In fact, the performance of this car should come as no surprise. BMW designers have long ago built an excellent name for themselves, mainly thanks to the great 6-cylinder in-line engines. And under the hood of this station wagon there is just such a unit. Only diesel.
For some, this is a disadvantage – that the sound of work is not this, a small range of useful revs or even the economic image of a diesel that is not in keeping with the sporty and luxurious character of a BMW.
The operating noise is reminiscent of diesel engines only when stationary, while driving, the cabin is quiet. Limited RPM range? Not in this case. The motor reaches above 5000 obr./min, and already from 1500 RPM acceleration crushes the seats. Because the engine's capabilities are not typical for diesels. By 3 l displacement, the unit develops maximum power 272 KM and maximum torque 560 Nm. We checked on the dynamometer
– the factory doesn't lie. For this thanks to two turbochargers (and not one, as in the weaker 530d) improved response to gas addition at low RPM. So we have an expensive car with a powerful diesel that transmits drive to only one axle (and the back one). It can be a harbinger of considerable damage, a moment of inattention is enough. But he steps into action in dire situations… electronics. Standard equipment is DSC 8.0 – the Bavarian equivalent of Advanced ESP.

DSC, that is, the dynamic stability control system, introduces various options for individually braking the wheels and reducing engine power to maintain vehicle control. It consists of the mass of 3-letter subsystems. The base is ABS supplemented with EBV (electronic braking force distribution between the axles), CBS (cornering brake control, adjusting the braking force to the load on individual wheels) i DBC, that is, the dynamic brake control system known as the Brake Assistant. It reacts to the speed of the brake application, thanks to which it senses emergency situations and automatically increases the braking force.

In BMW, however, acceleration is more important than braking, and its smooth course is supervised by the DTC, i.e.. dynamic traction control to prevent the wheels from slipping when accelerating and ASC (automatic stability control), which simulates the operation of the differential lock by braking a slipping wheel. Then comes DSC, that is, the possibility of individual braking of selected wheels in order to counteract under- or oversteer. In the case of the BMW 535d Touring – especially oversteer.
There are few cars, in which the indicator lamp for the stabilization system activation would come on so often. We leave the intersection – the lamp flashes. We leave the subordinate road – miga. We stared at the traffic lights – too much gas again. This car does not need to be encouraged, to spin the wheels. Usually it does… casually. And when the road is wet, the electronics will fight the engine even on a straight road for hundreds of meters. There is nothing to cheat – Without assistance, a smooth ride of the BMW 535d would not have been possible. The readiness for appropriate reactions is a permanent state. Too tiring in the long run.
On the other hand, you don't buy such a car for that, to drive calmly. If the driver is lacking in feeling, a button on the center console may limit the operation of the DSC. Initially, the DTC is deactivated, which enables starts with the screeching of wheels. It is more prosaic to use this function when starting on the ground with limited grip, when some slip is needed – e.g. on snow. When the DTC is cleared, the DSC activation threshold is raised simultaneously, so that to some extent you can, for example,. force oversteer in a turn. However, when the driver is late with the counter, the electronics will help steer the vehicle to the correct track. Full DSC operation is automatically restored when exceeded 70 km / h or lateral overload 0,4 g. But this is not the end. We can hold the same button a little longer – until "DSC deactivated" is displayed. The stabilization system ceases to function. And then everything is in your hands (and legs) the driver. A hard take-off ends with long rubber tracks on the asphalt and a cloud of smoke from the rear wheels. Fun in the square? There are no obstacles. Slips and counterattacks are great entertainment. You just need to empathize with the work of the automatic transmission. Even in manual mode, it knows better, when to change gear. It's also hard to feel the moment, when it stops crawling. You have to keep an eye on, that the engine speed does not approach the limits, at which the gear changes. This makes it difficult to control the slip depth with gas. It would be easier with a mechanical gearbox. Only what kind of clutch would bear such loads? But the car is still very exciting, the more that in the combo variety, will easily replace… sports coupe. So if ever life brings such necessity, nothing to complain about. And only such dilemmas should be wished.