[Tk718]

Car and driver did a review of 2021 540i and decided the car is barely any sport and mostly all luxury.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...y-the-numbers/

Lateral g of .91 is pretty good for non M car , yet they didn't mention this.

Do current owners of 2021 540i agree with this article ? How is your experience with the car ?

[COBodom]

I had 2018 540xi msport and now have 2021 540xi. I find the dynamics of the car to be pretty much identical to pre LCI. The car is plenty fast for everyday driving. I have msport package and car handles great, flat yet comfortable enough.

There are plenty of youtube reviews of 540 staring from 2017 till 2021 describing car's handling and performance.

This article is calling the car a "a imperious cruiser with understated power" and I would agree with that. It's a luxury car. It is not slow by any means and handles really good. However, if someone expects 540 to be a mean and lean track machine then the expectation is misplaced.

[scoale]

Originally Posted by Tk718

Car and driver did a review of 2021 540i and decided the car is barely any sport and mostly all luxury.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...y-the-numbers/

Lateral g of .91 is pretty good for non M car , yet they didn't mention this.

Do current owners of 2021 540i agree with this article ? How is your experience with the car ?

You will have to test drive and your perspective will be shaped by other cars you have owned. My view is the car is too big to be a canyon carver, but feels relatively sporty around town. Turn in is fairly sharp, it corners fairly flat, and it feels fairly light on its feet. In fact, it is light for a car its size. Acceleration is strong, passing is effortless, and braking is solid. I do wish it felt a bit more composed maneuvering at speed. Is it as sporty as my M3 or M2? Of course not. But the 540 is sufficiently agile and sporty for a daily and its interior and ride quality is in a completely different league.

[jsf721]

I think it depends on your expectation and what your needs and wants are out of the car. I have a 2019 M sport 540i xdrive. I love it.

It’s my daily driver. I purchase it to enjoy my commute In comfort mode which sadly is traffic filled on most days. It’s comfortable and has a smooth power delivery. The suspension is comfortable enough for me but not a cushy as my wife’s 530 ix luxury. I prefer mine and she hers so mission accomplished.

In sport mode my car is substantially more sporty. Tons of fun -steering tightens and transmission holds the gears and you feel more
Road and it’s what I wanted. The acceleration from my 6 is fine but it’s not M5 fast. I knew that going in. I also did not want to spend M5
Money. I got the m sport brakes and they are excellent ! Worth the money if you are performance oriented and they look great.

The M sport 540i x drive is an awesome sports sedan. That’s what I wanted and

performance :$

is a winner in my book.

My wife’s 530i x drive luxury is more comfort but that’s what she wanted. I think the article is probably accurate but I really depends
On what you like and what you order.

[stein_325i]

I wouldn't say I disagree with them after having one for a year and spending time in and driving all the trims, the last two 5er's have been way more luxurious than sporty compared to anything up to the E60.

I'm just surprised as to how generous they were to the car despite not being as fun for a BMW as they'd want. They're last 540i review completely ripped into the car 2017 BMW 540i Tested: Just Not That into You

[paquet]

sod them - the instant turbo response gives me a happy feeling in the pants each time i mash the pedal down.
probably would die of orgasmic overload in an m5/m550

[KoenG]

I'am desperate, when even the 540i is no longer a drivers car, which BMW is still worthwhile to buy then?

It when all fast downhill when they claimed that BMW owners don't know their car is RWD and started to offer FWD. Even the M cars are no longer build as drivers cars. M5 is a monster, but not engaging. All these XM variants don't have any ambition in this direction either.

BMW just became a lesser Audi. At least, they don't provoke their owners base by designing provocative ugly cars. like BMW is doing lately.

[scoale]

Originally Posted by KoenG

I'am desperate, when even the 540i is no longer a drivers car, which BMW is still worthwhile to buy then?

It when all fast downhill when they claimed that BMW owners don't know their car is RWD and started to offer FWD. Even the M cars are no longer build as drivers cars. M5 is a monster, but not engaging. All these XM variants don't have any ambition in this direction either.

BMW just became a lesser Audi. At least, they don't provoke their owners base by designing provocative ugly cars. like BMW is doing lately.

Well, I own an F80 M3 and an F87 M2 comp, both of which are available with manual or DCT transmissions, and I enjoy driving both. Both of these are available in CS versions too. And yes, I also enjoy driving the 540!

I complain, too, about how some of BMWs product line is evolving but 1) I think it is important to compare contemporary BMWs to contemporary competition - not past BMW and 2) I think it is important to remember that BMW is still making relatively light, RWD, manual transmission cars. Lastly, you can always drop down a series to get closer to the size/weight/driving dynamics of past 5 series or 3 series. My next 5 will probably be an M340 - which is essentially the size/weight of my old E60 535. My M2 is the same size as my old E46.

Where do you think Audi has BMW beat on driving dynamics? What Audi would you pick versus a 3 or a 5?

[ArchJR]

Originally Posted by scoale

Well, I own an F80 M3 and an F87 M2 comp, both of which are available with manual or DCT transmissions, and I enjoy driving both. Both of these are available in CS versions too. And yes, I also enjoy driving the 540!

I complain, too, about how some of BMWs product line is evolving but 1) I think it is important to compare contemporary BMWs to contemporary competition - not past BMW and 2) I think it is important to remember that BMW is still making relatively light, RWD, manual transmission cars. Lastly, you can always drop down a series to get closer to the size/weight/driving dynamics of past 5 series or 3 series. My next 5 will probably be an M340 - which is essentially the size/weight of my old E60 535. My M2 is the same size as my old E46.

