Base Manual: R 432 000 M Sport Steptronic: R 488 200
2.0
4
Diesel
Turbocharger
130 @ 4000
350 @ 1750-2750
6.1
8.7
223
6
Automatic
BMW 520d M Sport Steptronic - Quick Facts
BMW 5 Series is design classic; curl-up headlight eyebrows, winged taillights, tiny bright orange side lights front and LED light rod taillights with red side lights.
Optional M Sport pack groups sporty parts, including aerodynamics package, wheels and sport seats/steering/suspension; interior restrained and efficient; row of favourite buttons is sheer brilliant convenience.
BMW 520d is 4-cylinder 2-litre diesel; first local 5 Series with 4-cylinder engine in generations; brisk off line, ample overtaking acceleration, easy high speed ability; strong 350Nm torque; engine sounds and feels strained compared to smooth six-cylinder of 523i; claimed average of 6.1 l/100km - achieved 6.5 with 3 people in mixed driving.
Several standard/optional technology items unique in segment; Lane Departure Warning on test car vibrates steering wheel when car changes lane without indicating, or deviates across yellow line.
520d not lowest-priced 5 Series: 523i is; offers fair value but some rivals priced better, have smoother 5-cylinder engines, or newer designs.
BMW Efficient Dynamics strategy lowers fuel consumption and emissions, yet offers good performance; 520d has best performance + efficiency:car-size ratio; 4-cylinder sounds and feels out of place in 5 Series, where 6-cylinder is perfect.
BMW 520d M Sport Steptronic - Road Test Interview
Interviewer: David S (Motoring Journalist and Vehicle Information Specialist)
Interviewee: BMW 520d M Sport Steptronic
Question: A 4-cylinder diesel in a BMW 5 Series - is it the finest example of BMW's Efficient Dynamics strategy, or is it too little engine for this car?
BMW 520d M Sport Steptronic answered us in this road test interview.
BMW 520d M Sport Steptronic - Biggest Talking Point
Most people are surprised that the 520d model has a mere 2-litre 4-cylinder engine, in this medium-sized car.
BMW 520d M Sport Steptronic - Exterior and Interior
BMW created a design classic here - all chiselled and sporty, stylish and executive. The BMW 5 Series has those curl-up headlight eyebrows and winged taillights, with an overall shape that is totally unlike any other car out there. Pleasure-inducing lighting details are LED indicators, supplemented by tiny bright orange side lights at the rearmost tips of headlights. At the rear are 5 sweeping LED lights rods, plus small red lights marking the outside of taillights.
You also have the optional M Sport pack?
Yes. It comprises the M aerodynamics package, M double-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels, high-gloss satin chrome window surrounds (replacing chrome), M Sport suspension, M badge on door sills, M leather steering wheel, aluminium interior trim finishers, sport seats, and anthracite (black) headlining.
This is package is a R 40 100 option on 520d models. Strangely the much-better looking aggressive 5 Series 19-inch M wheels are not offered on local M Sport packs.
Your interior is a place of modern simplicity - a colleague who stepped directly out of a Cadillac CTS observed that the 5 Series looks "plain" inside... it doesn't feel plush but rather comfortably restrained and efficient. The row of favourite buttons, where one can store and instantly recall favourite radio stations, navigation destinations and phone contacts - sheer brilliant convenience! Build quality and materials are impeccable - much better than most others manage.
BMW 520d M Sport Steptronic - Spec and Drive
You are the first 4-cylinder in a local 5 Series since the first generations of 5 Series.
Yes, although 4-cylinder 5 Series models are nothing new in European markets, the last such South African 5 Series model was the 518i of many many years ago - since then all 5's had at least the classic BMW straight 6.
Let's cut straight to the drive - how does your 2-litre 4-cylinder diesel, more used to duty in the lighter smaller 120d and 320d, cope with the task as 520d? Surprisingly well - the power delivery is really brisk off the line, with ample overtaking acceleration and an easy high-speed ability. How do you do this?
