Have It All: Why The F10 535i Is The Perfect Commuter
Well, we hope you all enjoyed the April Fool’s joke as much as we did. Now that we can get back to business as usual, we thought we’d keep it a bit light and airy for you. This week, we’re going to focus on a lesser-chosen enthusiast vehicle we think deserves more love: the F10 535i. Fortunately, Pat, one of our analysts just picked up one of the only manual transmission, rear-wheel drive, F10s delivered here in the states and has been in the process of turning it into something a bit more exciting than it was from the factory.
The F10 is a lovely platform, especially as a daily driver. It offers plenty of power, luxury, and convenience as a full-sized sedan with the N55 planted under the hood. However, in unmodified form, they’re a bit underwhelming, even with the manual trans. | | When Pat brought this low-mileage example home, it was an excellent starting point, but the plan was never to keep it stock. Pat recognized the potential with the N55 and fun to be had on his daily commute with just a few simple upgrades. Since it was already in such fantastic condition, he didn’t waste any time busting into it.
A Turner Motorsport 535i carbon fiber intake, Bootmod3 software tune, VRSF downpipe, VRSF intercooler, and Remus axle-back exhaust now help the 535i make a considerable amount of power for a more exhilarating driving experience. When we say considerable, we mean it. This combination of simple bolt-on upgrades wakes up the N55 and transforms it into a complete monster. | | Such is the benefit of a modern forced-induction platform. The twin-scroll turbo has plenty of headroom to pressurize the higher CFM of air from the intake, while the bigger VRSF intercooler helps drop charge air temperatures dramatically for denser air. On the hot end, the downpipe helps it all exit efficiently where it makes the glorious straight-six turbo noises we all love as it's exhaled through that Remus muffler setup. On their own, these upgrades wouldn't make much of a difference, but with Bootmod3’s Stage2 software, the ECU can take advantage of the improved capabilities to see what the N55 can do, even with just some basic performance upgrades.
Inside the car, the cabin is adorned in the famous, and gorgeous, Ivory interior that makes this luxury commuter an even more comfortable place to be during the daily drive. A P3 Gauges boost gauge helps Pat monitor his positive pressure without compromising that iconic BMW interior, which is a big benefit of their integrated setup. The last thing you want to do with a car like this, even if it’s been beefed up, is to make it look like it's modified. | | | This brings us to the real selling points of this platform. With the statement the F10 makes on the road, it would be a shame to see it excessively modified. The point of this car is to provide an unmatched driving experience that balances performance, style, and convenience without sacrifice. While it could be turned into a rolling burnout machine, that would defeat the nature of this car or the purpose for which the owner chose the platform. All it needs is a bit more power, a more aggressive sound, and the finishing touches like ECS Tuning F10 RWD adjustable damping coilovers to help the body sit down nicely on the OEM BMW wheels. So far, as the test mule, we can report these coilovers certainly make Pat happy in both looks and ride quality. However, if you want a set of your own, there are some models already available. | | With so much performance potential from such a relatively small investment, the F10 535i is quickly becoming a bargain luxury performer while retaining its luxury stature. At least, Pat has been completely won over. This is no easy feat for the F10, either, as parked alongside it in Pat’s garage is an E46 M3 cabriolet also sporting the three-pedal gearbox. With a bar set that high, the fact that this F10 provides endless amounts of joy on his commutes and weekend adventures is a testament to how good the platform is.
But don’t take my words for it, here’s what Pat has to say about his car:
“So I've always loved manual cars, every car i've ever owned was a manual. I would consider myself somewhat I a know-it-all when it comes to modern day vehicles equipped with manual transmissions. Modern manual cars are either the included with an optionless base package vehicle or high dollar sports cars. The sweet spot of manual cars with amenities like leather, back up cam, bluetooth, etc. is very small. My 2016 mazda 6 filled all of these needs perfectly, but I was left yearning for more power.
The f10 offered in manual for pre-lci vehicles only, except for the M5 which was produced in manual the whole time. There were only 1000 f10 535's produced in manual, about half of that equipped with M-Sport package. The 535 comes available with executive style features like heads up display and power lift gate while still offering a sporty 3.0T with 3 pedals. The car is quiet and tame, but with a few modifications, it has come to life.“ | | | Effectively, with something like the F10 535i, you don’t have to make any choices between comfort, convenience, aftermarket support, performance potential, or price. Somehow, it does it all without complaints. The prices on these cars are reaching tempting affordability while their equipment and technology still don’t feel dated. They’re everything the E39 540i was a few years ago, but with much higher potential for performance and, in our opinion, reliability. Now all that’s left is for folks like Pat to scoop them up for a bargain, make some subtle improvements, and enjoy that twin-scroll turbocharged power from the comfort of a cushy interior. What do you think? Is the F10 535i the best bargain luxury performance sedan? Let us know your thoughts at [email protected] and you may find yourself in a future edition of Turner Motorsport Weekly. | | | | |
