1986 BMW 5 Series 535i review from North America

Previous owners did extensive work on suspension and driveshaft. Immaculate records for car since first purchased indicate wonderful regular maintenance, In the short time I've owned the car, nothing has gone wrong at all... the idle is rough, but that is a characteristic of these cars. It will be time to change the brake fluid soon (recommended every year, it absorbs water and will play havoc on the lines), but only regular maintenance looms on the horizon.

Comfortable sportiness would be the best way to describe this car. It is quiet and reliable, and though the suspension is a little stiff, still rides very nicely. It really begins to shine on a twisty road... navigate corners at speeds that are silly to attempt with any North American sedan, and run at 140 kph without sacrificing comfort or scaring your passengers. Unfortunately I drive mostly city miles, but it is a treat to run the car on a mountain highway, it just begs you to challenge it. Also, the design team at BMW deserves a round of applause... all controls are conveniently located, there is plenty of room for adults in the back seat, the trunk has room enough to equip a small army, and the car does not look at all dated, even though it is 17 years old.