2009 BMW 528i Salt Lake City UT

2009 BMW 528i By Brian Alexander, Road Test Editor



DriverSide Overview
There’s a lot that can be said of a mid-size sedan with BMW DNA, but most of it you have probably already inferred. Does it drive well? Of course it does. Is it properly luxurious on the inside? You bet. Does it have the new iDrive? You know, the one that doesn’t inspire fits of rage when you attempt to accomplish the simple task of setting your iPod to random shuffle? Well no, it doesn’t, but we’ll get to that. The brilliance of the 528i lies in the way it combines BMW’s famous chassis dynamics and characteristic inline six-cylinder engine with an elegant, comfortable interior. While the V-8-powered 550i enjoys a healthy amount of good press, we can’t say it’s strictly necessary in any way. With its 3.0-liter inline six, the 528i is hardly wanting for power. The engine is content to rev, and putting your foot in it and watching the tachometer chase the redline is arguably more engaging than the low-end torque provided by a V-8. And with a six-speed manual transmission, it has a fantastic amount of tactility that few cars are able to maintain today thanks to the increasing use of electronics and ever-wider tires. If you’re looking for a sports sedan that proves V-8s are overrated and driver involvement hasn’t gone the way of the Ancient Bison, this is it.








What's to Like
The seamless blend of driver involvement and functional luxury makes the 528i a car for both driving enthusiasts and suburban errand runners. There is plenty of rear legroom so you’re unlikely to hear any full-grown adult complain about being cramped in the rear, and trunk space is plenty cavernous as well. The availability of a manual transmission is nice in a segment that is increasingly becoming automatic-only.

What's Not to Like
Unfortunately the original iDrive remains in the 2009 528i, and it’s still as painfully illogical as it was on day one. Despite the fact that it has been around for a number of years now, 5-Series exterior styling still isn’t for everyone. Options aren’t cheap and no one will want a bare bones stock model.

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
BMW’s iconic inline six-cylinder lives on in the 528i and lives up to its rev-happy, ultra smooth reputation. With a manual transmission, the car is a joy to drive, providing all the throttle response you could hope for and crisp yet gentle gear changes. The steering is everything we’ve come to expect from BMW – which is to say, fantastic, ultra accurate and rife with feedback. Well, richer in feedback than anything else in the segment, at least. Keep the engine above 5,000 rpm and you can even get the tail to step out ever so slightly, proving that 230 horsepower is still more than enough to motivate a 3,500 lb sedan. Remember, it wasn’t all that long...

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