2016 BMW 5 Series Diesel Quick Spin

2015 BMW 535d ・ Photo by BMW Media

Given the performance reputation of the outstanding BMW 5 Series, some buyers might consider it a waste to buy a diesel-powered version of the car. For those of this mindset, we’d remind them that diesel power has been a mainstay in Europe for decades. While it’s a marginalized concept here, over there it’s positively mainstream. As proof of concept, one need only spend some time behind the wheel of the 2016 BMW 535d to see firsthand just how good the technology can be. Yes, you do know you’re driving a diesel, but it is a far smoother, and more powerful, experience than your expectations might lead you to believe. For the 2016 model year, BMW 535d pricing starts at $58,345.

What’s New For 2016?

Changes for the 2016 models include the adoption of 18-inch wheels along with enhanced USB and Bluetooth as standard equipment across the lineup. BMW has finally seen the light (or the dirt, as it were) and prescribed black carpeting for 5 Series cars with beige interiors — replacing the all too easily soiled beige carpeting.

Exterior Design

The last styling refresh for the BMW 5 Series came in 2014. With an all-new model about a year or so away, this will likely be the last update for this generation of the car. Back in 2014 the styling team freshened the front end with a slight redesign of the grille surround and lower air intakes. They also added a crease to the rear apron to better accentuate the width of the car’s rear end. This made the car look more hunkered to the ground, too. For additional detail, the license plate well got a new garnish and a chrome strip to add some brightwork. Those who pay strict attention to detail will note the turn signal repeaters were integrated into the exterior rearview mirror housings.

Interior Features

At first glance, one could well look around the interior of the 2016 BMW 5 Series diesel and think it rather plain by luxury car standards. BMW tends to eschew frilly detailing. However, upon closer examination, the outstanding attention to detail and the subtle way it is expressed reveals the 5 Series’ interior to be one of the finest on the road. Lest one ever lose sight of the fact a BMW is first and foremost about the act of driving, the “simple” layout of the interior is crafted specifically to free the driver of distractions. Intuitive functioning is the name of the game here.

Trim Packages

Performance potential aside, this is also a nicely equipped luxury car. Itself a “trim level” within the overall hierarchy of BMW 5 Series models, the 2016 BMW 535d offers the same standard equipment as the other models in the lineup. This includes 18-inch wheels, smart xenon headlights, LED foglights, smart brake lights, smart windshield wipers, heated exterior mirrors, a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting strips, power adjustable front seats, and BMW’s iDrive infotainment system—featuring navigation, Bluetooth, a 10.2-inch widescreen monitor capable of dual displays, and a 10-speaker audio system.

Options, Comfort & Cargo Capacity

To enhance comfort and entertainment, BMW offers the following optional equipment a la carte: smart cruise control; an automated parallel-parking system (aka BMW Parking Assistant); an active steering system, which incorporates rear-wheel steering; night-vision with pedestrian detection; a quad-zone automatic climate control system; a brilliant-sounding Bang & Olufsen audio system; and a power rear sunshade accompanied by a set of manual rear side-window sunshades. You can also get a rear-seat entertainment system with a pair of 9.2-inch video monitors mounted on the front seatbacks. Every seating position in the car offers outstanding comfort and support, save the center rear position. The trunk’s cargo capacity is 14 cubic feet.

Safety

Firmly at the forefront of technological prowess, the BMW 5 Series diesel offers a robust suite of contemporary driver assistance features as part of the $1,700 Driver Assistance Plus package. These include blind spot warning, lane departure warning, forward collision mitigation with automatic braking, and a side- and top-view camera system. The standard safety package includes stability control and traction control, ABS, a full complement of airbags, and active front head restraints. On the performance side of the equation, the braking system uses the pads to wipe the brake rotors when driving in wet conditions, and it automatically moves the brake pads closer to the rotors when you abruptly lift off the throttle—in anticipation of an emergency braking situation.

Engine & Fuel Economy

The 2016 BMW 535d uses a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder diesel engine generating 255 horsepower along with 413 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive are standard; all-wheel drive is an option. This engine exhibits outstanding pulling power and, further, delivers outstanding fuel economy. Incorporating BMW’s start/stop technology to shut the engine down at traffic signals, railroad crossings and in other situations where idling would waste fuel, the rear-wheel-drive 535d returns 26 mpg in the city, 38 on the highway and 30 in combined city and highway driving. With all-wheel drive, the engine is good for 26/37/30 mpg.

Performance

The word sublime applies nicely to the BMW 535d. Yes, the current 5 Series platform emphasizes comfort a bit more than previous iterations, but it displays a ready willingness to cooperate in performance-oriented situations while still providing a smooth and comfortable ride. Regardless of engine choice, you’ll find outstanding flexibility and strong pulling power. At the 535d’s controls, you’d be hard pressed to find anything inferior about the diesel engine, which is smooth and highly tractable. While it doesn’t wind as freely as its gasoline-fired counterparts, its superior torque gets the car up to speed quite readily.

Pros & Cons

Outstanding fuel economy, exceptionally well equipped, beautifully crafted and handsomely styled—both inside and out.

Trunk capacity could be more generous, enthusiasts decry the luxury focus over outright performance capabilities, and the fuel-saving automatic stop/start system is uncharacteristically intrusive.