Safety
Besides options like lane departure warning, the 5 Series comes equipped with a suite of side curtain airbags and front-seat side-impact airbags. Rear seat-mounted airbags can be ordered as a $385 option.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has crash-tested the 5 Series
sedan, but not the wagon. Front and rear crash tests of the sedan received top
marks of Good, while side tests produced Marginal ratings, which are second
worst. This was because of specific damage to the driver's torso in the tests.
BMW 535 in the Market
The large luxury wagon is not the most sought-after segment in the auto industry, especially these days. The SUV has dominated this market, offering similar utility and space as wagons in a class where gas mileage matters little.
However, for those who want the utility of a smaller SUV and the driving feel of a car, wagons are still quite appealing. If the driving experience is vital to your decision, you have to look at the 535i xDrive. Audi's A6 and Mercedes' E350 compete in terms of utility and price, especially now that the 2009 A6 has upgraded to a new supercharged engine that produces similar power as the 5 Series wagon.
For shoppers in this very limited segment, the 535i xDrive is surely an ideal choice, but with the masses still choosing SUVs even today, I wonder how long any manufacturer will keep producing wagons, no matter how good they are.
See also:
Recommended tire brands
Recommended tire brands
For each tire size, the manufacturer of your vehicle
recommends certain tire brands. These
can be identified by a star on the tire sidewall.With proper use, these tires ...
Roof-mounted luggage rack
Note
Installation only possible in roof drip molding
with flaps*. Your service center will be glad to
advise you.
Roof racks are available as special accessories.
Attachment
Follow the install ...
Adjusting
Vehicle
Equipment
...