5-Series BMW models live up to image
German automaker BMW is at it again, changing the name of its six-cylinder-powered, midsize, luxury, 5-Series cars for 2008 to reflect larger, more powerful engines.
So, the old 525i becomes the 528i with 230 hp, and the 530i becomes the 535i with 300 hp, including on the twin-turbocharged, six-cylinder 535xi Sports Wagon.
BMW also updated the interiors of its early for 2008 5-Series sedans and wagons and adds an optional Lane Departure Warning system that subtly vibrates the steering wheel when it detects a driver might be wandering out of his or her lane. For 2008, the 5-Series manufacturer's suggested retail prices, including destination charge, start at $45,075 for the base 528i.
Buyers of the 5-Series sedan like the image that the BMW badge conveys, of a four-door car that has a performance heritage, a good bit of technology and is anything but stodgy. It's worth mentioning that BMW owners receive four years/50,000 miles of free maintenance that includes scheduled oil changes and even replacement of worn windshield wiper blades. This is in addition to a four-year/50,000-mile limited, bumper-to-bumper warranty.
It is easy to notice the newfound power in the 2008 BMWs. The test 535xi could zoom forward after just a hint of a lag when the gas pedal was slammed down. I found the car moving aggressively to claim openings in traffic and bound up hills, though with a feeling of some heaviness and solidity attached.
The 535xi weighs in at nearly 4,000 pounds, so this BMW doesn't feel lightweight or flighty. Peak torque of 300 pounds-feet can come on as low as 1,400 rpm and stay to 5,000 rpm, which is a satisfying range for any kind of driving.
The 3-liter, twin-turbocharged, inline six cylinder with variable valve timing for both intake and exhaust functions is the same one put into the BMW 335i. It was mated in the test car to an updated Steptronic automatic transmission that could be shifted manually, if I wanted, without clutch pedal. And BMW finally has dropped its confounding and difficult-to-operate Sequential Manual Gearbox.
Power is increased to its highest ever in the base 528i, which has a 3-liter, inline six cylinder with variable valve timing and no turbocharging. The top 550i sedan retains its 360-hp, 4.8-liter V-8.
Fuel economy isn't a highly touted characteristic of BMWs, but the tester performed within the government's ratings of 17 mpg in city driving and 25 mpg on the highway. Handling, as expected in a BMW, was exceptional. The car body was well-controlled in all maneuvers, giving the feeling of it hunkering down securely over the wheels even over some busy road surfaces.
I didn't notice wind noise emanating from the exterior with its very subtle changes here and there. But I did hear road noise from the tires coming inside the car. With all-wheel drive, I never lacked traction, even on dirt-strewn pavement.
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