2021 BMW 540i REVIEW | Buyer's Guide |MotorTrend

Once, the BMW 5-Series was the best driving sports sedan in the game and "540i" meant a 4.4-liter V-8 under the hood. In 2021, things are different, but for better or worse? Jonny Lieberman takes a look. Learn more about the 2021 BMW 540i right here. ➡️ bit.ly/3IiEXmz
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00:00 2021 BMW 540i Intro
01:33 2021 BMW 540i Design
02:41 2021 BMW 540i Interior and Tech
04:24 2021 BMW 540i Performance
05:47 2021 BMW 540i Safety
06:17 2021 BMW 540i Price
06:58 2021 BMW 540i Should You Buy It?
#BMW #BMW5Series #MotorTrend
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[@FlightX101]

Your editor is gonna get roasted for the thumbnail lol

[@blanchbacker]

I know right. I was so confused.

[@prastyowahyu6357]

Poor editor, lol

[@quikness5284]

The title says V8 sports sedan but no mention of the M550.. weird

[@DrTropics]

I got my 2021 540i w the M Sport package, Premium package and Extended Shadowline package. Bernina Grey exterior, Cognac Interior. Absolutely love it and it is just as fun and better than previous 3 series that I've owned. I hate it when someone compares cars from today to cars from 25 years ago, they're not the same car, markets change, demands change. This car is awesome and in my opinion, better than the E class (I've driven it several times and was not impressed by the quality of the interior nor the drive experience; it's a car for old people).

[@stephanvelines7006]

The M550i is the 4.4L TT V8 model (N63B44). The 540i has a 3.0L T inline 6 (B58B30) based on BMWs modular engine series. Both great engines, great car overall. Solid.

[@vladislavdimitrov4646]

Explain a little bit more about modular engines series ?

[@stephanvelines7006]

@@vladislavdimitrov4646 The modular series engines share various properties and components which makes them easier (cheaper) to engineer and manufacture. Basically a n-cylinder engine (n is an integer larger than 1) is just the sum of individual single cylinder engines (not exactly true but I’ll get to the points later). Therefore you can optimise combustion processes, cylinder head designs, injector positions and once you’ve found the optimal combustion dimensions and timing you just add together cylinders. BMW (and other manufacturers) have pushed this concept to the limits and build engines series that use the same tooling and the same assembly as well as similar / identical parts. The gasoline B38 (inline 3), B48 (inline 4) and B58 (inline 6) use the same bore and stroke 82 mm x 94,6 mm, the same cylinder spacing, same materials, similar head and cooling port designs, … same for the diesel B37 (inline 3), B47 (inline 4) and B57 (inline 6) use the same bore and stroke of 84 mm x 90 mm. Quality control and flexibility in production site is also improved since if there is more demand for larger engines the production plant can change to producing the B58. If a week later consumer preferences change they can switch to smaller engines like the B48. For the customer the B series engines are reliable and have good torque and efficiency (thanks to the dominant stroke compared to the bore). The overall experience (rev happiness, max rpm) might be a bit lacking when comparing the N55 (predecessor to the B58 inline 6) to the B58 because of the lower rev range due to the N55 having a larger bore (84 x 89,6 to 82 x 94,6). But the B series is better overall. (Obviously a n-cylinder engine is not just a sum of 1 cylinder engines because engine balancing depends on the number of cylinders, 3 and 4 cylinders need counterweights or balancing shafts to offset imbalances whereas a 6 cylinder engine is balanced by design. Turbocharging depends on the overall air requirements of the engine, therefore a 3 cylinder needs another turbocharger than a 6 cylinder engine. Also cooling requirements and thermal losses due to friction increases with the number of cylinders. Intake design and resonance as well as exhaust gas scavenging also plays a role. But ultimately the engine design process starts with studying, understanding and testing of single cylinder test rigs.)

[@vladislavdimitrov4646]

@@stephanvelines7006 Thank you for the comprehensive response. What about the N63B44 ? Are there any other 'siblings' except the S63B44 ?

[@stephanvelines7006]

@@vladislavdimitrov4646 the N63 is not part of the modular engine series and as things unfold I don’t think BMW would develop a successor. The N63B44 has a bore x stroke of 89 mm x 88,3 mm, so it’s a sporty engine by design. Compared to the M176/M177 Mercedes engines which have a bore x stroke of 83 mm x 92 mm resulting in a torque advantage for the Mercedes but the BMW should be the more rev happy engine. There is a S63B44 variant with different head material, larger cooling system, other turbocharges, larger valves and different cam shafts. Then there is the P63 which is the race variant of the engine although there are many changes so one could almost consider it a different engine all together. Changes include flat plane crank, different combustion and intake geometries, dry sump lubrication aso. It can be found in race cars like the M6 GT3 and M8 GTE.

