535i Luxury Auto 4dr Saloon

Quite close to perfection.

I have owned 7-series for over 20 years but coming to replacement I found the new 7 bloated and strangely behind in technology and engineering, so I went for a 5. I only do about 8K/year, so went for petrol and glad I did. After 12K miles, I have never felt it change gear and the 8 speed auto is spectacularly faultless. Ride is excellent, confident and comfortable, and noise levels are minimum. I thought I might miss the power and the V8 of the 7, but certainly don't as the straight six power is delivered smoothly and continuously. Technology is impressive too. I have park assist (brilliant when I can remember how to use it), comfort seats, top spec audio, superb head-up display and a few other things. I didn't get the DAB radio, which might have been a mistake looking at current news items. I use the BMW connected app with my iphone 4 and this feeds in nicely to the car audio system with at least 9 hours of music, though the web radio part of the app is a bit flaky and it's difficult to maintain a connection. I also have a CameraAlert app on the phone and this will report through car audio too, but only when I am listening to phone output. I have had 520d s on loan a couple of times and found them lumpy and underpowered by comparison.

Fuel consumption is a bit variable. I use ecoplus quite a lot especially on longer journeys and a recent trip from Kent to Warwick and back returned 38mpg, which I thought was pretty impressive. More general driving seems to even out at around 32/33 mpg. I use Shell V Power nitro when I can

However: I have had problems. Returning from Scotland on M6 there was a fuel system warning, followed by engine stoppage and a lucky coast onto the hard shoulder. 5h in a recovery truck saw the car (and us) returned to the Maidstone dealer. Car fixed 3 days later diagnosed as 'high pressure fuel pump failure'. Within a week, car stopped without warning on a country lane. 8 days later, waiting for a part from Germany, I got it back. Intermediate pump failure this time. BMW sent me a hamper with champagne and goodies, but that didn't really compensate for some growing lack of confidence in the car.

Altogether, problems notwithstanding, still the best car I have ever had (and looks great in white)

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