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More 535 info.
Bill Howard, BMW CCA April 5, 2007 BMW’s refreshed-for-2008 5 Series at the New York Auto Show. The 525i is now the 528i, the 530i is now the twin-turbo 535i, and the V8 550i soldiers on. The cockpit has more storage, iDrive gets tweaked, and there’s a USB adapter that plays more than iPods. (Bill Howard photo) NEW YORK -- In an auto show with no significant theme, BMW's contribution was a refreshed 5 Series with better engines, improved interiors, and a couple styling tweaks. That was on the first day, Wednesday, of the 107th annual New York International Auto Show. The refresh includes revisions to BMW's iDrive system to make it quicker to respond and a bit easier to use. The show-with-no-theme resulted from hybrid and alternative-fuel announcements from some automakers, 500-hp cars from others; and big cars (some) as well as small cars. In fact, some automakers had all of them at once, in particular Ford, which showed crossovers, flex-fuel vehicles, hydrogen cars, and a 540-hp Mustang. So you might call it the show with something for everyone. Everyone can see it from Friday, April 6, through Sunday, April 15, at the Javits Center in New York City at 11th Avenue and 34th (through 38th) streets on the city's west side, a block from the Hudson River. For details, see www.autoshowny.com. BMW showed its LCI 2008 5 Series -- LCI stands for life cycle impulse, which is a nicer way of saying "model refresh" -- with new six-cylinder engines, new shifters, a revised iDrive, a more luxurious cockpit, and revised front and rear lighting. Prices haven't yet been announced. Mini for the first time in years had no NYIAS announcements. Rolls-Royce announced it will offer an armored version. 2008 5 Series: what's new BMW's 5 Series lineup for 2008 starts with the 528i (replacing the 525i) with an engine that delivers 230 hp and 200 ft-lb of torque. That's where the 530i was at two years ago, and it's about 40 hp. more than a 528i E39 5 Series offered at the beginning of the decade. As a practical matter, performance enthusiasts with thinner wallets may find 528i is okay if you can live without paddle shifters. A 528i with a six-speed manual (yes, they're still available), does 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds, BMW says, while the six-speed Steptronic sees 60 mph in 7.1 seconds. The 530i becomes the 535i. The engine is the twin-turbo 3.0 liter six with 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. BMW says 0-60 times should be 5.6 seconds for the manual, a 0.8-second improvement over the 530i, and 5.7 for the automatic. The 550i continues to use the 360-hp, 4.8-liter V8. A six-speed manual is offered across the 5 Series. But the E-shift automatic transmission, with the polished steel handle, the one that looks vaguely like a beer tap, is a no-cost option. For the 535i and 550i, a sport automatic transmission is optional, and it will include paddle shifters. Cockpit enhancements Inside, the cockpit is more luxurious, thanks to the use of more leather higher up on the door panels and on the sides of the console. In response to feedback from owners that storage space sucked in the cockpit of a 5 Series, door pockets are deeper, and there's a smallish console for, say, keys, a cellphone, or a packet of mint, just forward of the shifter. An ashtray pops out from the center stack just above; had BMW offered a truly non-smoker car, the two might have combined for a serious cubbyhole. Responding to ongoing feedback (we're being polite here) about iDrive, it has been further enhanced or changed. Gone is the haptic feedback, meaning the resistance at the end of a menu choice. That should make response times quicker (less material for the microprocessor to digest). In addition, the center stack gets six pre-fetch buttons (plus two audio buttons) allowing you to pre-program common tasks you'd do with iDrive, such as navigate to a common destination, or call a frequently used phone number. We'll be driving a new 5 Series in May and report back and how iDrive performs. High tech options: USB jack, lane departure warning BMW will offer an iPod/USB adapter that works not just with Apple iPod but most music devices and USB music keys. Price will be about $400. And BMW will offer lane departure warning that notifies the driver if they're about to veer out of lane. The notification will be a vibration felt by the driver, rather than a beep that also alerts the passenger. Infiniti and others are readying a second generation of LDW that intervenes before the driver crosses out of his or her lane, with a vibration and a gentle tug that re-centers the vehicle (but not so heavy it can't easily be overridden). Check back for remarks by BMW executives and slideshows by Bill Howard on BMW's 5 Series refresh and by Klaus Schnitzer on the New York International Auto show overall, including a look BMW's booth. See below for BMW's press releases from the show.
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An unwavering defender of those I see worth protecting. "promote the general welfare, not provide the general welfare" We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. |
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That's a quick 0-60! Sounds nice.
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My dealer has it since mid last week. Going to test drive soon.
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OMG did you see that the door handles for closing the door once your inside are different for each door. YUCK. This blows, I was all set to buy a 535i but now I may have to give it some more thinking.
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#6
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535 Sounds good
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"To become a member of a crew you've got to be 100% Italian so they can trace all your relatives back to the old country. See, it's the highest honor they can give you. It means you belong to a family and crew. It means that nobody can f@ck around with you. It also means you could f@ck around with anybody just as long as they aren't also a member. It's like a license to steal. It's a license to do anything" |
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