[JK479]

With the 640i coming in October, will the 535i become a 540i this year?

I know BMW plays the badge game like no other, but what are the chances a 540i comes out again. Turbo 6... very unlike the last 540i e39....

[raleedy]

A change of digits? Be still my heart!!!!!

[clarence]

No, not for EU & ROW markets at least. There'll be a 530i slotting between 528i & 535i, but it's just a rebadged N53 528i w/power "uprated" to back to the original N53 E60 LCI 530i level.

[masti99]

Wonder what it will do to the value of the 5 series...

[SteVTEC]

Originally Posted by clarence

No, not for EU & ROW markets at least. There'll be a 530i slotting between 528i & 535i, but it's just a rebadged N53 528i w/power "uprated" to back to the original N53 E60 LCI 530i level.

Doubt we'll see that in the U.S....

Wouldn't be surprised if a 540i eventually showed up though. The new 528i with the turbo-4 is at 0-60 in 6.0s which is not too far off of what the 535i will do. Nearly as much torque and a good bit less weight (peak power doesn't matter a whole lot just for 0-60). Some additional separation between the 528 and 535 with a 540 model would indeed make some sense. I'm guessing MY2013 at the earliest. Doubt they'd wait all the way until the LCI for the F10.

[Needsdecaf]

No, because the -40i cars use an N54 (twin turbo) engine, whereas the 535 has the N55 (single turbo).

I would seriously be surprised to see either the 1, 3 or 5 go back to the N54.

[grimlock]

Indeed, if the N20 535i improves in the 0-60 to 6.2s, the 535i needs to improve a bit, but how much further can it go before it starts to intrude on 550i territory? I say 5.5s is the limit there.. 5.4 for a '540i'
Isn't the 640i already using the N55 hence start-stop? Don't think the -40i badge requires a N54.. the N55 has been deemed the complete replacement already hasn't it? The 1M was the last shot .. its done

[clarence]

Originally Posted by grimlock

Indeed, if the N20 535i improves in the 0-60 to 6.2s, the 535i needs to improve a bit

The MY2012 535i will do 0-100km/h in 5.8s, due to some "drivetrain optimisation".
W/o 4wd, the 0-100 time will hit diminishing returns due to limited traction.

[clarence]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

No, because the -40i cars use an N54 (twin turbo) engine, whereas the 535 has the N55 (single turbo).

I would seriously be surprised to see either the 1, 3 or 5 go back to the N54.

The 640i uses N55.

[clarence]

Originally Posted by masti99

Wonder what it will do to the value of the 5 series...

The major victim will be the 528i, cos 528i N20 retails for 1,000 Euros less than the 528i N53 (German pricing). The 530i retails for a few hundred Euros more than the 528i N53.

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by clarence

The major victim will be the 528i, cos 528i N20 retails for 1,000 Euros less than the 528i N53 (German pricing). The 530i retails for a few hundred Euros more than the 528i N53.

Do you work for Bmw in HK? The 530i and 528i will run side by side? Will the 530i come to HK? When is the N20 coming?

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by clarence

The MY2012 535i will do 0-100km/h in 5.8s, due to some "drivetrain optimisation".
W/o 4wd, the 0-100 time will hit diminishing returns due to limited traction.

The 0-100km on the X1 w/n20 w/4wd is a rocket.. is this to be believed? Have you driven the N20, how does it compare to the N52?

[clarence]

Originally Posted by grimlock

Do you work for Bmw in HK? The 530i and 528i will run side by side? Will the 530i come to HK? When is the N20 coming?

No, I don't work for them, but I'm in the market for one (either X3 35i or 535i or 528i N20). The restructured F10 range is 520i, 528i, 530i, 535i & 550i. 520 & 528 use N20 but with different output. Not sure 530i will come or not cos it uses N53 engine & it seems BMW did not sell any N53 F10 officially outside of EU. If BMW allows the N53 to be sold outside of EU then probably the 530i will be used to plug the big gap between 528 & 535, but those in the know will probably choose 528 cos in real world it'll perform better than 530, esp in HK.
N20 will start production from 9/2011 onwards, so probably if u order now u'll get N20. Another thing is I think there may be a chance for 528 & 535 (w/start stop) to have EFV tax deduction.

[clarence]

Originally Posted by grimlock

The 0-100km on the X1 w/n20 w/4wd is a rocket.. is this to be believed? Have you driven the N20, how does it compare to the N52?

Haven't driven N20, only drove 535i. According to reports on the X1 the engine is very good in terms of driving characteristics & spins to 7,000rpm redline with no problems. U may need to change the exhaust cos it sounds a bit boring next to the N52, or maybe retrofit the "sound generator" fitted to the Z4.

[SteVTEC]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

No, because the -40i cars use an N54 (twin turbo) engine, whereas the 535 has the N55 (single turbo).

I would seriously be surprised to see either the 1, 3 or 5 go back to the N54.

There's no reason at all why BMW couldn't also tweak the N55 to slightly more power.

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by clarence

but those in the know will probably choose 528 cos in real world it'll perform better than 530, esp in HK.
N20 will start production from 9/2011 onwards, so probably if u order now u'll get N20. Another thing is I think there may be a chance for 528 & 535 (w/start stop) to have EFV tax deduction.

Why would you chose the N52 over N53? I'm dying to know, as I have the N52 and want to know badly what the difference with the N53 is..
Yeah, heck every car except the V8s and above will be an eco-car soon!.. How can the CLS350 'Blueficiency' get it when all it has is DI and StartStop, but not a single turbo in sight?

Originally Posted by clarence

Haven't driven N20, only drove 535i. According to reports on the X1 the engine is very good in terms of driving characteristics & spins to 7,000rpm redline with no problems. U may need to change the exhaust cos it sounds a bit boring next to the N52, or maybe retrofit the "sound generator" fitted to the Z4.

Can it ever get to 7000rpm? I would like to see what that feels like..

[clarence]

Originally Posted by grimlock

Why would you chose the N52 over N53? I'm dying to know, as I have the N52 and want to know badly what the difference with the N53 is..
Yeah, heck every car except the V8s and above will be an eco-car soon!.. How can the CLS350 'Blueficiency' get it when all it has is DI and StartStop, but not a single turbo in sight?


Can it ever get to 7000rpm? I would like to see what that feels like..

I mean 528 by the N20 528 not the N52 528. N53 has wider torque band hence it pulls stronger when overtaking at motorway speeds. Probably not much diff in local road conditions but the DI means it's slightly more economical.
Some M-Bs such as E250 w/M271Evo & CLS350 w/M276 has very good quoted figures, so I guess they must have optimised it for the consumption tests. The new V6 is coming soon to the E350 so maybe that'll get EFV as well.
The N20 can get to 7k easily, latest technology means it'll feel smooth, but problem is it won't sound exciting. This engine is the answer to M-B's M271Evo, but with bigger capacity & twin-scroll turbo.

[clarence]

Originally Posted by SteVTEC

There's no reason at all why BMW couldn't also tweak the N55 to slightly more power.

BMW Performance powerkits for N55 are coming soon.