2019 BMW 540i xDrive Review - The Best Real World BMW? 

A humble 540i, no fucking way buddy. North South divide eh. With avg UK salary about 28/29k this is still a hefty price for most people/ running costs.

Humble does not mean cheap. I feel like car mags only ever talk about the M5 and ignore the whole rest of the range, of which the 540i isnt even the top

@@JayEmmOnCars I know what you mean. This sits just inside of car «real world» and that’s why it’s comes across a bit OTT to refer to it that way. Good review either way. 👍

@@JayEmmOnCars What is the best allround family-car in your opinion? I am leaning a bit toward this 540i myself, but perhaps something like a panamera is much better? Or even a cayenne?

@@jimj2683 you run the risk of ruinous bills with those cars

Im nearly with you. Have the better n52 6 speed manual, selling on ebay atm. I replaced with a 4.2 supercharged XF, a bit of an improvement all around in my view. Not a massive step, paid 5800, on a bit over 7000 after fixing its issues. Basically XFR spec, body kit wheels etc. But no diff. Short of e90 m3/f10m5/full proper XFR, c63 amg etc. Nearer 20 grand options it was the only thing I could justify

E61 here mate, 535d so M57... and you're absolutely right, for the price performance ratio, you just cant beat them. Really hope these new ones age just as well.

And even that generation as already a decline compared to the E39/E46

How often does this car let you down mechanically? I would love something similar but I don't want my wife to be stranded. Glad to hear you love it, they drive beautifully

@@left_foot_brake it’s never left my stranded. My only issue is the sunroof drains leaked causing my roof liner to collapse and water to build up in the footwell. However, mechanically I’ve literally had zero issues

I was on the market for a 535i F11 but ended up with a 530d F11 LCI, M sport, led headlights, adaptive drive and rear wheel steering. It drives so good I really don't know what to get if I ever sold the car. The x-drive on the G30 540i really turns me down since the x-drive requires special tires etc.

@@tubejorrit what you mean special tires?

@@tubejorrit as far as I know every 5 series (at least from the E60 onwards) needs run flat tyres.

@@kortiz3931 dot star tires, they are sold per 4 because of the x-drive the diameter of the tires cant deviate to much or else the gears/clutch in the transferbox wear out. So normally if you have a flat tire you replace the tire + the one on the same axle, with x-drive you have to change all 4.

@@tubejorrit So, you mean that not really special tires but any suitable, except for you habe to change all 4 in case of flat tire? Dont think many people do that, in Russia we have about 80% cars sold with Xdrive, but Ive never heard anyone doing so.

If they still do a 35d I'd say go for that, drove a 335d xdrive for a bit and it was genuinely amazing

I've had three 535d estates and they were awesome. Pity that engines no longer available. Hence we have an X5 40d

It is a thumping good lump in that one

@@DDLNX nothing wrong with a G31 530d.

@@Will_M600 I've got an E61 535d and it really it the ultimate utility vehicle

For me, I would buy the one with the engine I enjoyed the most, be it diesel or petrol, and not be so concerned about economy. The amount you spend on fuel each year on a car at this price point is a very small factor in your cost of ownership - unless as you say, you're running extremely high mileage.

Which one you prefer regarding driving characteristics? (steering, dynamic performance, emotional connection). I mean the F11 or the G31?

@@omegasak1752 I’m no Chris Harris so can only say that I think the F11 you could throw about a bit more than the current one! I only really have three criteria, enough oomph when needed, economic enough to not bankrupt me doing 20K per year and able to act as a people carrier/DIY van/daily commute machine/general workhorse.

@@NH00531 thanks for your answer! I drove to test the G31 540i and it felt numb, dangerously numb in a way I had no clue what the car is doing, very much isolated. I also drove to test the F11 535D and it felt more tamed, like I could control it more and know the response of the car. I though I'd ask, as maybe the petrol vs diesel was messing with my impression. Thanks!

@@omegasak1752 I’ve had both. Both massively capable, and actually, I really miss the F11 diesel. Suits the character of the car better IMO. 540i is quicker all over, and accelerates like crazy, but all at higher revs which gives it the ‘on the toes/lighter’ feeling (as well as higher fuel consumption!), vs the 535d which is just like a massive pendulum and unassuming in its delivery. F11 definitely feels faster as it punches you in the kidneys in 8th like a heavyweight, as opposed to whipcracking you in the face on kickdown like a featherweight… the F11 is also heavy beast too vs G31 which makes it feel more solid and planted, but again, that’s also due to rev range. Emotionally and sound wise, the straight six B58 in the G31 is amazing.

Literally just bought my 08 535d and having to get the battery changed and some other issues sorted

I have coded that out of mine so it turns off with the engine off button. "As it should!" Hahaha

The m cars are pretty much exactly the same. The only difference is the tuning of dampers, springs, engine, wheels etc.

You obviously haven’t driven a big BMW or Audi diesel

620nm with amazing fuel economy would be the answer as to why you'd want the diesel version! Interesting that you're coming from an FK8, how do you compare the both

@@gixxr88 Their characteristics are polar opposites to be honest. The FK8 was all about its handling, which was ridiculous on PS4’s. very rarely had to dab the brakes and could go into unknown corners uncomfortably fast and it didn’t faze it at all. This G30 with a B58 has a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde personality when you switch it between comfort and sport plus. The 540i feels quick cause of the torque, but feels unsettled and very heavy in corners. You can’t throw this around a B road easily. You’ve really got to settle the suspension before a quick corner.

@@lukegodfrey9391 but here is the thing a 540i G30 given the right settings can handle like a champ. Just switch it to Sport Plus when cornering and all is good. The Type R will always be a Handful to drive.

