BMW 520i

One of BMW’s highly sought-after line-ups, the new BMW 5 Series (G60 – 8th-generation), officially launched in Malaysia.

An E-segment (executive) contender, the sedan is a Mild-Hybrid (MHEV) counterpart to the all-electric (EV) BMW i5 (G60E).

Locally assembled (CKD – Kedah), available via BMW Malaysia are three variants (520i – MYR 340,800, 520i M Sport – MYR 357,800, 530i M Sport – MYR 399,800).

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) for each purchase include BMW’s standard warranty (two years, unlimited mileage).

BMW Service Inclusive (BSI – extended warranty – five years, unlimited mileage, six years, unlimited mileage service package – MYR 371,100, MYR 388,100, MYR 430,100).

Four (520i) exterior colours (Black Sapphire Metallic, Mineral White Metallic, Phytonic Blue Metallic, Cape York Green Metallic). 

Four (520i M Sport) exterior colours (Black Sapphire Metallic, Mineral White Metallic, Cape York Green Metallic, Oxide Grey Metallic). 

Five (530i M Sport) exterior colours (Black Sapphire Metallic, Mineral White Metallic, Phytonic Blue Metallic, Cape York Green Metallic, Brooklyn Grey Metallic).

Four interior colours (520i, 520i M Sport – Black, Espresso Brown/530i M Sport – Black, Copper Brown).

The new 5 Series has a modern, clean-cut and tiered dashboard design, linked to a wide-high-rising centre console (rotary gear selector, wireless charger).

Soft-/hard-touched (dash, steering wheel, centre console, doors), it sees leather (‘Veganza’ – 520i, 520i M Sport/ ‘Merino’ – 530i M Sport) upholstery in a single-tone (Grey Blue Ash) colour scheme with variant-specific details.

Fine-Wood trim with Dark Silver accent (520i) and Aluminium Rhombicle trim with Dark Silver M accent (520i M Sport, 530i M Sport).

Centre-staged are the BMW Curved Display (single-pane glass – instrument, infotainment) and BMW Interaction Bar (multi-function control – BMW Natural Interaction).

Accentuations are Silver bezels (centre console - shifter, buttons) and an ambient lighting system (six colours - BMW MyMode).

Inclusively, the layout is clean and airy with accessibilities ergonomically arranged (driver-centric, passenger-oriented). 

One half of the BMW Curved Display, it features a 12.3-Inch LCD fully digital driver display (instrument cluster), with a BMW Heads-Up Display (HUD). 

The system runs on the BMW Operating System 8.5 (BMW OS 8.5) and supports the BMW Live Cockpit Professional (BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant - voice recognition, command, gesture).

Luxurious, the interior is upholstered in leather (‘Veganza’ – 520i, 520i M Sport, ‘Merino’ – 530i M Sport) with variant-specific colour options (520i, 520i M Sport – Black, Espresso Brown/530i M Sport – Black, Copper Brown).

The front sees electric-powered (driver/passenger – multi-way, lumbar, driver-memory) M Sport Seats. The rear sees a manual-operated (40:20:40 split-fold) bolstered bench.

Included are armrests (front – centre console, rear – centre seat fold-out), headrests (front, rear), an M Headliner (Anthracite – Black) and roller sun blinds (manual – rear side windows).

A five-seater saloon, it offers generous cabin space, providing the occupants (front, rear) with ample interior mobility.

Sufficient head, shoulder and leg rooms.

Mounted is an M Sport steering wheel, wrapped in leather (Black – Silver trims) with variant-specific designs (two-spoke-flat-bottom – 520i, three-spoke-flat-bottom – 520i M Sport, 530i M Sport).

Features are multi-function (media, Bluetooth, voice recognition, vehicle settings), paddle shifters and electric column adjustments (tilt, telescopic). 

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Practical storage areas. E.g., Storage Compartment Package (side door/seat back/armrest pockets, partitioned/caverned/under-stowage centre console spaces, glovebox).

Provided are four cup holders (two – front, rear), and four bottle holders (one – side doors).

Equipped are four USB ports (two – front, rear), two 12 V sockets (one – front, rear) and one wireless charger (centre console).

Accessing its electric-powered (contactless – sensor, remote/key fob) tailgate, opens to 490-/520-Litres (rear seats up – 520i, 520i M Sport/530i M Sport) of load capacity.

