What is the difference between 535i and 535xi

The pound weight saving over the more powerful i results in a car that feels more balanced, with a sportier feel and greater willingness to engage and conquer corners on the roads snaking down toward Death Valley's floor, feet below sea level. Even better, the i should be good for scampering to 60 mph in the mid-to-high-five-second range, nearly running with the far more expensive i.

As delightful as the engine and ride are, the car is not perfect. Although nicely weighted, the schizophrenic steering is curiously twitchy and numb just off-center. Once the car is bent into a turn, confidence builds, but when traveling in a straight line, the i nervously feints after every irregularity in the road. Placing the car near the outside stripe on the pavement takes more faith than it should.

This, of course, is a problem present in all 5-series models, regardless of engine choice. An additional steering problem you can now buy from BMW is an unexpected vibration in the steering wheel, like driving over a mild rumble strip. Consider it the preamble to a rumble strip, as that vibration is the tactile feedback from the lane-departure warning system, a solution that doesn't alert your friends to your woozy driving but is far more unsettling.

We're about as happy to see this option in the 5-series as we were when that headache iDrive first came out.

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The main difference between these two models is the all-wheel drive on the xi, which increases the cost. Use a buyer's guide to learn even more about these models before you start your BMW i vs. The BMW i and xi are extremely similar. Both models come with the same safety features, get the same gas mileage and have a similar price tag, but the xi comes with all-wheel drive. A short and sweet BMW i vs.

Check out the top safety features and determine which car you want to drive around town with your family. The 5 Series is known for being outfitted with the latest, greatest driving tech. BMW has improved upon existing technology, such as the iDrive system. The menu system was also improved to make it easier to use all the tech components.

The BMW i model is noted as being an exemplary cruiser that offers a beautifully smooth ride, even if the steering could be more responsive. However, that all depends on how well-maintained the car is. If you own a BMW i in Austin here are the top maintenance needs to look out for:.

There are also five recalls to watch out for on older i sedan models and four on the i xDrive three of which are the same as the standard i.

The xi's numbers may not seem quite as newsworthy-until you consider its mass: pounds, more pounds than the coupe in our November '06 test and about more pounds than the rear-drive i, per BMW. The xi was further handicapped, albeit only slightly, by the six-speed Steptronic automatic. No surprise that the coupe was quicker: 0 to 60 in 4. The xi got to 60 in 5.

But consider how the xi stacks up against the i with its hp, 4. The xi is only 0.