I just returned from a family vacation to Bavaria and Austria, where I was upgraded by Avis (a review in and of itself) to a brand-new BMW 5-series wagon with all the bells and whistles. What an experience.

Tested Vehicle, with key standard and optional features
2006 BMW 535d wagon, grey metallic with black leather interior
3.0l I-6 turbodiesel, 268hp @ 4000RPM, 413 lb-ft torque @ 2000RPM
6-speed Automatic
iDrive
Continental Snow Tires
DVD-based Navigation system
Bluetooth
Heads-Up Display
Park Assist (front and rear)
Power front seats (l and r)
Heated front seats
Rain-sensor automatic wipers
Cruise Control
Front and rear fog lights
Bi-Xenon headlights with high-pressure washers
Premium AM/FM/SW/TV/DVD entertainment system
Sunroof

Note: This was a European-spec vechicle, with the diesel and rear wheel drive (RWD). Gasoline-powered RWD configurations (not the diesel, unfortunately) of the 5-series wagon are available in the USA. The 5-series wagon, however, is only available in one model in the States: the 530xi with a 255hp, 3.0L gasoline engine and X-drive AWD.

TEST CONDITIONS
December in Bavaria/Austria. 1600 km (1000 miles) during one of the heaviest snowfalls of the season (40cm in one night, probably close to a meter over the week). Mix of highway, city, snow-covered backroads, and village driving. Except for one day where we drove on the A8 Autobahn from Stuttgart to Munich in relatively dry weather, all of the driving was in snow.

From the Curb
The curb appearance of the BMW is superb - the wagon has classic, understated, and elegant appearance. The trademark grille is smaller than earlier 5-series BMWs, and gives it a sleek and clean appearance. The roofline and slightly high windowsills hints (very slightly) of a customized street rod wagon - and combined with the bulging wheelwells gives it a powerful presence. Fit and finish is superb, even down to the headlight washer nozzles which retract flush into the bumper.

Pressing a button on the combination remote/key unlocks the car and activates approach lighting - white LED lamps under the sideview mirrors which illuminate the doors and the ground around them. The door handles offer a good D-handle grip (useful when you're breaking the door free of accumulated ice), and the doors open and close smoothly with a satisfying "whump." I did find that the doors required a bit more effort than usual to close fully.

The rear hatch opens with a squeeze of the rubber-covered electronic release over the license plate frame. Many cars are going to this setup these days, and I'm not sure it's a good idea. Should you drain your battery completely, I think it would be hard to get to your jumper cables. The hatch lifts up high enough for me (at 6') to pack the trunk without smacking my head - a bonus. Opening that hatch automatically releases catches for the luggage cover, so that the rear edge rides up about 1/2 a foot, making it easier to pack.

The remote has separate lock/unlock and automatic tailgate (not equipped on this car) buttons. An important safety tip is that locking the car with the remote double-locks the doors. If there are still occupants inside, they will be unable to unlock the doors, even by using the electric unlock switch.

Seating Comfort
Front: The power driver and passenger seats were very comfortable and supportive. The driver's seat had power settings for fore-aft, recline, up/down (both front and rear edge of seat), and even headrest height. The passenger control settings were fore/aft and recline. The control buttons are easily reached with a gloved hand, and are arranged so that you can figure out which button does what by touch. With it set for my long legs, there were still a couple inches of rearward travel remaining. One thing that we liked was that the seats managed to be comfortable both for my long femurs and my wife's shorter ones. Normally, if a seat is comfortable for one of us, it isn't for the other.

Both front seats had three-stage heating, which was nice although the temperature never dropped below about -5 degrees C (23 F). The highest setting would make you sweat within a minute or so, while the lowest setting was nice for longer times. I normally started at full heat, then reduced it to low heat after a minute, and then turned it off all together within 20 minutes.

The seats and mirrors have a memory function for two drivers, which worked well. My one complaint is that the three buttons (two for selection, one for storing settings) were small and felt cheap compared to the other seat controls.

Rear: Though there are three seats in the back, seating is best for two adults, maximum. Legroom in the back seats for me (6', 34" inseam) was not spacious, but adequate for longer rides. Seat comfort is good, as is the support. The center seat back folds down to a arm rest with cupholders. LATCH systems are available for carseats in the two outboard seating positions. We were traveling with two kids - one in a carseat, one in a booster. With the carseat and booster seat in place, the center spot was cramped, and our oldest was glad she's about 1/2 the width of many kids these days. Cramped and safe, but not exceptionally comfortable. Fortunately, the next day we picked up their grandparents and another car, so we had 4 max in the BMW from then on.

Both front and rear outboard seats had focused reading lights that were not distracting to the driver during night driving. All seats gave good visibility for all occupants in most every direction, including up - the glass sunroof extends to the rear seats. The glass itself appeared to open over the front seats only, but I didn't test this due to the weather.

