It is no secret that we all love the BMW B58 engine for its tuning potential on a budget. However, today we will shine the light upon its predecessor which is just as potent but even more special. Say hello to the BMW 535i and its tuned N55 engine which is tuned and is a serious deal.
The BMW 535i was equipped with an N55 3.0 Litre Turbo 6 cylinder which later became the basis for the B58 or the 40i range in the BMW lineup. The interesting fact about the 535i in India is that they were bought in limited numbers to our shores to cater to the government embassies! We can speculate the elegant styling of the F10 generation may have helped in bringing these cars to our shores. The 535i isn’t overstyled which helps it stay current and may look better than the current generation of BMW cars. This 535i has a matte black wrap which looks cool and exudes the “gangsta” persona. To enhance the handling characteristics, this 535i comes with the F10 M5 dampers and Raise Alloy Wheels with Silver Outline. In terms of aesthetics, other than the wrap, this 535i has the Bolted M Sport Kit, Carbon Fibre Spoiler and Diffuser with Akrapovic Tailpipes!
Under the hood, the 535i is fitted with an N55 3.0 Litre Inline Turbo 6 cylinder engine which, in stock form, produces 302hp and 400Nm of torque. The N55 was an evolution of the N54 and fixed shortcomings. But, this car has a rebuilt engine with ACL Rod Bearings, New Piston Rings and Sleeves, and Bimmerhouse Performance Nylon Carbon Fibre Intakes which are front-mounted and look cool. In addition to it, this 535i is fitted with an upgraded oil can, Vargus Crank Bolt Capture and Crank Hub, Wagner Intercooler, VRSF Charge Pipe, Heavy Duty Wastegates and Solenoids, Vargas High-Pressure Fuel Pump, Walro 535 HCAT Low-Pressure Fuel Pump, Upgraded Oil Filter, Housing Sport Thermostat as well as Code 6 Switchable Maps, MHD Flash, Upgraded Oil Cooler, M3 Competition Auxillary Oil Pumps and Dry Sumps, and a 3.5 Inch Downpipe which is straight-piped and an OEM Resonator to quite literally name every performance mod done to this beast! The Switchable Maps can be used to alter various settings such as Power Output, Suspension Stiffness etc. to tailor it perfectly to a driver.
On the road, you will quickly notice that the 535i handles more like a grand tourer as compared to a thorough-bred sportscar. One of the main reasons is that the wheelbase is longer as compared to the M340i which makes it more manageable and predictable when you want to point the car in a certain direction. It may not be as snappy as the latter but it isn’t far off when handling twisty roads and gives its flavour to some of the platform deficiencies. In the rain, when the car was getting twitchy it didn’t feel tricky to get it back together which is a compliment to the chassis. Visually, the M Performance Steering adds to the drama you can expect from a 400hp RWD car!
In terms of the N55 capabilities, with a bigger turbo, it isn’t a surprise to see 600hp. The more interesting aspect of this engine is that people de-stroke the block. The end result is codenamed N55R26! This makes the block more rev-happy and sounds like a ’90s F1 Racecar! In conclusion, we would say that the N55 isn’t without its problems as it is a CBU and sourcing parts will involve importing them which can be a hurdle for a few. But, for those who can fathom the cost and want something special with an understated nature for around 10-20 lakhs, the BMW 535i deserves to be on your shopping list.