My engine has strong torque of 350Nm, which is exceptional for a 2-litre, resulting in the impressive performance you experienced. My gear ratios were also shortened.
The engine mostly pulls the 5 Series with ease but on the odd occasion it felt like it was working quite hard. Perhaps I'm so accustomed to silky-smooth engines from other 5 Series models that, by comparison, make the 4-potted "d" seem strained. Where the 520d offers more torque, everyday performance and better consumption, the cheaper 523i is the quiet, silky-smooth, executive-sounding BMW six - the 520d never sounds good, as a 5 Series should.
Are my fuel manners respectable?
I really thought you would be unable to get close to the claimed average diesel consumption of a city-car low 6.1 litres per 100 but a mixed trip of highway and city revealed an astonishing 6.5 litres average - this included some accelerator-meets-carpet moments, with 3 people on board... the fuel gauge kept leaning closer to F.
Just a sample of the standard/optional safety and comfort show-off pieces (some of which are unique in its segment) include cruise control incorporating a brake function, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function (only for Steptronic automatic models, obviously), Head-Up Display, Night Vision, High-Beam Assist, Active Steering, Daytime Driving Lights (with the BMW-trademark 4 corona rings), Adaptive Headlights, and automatic soft-close doors.
Being a German premium car (and especially a BMW), technology is obviously a key factor.
You are fitted with Lane Departure Warning - as the name suggests, this system warns the driver when changing lanes unintentionally, by vibrating the steering wheel and thereby making the driver aware of the car's path.
This system uses a sensor to "see" the lines on the road and will send a vibration through the steering wheel if the driver changes a lane or deviates into the yellow line without using the indicator.
This is also a safety feature to alert a driver that may fall asleep when driving, as the vibrating steering wheel will hopefully wake him/her up when the car drifts out of its lane.
BMW 520d M Sport Steptronic - Favourite Fresh Feature?
Most cars, when locking or unlocking, confirms the remote control command by flashing the hazards, right? BMW does it with style: with the home-safe delayed headlight-off active, locking the BMW will see the headlight eyes and the orange eyebrows fade out gracefully. Unlock and it welcomes its owner by gradually fading in the lights.
BMW 520d M Sport Steptronic - Pricing
Did BMW introduce the 520d to become the lowest-priced 5 Series in the line-up? No, the 523i is still the price entry-point. For a base model 523i Steptronic, BMW dealers want R 423 400, where a 520d Steptronic is R 448 400 and a 525i Steptronic is R 487 400. Compared to rivals, the 520d offers fair value - some rivals are priced better but offer less quality/prestige/performance, whereas others have smoother 5-cylinder engines, or are newer designs.
BMW 520d M Sport Steptronic - Rivals
Alfa Romeo 159 JTDm (beautiful exclusivity with a gem of a 5-cylinder engine), Audi doesn't offer a 4-cylinder diesel A6, Honda Accord 2.2 i-DTEC (nearly 5 Series size, but a clattery engine and less prestige), Mercedes-Benz E220CDI (to be replaced by all-new E-Class next month), Volkswagen will soon launch their CC (sloping roofline variation on Passat) including 2.0TDI; Volvo S80 D5 (bigger car; another 5-cylinder; more powerful).
BMW 520d M Sport Steptronic - Finding
Question: A 4-cylinder diesel in a BMW 5 Series - is it the finest example of BMW's Efficient Dynamics strategy, or is it too little engine for this car?
BMW has achieved much with its Efficient Dynamics strategy - lowering fuel consumption and emissions, yet offering good performance. By this measure, the dynamic yet efficient 520d has the best performance + efficiency:car-size ratio - a lean 2-litre with great efficiency and ample performance in a mid-size exec sedan. Yet... the 4-cylinder sounds and feels out-of-place in the sophisticated, distinctive and upmarket 5 Series, where a syrup-six is perfect.
: David S:
Full member of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists
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