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Same Carriage, Fresh Horses




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By LAWRENCE ULRICH


ONCE companies roll out an all-new car, they usually sell it for five or six years before it undergoes a full redesign.


At the rough midpoint of that cycle, the model will be “refreshed.” This refers not to pouring mojitos in the tank, but to modest changes that keep consumers buying until the next all-new model shows up. The refreshing will include subtle refinements to the body and interior, the latest gadgets, maybe a new powertrain option.

As you might deduce, these models aren’t as significant as a redesign. Yet occasionally there’s an addition worth trumpeting. For the - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 5 Series, the refreshing news for 2008 is an engine. Not just any engine, but one so marvelous that I’d urge anyone to skip the others that are available.

This thrill-a-minute in-line 6 — with 3 liters, 2 turbochargers, 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque — was introduced for 2006 on BMW’s smaller 3 Series. And like the bears’ proverbial porridge, it delivers just-right heat for the rear-drive 535i and the all-wheel-drive 535xi. Both are ridiculously stronger than the 230-horsepower base models (the 528i and 528xi), with identical mileage: 17/25 in city and highway driving.

And compared with the V-8 version of the 5 Series, the 550i, they are lighter, cost several thousand dollars less and are almost as quick.
While the basic automatic-transmission 528xi takes a snoozy 7.6 seconds to reach 60 miles an hour, the 535xi blazes there in 5.6 seconds, a remarkable two-second advantage. Despite having 360 horsepower, the burly V-8 model is basically neck-and-neck at 5.5 seconds.

The engine is so good that you could drop it into a rusty Chevy Cavalier and you’d still want the car. And its neatest trick, besides its free-revving brilliance, is to remind you of what a definitive sport sedan the 5 Series can be — despite a lofty price, screwy ergonomics and styling that can still provoke bar brawls.

I tested a 535xi for a week. And with weighty all-wheel-drive, smallish 17-inch wheels and less-gummy all-season tires that accompany it, this was hardly the sportiest version. Yet even this ostensibly tamer BMW attacked downhill descents on the Taconic Parkway north of New York City at speeds that would have cowed most competitors.

Piloting the 5 Series feels so natural that you barely notice turning the grippy, well-designed steering wheel; it’s more like flexing muscles in your palms and fingers, and the BMW anticipates where you’re headed. The ride is luxurious, the cabin quiet.

Another win: The 535i weighs 3,703 pounds, versus 3,968 for the 550i, giving it a handling edge; even the all-wheel-drive model weighs less at 3,946 pounds.

The BMW’s drawbacks, often documented, cannot be overlooked. The clumsy iDrive knob remains the most illogical, ill-conceived systems controller from any car company. And the 5 Series’ cold, synthetic-looking interior badly needs a makeover; higher-quality seat leather would be a good start.

The other big change for 2008 is the spacey looking (and somewhat spacey acting) console shifter for the six-speed automatic, bequeathed from the new X5 sport wagon. It’s clumsy to press the shifter’s side button to toggle forward for reverse, back for drive. But the lever works beautifully when you use it to shift gears manually.

For the 2008 model year, all 5 Series cars get a barely discernable makeover for the front fascia, headlamps and taillamps. A restyled center console features six memory buttons that store all manner of presets: radio stations, navigation destinations, phone numbers. New options include a U.S.B. and iPod integration kit, adaptive cruise control and a lane-departure warning system that vibrates the steering wheel when the car starts to drift from its lane.

The 535i ($50,175) and 535xi ($52,375) start at $5,100 more than the respective base models. But they cost $7,000 to $9,000 less than the big-daddy 550i.

A generous array of options kicked my 535xi to $61,825. Once again, the BMW premium rears its head.

Since it’s impossible to drive a 5 Series and pretend you didn’t enjoy it, I’m determined to end on an up note. Or on two notes: BMW has consistently ranked first or a close second among luxury brands for resale value, according to Automotive Lease Guide. And while its rivals have dropped free-maintenance perks, BMW continues to cover scheduled maintenance for four years or 50,000 miles, including unexpected wear items like brakes.

Along with the smartly configured 535 versions, those are two more practical reasons to splurge on a 5 Series.

INSIDE TRACK: Stay in line; stick with 6.