Cargo
The cargo area is easily accessible through the liftgate, which opened high enough for me to step under without stooping. The area is generous. We were able to stuff a large suitcase, two smaller (roll-on) suitcases, two daypacks, and a large military duffle bag in the area while still fitting the extendable cargo privacy cover over the stash. A feature I really didn't like was that the cargo cover would automatically flip up about 20 degrees when the hatch was opened. This allowed easier access to packing/unpacking, but if I forgot to reset it before closing the trunk, rear visibility was near-nil, necessitating that I get back out of the car and go back to the hatch to fix it.

The floor lifts for a small storage area in conjunction with the sub-sized spare tire, and has tie down rings for cargo security. A cargo protection net rolls out of the top of the rear seats and locks into slots in the roof. When the seats are folded forward, the same net extends to identical slots in the roof just behind the driver/passenger seats.

This model was fitted with cargo rails, which would allow you to fit factory, Yakima, or Thule-type adaptors and crossbars for further storage.

Instrument Panel/Driver Controls
Primary Instrument Cluster
The primary instruments were easy to read in both daylight and nighttime conditions. Red lighting is used throughout the cabin, which works well, though I prefer green. Analog gauges are provided for Tach, Speedometer, Instantaneous Fuel Economy, and Fuel level. Two small rectangular multicolor LED displays between the Tach and Speedometer provide customizable displays and warning/information messages, including odometer/trip meter, avg fuel economy, avg speed, time, date, and outside temperature.

Steering Wheel/Controls
The leather-wrapped steering wheel felt comfortable and allowed easy gripping at either "10 and 2," or" 9 and 3" positions. Illuminated buttons for audio volume and channel/track selection are on the right and left spokes. In addition, two buttons which are programmable for function using the iDrive menu are provided.

Two stalk-type controls protrude from the steering column on the left side - the upper one controls the turn signals, high beams, and driver information displays. The lower manages the cruise control. A third control stalk on the right controls the front and rear wipers. Aside from the placement of the two stalks on the left which sometimes led to switchology mistakes - selecting highbeams instead of cruise control, for example - all of these were smooth, positive, and gave a feeling of quality.

Heads Up Display (HUD)
The HUD functions by means of a bright multicolor screen hidden in the dashboard behind the main instrument cluster and under a Fresnel lens. The projections of the display reflect off the windshield to the driver's eyes, appearing to float a few inches above the instrument cluster. This means the projection appears in the first 20 feet or so of visible road, not obstructing the area you normally focus on when driving.

The HUD projects speed and navigation information in a red-orange similar to the night lighting of the rest of the cockpit. Cruise control information is displayed in the lower left corner in green, and driver alerts appear in red or yellow. The Fresnel lens ensures that light from the HUD does not cause glare elsewhere on the windshield at night, but still allows the driver to see the information from most likely head positions.

I'm a fighter pilot, and in such aircraft, HUDs are indespensable. However, in a car, I initially thought the HUD to be the ultimate in low-value-added gadgets. But during my time with this car, I found that the HUD, expecially combined with the NAV system, to be a superb feature, allowing the driver to spend more time looking ahead while navigating unfamiliar areas.

The HUD illumination level is set automatically to levels I found readable but not distracting. I did find that when entering tunnels from bright daylight with my sunglasses still on, the HUD became so dim to be almost unreadable.

Lighting Controls
The headlights are controlled by a rotary switch, easily operated with medium-weight gloves, and allowing the driver to select off, on, automatic, or parking lights. Daytime Running Light (DRL) function can be turned on/off via the iDrive menus (see below).

This BMW was equipped with Bi-Xenon headlights, which perform both high and lowbeam functions (the upper edge of the beam pattern is cut-out mechanically for lowbeam). Pulling the turn signal stalk towards you activates the "flash-to-pass" feature, which momentarily illuminates the Halogen lights that flank the Bi-Xenons. These also serve as DRLs, if selected. Pushing the stalk forward selects high-beams.

The turn signals themselves are activated by the stalk - a quick push in one direction or another activates them for a few seconds for lane changes, while pushing past the detent activates them for turning.

Switches for foglights (front and rear) flank the headlight switch, as do switches for the HUD and instrument illumination.

Multifunction Display/iDrive
A large, wide multicolor backlit LCD panel sits in a well-shaded recess in the center top of the dashboard. The screen is brightly lit and automatically adjusted. I found it easily readable in daylight or nighttime. This functions as the one display for iDrive (BMW's computerized menu setup) components: Navigation, Climate, Entertainment, Communications, and User Settings, as well as the Park Assist.

