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2017 BMW 540i Road Test and Review

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by Omar Rana
October 15, 2017
5 min. Reading Time
2018 BMW 5 Series hero ・  Photo by BMW

2018 BMW 5 Series hero ・ Photo by BMW

BMW is known for its spirited driving capabilities that enthusiasts have come to admire and appreciate. While other luxury automakers have always selected a comfortable ride over sportiness, BMW went for the latter and its cars became known for being taut and remarkably fun to drive. Essentially, they were true to their "Ultimate Driving Machine" slogan. Well, it seems like there have been some changes. Back in the day, you could get a thrill when you smashed the accelerator pedal and took a sharp turn. Every model, regardless of horsepower, was invigorating to drive. BMW now seems to be catering to the masses with the latest iteration of the 5 Series, as the model trades sportiness for comfort. When it comes to selling more cars to those looking for a comfortable luxury sedan, that may not be a bad thing. With that in mind, we spent a week test driving the latest 2017 BMW 540i.

What’s under the hood?

Let’s get the performance out of the way first, because we’re pretty sure a lot of you are anxious to learn more about what it has to offer. The 2017 BMW 540i is powered by a 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline six-cylinder engine that produces a total of 335 horsepower with a maximum torque of 332 lb-ft. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that helps the 540i go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds; however, we were able to achieve 4.7 seconds during our test.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW

Pick Your Poison

The 2017 BMW 540i and every other 5 Series model comes standard with the Driving Dynamics Control system that allows you to pick between different driving modes, including Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus, depending on your desired driving necessity for any given moment.

Eco Pro maximizes fuel economy, while Comfort mode allows you to experience the smoothest ride possible. Sport and Sport Plus modes allow you to be a little rebellious as the steering becomes stiffer and the engine rev a little higher. There is something for everyone and every moment.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW

M Sport Package or Dynamic Handling Package?

Now, most shoppers and car enthusiasts think that adding an M Sport Package will give them additional dynamic driving abilities. That’s hardly the case here with the 2017 BMW 540i — the M Sport Package adds some visual flair rather than enhanced performance. For the latter, you may want to add the optional Dynamic Handling Package, which costs $3,500 and adds Dynamic Damper Control. This feature adjusts the damping characteristics based on your driving style and includes Active Roll Stabilization, which helps decrease body lean when you’re really throwing the 540i in the corners. Working together, both systems activate the Adaptive Drive that helps deliver exciting agility for a little bit of spirited driving. We actually tested a 540i without the Dynamic Handling Package, and there's a clear difference when the feature is added. With that in mind, if you’re looking for the feeling that resembles the older and more fun-to-drive 5 Series, the Dynamic Handling Package is definitely a must-have option.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW

A Very Expressive Exterior

The BMW 5 Series has grown up quite a bit when you compare it to its predecessors. Gone are the days of the polarizing looks of the E60 iteration from a decade ago, and in comes a wonderful upgrade to the last-generation F10. Known as the G30, the seventh-generation 5 Series has an exciting bold look that is highlighted by an expressive front end. The latest version of the signature BMW kidney grille gives the new 2017 5 Series a lot of character that is further enhanced by a pair of menacing headlamps. The rear end also grows up with newly designed LED taillights that have all the shadows and lines they need to look elegant and stylish. Overall, this is definitely our favorite exterior body of the BMW 5 Series since the legendary fourth-generation E39 of the mid-1990s.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW

A Stylish, Luxurious and Spacious Cabin

BMW’s vehicles have always been known for their fashionable and high-quality interiors, but things advance to the next level with the 2017 5 Series. As soon as you take a seat inside, you’ll notice that BMW has really stepped up the use of leather and soft-touch elements. Our 540i test model had leather all over the upholstery and door panels along with a detailed use of aluminum and polished wood trims. Also, instead of just regular old buttons, each button is designed with attention to detail. On the center console, most are made of a high-gloss polished material, and aside from the fact that you’ll be leaving some fingerprints, they really provide a nice upscale look. While there is no doubt that the seats are extremely comfortable when compared to older versions of the 5 Series, one thing you’ll surely notice is that the cabin is very spacious. We put a 6-foot-tall individual in the seat behind a 6-foot driver, and the rear passenger had more than enough legroom to enjoy a long drive.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW

Let’s Talk About Tech, Baby

With its total price tag of $78,410, you better believe that our 2017 BMW 540i came with some top-level technology features. We’re going to forgo talking about heated seats, Bluetooth and navigation here, because that’s just a given when you’re talking about a vehicle in this price range.

