2014 BMW 535d Review - TEST/DRIVE

Chris Harris reviews the new 2014 BMW 535d.

Scored by all TEST/DRIVE hosts.

[mbomb]

Can't tell you how happy I am to hear a car review by Chris, especially such a positive one, about a car I actually own!!! So used to Ferrari this, porsche that which is, let's be honest, fantasy world for me but spectacular nonetheless. But this is real world, he's praising a car I own. I've never felt so special...

[weirdshibainu]

Its amazing how applied we've become. The technology, performance, safety and economy of new cars is amazing. 38 mpg out of this beautiful sedan? My first car was a Chevy Vega with a four banger, touted as an economy car it got about 25 mpg. I had a vw diesel in the eighties. Great mileage, but slow, dirty and loud. Car makers have done wonders in the past thirty or so years. What's really amazing is how solid and good the fit and finish is on even entry level cars. Many viewers here are probably too young to remember when average cars use to develop small squeaks and rattles as they aged. Some even came off the line with them. It was so irritating to have a car with 10, 000 miles on it and have to listen to a small squeak or rattle buried in the dash. They were virtually impossible to trace and fix. I wish I could be around in another thirty years to see what's next...

[BFDi]

It does not happen often, but this time I have to say: Poor americans.
The 530d (US 535d) is just no match for the real 535d we have in europe. The 30d is pretty fast, but the way the 35d delivers is just amazing. More hp, more torque, less turbo-lag..
And there is no way I would prefer the 535i over the 535d. The diesel has more than 50% torque MORE than the petrol version, and even has more horsepower. AND better fuel economy..

[wb]

Have a 2014 M Sport 535d in the US. The US 535d = European 530d, basically with one variable vane turbo. Still the engine is awesome, and so is the rest. I agree with all the comments Chris makes, except for the nicer sound the 535i makes... When i test drove the 535d, the deep sound upon faster acceleration put an additional smile on my face and every day i have driven it since. Note that only at low 20mph speeds you hear the diesel a little and at higher speeds you just cannot tell. Equally quiet as the petrol version. It also feels faster when changing from one speed to another than the 535i due to the 415 ft lbs of torque available at low rpm. Touching the throttle it indeed leaps forward and together with the steering feel, the brakes and M-sport suspension just gives great control of and feel to the car and the road. The 6 cylinder cylinder turbo diesel in combination with the smooth shifting 8 speed gear box is a match made in heaven. BMW (engine) and ZF (gear box) did a great job. 1600rpm at 80 mph, effortless. And gear changes you absolutely do not feel and only hear a little from the engine. Then there is of course the 550i, very nice, more expensive yet, no doubt faster but a lot thirstier. In city driving i do 28.2 mpg (in US gallons, this would be 33.9 mpg in the UK). Also love the M-sport steering wheel, the size, the thickness, the feel of the leather, just an amazing combination. Here in the US they have now made the M-sport steering wheel standard on all 2015 models, rightly so. Overall a really awesome car. The BMW 535d in looks, feel and driving experience is ahead of its German E-class and A6 rivals at this point.

[ChrisDorgan]

This format is growing on me, I may have to take back some of my remarks from previous videos! Something about watching Mr Harris review a car and it immediately makes me want to go outside and just cruise around haha!

[carbonm]

I like the new style review and grading system. Short but sweet.

[hexafoe]

I will never drive anything else.
BMW for life.

[MrLathor]

I think BMW make the best engines of any brand right now. They are just so damn efficient and competent.

[BloodyRedSquadron]

"Avoid like the plague" - Nice touch that. 

[IslaSprollie]

Just too short for a Chris Harris video, want more.

[MattUK]

I understand Drive aims to be an international car channel, therefore please give us the torque figures in Newton meters rather than pound-foot.

Thank you. 

[Wurzelzwerg]

So the american 535d is the european 530d?

[KDUBIN]

Love these reviews. Quick to the point with the pros and cons. Good job.

[swissgator]

Chris, couldn't agree with you more. Taking delivery of mine next week (European xDrive version) and just love the torque! Fantastic machine that is sure to put a smile on my face every time I hit the throttle.

[SKSdiscipline]

2 weeks ago I got the German aquivalent (station wagon) for a couple of days. The torque of it is massiv. It feels like you have even much more power. At the same time it feels like you are driving a much smaller car. The steering is so damn agile, that this huge car really feels like a small sportscar. If you can afford it, I can highly recommend it... You don't "need" more...

[_conrad]

the best car reviewer reviews the best car brand in the world. Greetings from south germany, we love you chris :-)

[noncey]

you know what? I'm loving this bar chart thing. Short and concise. Keep it coming!

[DreamCarGarage]

Not quite 'Chris Harris on Cars' which is a bit odd as the review 'is' actually Chris Harris on cars. Even so another good review (if a' little' soul less). I love big powerful BMW diesels so for me it would definitely win over the petrol equivalent. Though don't be 'downing' Chris Bangle. His designs were challenging yes, but the DNA of which can still be clearly seen running through the whole of the current BMW range. 

[ThiloD]

Audi has the A6 with a 313hp V6 Biturbo TDI, so they acutally have a big diesel in this class. I would love to see a review from Chris on the BMW M550d, with the 381hp inline-six diesel

[weljo]

We got one (M-Sport) for the oldest boy last October..He loves it..