2019 540i Quick Review

[Nick M3]

First things first, this fucker is ENORMOUS. Although given the size, I kind of expected it to be a little bigger inside.

Driving experience. Numb. The actual capability of the chassis is pretty high, but the overall level of feedback and driving pleasure is more akin to my grandfather’s ES350 than any other car I’ve driven.

Engine. The B58 is *ok*, but it occupies a weird space between plenty and weak. A car like this should have effortless torque, but it just doesn’t. But when it finds the right gear, it’s plenty. Also, in this car, it sounds horrible. The noises aren’t just muted. They are bad.

Transmission. The usual BMW bizarre too sluggish or too aggressive mis-match. I don’t get it. Audi can make the same transmission feel way more responsive without being annoying. Why can’t BMW?

Interior. OK, but disco party at night.

Trunk. Uh, guess that’s where all the interior space went?

Electronics. The whole no CarPlay without a subscription thing is so fucking customer hostile and self defeating. The all around camera is weird and surprisingly artifacted. Also, I can’t understand what causes it to turn off randomly while i’m still parking.
Lane departure warnings got turned off immediately.

Ride quality. Good, but honestly, not really good enough. Also surprisingly similar to my impression of the ES350.

In summary, meh.

[Alan]

Yuck .. sounds terrible thanks for the review

[wdc330i]

Love the B58 in my car.

[Nick M3]

Originally Posted by wdc330i

Love the B58 in my car.

If the transmission wasn’t so stupid, it would be more than plenty. Although I can still feel some turbo lag on throttle tip in.

[ff]

Originally Posted by Josh (PA)

It is a really poor combination of starting in 2nd gear with a very soggy throttle profile that doesn't make the car move at all until you tip in juuusstt a little too far at which point it kicks down to first, and jerks off the line.

That sounds really irritating. If it could handle the torque, a CVT would allow for a much smoother launch experience.

[Nick M3]

Originally Posted by ff

That sounds really irritating. If it could handle the torque, a CVT would allow for a much smoother launch experience.

CVTs are awful.

Everyone but BMW can make the ZF8 drive well. This is a BMW specific issue.

[Alan]

It is pretty amazing how one car enthusiasts outlook of a car can be so different then someone else’s.

I think my 540 is one of the best cars I’ve ever had and really love driving it. I find zero wrong with the engine or the transmission. I think the cameras are hands down the best in the industry and i currently have and also have had some good systems from the other brands to compare them to. They should not be turning off while parking I would have that car checked out.

Paying for CarPlay after the first year is a bit ridiculous and greedy but all of the brands try to get you, Audi gets you hooked on their google maps navigation display and then charges you to keep it.

I’m not defending the 540 because I have one, mine is gone back in a drop over a year and the chances are I will be considering another one.

As they say different strokes for different folks.

[Nick M3]

Originally Posted by AF

It is pretty amazing how one car enthusiasts outlook of a car can be so different then someone else’s.

I think my 540 is one of the best cars I’ve ever had and really love driving it. I find zero wrong with the engine or the transmission. I think the cameras are hands down the best in the industry and i currently have and also have had some good systems from the other brands to compare them to. They should not be turning off while parking I would have that car checked out.

Paying for CarPlay after the first year is a bit ridiculous and greedy but all of the brands try to get you, Audi gets you hooked on their google maps navigation display and then charges you to keep it.

I’m not defending the 540 because I have one, mine is gone back in a drop over a year and the chances are I will be considering another one.

As they say different strokes for different folks.

I have no basis for comparison on the cameras. All I can say is that pulling into my garage, they provide a lot less help than you’d expect, and things look very weird through them (see the picture). And then they turned off for no reason that I could discern.

The car goes down the highway very pleasantly, but it has no steering feel at all, and it’s annoying to maneuver around the city. I kind of wonder if the 530e gets better torque fill around town? If I get bored, I might test drive one.

Edit: Audi charging for access to a service that they are providing (even if it’s a pipeline to Google) is at least justifiable. BMW charging the customer to connect their phone is insulting.

[FC]

Originally Posted by AF

It is pretty amazing how one car enthusiasts outlook of a car can be so different then someone else’s.

As they say different strokes for different folks.

Somewhat related, I still can't get over how awesome my M3 is. And I get to drive a pretty sporty Miata on a regular basis. Not say it couldn't be lighter, smaller, with a bit more feel, etc. But in this day and age that a car like that was available brand new with a stick I think is great and I am very glad I got one.

[Josh (PA)]

I thought the 530 loaner I had was quite pleasant for a 5 series. Everything is big now, but IMHO it drove a lot better than the last generation did. The tech was well integrated, and the driver aids were non-intrusive (and easy to disable).
In comparison to where cars have evolved to, basically e-pliances for the detached/connected generation, it was still more driver centric than I expected it to be. Granted I haven't driven an MB or Audi comparable lately, but I have tried the newest Acura TL and a few others that were way worse.

All the blue lights and disco themed crap is configurable as well. You can set it up to be much less bling than the pic shows.

Totally grant you the BMW transmission programming is ABYSMAL. I can't stand it in the X5. It seemed to be better in in the 530 and x3 I recently had, but still no on par with where it should be.