BMW 535i A Step In Right Direction for 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series, now in its sixth iteration, is responsible for 50% of BMW’s global profits. To put that in perspective, it’s like saying Big Macs create 50% of McDonald’s profits, or sweatshirt sales are responsible for 50% of Abercrombie & Fitch’s profits. That’s a sizable chunk of importance placed on only one facet of a world-famous brand, but rightly so; 80% of drivers who currently own a Beamer 5 Series have owned some sort of BMW before. These folks fall in love with quality and stick with it. I say good for them.
The 2011 BMW 535i is the latest model on the 5 line, and it’s jumping out to some really solid early reviews. It’s a pretty big sedan, but it doesn’t drive like one, and despite a toned-down interior it’s still plenty luxurious and plenty affable on any open road. In Palo Alto, luxury cars don’t get made much better.
Specifically, the 535i has instituted a number of upgrades for this model that make it stand out. For example, the front struts have been replaced with a more efficient double-wishbone situation that lowers the grille and hood for the increased safety of pedestrians. The electric-assist steering also has been fine-tuned to feel more natural, and the Integral Active Steering helps keep speedy turns from getting out of control. Technologically speaking, this Beamer has a lot of good things going for it.
The Sport package can be added for a fairly reasonable $4,500 and includes, among other things, 19-inch alloy wheels, sports seats, and black chrome window trim for the inside of the vehicle. There’s also Adaptive Drive, Dynamic Damping Control, and Active Roll Stabilization. In short, it’s a Sport package worth investing in.
BMW Woodside expects to sell more than its fair share of this 2011 BMW 535i, and I’d say it’s a safe bet for them to go ahead and order a whole bunch of these suckers. It looks as though pricing could actually start at under $50,000, but we haven’t heard anything definite in that department yet. Still, at that price and that quality it seems like a bit of a steal, doesn’t it?