[@vladislavdimitrov4646]

@@stephanvelines7006The engine in the future XM would may be a N63 successor or not ?

[@Brad78132]

I love my '21 540i. I ordered mine with the M Sport package, and it's absolutely as fun to drive as any BMW I've owned (except for my weekend-only E46 M3, of course).

[@Keitho1967]

Mine is on order and just about to arrive in the USA next week. Looking forward to it

[@LegitAjit]

Haha I don't think anything will be as fun as the weekend only E46 M3. I know because I have one as well.

[@DrTropics]

@@Keitho1967 You're going to love it. I love mine. I don't know what this dude on the video is talking about.

[@DrTropics]

Agreed!

[@kristians2704]

the 540i is not a V8

[@zuti071]

520d is still best selling version on the markets without cheap fuel.

[@vlogbossentertainment3306]

Can't Wait To get this❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@jupitermarx]

I absolutely love this car!! in my state, we only have a license plate in the back!;)

[@MrToastyman900]

V8🤔

[@lesliebrokermilken]

Really cool this BMW! 👏

[@lowemichael03]

I agree front license plate should be bad they should have something like a barcode or something where the camera or sensor is in the front of the car that let you know you're about to hit something something. They had no problem hiding that so they should be able to hide the license plate. If there's cameras in your city it should be able to read the barcode

[@siornetwork7701]

thumbnail says v8, cars an i6, make up your mind.

[@drbmwjon]

Too bad a 540 is a inline 6 and not a v8

[@SteveBarlowTX]

Why is your fly showing.... how do you not notice?

[@kevinmcarthur6852]

Seriously...his jeans zipper is almost halfway down and clearly showing the entire video. How did this even make it to the upload?

[@acknasty]

Nice Doxa!

[@williamds1]

Advertorial?

[@igorvyshnianchyn8983]

Nice DOXA!

[@D1man1525]

I miss Jonny’s videos

[@Endorion_YTC]

Nice! A New Jersey license plate, that's where I'm from!

[@imranabbasi7871]

👍

[@krisabel4681]

What motor trend is this? No seat time, incorrect info, all talk no action..

[@DerbJd]

Does it actually have a 4 litre engine or is it just another stupid sticker on the boot lid?

[@stephanvelines7006]

It doesn’t (3.0L inline 6). But you can get a 4.4L V8 in the M550i and the notorious M5.

[@SerbianBeastz]

Just the way BMW name their cars nowadays. Used to be the displacement, not anymore. Today, in general, “40i” models have a turbocharged 3.0L inline 6

[@d7oom977]

jaguar xf all the way!

[@natebenson55]

Since when is the 540i a V8??

[@stephanvelines7006]

It isn’t.

[@D1man1525]

No one said its a V8. He said they used to be V8

[@porschexual]

@@D1man1525 the title says it

[@D1man1525]

@@porschexual read it again. It says “Once, the 5 Series was the best driving sports sedan and 540 meant it had a 4.4l V8. In 2021” etc. They are talking about the old 540’s from before which did have 4.4l V8’s

[@NBA_SPOODSTAR]

@@D1man1525 buddy. the thumbnail says “V8 Sports Sedan”. This is not a V8 Sports Sedan. That’s the whole point here.

[@ahemgee9542]

Ermmmm isn't this an Inline 6 B58 ?

[@car-lo]

Ok that is it! I cant watch his arms gesture anymore, arms all over the place at all times.

[@marctopalian5795]

This video is a mess, everyone is commenting on the title but did anyone notice his fly is halfway down?!

[@blarkdexture8899]

V8 😂

[@manyakus8919]

This is a $70k that has a state of the art plastic oil pan and plastic water pump. We choose plastic because we management wants to save 10$ per car. Yearly production is 100 000 unit so we save 1 000 000 USD. The warranty repair is in a different budget but hey dont worry about it.

[@xXAlmdudlerXx]

Plastic doesnt corrode though

[@skylarkovack2561]

2021? 🤦‍♂️

[@RenaissanceBro]

😑 It looks like it's from 2015