BMW 5 Series 535i 3.0 Review: Perfection upon perfection

What we like:

Improved LED headlights

instrument panel and the subtle changes that have made an already incredible product better.

What we dislike:

None come to mind.

However, the party piece in the 535i remains with the 306bhp 3.0-litre twin scroll N55 engine that allows the large executive sedan to take off to 100kmh in just 5.7 seconds. The car takes off the line with incredible pace that’s quite unexpected from what is afterall an executive sedan.

The performance doesn’t stop there. Despite the electric rack, the steering remains communicative in the same BMW fashion. Quick enough to respond intuitively when weaving the 535i from bend to bend while the rear remains taut through the corners.

The all-aluminum suspension arms work in conjunction with the spring and damper systems to give the large sedan a comfortable but controlled ride. Even at high cruise speeds, the car remains stoic. In ‘Sport’ mode, the dampers firm up just enough to give the driver precise control through the corner with significantly reduced lean.

The 8-speed automatic transmission is a brilliant system that BMW has adopted on several models and for good reason. Even here, the smooth shifting tranny is perfect to a tee. Even with the throttle depressed fully, the gearbox remained smooth when manual selection was preferred. There was no hesitation in power delivery between cogs.

Despite the minute touches that BMW has chosen to lavish on the 5 series, they all add up to a significant difference that makes a great product even better.

This is more of an update to keep the 535i up to date with the competition than a rethink of an already excellent driving machine. But it gives us a glimpse as to what the next generation would be able to offer.

Credits: Story and Photos by Benjamin G. Kline