Where do you think Audi has BMW beat on driving dynamics? What Audi would you pick versus a 3 or a 5?

Originally Posted by scoale

Lastly, you can always drop down a series to get closer to the size/weight/driving dynamics of past 5 series or 3 series. My next 5 will probably be an M340 - which is essentially the size/weight of my old E60 535. My M2 is the same size as my old E46.

That was my decision. After almost 3 years with my 540i, giving up some luxury for the much more connected feel of the 3-series was an easy decision. The 5-series is seriously indulgent but it's just not that much fun around town.

[Tk718]

If the 5 series is no longer a drivers car like it used to be then what is in its class ? What is the alternative in the price range ?

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by Tk718

If the 5 series is no longer a drivers car like it used to be then what is in its class ? What is the alternative in the price range ?

When I was looking for cars to replace my 540i, I tested out the Mercedes E53 and M550i. I found the 50i's powertrain to be excellent but found the Merc to have a better balance of sport and luxury, with a more engaging chassis, natural steering, and better body control and I loved the super cool hybrid technology in the Inline-6.

Just my opinion though...

[KoenG]

Originally Posted by scoale

Where do you think Audi has BMW beat on driving dynamics? What Audi would you pick versus a 3 or a 5?

Don't believe Audi is better, but they used to trail very much behind in the vehicle dynamics departement. Latest cars, inclusive the S and RS seem to have closed the gap.

[KoenG]

Originally Posted by ArchJR

That was my decision. After almost 3 years with my 540i, giving up some luxury for the much more connected feel of the 3-series was an easy decision. The 5-series is seriously indulgent but it's just not that much fun around town.

Yes, that I was also thinking. Instead of a 540i, I'd probably better consider a 330i for the daily school run and the weekly trip to the grocery store.

[ArchJR]

Originally Posted by KoenG

Yes, that I was also thinking. Instead of a 540i, I'd probably better consider a 330i for the daily school run and the weekly trip to the grocery store.

I did choose a 330i, with the track handling package and most other options. After multiple 330i and M340i test drives, some track time, and a long road trip in a rental, I kept coming back to the lighter 4-cylinder car with the better steering.

I drove about a dozen cars from the A35 to the A7. None of the bigger cars excited me this time around.

[MauiSteve]

Originally Posted by Tk718

Car and driver did a review of 2021 540i and decided the car is barely any sport and mostly all luxury.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...y-the-numbers/

Lateral g of .91 is pretty good for non M car , yet they didn't mention this.

Do current owners of 2021 540i agree with this article ? How is your experience with the car ?

Well, Car & Driver's test 540i had the Dynamic Handling Package which raises the ride height by 10mm. I think they might have found the traditional 704 M Sport suspension more true to a sport sedan.

So what mid-size luxury sedan is more sporty than a M Sport 540i ???

[COBodom]

Originally Posted by MauiSteve

So what mid-size luxury sedan is more sporty than a M Sport 540i ???

Exactly !!!

Without forever going back on a memory lane, referencing and lamenting cars from 10+ years ago.

[paquet]

FWIW, I test-drove the new 2020/2021 330i and while it was nice, the 5 just blew me away - both in terms of performance and luxury (and no horrid ID7 instrument cluster too in my 5 model)

[KoenG]

Originally Posted by COBodom

Exactly !!!

Without forever going back on a memory lane, referencing and lamenting cars from 10+ years ago.

Stein_325i refers to the E-class, but don't know whether this holds for a none AMG version?

So, probably, none. Which is a sad observation. I'd love to see a M540i with the engine and suspension tuning of the M340i. Yes, there is a M550i, but rather redundant seen there is a M5 available only a little step up (in TCO).

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by KoenG

Stein_325i refers to the E-class, but don't know whether this holds for a non-AMG version?

The best handling car in the class in my opinion was the CTS, but that has been replaced by the CT5, which while still excellent in its handling, is a tweener vehicle between the 3 and 5.

My time with the E350/450 has been very limited as I've only received an E450 Wagon as as a loaner twice, and I have driven a pre-refresh E450 coupe, but I would say that the 350/450 is a traditional luxury oriented Mercedes, although I have heard the new refreshed E's are even better, but its mainly the 53 that is the sporty E/CLS.

For the E/CLS53, I definitely find it the best mix of luxury and sport for its class. I'm typically not a fan of AMG/M being badged on lower tier cars, but Mercedes does put in a large effort to drastically tune and upgrade the chassis' of the lower-tier AMG's to make them handle completely different, where as the lower-tier M's just feel like faster and heavier versions of the regular models. The two models are complete opposite, the 450 is smooth, composed and quiet, the 53 is eager, engaging, pulls to redline and offers better steering feel than its 450 counterpart among many upgrades such as great body-control, neutral cornering, while still providing a comfy ride, feels like two different cars all together.

[Rassilon]

I like the "imperious cruiser with understated power" description and think it's spot on. My 17 540xi m sport is nimble, light and fast relative to its size and swallows freeway miles like nothing else. Numb steering (which IMO is a problem with 3/4 series as well) and insulated response are actually pluses on poor roads of coastal cities and when I want to relax during mundane city driving.

In comparison, my e92 m3 feels like a go-kart (compared to insulated space ship qualities of 540). It takes much more attention/energy to drive and is significantly more noisy, bumpy and darty. It's great fun on tracks and summer mountain roads, but not very attractive for winter urban driving after long day of exhausting work.

I do wish 540 has more feedback in steering given it won't negatively affect the luxury cruiser experience but I suspect most people nowadays prefer RR experience in 540 rather than lotus/gokart experience. And I wonder if more engaging/responsive chassis would degrade the ride experience for passengers on a car this big.