I’m not really sure why sports plus would make it handle any better, it has no affect on the suspension or the handling. It’s just a big heavy 4wd car, it was never designed to be a sports car. The FK8 was definitely not a handful to drive, cold damp roads on cold tyres perhaps. It felt similar to a lotus evora in that you could properly take the piss in the corners and it never seemed to upset it.

650i?

@@i.s.3458 correct, a 650i

550i is unfortunately not available as touring.

That will explain my confusion

I would hardly call 25 grand for a 6 year old 5 series a bargain. Used car market is totally messed up at the moment.

So many poverty-spec BMWs on the secondhand market.

@@smwatson1512 Europeans(particularly brits) seem to be very obsessed with badge snobbery, not saying it’s not present elsewhere. But I’ll never understand buying a base BMW that’s less powerful and worse equipped than a cheaper or equivalent Mazda or Ford

The E-Class equivalent of the 540i is the E400/450, not the E43/53. That competes with the M550i.

@@trihardcx6743 True but in the UK you can't buy the E450 particularly in estate form so it has to be the E43/E53 if you want 6 cylinder petrol

I'm looking at one of those at the moment, what issues did you have with it?

I've not had 50 cars, but the image is definitely part of what's stopped me. Saying "I drive a BMW" isn't something that I'd feel proud of. Too many of the stereotypes fit, they're everywhere and the fact most people just assume German cars are great (many are, many aren't) just winds me up. I kind of like having a car that makes people ask questions, something interesting. The fact the customer service I've had from their dealers when trying to get test drives has been nonexistent at best doesn't help. All that said, while I don't really rate many of their recent cars, some of their "40i" badged models really appeal. The interesting factor is the main thing against this car I think.

Dont let others dictate what you drive, even indirectly.

@@ApothecaryTerry I have driven mostly BMWs more many years now. Personally, I couldnt care less if the devil himself drove them. For me, life is too short to worry about such things. The fact that their reliability is a bit crap is a much larger consideration for me.

​@@GoldenCroc It's not about who else drives them, it's just that some cars start positive conversations, others don't. I bought a Porsche in 2020. For those 18 months I've averaged roughly 50 miles for each person shouting "nice car" or just staring. Everyone I've known has either said "how did you afford that" or "wow" when they first saw it. Having those reactions adds a lot of positive experience to owning a nice car. This is relevant because most BMWs don't get that- a 2002, M1, Z8 or whatever would but those are rare exceptions. For almost any recent BMW though, the reaction from most people is either an indicator joke, indifference or ignorance in form of "oh it's German so it's good". At least 99% of people wouldn't know an M5 from a 520d. Those probably don't bother you, but there is a large amount of enjoyment that can be had from a car which isn't there. For anyone who hasn't had it, it's easy not to care and that's fine...but if you've had that experience then you'll know that no matter how little you care about the opinions of others, it's still great to get all that.

@@ApothecaryTerry I live in a country where threats of torture wouldnt make people speak to eachother unprompted. Doesnt matter what kind of car you have, just about no one outside of a car show will comment on it. So, basing your buying on this is a bit of an alien concept to me. Anyways, most people that shuns brands are more concerned about what the appearance of a brand is, not the conversational aspect. Good for you if thats a big part of your enjoyment, personally I think I wouldnt find those conversations interesting. Cheers.

As long as you don't have to look at it for too long 🙁

@@Brego66 That was my initial thought too. The looks won me over along with its practicality and dynamics.

Don't do this commute anymore, 540i here I come lol

Now I have a fully loaded xdrive 540i. Should have got it sooner

Why the hell am I talking to myself here

Nothing

A Porsche 😁

M550i

@@TML34 That's not so cheap to run and maintain anymore although the extra punch is nice 🤷🏻‍♂️

@@Mmoukarii There isn’t a BMW that’s cheap to maintain. 😅

You have to press the button again to turn it all the way off. Just stopping the engine is like turning the key back to the Accessories position

I think it's clear Jay is posh. Maybe he doesn't always dress or talk like it but when you hear him talk about the cars his family and friends have it's pretty clear they're all pretty well off.

@@BigUriel Yep, its all a matter of perspective.

@@BigUriel That has always been obvious, his accent, speech patterns and grammer give that away in minutes. He doesn't drop his Hs or use the haitch sound etc.

They do both 3-series and 5-series based ones.

handling is great for the size but car feels so damn sterile. Felt more like my old Lexus GS than any of my old 5 series bc there's near zero steering feedback 😐

@@papa_pt True, the electric steering isn't as feelsome as the old hydraulic system. That said, I found 530i's steering to be well weighed and it tracks accurately. More importantly (at least to me), the car's chassis is well balanced and pretty sharp given its size. To me, unless I'm driving a sports car, lack of ultimate steering feel isn't that big an issue, esp. on a large exec saloon.

@@Kelveron they track accurately (like a video game) but miss that return to center feel. That's the thing though. This is a midsize sports sedan and steering was one of the biggest reasons to go with a BMW back in the day, from 3 series all the way to the 7 which remained very engaging. Merc, Lexus and Audi were there if you wanted a more laid back experience but it seems like BMW diluted themselves to try and capture some of that market. It's why I'd never trade it my e61 which is a hoot and still very comfortable on long trips

Exactly. HeadsUp is amazing. Wouldn't buy another BMW without HUD. Have non-polarised sunnies exclusively for car use, and then switch to my polarised goggles as step out and look cool! 😎 🤣

@@Kevin-zd1lc I couldnt agree more, I believe safety is improve substantially by HUD and I would want to see tech becoming open sourced, subsidised and become legal requirement for any car... same with matrix led light, tech is crazy and can save lives

Switch out the runflats for gods sake!