Only the most basic controls for the audio and climate systems are provided immediately below the iDrive display. More on that later.

All iDrive functions are selected/controlled by a large knob and separate menu button aft of the gearshift. These are illuminated by two focused orange-red LEDs in the roof console. The knob can be rotated and/or pushed in four cardinal directions to scroll through menu items. Pushing it down like a button makes your selection.

The screen can be split in two sections - a 13:9 widescreen on the left, and a smaller square on the right. This allows you, for instance, to have a map on the right and navigation guidance arrows on the left.

From best to worst, here are my impressions of the different iDrive functions.

Park Assist This is the absolute best parking assist system I have ever experienced. There is no comparison with most vehicles, which simply give you an audio beeping warning, or at best, a series of lights in conjunction with the audio. In addition to the audio, the BMW Park Assist system projects an outline of the vehicle on the screen, with color-coded visual depictions of obstacles detected. The system's radars "look" for obstacles between about 5 or 10 degrees to either side of the rear bumper, and between approximately 35-40 degrees to either side of the front. With some common sense, you can just about parallel park the vehicle in tight spots using only this display as a reference. It is superb.

Navigation The navigation system itself is pretty much faultless, using a NavTeq database fed off a DVD (the slot is under the CD changer slot at the bottom of the dash). When paired with the HUD (which displays the simplified arrow directors, street names, and distance to go), the directions displayed are OUTSTANDING. My only complaint is that the user menus are far from intuitive. Figuring out how to find our hotel, for example, from the database required me stumbling through the German user's manual. The systems I have tried from Opel, Volvo, Nissan, and even Hertz have much better interfaces. The English voice guidance was clear. Audio conversion street names was not provided (I am not aware of any systems that do this in Europe).

User-Customization iDrive allows you to customize the vehciles functions - display in km or miles, DRL on/off, seat heat temp ranges, autolocking options, and more. Very nice - do it while you're parked, though!

Communication Not tested. No phone was installed, and I did not have a Bluetooth-enabled phone to test out that interface. The menus seemed clear, however.

Entertainment Once you get through the ponderous menu system, the audio system works fine. But that is the problem - the menu system. Want to change the balance of your speakers? Four clicks/rotations and whatnot later, you can - that's a lot of time with your eyes off the road. In fact, about the only things you can do without navigating through iDrive are volume changes, on/off, and track selection. They should have left the audio controls on the console. The sound quality itself was very good, though I wish the subwoofer were turned down a bit more.

The system allows you to watch DVDs (you need to remove the Nav DVD) or local TV while in Park - a nice feature when you're waiting in the car, though I prefer a book.

Climate The decision to replace most of the console climate controls for iDrive menu items is perhaps the worst example of form over function since the steering wheel hub-mounted pushbutton automatic transmission in the Edsel. Giving your feet some extra heat requires a finger dance of five or six manipulations of the iDrive knob. Give me old-fashioned controls any day over a cleaner looking instrument panel.

Driving Experience
The car is started by putting the remote/key into a hole in the steering column, and then pressing the "Engine Start/Stop" button (the car must be in Park, with the brake pedal depressed). Pressing the button without the brake depressed turns on the accessories but does not start the engine.

The diesel needed no time for glowplugs to warm up, and started immediately, even when coldsoaked overnight at minus 5 degrees Centigrade. From outside, the engine noise is muted- there is no doubting it is a diesel, but it is much quieter than most diesel cars. From inside, my mechanically-adept father had no idea it was a diesel until I told him.

Engine warmup was quick, and heat came through the vents within a few minutes. The heated seats were VERY nice in helping accelerate the shedding of winter clothing.

Exiting a typically cramped and haphazard hotel garage the first evening in Munich, the parking assist saved me an expensive meeting with a concrete pillar.

The car's performance gives no more hint of its diesel power than the cabin noise. Acceleration was smooth and powerful (the advertised 6.6 seconds 0-62mph is faster than many of the high performance sports cars from only a few years ago). The car had a warning sticker not to exceed 210km/hr with the snow tires. I never approached that speed, but drove the first day on dry sections of the autobahn at speeds up to 160km/h (100mph) with no problems at all. In the mountains of Bavaria, the motor always had more power than I needed. Merging onto the Autobahn, or passing was never a problem.

The 6-speed automatic transmission worked well in automatic mode. Shifts were smooth and quick, with no noticeable hesitation. Though I appreciated its functionality during long mountain descents, I was less impressed with the "manual" mode. Downshifts had significant hesitation, and often the transmission would downshift for me on its own volition.

Road noise, even with winter tires, was quite low. Wind noise was minimal, even at high speed. Vibration was absent, and the ride itself was smooth without feeling detached.

