0700700

May edition

page25

Dominic Holtam 540i review

In its role the 540i excels. It would make wonderful long-distance business tool and its engine has a character and bite than no diesel can match- not even the 535d. The voice, the crispness of response and the redline-chasing freedom brings a smile to your face every time you flex your right ankle?. Let?s be honest. It?s nice to drive a car that appeals to the heart (540i) more than the head (535d)

ITV's well known Martin Brundle who swapped the 535d for an m5
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Despite what the magazines say you can tell it?s a diesel. The more I drove it the less I could cope with the diesel clatter. For me every machine starts and finishes with its engine, and while I admired the torque, the more I drove it the more the diesel noise annoyed me? The M5 is a lot more fun, every journey is an adventure.


glad to know that most of the motoring press is thinking clear

colejl

Indeed, I quite fancy the 540i but I bought with my head (530d)

Peter530i

" Let’s be honest. It’s nice to drive a car that appeals to the heart (540i) more than the head (535d)"

well said..... probably the ultimate sentence about petrol vs diesel. PERIOD

..... the torque is there but you still can tell it is a diesel..... I must agree....
coming myself from top class diesel engines I enjoy the smoothnes, high revs and quitness of petrol so much

swajames

In fairness mate I'm not too sure that Brundle's 535 and M5 comparison is particularly reasonable!! Actually, I just got the latest issue of Car magazine over the weekend and they were looking at the new R-Class compared to a number of competitors - inc the 535d Touring which they described as (paraphrasing) the perfect car if you could only have one , and gave the 535d the full 5 stars.

mr_djurgarden

I have only seen a 540 at my dealer. I haven't seen one out on the streets. With my experience the 550 is more common than the 540.

BetterMakeWay

Yes yes...the sound, the slightly better response but that's it. Overall performance i reckon the 535d to be as fast as the 540i and in the right conditions even faster. I underline UNDER SOME CONDITIONS EVEN FASTER. And if you think that only with 2000euros you can have an extra 78bhp equalising a total of 350bhp then well that's indeed a no brainer.

For me between 535d and 540i comes only 2 variables: What do i want more, or what weighs more in my decision? The sound or the better fuel economy? I get with my 535d around town an average of 13L/100km in a 540i you get aorund 18-19 liters minimum. Having agreed that both cars are equal in performance, does that worth the better sound? No thanx. I better save my money, if people consider diesel buyers so poor, i better save the money and have it chipped and then smoke 540i everyday and still come more economical .
I'm telling you guys for performance/fun/economics nothing AND I MEAN NOTHING beats the 535d.

Peter530i

the new 3er E90 335d will
announced to have something like 280HPS

BetterMakeWay

i don't get it...E60 3er? 335d?
Yes but we are talking about now. And even when it comes, the 5 is still the better looking car.

Peter530i

sorry, I ment the E90

BTW BMW is offering carbon spoilers for the E90 !!!! saw it at the dealer today..... ugly but still
why nothing for the E60????

w8pmc

Perfect response.

I've decided that 700700 just likes putting the cat among the pigeons. If he had a 535D he's be so in the other camp, he'd be dressing on the other side, but fair play as everyone is entitled to their opinions.

My money went down the diesel route as i followed my head. I'd sold my V8 bi-turbo M5 wooping monster & TBH am glad of the relative calm & quiet when driving my diesel. Love the M5 but if i was to have my time again, i'd take a DMS 535D everytime over a 540/545 or even 550. The only E60 that would drag me away from my current stead is the M5 & given i turned my back on one last year for mucho ???'s if i'd not commited to a new Porker in March 2008, i'd probably consider an M5 early in 2007, however my plan is hatched.

Just love the Diesel v Petrol debate. The only advantage when power is similar is that the petrol would probably sound a little sweeter & that's it, as a similar powered diesel will be quicker off the line & in gear which is when you need it, but given the diesel would have better residuals & lower running costs, the diesel becomes the better choice IMHO.

The engine/zorst note is not on my priority list when buying a car, it's only a nice to have. As i rack the miles up on my car, i have TBH & confirm that once warm i'd never know i'm driving a diesel & even cold, the straight six sounds sweet is is certainly not what i would describe as diesel like in such a way as my wifes TDI Passat.