BMW are going all-out with their choice of engines in the new 5 Series. Four petrol and two diesel means the BMW driver has almost unlimited choices.
A couple of new engines are the TwinPower four-cylinder – also seen in the X1, Z4, 1 Series and new 3 Series – is now available in two states of tune in the 5 Series range, with a 135 kW version powering the 520i and a 180 kW version fitted to the 528i.
BMW 5 Series.
The new BMW 520i is also cheaper than the previous 5 Series petrol price leader, the six-cylinder 528i. The new re-engined 528i, which replaces the 3.0 liter normally aspirated inline petrol six is also much more frugal (14 percent improvement in consumption figures).
BMW also claims that the new model is 0.4 seconds faster to 100 km/h, at 6.3 seconds. Even the new 520i hits 100 km/h in a claimed eight seconds.
However, the best fuel consumption figures in the 5 Series is the upgraded diesel 520d returning 4.7 L/100 km – very close to eco-car figures in a full size sedan.
Turbocharging is the way to go, says BMW with both the 520i and 528i engines with a twin-scroll turbocharger with Valvetronic variable valve control and double VANOS camshaft control, with the 520i producing 135 kW of power between 5000 and 6250 rpm and 270 Nm of torque from just 1250 rpm to 4000 rpm. The new 520i comes with an idle-stop function, plus dynamic driving control, EcoPro economy driving mode, 17 inch alloy wheels, ‘Business’ satellite-navigation, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control with braking function, USB audio interface, Bluetooth, climate-control, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, a through-loading system and anti-dazzle interior mirror. That is a very well equipped car.
Both new four-cylinder petrol engines come as part of a 2012 refresh for the 5 Series. While the 520d brings better fuel efficiency, the 535d’s six-cylinder 3.0-liter TwinPower variable-turbo diesel engine delivers an extra 10 kW of peak power at 230 kW while cutting fuel consumption by eight percent.
With the advent of Audi A6, the Lexus GS 250 as well as the Mercedes-Benz 250 CGI Avantgarde in this class, it will be very interesting to see which marque will get the buyer’s attention in Thailand, though BMW and Mercedes-Benz are the favorites out of that four.
