Another Look

2006 BMW 530i: The drive is what matters

Take away the annoying iDrive and the useless cupholders and the 2006 BMW 530i sedan would be, if not the ultimate driving machine, at the very least a damn good ride. But you can’t always get what you want. Not unless the Germans decide that’s what you need.

The Euros have never been big on cupholders. They think, quite sensibly, that when one is piloting a two-ton machine at highway speeds (that’s about 75 in the slow lane on 95), one should be concentrating on keeping said machine away from other such machines with which one shares the highway, given that the laws of physics predict a tragic denouement were two semi-solid objects to attempt to occupy the same space. Especially when such merger would occur at said highway speed. That means distractions like phone calls to one’s real estate agent, application of mascara, or drinking coffee are best not done until one is safely pulled over.

In theory, this is great, and the horrible cupholders in the 530i – two plastic contraptions popping out of the dashboard and capable of holding a cup upright only until the first turn – do tend to discourage drinking of any sort while driving. However, it does seem counterproductive for the driver who will not be deterred from her morning coffee. At the first short stop or sharp turn, said driver may find himself or herself covered in hot liquid. That may take your attention off the road. But so be it. It’ll only happen once.

The iDrive is another matter entirely. This is designed to control just about everything in the car except for the driving (and perhaps the driver). It been the subject of almost as many complaints as BMW’s new styling – and more justifiably – since its introduction. The idea is great – get rid of a million knobs and buttons and integrate them all into one control knob, but to some of the less technically gifted of us, the “i” in iDrive stands for either the idiot who designed it or the idiot savant one has to be to use it. BMW has made it more user-friendly, but I still hate it. The fact that it temporarily “glitched out” on a couple of occasions only made me hate it more.

In the 2006 530i though, it does come with a great new high definition 8.5” screen as part of the optional navigation system upgrade. Splitting the screen between map and controls does add quite a bit to its usability. The navigation itself was accurate and the system reacted quickly.

Wish I could say the same about the parking assist. My 530i’s screen used Star Trek bubbles around the front and rear of the car with varying colors to show how far – or near – one was to an obstacle. It would be a great idea if it worked, but by the time the system went through its boot-up process – it makes starting Windows look fast – and gets its OK to proceed, I was already halfway through the next state. Must have been designed by the iDrive guy.

Some old-line BMW fans think the same guy designed the outside of the new BMWs. The styling, as I previously alluded to, is still the subject of much griping on BMW online bulletin boards. I come down on BMW’s side on this one. The 7-series looked like someone had tried to put Humpty back together again, but with the 5-series, introduced less than two years ago, I think BMW did a good job. It may not be to everyone’s taste, but BMW never was, and whatever else it does, it stirs an emotional response. If I’m paying 50 large for a Bimmer, I’m kinda happy knowing people know it’s a Bimmer.

Now that we’ve whined about the stuff we don’t like, let’s briefly turn to the good stuff –the car itself. The 5-series sedans look and feel great inside. BMW’s materials have gotten exponentially better, and buyers should be pleased with fit and finish as well as quality. BMW’s have always been world-class driving cars. Now the luxury side of the equation is as good as one could want.

Theoretically, the 530i seats five. Unless the middle person in the back seat is Lindsay Lohan, I’d stick with four. But they’ll all be sitting in comfortable, supportive seats with a top of the line sound system – yet another vast improvement for BMW.

The real question, though, is is the 530i the ultimate driving machine? No, but it’s close. That appellation will have to wait till September, when BMW brings out the 8-cylinder version of the 5, probably as the 540i. Until then, however, the 530i is the top of the line.

The 530i is the upgraded version of the 5-series (the base 525i starts at $42,496, the all-wheel-drive 525xi at $44,695, the 530i at $47,195, the 530xi at $49,395 and the 530xi Sports Wagon at $51,795 – and expect to shell out a decent amount more to have them properly equipped) and in the past few years, has faced strong challenges from lower priced sedans. Cars like the rear- and all-wheel-drive Chrysler 300C, the all-wheel-drive Infiniti G35X and even the front-wheel-drive Acura TL arguably provide more value for the money. But they’re not BMWs.

The 5-series has long had a reputation as the best BMW, providing a luxury sports sedan package that’s hard to challenge, not the full-out luxury of the 7-series nor the brash exuberance of the 3, but the perfect compromise. Even without the 6-cylinder version, the 530i shows why that reputation is deserved. Less than two years after the current 5-series was introduced, the 2006 models have been significantly upgraded.

The most important upgrade is the N52 engine, which also appears in the new 3-series. This engine provides increased power and torque, and the tweaked version of the inline 6 in the 530i pushes out 255 horsepower (up from 225) – more than enough to get this relatively light car zooming. A higher redline – 7,000 rpm instead of 6,500 for its predecessor – adds to available power, while a first for BMW 3-stage induction system helps optimize torque and power delivery. All this comes at a respectable cost of 21 mpg city, 29 highway, according to the EPA, with premium fuel filling that tank.

I could go on and on, but all I really need to say is this: The 2006 BMW 530i is all BMW, down to the iDrive and the cupholders. Fortunately for BMW dealers, who are selling even more cars these days, it’s the drive, not the iDrive you will remember.

posted by Andy Mais @ 3:36 PM