The variable steering (I have been corrected that it is variable-ratio, not variable assist) takes a bit to get used to, but I liked it. At high speed, the car had a heavier, stable feel, while at medium speeds/switchbacks, it felt lighter and quicker. During parallel parking, the increased ratio gave a perception of lower steering effort.

The DSC (Digital Stability Control) was superb. During a short test in an icy parking lot I was able to make the car skid, but never spin. Turning the DSC off still keeps the Traction Control enabled which makes throttle-induced oversteer hard to initiate, but still showed the dramatic difference the DSC makes.

The Antilock brakes were faultless, and were combined with emergency brake assist for panic stops. I tested this out in the parking lot also - applying quick but not full pressure to the brakes, and was impressed with the stopping ability.

The Conti winter tires, by the way, were superb in the snow, especially paired with the traction control. Where our other car, an Audi A4 Avant with summer tires (why these are let out the door in Bavaria during the winter, I don't know) required chains, the Rear-Wheel-Drive BMW motored along happily and without drama.

At night, lighting from the auto-leveling Bi-Xenons was very good and beautifully even in both low and high beam. The coverage all the way to the hoodline was good enough that activating the fog lights gave very little improvement, except a bit to the sides. I have heard that the US and Euro-spec Bi-Xenons are somewhat different. The autodimming rear-view mirror was effective and a nice touch.

The auto-sensor wipers worked very well in the rain and vehicle overspray on the autobahn. However, it was less effective in sensing snow. In those cases, I had to go back to the old-fashioned intermittent-low-high controls. The wipers themselves were very effective, with the right one doing a cog-induced mambo to clear just about all of the low-cut windscreen. Washers worked well also, and in several days of very dirty driving conditions, I didn't deplete the generously-sized fluid resevoir. The high-pressure headlight washers worked well also, even without accompanying wipers, though they deposited a significant amount of foam across both sides of the hood and front fenders.

Overall, the BMW feels like a vehicle of substance - its weight combined with tight tolerances and excellent build make it stable and comfortable on smooth and rough roads alike. Even on some of the rutted roads we travelled on, I detected no squeaks, rattles, or other noises that would indicate problems.

Because of the traction conditions, I didn't get to try any fast, twisty sections of road (switchbacks were taken slower and with care), so I really can't comment on body roll or performance at higher lateral loads. I would expect, however, that it handles much like other BMW's - predictably, with relatively neutral handling. A difference from BMWs from earlier years is that the DSC/DTC will keep you from throttle-induced oversteer (whether you like it or not).

Fuel Economy
This was superb, especially considering the performance and size of the vehicle. Over my 1600 km of mixed driving, I averaged:

Combined: 8.3 litres/100km (12 km/l, 29mpg). Advertised: 8.2l/100km

City: 11.2 l/100km (8.9 km/l, 21.5mpg). Advertised: 11.1l/100km

Highway (80-130km/h in varying weather): 7.5 l/100km (13.3 km/l, 32mpg). Advertised: 6.5l/100km.

Given the 70 litre (18 Gal) fuel tank, you should be able to travel over 800km/500 miles between fill-ups. Now, If only the turbodiesel were available in the States.

Fuel Economy for the 530xi is advertised at 20mpg city/27 highway, which is pretty good for an AWD wagon of its size.

Pricing
According to the UK BMW site, a similarly-equipped 535d Wagon prices at 39,360 pounds - $69,627 before options, and before the 33% CO2 tax!

For those of you in the United States, this makes the 530xi seem almost a bargain. It starts at $51,400 MSRP. Optioned like the vehicle I drove, $59,900.

Overall
I found the BMW to be a wonderfully solid, exceptionally performing, and impressively refined vehicle. The wagon is much more versatile, and in my opinion better looking, than the sedan. The turbodiesel combines top-end performance with outstanding fuel economy, and the creature comforts are truly luxurious.

The biggest gripe I have against the vehicle is the incorporation of most audio and climate controls into cumbersome iDrive menus, which is enough to drag it from five to four stars overall.

Technical Specs
Engine
2,993 cc Inline 6, 4 valves per cylinder, turbocharged. 200Kw (268Hp) @ 4,000 RPM, 560NM (413Lbft) @ 2,000RPM

Tires: 225/50 R17 (Front and Rear)
Wheels: 7.5 J x 17 light alloy (Front and Rear)

Weight: 4,026lb
Usable Payload: 1,200 lb

Advertised Performance
Top speed (km/h) 250kmh/156mph
Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h (in s) 6.6
Acceleration 0 - 1,000 m (in s) 26.1

Fuel Economy/Emissions:
Urban (l/100 km) 11.1
Extra-urban (l/100 km) 6.5
Composite (l/100 km) 8.2
CO2 emissions (g/km) 216

Manufacturer’s website: www.bmw.com

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