In the higher segment, it is important to always stay alert and not to think that a fiver occasionally is not so bad. BMW therefore refreshes its 5-series halfway through the life cycle. The result is a car that is astonishingly good. And costs an astonishing amount.
One hundred thirty-two thousand four hundred and sixty-eight costs the renewed BMW 5-series, equipped as on these pages. An almost full options, six-cylinder 540i with xDrive. Ten years ago you bought a 7-series for this with two extra cylinders. Without options, but it still raises the expectations of the facelifted 5-series, which the car also manages to surpass with the same ease with which the refreshed six-cylinder in the nose brings the 5-series up to speed. Like many brands, BMW uses mild hybrid technology to reduce emissions as much as possible. A 48-volt on-board power supply allows the starter motor connected to the six-cylinder via a belt to perform more start-stop cycles and an occasional 11 hp boost to support the 3.0-liter straight-six. You will not notice the latter. Switching the engine on and off is a little more obvious, but by nature the six-cylinder in-line engine runs so smoothly that the starting process is almost vibration-free. Only by really focusing, you notice how often the system on the motorway disconnects everything and switches it off, in order to make as much use as possible of the kinetic energy. As soon as the car detects that a vehicle in front is approaching, the six-cylinder is immediately coupled again to be able to brake on the engine. In addition, the motor has a 450 Nm large mountain of torque available from 1,600 rpm, with which the hefty 5-series effortlessly takes large steps. Aided by the alert, lightning-fast eight-speed automatic transmission and the little power of the starter motor to absorb gear changes, acceleration is almost like in an electric car, only with a sound that gives enthusiasts goosebumps. Power and agility abound throughout the rev range, and the performance combined with xDrive all-wheel drive is enough to make most hot hatches and even some sports cars miserable at the traffic lights.
Emphasis on comfort
In addition to xDrive all-wheel drive, a battery of other technologies is also ready to adequately cope with the 333 hp. At least, optionally. It makes a lot of difference to the experience how the BMW 5 Series is put together exactly. For example, if you opt for four-wheel steering, the adaptive anti-roll bars of our copy are not an option. In addition, it of course makes a difference whether the car is on the standard 17-inch wheels with normal rubber or the aerodynamic 20-inch models with Michelins Pilot Sport 3 under the test sample. At first, those ties seem rather out of place. With the adaptive dampers and roll bars in Comfort, the car feels as soft as a water-soaked cake. He jumps across the road as we push the boundaries. Only then do you realize that the carriage does roll when it is sent in, but that it does so with a lot of policy. Once the mass is in place, the balance and grip of the tires assert themselves and the limit turns out to be much further than any sane person would want to try. In Sport mode everything becomes a bit tighter, but the G30 still puts more than ever the emphasis on comfort. And that does not look out of place at all. The knowledge that the force majeure is present in the background is enough.
Extensively adjustable
As with the chassis, the interior and exterior decoration can also be adjusted in such a way that two identical 5-series will hardly be seen. In any case, we recommend the multifunctional M-front seats with individually adjustable upper part of the backrest. They are delicious and are extensively adjustable. Now that the magic letter has been mentioned: there are so many M-logos on this car. This is largely due to the M Sport Edition package worth € 15,250, which includes the special, aerodynamic 20-inch wheels, the new M Aerodynamics package and the aforementioned multifunctional seats. However, you may wonder if the sheer amount of M badges on a car that has nothing to do with the M Division in the slightest isn’t a bit ridiculous.
In addition to a lot of new options, the interior itself also received a small upgrade. The latest version of iDrive, for example, is present, including over-the-air updates and improved live navigation. The much-discussed digital instruments from the 3-series are also introduced, so that you can now replace the rev counter with a power meter. Despite minor annoyances, iDrive still proves to be the best system in terms of ergonomics. You can always quickly get to the right setting and many other brands can learn something from the integration with CarPlay.
In the backseat, the BMW is still not a star. Due to the engine placed far back, there is not much legroom left, the luggage space is at 530 liters in accordance with the standards of the segment. So there is still a reason to continue saving for the 7-series. Because if there’s one thing the 540i proves, it’s that its astonishing price doesn’t have to be a barrier. The product scores reasonably consistent fives. On a scale of five, that is.