THE LATEST ITERATION OF BMW’S CELEBRATED 5 Series will arrive in Australia via six variants with high levels of standard specification to complement the model’s technical updates.
The new 5 Series features significant upgrades to its interior and technology aspects, with a larger 12.3-inch control display headlining the suite of revisions to the cabin.
It also gets a new exterior design package that mixes elegance with sporting style thanks to changes to the front and rear design elements including the kidney grille and head and taillights.
The updated petrol engines of the 520i and 530i now integrate High Precision Injection – operating at a pressure of 350 bar compared with 200 of the previous unit – while the diesel has two-stage turbocharging technology. Both updates increase efficiency and throttle response.
520i: highly specified with M Sport package as standard
The new local line-up will start with the 520i, which now features a higher level of specification than before.
This includes the M Sport package, which is now fitted as standard on all 5 Series models.
The package includes 19-inch light alloy wheels, M Sport suspension, BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line, Sport seats, BMW Individual roofliner in Anthracite, M Aerodynamics Package, M leather steering wheel, M door sills, ‘M’ designation on the front side panels and tailpipe finishers in chrome with a trapezoidal design.
Nineteen-inch alloy wheels, adaptive LED headlights, high beam assist and Driving Assistant Professional are now standard on the 520i, representing useful upgrades on the previous generation model’s base equipment offering.
The 520i is powered by a 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine, which produces 135kW and 290Nm, and is mated to an eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission. The 520i accelerates from 0-100km/h in 7.8 seconds.
Pricing for the 520i starts at $95,900 (plus on road costs).
530i: more standard equipment
The 530i has additional equipment including M Sport brakes, which are optionally available for the 520i.
It is fitted with an eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission that provides a wider gear ratio spread. This unit is also fitted to all other 5 Series models in the line-up.
The 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine of the 530i produces 185kW and 350Nm, which helps deliver a standard sprint time of 6.1 seconds.
The 530i is priced at $115,900 (plus on road costs).
530e: now with XtraBoost
The highly advanced 530e Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) matches a 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo with a cutting-edge synchronous electric motor fully integrated in the gearbox. It also features a generator that recoups energy back into the high-voltage battery during coasting or braking.
The 530e can be driven in a range of ways depending on the situation. It can function in hybrid mode, electric-only mode or petrol-only mode.
When driven in petrol-only mode, the 530e produces 135kW and 300Nm, while the electric motor offers standalone outputs of 80kW and 265Nm.
The new XtraBoost function provides an added dose thrust under vigorous acceleration whereby the joint output of the two power sources can be increased by 30kW – up to 215kW – for up to 10 seconds. XtraBoost is fitted as standard and available when the Driving Experience Control switch is set to Sport and the gear selector is moved into the M/S position.
In combined power mode, the 530e reaches 100km/h in just 5.9 seconds and has a top speed of 250km/h.
The fully electric capability of the 530e is considerable, with an electric-only range of 67km.
The 530e features a modern Type 2 charging port with the lithium-ion battery chargeable via three different methods: a domestic wall socket with the supplied convenience charging cable, BMW i Wallbox or public charging stations with Type 2 infrastructure.
The 530e is priced at $118,900 (plus on road costs).
530d: new two-stage turbocharging
The 530d has the same level of specification as the 530i, while its 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder diesel – which now features two-stage turbocharging – produces 195kW and 620Nm of torque. This helps the 530d accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 5.7 seconds.
M550i: the performance model
The M550i xDrive – the M Performance flagship variant of the line-up – features a 4.4-litre TwinPower Turbo V8 and a rear-biased, fully variable xDrive all-wheel-drive system for optimal traction in all situations.
This focused sports sedan achieves the standard sprint in just 3.8 seconds.
The M550i xDrive comes with an extensive list of standard equipment, while the M550i xDrive Pure provides the same level of performance but at a lower price point.
The M550i xDrive and M550i xDrive Pure are priced at $152,900 and $137,900 respectively.
Specification detail for all new BMW 5 Series models is listed below:
520i
- M Sport Package
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Adaptive LED headlights
- High Beam Assist
- Driving Assistant Professional
- Android Auto + Apple CarPlay
- Ambient lighting
- Comfort Access
- Connected Package Professional
- DAB Digital radio
- Speed Limit Info
- Electric seat adjustment
- Head-Up Display
- HiFi 12-speaker sound system
- Sensatec instrument panel
- Leather Dakota upholstery
- Parking Assistant Plus
- BMW Live Cockpit Professional
- Wireless charging
- Steptronic automatic transmission
530i (additional specification over 520i)
- Automatic tailgate
- Heated seats, front
- Lumbar support, front
- Adaptive suspension
- harman/kardon surround sound system, 16 loudspeakers
- M Sport brakes
- Sports Automatic Transmission
Note: specification mirrored on 530d
530e (additional specification over 530i)
- XtraBoost
- eDrive Services
- Convenience charging cable
- Acoustic protection for pedestrians
M550i xDrive (additional specification over 530i)
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- xDrive
- M Performance tuning
- M Sport differential
- Tyre repair kit
- Adaptive M Suspension Professional
- Automatic Air-Con, 4-Zone
- M rear spoiler
- Soft-close function for doors
- Leather instrument panel
- Ambient Air
- Electric glass sunroof
- BMW Laserlight
- Metallic paint
Note: the following items are removed for M550i xDrive Pure:
- Roll stabilisation and Integral Active Steering
- BMW Laserlight inc. BMW Selective Beam
- Electric glass sunroof
- Metallic paintwork
- Soft-close function for doors
- Instrument panel finished in leather
- Ambient Air
Option packages
A suite of options are available for all models in the BMW 5 Series line-up.
The advanced Reversing Assistant is now standard fitment on all models and integrated in the Parking Assistant Plus package for added convenience when parking and manoeuvring in tight spaces.
The progressive BMW Laserlight headlight system is now optionally available on BMW 520i, 530i, 530d and 530e, while M Multifunctional Seats – which are taken directly from the BMW M5 Competition – are now optionally available across all models.
M Sport Brakes in high-gloss red are available for BMW 520i and a no cost option for 530i, 530d and 530e and both the M550i xDrive and M550i xDrive Pure.
BMW Drive Recorder, which enables the surround view camera to create video recordings of up to 40 seconds of the vehicle’s surroundings, can also be fitted to all variants.
BMW 5 Series line-up
| Variant | Engine | Power | Torque | 0-100km/h (sec) | Price (plus on road costs) |
| 520i | 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol TwinPower Turbo | 135kW | 290Nm | 7.8 | $95,900 |
| 530i | 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol TwinPower Turbo | 185kW | 350Nm | 6.1 | $115,900 |
| 530e PHEV |
2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol TwinPower Turbo & Synchronous electric motor | 215kW | 420Nm | 5.9 | $118,900 |
| 530d | 3.0-litre six-cylinder TwinPower Turbo diesel | 195kW | 620Nm | 5.7 | $125,900 |
| M550i xDrive
Pure |
4.4-litre V8 TwinPower Turbo petrol | 390kW | 750Nm | 3.8 | $137,900 |
| M550i xDrive | 4.4-litre V8 TwinPower Turbo petrol | 390kW | 750Nm | 3.8 | $152,900 |
Once we have tested and assessed the new BMW 5 Series range, seniordriveraus will bring you a comprehensive review, including everything the over-50 driver needs to know.