Reflections on the new 535i

[JCL]

Similar vein to a recent 'reflections' post in the X3 forum, the following covers my brand new X5 replacement.

Our 2003 E53 is gone. It was a great car, I really enjoyed it. It never let me down, and the only warranty issues in 4.5 years were one headlight with condensation, and one LF wheel bearing. One LR door speaker grill was accidentally kicked in by my daughter, but the dealer replaced it as a courtesy. Apart from oil changes, wiper blades, and brakes, that was it in 77,000 km. Averaged 14 litre/100 km in city use over the past year. Towed great. I was planning to sell it privately, but when the new car arrived I asked the dealer if he wanted it on trade, and he offered me $30,000 sight unseen. That was what I was going to try and sell it for privately. In BC trading it in meant another $4,800 off the new car price as the 16% tax is calculated on a smaller amount, so it went straight to the dealer.

I asked about the vehicle pricing given the CDN dollar, not that I wanted the hassle of buying one in the US, and I got the trade value above plus the BMW $5,000 rebate at point of sale, on top of the original discount I had negotiated with the dealer. I like my dealer. I needed $10k less to close than I had expected.

I ordered this car on May 27th, so it has been a bit of a wait. I could have had one earlier, but not with a manual transmission. This car is replacing both the X5, and my Z4 Sunday driver. My wife got the X3 since we need one multi-purpose vehicle to carry the bikes, and the 325xi was getting on (well, it was a 2002, and it did have almost 45,000 km, lol).

Picked up the 535 last Saturday, and I am very happy with it. Specs are: 2008 model 535i, 6 speed manual, premium, M-Sport, USB kit, space grey with blue leather. In Canada the spec is a little different, so it automatically gets the cold weather package, and a few other options not included in the base US model.

Some will wonder about the M-Sport, and decry that it ruins the M brand. Whatever. I like it, a little more agressive body style, but it also has the 18" M wheels, M sport suspension, anthracite headliner, M steering wheel, M door sills, and a shifter that I am not sure is different or not. It is a very short shifter, with an M knob, but I am not clear on whether that is a 2008 improvement or part of the M kit. My dealer sells so few manuals, and this was the first 535 manual in, so my SA wasn't sure. Either way, a very nice short-throw shifter.

I am taking it easy to start, but despite that the 3.0 tt is very nice. Not as free-reving yet as the 335 demo I drove, but the clutch is even better, and the engine is already loosening up a bit after a week. The X3 was very tight when new, and is now revving more freely; this engine isn't as tight as the X3 was, but it will get much better.

Not too much to say about I-drive, most others have had their first I-drive experience before I did. I find it fine, and like the USB interface to my old iPod, but there are screens I haven't gotten to yet. I have to get the airflow through the dash vents set up better when I have time. My SA spent some time with me when he delivered the car, and that took care of most of my questions.

Other highlights are the comfort seats (++), the Logic 7 (++), and the many little features that I keep coming across each time I drive it. There are a lot of them, it seems.

I bought a set of 17" OEM winter wheels (116) with Dunlop M3 Wintersport tires, and will pick them up next week.

Pictures below. The blue leather isn't as bright as the flash makes it, it is more of a navy colour. It was bleak and raining, and I was flying out the next day, so these are just snapshots. I have included some of the X3 together with the 535 in a second post, since they didn't make it into the X3 post despite promises to the contrary.

Cheers

Jeff