sorry,but if you slap a BMW badge on anything the price goes up to 500%
great review Ross. Loving your reviews, keep it up
It was actually redesigned for the 2011 model year, not 2010 as you state
The irony is that you can get a fully loaded GS 350 for 58 grand. Tops!
It's my dream!)
Ive had both cars, therefore i believe my first comment is legible.
hey ross please test the new audi a6 and compare it to this bmw 535i
Such a nice car. Love BMW's. BMW and Lexus :D
@kidmars93swagg Nobody. Acura = Honda = budget car for soccer moms.
always add £9k or $15k to the price if you want a high spec car.
Description says "Also available with XF 8 speed" - should be ZF
doesn't bmw make a awd version of the 5 series called the xi?
Totally agree....My old 530 looks much better than this one!