At $19,991, Is This 2011 Bmw 535i A Three-pedal Thrill?

A uncommon six-speed manual makes this BMW 535i a car worthy watching. Let's spot if its value makes it worthy a 2nd look.

When I was a kid playing emblem shot successful mediate school, nan astir communal instruction fixed by nan backmost successful nan pre-play huddle was to "go wide." No matter what nan down aliases wherever we were connected nan field, it was ever "go wide." Nobody moreover knew what "go wide" meant, and amazingly, nan opposing squad ne'er caught connected to this lather-rinse-repeat shape of play strategy.

Go wide was besides nan guidance fixed to nan builders astatine Mariah Motorsports successful nan creation of nan Mode 6 Street widebody kit that was applied to nan 1987 Mazda RX-7 FC we looked astatine past Friday. Along pinch nan extroverted looks came an arsenic energetic centrifugal successful nan shape of a wholly rebuilt two-rotor Wankel fitted pinch a large turbocharger and air-to-air intercooler. In total, nan seller claimed that complete $60K of parts and labour had gone into nan car successful nan past 15 years. At $27,500, nan asking value for nan turn-key car is now little than half that amount. Most of you felt different half needed to beryllium lopped disconnected that, however, arsenic nan Mariah grounded to find favor, yet falling successful a 72% No Dice loss.

It's been said not to judge a book by its cover, and astatine first glance, today's 2011 BMW 535i does look to beryllium unassuming if a small bland. That's some a bully thing, considering nan weird Dame Edna chemoreceptor and Bangle Butt of its contiguous predecessor, nan E60, and serving arsenic a spot of camouflage, masking each nan exertion and oomph lying underneath.

Introduced for nan 2011 exemplary year, nan F10 version of BMW's celebrated mid-sized 5 Series is notable connected respective fronts. First and foremost, its soul designation—F10—is nan first not to usage E arsenic nan conception indicator. Befitting specified a extremist alteration successful naming conventions, this version besides saw nan debut of hybrid and turbocharged V8 models, on pinch its first eight-speed automatic, disposable rear-wheel steering, and nan action of a five-door GT exemplary styled aft Victor Hugo's celebrated bell-ringer. Whatever shape nan purchaser wanted, nan F10 (and F11/F12) models had each nan bases covered.

This 1 doesn't person each nan disposable bells and whistles. Designated a 535i, it's fitted pinch a soft and tin turbocharged N55 nether its hood. That 2979cc inline six is bully for 302 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Happily, connected this car that has been paired pinch a six-speed manual for a spot of driver engagement. Along pinch that comes athletics buckets and a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel, on pinch dual automatic ambiance power and BMW's iDrive baloney pinch a nav surface that, for 2011, is reasonably large.

The advertisement notes that nan car has a humble 86,080 miles connected nan timepiece and a caller clutch up of that six-speed stick. That does request nan question, why did this Bimmer's original clutch propulsion successful nan towel aft truthful fewer miles? Clutches don't deterioration pinch age, but alternatively pinch use. Was this car utilized to thatch group really to thrust stick? Was it conscionable utilized aggressively, aliases worse, inappropriately?

Aside from nan seemingly too-soon replaced clutch, nan advertisement notes a fewer different little astonishing attraction items, including nan spark plugs, on pinch brake pads and rotors successful nan front. As acold arsenic nan information goes, nan trading trader claims it to beryllium a 10/10 car pinch nary mechanical aliases cosmetic issues whatsoever. They besides tout it to beryllium clean, being oddly circumstantial astir nan compartment being wholly free of hair, which, contempt that assurance, benignant of freaks maine out.

It's often nan lawsuit that nan pictures successful a classified advertisement don't do justness to nan point being offered, and if that is nan lawsuit here, past nan seller's explanation does look to beryllium accurate. The car's Graphite Metallic overgarment seems solid, and, speech from a missing tow hook screen successful nan beforehand bumper, it is without issue. Similarly, nan Style 237 wheels look free of curb rash aliases brake particulate discoloration, and deterioration newish-looking Goodyear meats.

The cabin, successful light-gray leather and dark-hued wood, appears arsenic up to nan task, pinch small deterioration noticeable connected immoderate of nan tactile surfaces.

A cleanable title is nan cherry connected apical of this Bimmer's sundae, which now leads america to nan large question: really overmuch does it cost? The trader is asking $19,991 for nan car, positive a "negotiable" $200 archiving interest they opportunity is mandated by nan authorities of Washington. What that intends is that 1 could bargain a 300-horse, six-speed ace saloon for little than nan costs of an entry-level Nissan Sentra. But, of course, galore of you will reason that this 535i is that astir vulnerable of beasts, an out-of-warranty Bimmer, and, successful nan agelong run, nan smart point to do would beryllium to spell pinch nan Nissan.

What do you say? Is $19,991 a adjacent price, not conscionable for this uncommon manual-equipped 5 Series, but besides to rotation nan dice connected its early reliability? Or does nan crystal shot clasp darker portents for this car and its adjacent owner?

You decide!

Seattle, Washington, Craigslist, aliases spell here if nan advertisement disappears.

H/T to RevUnlimiter for nan hookup!

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