BMW 535d Review and Road Test Part I: The Road to Burghausen

By Jonathan Spira on 4 December 2010

THE DRIVE TO BURGHAUSEN

Burghausen is the largeset city in Altötting, a region of Oberbayern (Upper Bavaria). It lies on the Salzach river near the Austrian border. Its castle, or Burg, at 1043 m (3422 feet), is the longest castle in Europe.

The 100 km drive took about one hour and fifteen minutes with an average speed of 82 km/h (51 mph). For the trip to Burghausen, the 535d used 8.1 l/100 km (29 mpg).

We started off on the Autobahn A9 in the direction of Salzburg and Innsbruck. The A9 (known as the A3 until a new Autobahn numbering scheme was implemented in 1974) is one of the oldest highways in Germany and connects Munich to Berlin, with a total length of 524 km (326 miles).

After 4 km, we continued on the A99, the ring road that encircles Munich connecting multiple Autobahnen (highways). After 13 km, we continued on the A94 for 11 km. The A94 is supposed to connect Munich with Passau at the Austrian border, but due to a strong controversy about its proposed route, only the Munich-Forstinning and Ampfing-Burghausen sections have been built to date.

After exiting the A94, we continued on the Bundesstraße 12 in the direction of Neupullach for 46 km. The B12 runs all the way from Lindau past Munich and Passau to Phillippsreut on the Czech border.

We then returned to the A94 for 32 km in the direction of Burghausen. At the Burghausen exit, we turned onto the Bundesstraße 20, which led us directly to the city center.

After a stop for coffee in Burghausen, we crossed the border into Austria and started to head back to Munich to drop Christian off.

The 118 km (73 miles) return trip took one hour and 23 minutes. We used 8.9 l/100 km (24.4 mpg) on the return trip with an average speed of 87 km/h (54 mph).

For the first 45 minutes of the trip, our fuel usage (6.0 l/100 km or 39 mpg) at an average speed of 74 km/h (46 mph) was quite respectable for a vehicle of this size and power, although it still fell short of what the car is rated at (5.3 l/100 km or 44.4 mpg). Both Chris and I have been able to coax far better fuel economy out of other cars (without making a special effort), including his recent run to Hamburg and back in the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition, where he used only 4.2 l/100 km (56 mpg), and my drive to Portorož and back in the BMW 730d, where I used only 7.4 l/100 km (34 mpg) in a much larger and heavier sedan. Lots of things, ranging from traffic to weather conditions to how the car was broken in, can impact fuel economy, however, so we will simply have to take the 535d on another trip and see how it does.

Part II of this review, The Road to the Bavarian Alps, will be published shortly.

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9 Comments »

Antonio Delgado says:

5 December 2010 at 13:54

BMW please stop the torture!!!! enough is enough. We want all flavors; small efficient engines, blistering power, manual transmissions, hatchbacks, touring versions, just make sure the start with “d”
Hannibal Brother says:

16 December 2010 at 07:38

Please tell us about how the car accelerates at speed. What is the effort like to overtake another car on the autobahn? Does the car run out of breath at over 90 MPH? Your site and others have blogged about the tremendous acceleration from 40-80 MPH, but what happens when you are trying to cruise at 80 MPH and need another short burst of acceleration to overtake those who want to set a slower pace?
Jonathan Spira says:

20 December 2010 at 08:56

It accelerates like a rocket
Jim says:

21 December 2010 at 15:41

If BMW brings a 6 cylinder diesel F10 to the Us they can depend on at least one sale.Since I bought my 335d I’ve become a *true* diesel convert and I’m particularly impressed with my M57 engine.A car powerful enough to pin me back in my seat *and* that can get 44mpg is one that makes my mouth water.
Paul Anderson says:

27 December 2010 at 12:05

They certainly don’t even run out of breath. The top speed is electronically limited to 155mph for Euro legal reasons.

The pick-up even above 100mph is sensational and will leave most domestic V8s for dead.

If you want still more mower then go get the ECU remapped and your looking at over 500lbft and circa 360bhp.
Richard says:

1 February 2011 at 21:36

Though I posted earlier, hopefully BMW won’t notice, and my current post will put things over the top, so that we can all purchase our 5 Series diesel.

Richard
EncoreBride says:

14 March 2011 at 21:46

I am anxiously awaiting a 535d in the US, I love my 335d but I would like a little more space and the 535d would be perfect. Does anyone know how much torque the 535d has?
rick says:

25 June 2011 at 14:33

Anyone know when BMW will offer the 535d in the US market.
Dave says:

29 June 2011 at 09:28

I have been a diesel proponent for quite a long time. 2 years ago, we finally had an opportunity to purchase our first diesel, a GL320 CDI, and we absolutely love it. 30mpg hwy, 24mpg combined. Amazing for a vehicle that can comfortably seat 7.

Anyway, I will be purchasing a replacement for our other vehicle within the next year, and if the 535d xDrive is available in the states, my only decision will be colors and options.

Please BMW, if you are listening, bring the 535d xDrive to the US!