Our test car included the new iDrive 6.0 system, housed in a 10.2-inch high-resolution touchscreen display. The system includes a touchpad controller on the dial knob on the center console that allows you to write out destinations instead of speaking or typing them in letter by letter. It also featured beautiful 3D maps and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Meanwhile, the $1,600 Luxury Seating Package took comfort the next level with 20-way power multi-contour seats, which even provide a massage feature with eight different programs and three levels of intensity. Taking things further, the $1,950 Premium Package adds a wireless charging pad, WiFi Hotspot, full LED adaptive headlamps, keyless access, soft-close doors and more. While all that should really be enough for the everyday driver, the two features that had us the most fascinated were the outstanding Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System and the innovative Gesture Control. Gesture Control, our favorite of the two, allows you to control many aspects of the car by using simple hand gestures. You can effortlessly accept and reject calls, control the stereo volume, skip tracks/radio stations and activate 360-degree view camera. Yup, it’s really impressive and very fun to use.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW

Next Level Safety Technology

We’re not done talking about the innovative technology inside the 5 Series. While it has all the standard safety features you can imagine, the new 5 Series takes driver-assist technologies to the next level. In addition to a rearview camera and parking sensors all around the vehicle, the exciting $750 remote control parking feature allows the car to literally pull itself in and out of a parking spot or a garage. Keep in mind that the key needs to be charged; it can be done via USB or a wireless charging pocket in the center console. Things get even more interesting once you start adding some safety items. The Driver Assistance Plus Package adds an automatic parallel parking system along with an outstanding feature called Surround View, which provides a three-dimensional 360-degree view of your car. Our test model also had the Driver Assistance Plus II Package, which adds on radar-guided cruise control, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection and city collision mitigation. All these systems can be overbearing at first, but when you sit down and spend some time learning them, they can be very helpful in your daily life.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW

540i vs. M550i

So you’re shopping for a high-performance version of the BMW 5 Series and you’re wondering whether you should go for the 540i or the M550i. Let us help you out a little. The new M550i is powered by a 4.4-liter TwinPower turbo V8 engine that produces 456 horsepower and allows it to go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds. That’s almost one second quicker than the 540i.

But unless you’re really hitting the drag strip to battle with your local BMW enthusiasts, we feel the 540i’s 0-60 run of 4.7 to 4.9 seconds should be more than enough for your daily drive. Keep in mind, pricing for the BMW M550i starts at a whopping $73,400 — and that’s before you add on all the bells and whistles.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW

Pricing

Speaking of price, the 2017 BMW 5 Series carries a starting price tag of $51,200 for the base four-cylinder 530i. Our test model, the 540i, starts at $56,450 — and after you load it up with all the options we’ve mentioned throughout this review, you’re looking at close to $80,000.

Seeing as you are a conscious driver and can live without all the special driver assist packages, you’ll be able to knock off $3,200 of that price tag. The packages we highly recommend are the $3,200 Dynamic Handling Package, the $1,600 Luxury Seating Package and the $2,600 M Sport Package for some enhanced and aggressive exterior styling.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW

Overall

Overall, in our opinion, the 2017 BMW 5 Series is still a legendary luxury sedan in its segment. Yes, it has definitely moved towards being comfortable rather than sporty and aggressive, but it still remains "The Ultimate Driving Machine." When standing next to its competitors, the 5 Series demands attention with its strong presence and bold stance, and the long list of innovative technologies will give you some bragging rights in your circle of friends and family.

 Photo by BMW

Photo by BMW


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