Handsome. Muscular. Sleek. These are generally some of the adjectives used to describe the current generation F10 BMW 5 Series. At first glance, these descriptive words may be fitting. However, you will begin to realise what the phrase 'Don't judge a book by its cover' really means soon after driving the car. The Germans are renowned for their engineering prowess, including conjuring the delectable Roasted Pork Knuckle, which has delighted taste buds the world over. Naturally, the BMW 5 Series does not disappoint.
Up close and Personal
Full LED head lights and fog lights adorn the front fascia of the car. Modern and sharp looking, the Bimmer exudes an air of confidence without being ostentatious. The trademark double kidney grille guarantees you driving dynamics only from a pure BMW.
It is easy to mistake the BMW 535d for the base 520i variant given both models look almost identical, save for some minor exterior differences such as a M rear spoiler and 19-inch tyres worn by our test car. Of course, the badge on the boot lid is an obvious giveaway. The commodious 520-litre trunk provides ample space to store four golf bags with room to spare.
Up close and Personal
Full LED head lights and fog lights adorn the front fascia of the car. Modern and sharp looking, the Bimmer exudes an air of confidence without being ostentatious. The trademark double kidney grille guarantees you driving dynamics only from a pure BMW.
It is easy to mistake the BMW 535d for the base 520i variant given both models look almost identical, save for some minor exterior differences such as a M rear spoiler and 19-inch tyres worn by our test car. Of course, the badge on the boot lid is an obvious giveaway. The commodious 520-litre trunk provides ample space to store four golf bags with room to spare.
The car comes equipped with four-zone automatic air-conditioning as standard, which allows individual passengers of the car to preset their desired temperature. Coupled with roller sunblinds for the rear windscreen and rear side windows, this car pampers its occupants well, particularly in Singapore which has a hot climate the entire year.
Another noteworthy feature is the BMW ConnectedDrive, which provides essential services such as Real Time Traffic Information and Concierge Services. For example, you could request for the directions to the nearest hotel and the ConnectedDrive concierge will remotely input the destination into your in-car navigation system.
Another noteworthy feature is the BMW ConnectedDrive, which provides essential services such as Real Time Traffic Information and Concierge Services. For example, you could request for the directions to the nearest hotel and the ConnectedDrive concierge will remotely input the destination into your in-car navigation system.
The Drive
On paper, 5.3 seconds is all it takes to achieve the century sprint. But in reality, it feels much faster. The car has an immense amount of torque, 630Nm from 1,500rpm to be precise. In comparison, the 535i 'only' has 400Nm from 1,200rpm. Basically, overtaking other vehicles was a cinch in this Bimmer. The car feels extremely stable and grounded even when travelling at high three-figure speeds.
Mated to an eight-speed automatic with Steptronic, the in-line straight six-cylinder twin turbo diesel engine churns out 313bhp, more than adequate to leave most cars in your wake at the traffic lights. Activation of the Sport Mode via the Driving Experience Control switch brings about augmented dynamic driving as the shock absorbers are set to a firmer position for a sportier ride.
The Adaptive LED Head Lights with high-beam assistance worked like magic when we cornered round bends at night. This is especially useful if you regularly drive up North, since many of the Malaysian back roads are poorly lit at night. Besides being able to 'see' further ahead, the system detects other road users and selectively excludes them from the head light distribution.
Even if you strain your ears, you will be hard pressed to tell that this is a diesel car as the crackling sound from the engine is barely audible from the cabin. We found ourselves relying heavily on the Head-Up Display, which proved to be a neat feature projecting relevant driving information such as the current speed and navigation instructions directly into the driver's field of vision.
On paper, 5.3 seconds is all it takes to achieve the century sprint. But in reality, it feels much faster. The car has an immense amount of torque, 630Nm from 1,500rpm to be precise. In comparison, the 535i 'only' has 400Nm from 1,200rpm. Basically, overtaking other vehicles was a cinch in this Bimmer. The car feels extremely stable and grounded even when travelling at high three-figure speeds.
Mated to an eight-speed automatic with Steptronic, the in-line straight six-cylinder twin turbo diesel engine churns out 313bhp, more than adequate to leave most cars in your wake at the traffic lights. Activation of the Sport Mode via the Driving Experience Control switch brings about augmented dynamic driving as the shock absorbers are set to a firmer position for a sportier ride.
The Adaptive LED Head Lights with high-beam assistance worked like magic when we cornered round bends at night. This is especially useful if you regularly drive up North, since many of the Malaysian back roads are poorly lit at night. Besides being able to 'see' further ahead, the system detects other road users and selectively excludes them from the head light distribution.
Even if you strain your ears, you will be hard pressed to tell that this is a diesel car as the crackling sound from the engine is barely audible from the cabin. We found ourselves relying heavily on the Head-Up Display, which proved to be a neat feature projecting relevant driving information such as the current speed and navigation instructions directly into the driver's field of vision.
Conclusion
This particular variant is presently available on an indent basis only. The car costs $372,800 (as of 17th June 2015) and will increase by $5,000 under the revised Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS) come 1st July this year. Assuming one drives an average of 20,000km per year for ten years, ceteris paribus, he will chalk up an estimated $51,540 worth of fuel and road tax bills based on current fuel prices for Octane 95 and stated fuel consumption versus $58,600 for the 535i petrol variant.
The $1,940 premium one pays for the diesel over the petrol variant after deduction of the savings from diesel cost is worth every penny if you factor in the joy derived from driving a more powerful vehicle. Potential buyers having second thoughts about purchasing this car due to it being diesel-powered should not have any more qualms after reading this article.
The BMW 535d is suited for drivers who yearn for a sports car yet loves the practicality of a four-door sedan. Having driven this car for almost a week, we dare say a more apt description for this Bimmer would be 'A wolf in sheep's clothing'. The 535d certainly lived up to the marque's slogan of 'Sheer Driving Pleasure', and more.
This particular variant is presently available on an indent basis only. The car costs $372,800 (as of 17th June 2015) and will increase by $5,000 under the revised Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS) come 1st July this year. Assuming one drives an average of 20,000km per year for ten years, ceteris paribus, he will chalk up an estimated $51,540 worth of fuel and road tax bills based on current fuel prices for Octane 95 and stated fuel consumption versus $58,600 for the 535i petrol variant.
The $1,940 premium one pays for the diesel over the petrol variant after deduction of the savings from diesel cost is worth every penny if you factor in the joy derived from driving a more powerful vehicle. Potential buyers having second thoughts about purchasing this car due to it being diesel-powered should not have any more qualms after reading this article.
The BMW 535d is suited for drivers who yearn for a sports car yet loves the practicality of a four-door sedan. Having driven this car for almost a week, we dare say a more apt description for this Bimmer would be 'A wolf in sheep's clothing'. The 535d certainly lived up to the marque's slogan of 'Sheer Driving Pleasure', and more.
