ctober 15,

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NEWS pooto Mike Wakelisid

THE 1994 BMW 546i sedan offers a 282-horsepower 4.0-litre V8 engine and standard five-speed automatic transmission. Tire and wheels on model shown not standard.
Inquire about the 540i at Park Shore Motors, 1500 Fell Ave., North Vancouver.

TEST DRIVE

THE MID-SIZED BMW S-
series sedan is generally ac-
knowledged as one of the
best-handling four-door lux-
ury sedans in the world.

What is more interesting,
though, is that the S-series also
has a wonderfully smooth ride and
is extremely easy to drive. In my
opinion, the S-series combines
performance and luxury ina way
that no other luxury car — Ger-
man, Japanese, or American —
has yet been able to duplicate.

However, other mid-sized lux-
ury cars, such as the Mercedes-
Benz E-class 4.2 (formerly 400E),
offer V8 engines in addition to the
standard six-cylinder engines.

To remedy this situation, BMW
now offers two V8 engines in the
S-series sedan and one in the S-
series station wagon (in addition
to the standard 2.5-litre in-line six
in the 525i sedan and wagon).

The six-cylinder 535i sedan has
been dropped for 1994, essentially
replaced by the 530i.

The new 530i sedan and wagon
have a 3.0-litre V8 while the 540i
sedan has the same 4.0-litre V8
introduced last year in the larger
740i and 740i! sedans.

The sophisticated aluminum
block 4.0-litre V8 is one of the
most advanced V8 engines avail-
able in any fuxury car. It has four
overhead chain-driven camshafts,
four valves per cylinder, Bosch
Motronic engine management and
sequential fuel injection, direct ig-
nition, knock control, hydraulic
valve lifters, and other state-of-
the-art features.

The longitudinally mounted
engine is mated to a standard
five-speed automatic transmission
(a manual transmission is not
available in the 540i, but is avail-
able in the 530i). The unique
five-speed automatic offers
seamless gear changes while pro-

er tt

viding a sportier driving feel than
most four-speed automatic
transmissions.

Drivers cau select Sport mode
for quicker upshifts, Economy for
delayed shifts, or Winter mode,
where the transmission starts in
third gear to prevent wheel spin in
icy conditions.

Like all BMWs, the 540i is
rear-wheel drive, providing an
even front-to-rear-weight balance
for optimum handling charac-
teristics. A fully independent
suspension with unusually good
damping characteristics gives the
540i a well-balanced, stable, and
secure ride even at very high
speeds.

The 540i has tots of power (282
hp), and even though the acceler-
ator is not sensitive, it’s possible
to lose traction of the driving
wheels in slippery conditions.
Fortunately, BMW offers an op-
tional traction-control system
which prevents the driving wheels
from spinning. The system can be

turned on or off from the driver's

seat,

Even though the 540i weighs a
hefty 3,680 Ibs., it’s capable of
accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h
in under seven seconds. Passing
performance is also commendable
because of the V8 engine’s easily
available power and the quick
reactions of the five-speed

Base price $64,900
Type four-door,
passenger luxury sedan
Layout longitudinal
engine/rear-wheel drive
Engine 4.0-litre V8, DOHC
(2), 32 valves, Bosch
Motronic fuel injection
Horsepower 282 @ 5,800 rpm
Torque 295 ft.-lbs. @ 4,500
tpm

Transmission five-speed
automatic (Economy, Sport,

five-

front-

automatic transmission.

At freeway speeds, the V8 loafs
along at just 1,700 rpm at a steady
speed of 100 km/h, saving fuel
and reducing engine noise.

Big, four-wheel ventilated disc
brakes with an anti-fock braking
system are standard equipment on
the 540i, and they offer excellent
stopping power with very little
pedal effort.

The engine-speed-sensitive
power steering is heavier than that
of the 7401, presumably to lend «
sportier feel to this smailer sedan.

The 540i’s interior offers plenty

Winter modes)

Tires 225/60R-15 radials

Curb Weight 1,669 kg/3,659
S.

Wheelbase

in.

Length 4,719 mm/185.8 in.

Width 1,750 mm/68.9 in.

Height 1,412 mm/55.6 in.

Trunk capacity 459 litres/16.2

cu. ft.

Warranty

km

2,761 mm/108.7

four years/80,000

of headroom and adequate
legroom for five passengers and
there are more luxury features
than | have space to write about.
Noteworthy are dual airbags (on
madels manufactured after
September), 10-way power front
seats with memory system that
controls ihe seat, seatbelt height,
steering wheel and outside mir-
rors, high-quality leather seating,
lacquered walnut trim, air condi-
tioning with separate temperature
controls for teft and right passen-
gers, telescoping steering wheel
See 540i page 28