The new 5 Series measures at 5,060 MM long, 1,900 MM wide, 1,515 MM tall and with a wheelbase spanning 2,900 MM.

Sporty, elegant and prowling-like, it exudes a long, wide and seamlessly jointed exterior with angularly clean-cut proportions.

The front-end sees a sculpted bonnet (BMW emblem), rounded quarter panels and an angular bumper (BMW ‘Iconic Glow’ kidney grille, single-vented – 520i, triple-vented – 520i M Sport, 530i M Sport).

Fitments, Satin Aluminium Exterior Line (520i, 530i M Sport), M High-Gloss Shadowline (520i M Sport) and M Sport Package (520i M Sport, 530i M Sport).

Elegant, athletic and mildly tapered, it parades a short overhang with smoothly edged and sharply rounded surfaces.

The rear-end sees an upright-pointed tailgate (BMW emblem), muscular quarter panels and an angular bumper (diffuser, 520i – hidden exhausts, 520i M Sport, 530i M Sport – corner exhausts).

Fitments, Satin Aluminium Exterior Line (520i, 530i M Sport), M High-Gloss Shadowline (520i M Sport) and M Sport Package (520i M Sport, 530i M Sport).

Sharp and slender, the headlamps are housed inward-tilted and angularly contoured. Installed are full LED units (BMW Adaptive Laserlight).

Features are automatic On/Off, LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), High-Beam Assistant (HBA), cornering/welcome lights and sequential turn signals (LED).

Sharp and slim, the tail lamps are housed wrapped-around with pointed edges. Installed are full LED units.

Features are automatic On/Off, welcome lights and sequential turn signals (LED). 

The side mirrors (dual-tone – Black-/Satin Aluminium-body-colour) are electric-powered (auto-fold, adjust) with the Exterior Mirror package (automatic anti-dazzle, automatic dipping), blind-spot indicators (Blind Spot Monitor - BSM) and turn signals (LED).

Fitted is a setup of ventilated (front, rear) disc brakes, incorporating an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Gripping the tarmac are sets of 19-Inch (520i – Aerodynamic Style 934 bicolour Grey, 520i M Sport – M Double-Spoke Style 935 M bicolour Silver) and 20-Inch (530i M Sport – M Star-Spoke Style 938 M bicolour Jet Black) light alloy rims.

The sets are rubbered-up in 245/45 R19 (520i, 520i M Sport - front, rear) Continental EcoContact 6 and 245/40 R20-275/35 R20 (530i M Sport – front-rear) Pirelli P Zero tyres.

The new 5 Series features the following set of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Under Driving Assistant Plus, grouped are Active Cruise Control (520i), Active Cruise Control with Stop/Go (520i M Sport, 530i M Sport), Steering Control Assistant, Lane Control Assistant, Lane Departure Warning with Lane Return, Lane Change Warning, Front Collision Warning, Pedestrian Warning, Rear Crossing Traffic Warning and Speed Limit Info.

Under Parking Assistant Plus, grouped are Active Park Distance Control, Reversing Assistant, Lateral Parking Aid and Surround View System (360-degree – 520i, 520i M Sport, 530i M Sport) with remote 3D view (520i M Sport, 530i M Sport).

Other standard systems. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), Hill-Start Assist (HSA), Hill-Descent Control (HDC), High-Beam Assistant (HBA) and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, front sides, front-rear curtains), seat belts (anchors, pretensioners, reminders), ISOFIX (two – outer-rear-seat), adaptive headlamps (On/Off/high-beam), parking sensors (six – front, rear), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), automatic anti-dazzle rear-view mirrors (interior/exterior), side mirrors (automatic dipping, BSM), acoustic protection for pedestrians (exterior loudspeaker), door ajar warning, interior camera, automatic-door locks (speed-sensing, central locking), electric child safety lock (rear doors), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), door ajar warning and anti-theft system (security alarm, immobiliser).

Four drive modes at the driver’s disposal (SPORT, COMFORT, ADAPTIVE, ECO PRO). 

Each mode correlates with the BMW Iconic Sounds Electric, featuring driving sounds composed by Hans Zimmer.

