[TreDirtyFive]

http://www.insideline.com/bmw/5-seri...full-test.html

"We'd love to tell you that all these advances result in better test numbers, but the simple and unpopular fact is that, save the 60-0-mph braking distance, the 2011 BMW 535i is outperformed in every performance test by its predecessor. And let's not forget, that predecessor had a twin-scroll turbo and adjustable suspension damping.

Notes from our test driver indicate the above-mentioned delay from a standing start, which likely contributed to a 0-60 sprint almost a half-second slower than the previous-generation 535i. At 5.9 seconds (5.6 seconds with a 1-foot rollout as on a drag strip), the 2011 BMW 535i's performance is on par with Infiniti's M37. In the quarter-mile it's slower than both the old 535i and the Infiniti M37 at 14.3 seconds at 95.1 mph.

In addition to the power deficit, at least some of the lazy acceleration can be pinned on an as-tested weight 171 pounds higher than the last 535i we tested. BMW acknowledges this difference itself even more significantly, claiming a 386-pound variance between the curb weights of the current and outgoing model.

An average of 0.84g around the skid pad is less lateral grip than the M37S and previous 535i (0.86g and 0.89g, respectively). What's more, Active Roll Stabilization still allows more body roll than we'd prefer. Slalom speed, at 64.9 mph, is accompanied by admirable balance despite feeling somewhat limited by tire grip. It's also slower than the previous 535i (65.3 mph) and the current M37S (67.9 mph).

We recorded a combined fuel economy of 22.7 mpg over 1,438 miles — almost identical to the 22.5-mpg number we measured in the old car."