BMW 530i
The BMW 530i plays on the fact that first impressions are important, and plays with this well. It’s not too big or too bulky and as a result, the 530i is what many former 3 Series owners find themselves in, when they’re looking to upgrade in the BMW line. The interior of the 530i is just as civilized and sporty as the 3 Series, with the materials used in making them being of solid construction which seems to have aged well. One plus in the 530i series is that the buttons and knobs on the control panel have been toned down. This is achieved by moving all the controls to the iDrive panel screen, making the whole interior of the car seem that much cleaner and well-organized.
Perhaps the greatest thing found in the 530i series is the sound system. With an integrated iPod adapter, you can take your tunes with you to listen on the included Logic7 sound system, which offers booming surround sound you might expect to find in a home theather system. In addition to the absolutely wonderful sound system, the car’s climate control system has dedicated knobs which are clearly marked and easy to read. With control options for both driver and passengers, the 530i offers the best in comfort both in seating and climate control.
Under the hood, the BMW 530i houses a powerful 24 valve DOHC 3.0 liter six-cylinder engine, which pulls like nothing else. The immediate delivery of power should be praised, since many of the competition’s cars cannot deliver this amount of power. In fact, the car operated so smoothly, fifth and six gears are almost forgotten about on the freeway, since the smooth running engine does nothing to remind you to shift. The interesting thing here is that the BMW 530i actually shares the basic components of an engine with the BMW 330i. However, the 530i is 22 pounds heavier than the 330i and sports a manual gear box. While this seems like a small design change in the 530i versus the 330i, it should be noted that the 530i is substantially larger than the 330i.
Because performance is considered to be just as important to the safety of the car as it is to the appeal, the 530i’s braking performance is like no other, in that it has a dynamic stability control system. This system works by sensing brake fade according to pressure, which means the driver never has to alter pressure on the break system in order to obtain an even braking performance. This system also lets you know when to lift from the gas pedal and it can actively anticipate a panic stop, which can help drivers make those sharp stops when they are needed most. Perhaps the most welcome feature to this whole design is the Brake Force Display brake lights. It’s simply a set of lights on the back of the car which activate to let the driver behind know that a hard stop is coming.
In addition to these new braking features, the 530i features xenon headlights which steer with you to follow the curve of the driver’s steering wheel for extra assistance in seeing around sharp curves on the road. In the way of guidance while on the road, the 530i also comes with BMW Assist, which works just like OnStar in American vehicles. This service will connect the driver to a BMW service center which can help in emergencies and can also provide driving directions for cars which are not equipped with a standard navigation system. All of this is wrapped up with a 4 year/50,000 mile warranty which includes BMW’s award-winning maintenance program.