Included is the BMW MyMode (PERSONAL, SPORT, EFFICIENT, EXPRESSIVE, DIGITAL ART) interior drive setting.

Completing the BMW Curved Display, installed is a 14.9-Inch touchscreen central display (infotainment). 

The system runs on the BMW Operating System 8.5 (BMW OS 8.5) and supports the BMW Live Cockpit Professional (BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant - voice recognition, command, gesture), BMW MyMode (settings – interior, drive), BMW Connected Package Professional (Apple CarPlay, Android Auto), BMW ConnectedDrive Services (intelligent emergency call, teleservices), Bluetooth and navigation.

Included is the BMW Interaction Bar (multi-function control – BMW Natural Interaction).

Entertainment is channelled via a Harman Kardan HiFi loudspeaker system (205 W, 16 speakers – 520i, 520i M Sport) and a Bowers and Wilkins surround sound system (655 W, 18 speakers – 530i M Sport).

The new 5 Series nestles a petrol-Mild-Hybrid (MHEV) powertrain (520i, 520i M Sport).

Fused is a 2.0-Litre inline four-cylinder 16-valve turbocharged direct-injection DOHC petrol engine (B48) and a 48 V mild-hybrid system.

Variant-specific, the total output reads at 208 HP/153 KW, 330 NM (520i, 520i M Sport) and 258 HP/190 KW, 400 NM (530i M Sport).

Mated to the setup is an eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission.

Power is transmitted to the rear wheels (520i, 520i M Sport, 530i M Sport), via a Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) system.

Acceleration from 0 to 100 KM/H is done in 7.5 seconds (520i, 520i M Sport) and 6.2 seconds (530i M Sport). 

The top speed is electronically capped at 230 KM/H (520i, 520i M Sport) and 250 KM/H (530i M Sport).

Fuel tank capacity is at 60-Litres, and the combined fuel consumption is rated at 6.4-Litres to 5.8-Litres/7.1-Litres for every 100 KM (520i, 520i M Sport/530i M Sport).

The new 5 Series features these conveniences.

E.g., Comfort Access system (keyless entry, engine Start/Stop button, electric-tailgate), automatic headlights (On/Off, high-beam), parking sensors (six – front, rear), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), automatic anti-dazzle rear-view mirrors (interior/exterior), side mirrors (automatic dipping, BSM), acoustic protection for pedestrians (exterior loudspeaker), interior camera, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), door ajar warning, automatic-door locks (speed-sensing), automatic wipers (rain-sensing, intermittent), four-zone automatic climate control (rear-vents – dedicated controls), steering wheel (multi-switches, electric column adjustments, paddle shifters, EPS), LED interior lighting (welcome carpet lights, ambient lights, reading lights, boot), electric-powered (driver/passenger – multi-way, lumbar, driver-memory) M Sport Seats, armrests (front – centre console, rear – centre seat fold-out), headrests (front, rear), roller sun blinds (manual – rear side windows), BMW Curved Display (BMW Live Cockpit Professional), BMW Interaction Bar (multi-function control), BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant (voice recognition, command, gesture), charging outlets (USBs, wireless charger) and an Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold system.

Installed is a four-zone automatic climate control (rear-vents – dedicated controls). 

The ride quality is BMW, and the dual-natured drive has a wonderfully smooth engine power and transmission delivery. 

Propping-up the chassis is a setup of double wishbones (front) and multi-link (rear) suspension. Incorporated (530i M Sport) is Adaptive Suspension Professional with Integral Active Steering (Rear-wheel Steering).

Overall, it is solid and comfortable with a refined and agile handling.

Good sound insulation, with all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects of the build accounted for. 

The cabin is able to suppress wind, road and tyre noises adequately, making them barely noticeable at all speeds.

The new BMW 5 Series is a luxury daily-driver, exuding an appeal that commands a presence like no other.

Harbouring an engaging powertrain, the dual-nature underpinnings offer a driving experience only a BMW can.

Athletically striking, its exterior is well designed with the clean proportions and smooth contours, donating to a strong and solid build.

Quality of the materials installed inside, impresses with the upscale, mature design and restrained detailing.

Ultimately, the new 5 Series is just a strong character, a great hybrid-saloon that offers a sophisticated outlook, sporty e-petrol performance and practicality all in one.