The updated BMW 5 Series range is now on sale in Australia, offering refreshed styling, enhanced equipment levels, powertrain upgrades and a revised price list.
The update introduces the subtle but sophisticated design tweaks revealed in May to all three 5 Series body styles – sedan, Touring wagon and Gran Turismo hatch – headlined by added contour lines around the kidney grille, newly structured lower air intakes, and slimmer, more sharply contoured tail-lights.
The BMW 550i benefits most from the upgrade. The flagship sedan's twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 rises 30kW/50Nm to 330kW of power and 650Nm of torque, cutting its 0-100km/h sprint four-tenths to 4.6 seconds yet contributing to a fuel consumption saving of 17 per cent, now rated at 8.6 litres per 100km.
The upgraded 550i is also $20K cheaper than before at $159,900, and joins the ActiveHybrid 5 sedan and 535i Touring as the only models to experience a price cut. Prices of all other grades have increased between $400 and $8255.
The entry-level BMW 520i and 520d sedans are equipped standard with bi-xenon headlights, LED foglights, cruise control with braking function, rear-view camera, and front and rear parking sensors. The interior features electric front seats, leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, steering wheel-mounted paddleshifters, 12-speaker audio system, professional navigation system, iDrive touch controller and internet functionality.
The 520d Touring adds an automatic tailgate, rear side window sunblinds and automatic parking assistant.
New to the 528i are 19-inch alloys; adaptive LED headlights; interior and exterior anti-dazzle mirrors; 'hands-free' boot opening function; lane departure, forward collision and pedestrian warning systems; head-up display; multifunction instrument cluster; and a Harmon Kardon audio system with digital radio.
The 535i and 535d sedans mirror the 528i specification and add parking assistant and more powerful brakes, while the 535i Touring also scores an auto tailgate and rear sunblinds.
In addition to the 535i's equipment list, the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 offers a four-zone climate control system, expanded instrument cluster functionality and lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels.
The 550i introduces all of the safety, comfort and technology features previously mentioned that are new to the range with the mid-cycle update.
The 520d Gran Turismo shares a similar level of specification to the sedan and Touring models, yet adds 19-inch alloys, multifunction instrument panel, head-up display, and lane departure, forward collision and pedestrian warning systems.
The 530d Gran Turismo adds 20-inch light alloy wheels, four-zone climate control and adaptive LED headlights, while the range-topping 535i Gran Turismo introduces a surround view camera, anti-dazzle mirrors and the comfort access system with automatic tailgate.
All BMW 5 Series models now receive either the Luxury line or Modern line styling packages as standard, bringing additional personalisation potential to the range, while the sedan is now also available with the optional M Sports package, which brings a number of performance and styling enhancements.
