BMW 5 Series gains diesel power, M Sport kit

BMW Australia has announced pricing for the flagship six-cylinder diesel variant and new M Sport package that will join its new 5 Series model range here from November.

Priced at $134,400 plus on-road costs, the new 535d sedan will be released three months after the four-cylinder 520d diesel sedan, which arrives this month as the new entry-level 5 Series sedan at a previously announced price of $83,300 – up $6900 on the E60 520d it replaces.

Meantime, the latest M pack from BMW M GmbH – revealed in Europe in July - will be available across the entire 5 Series sedan and Touring wagon line-up in Australia, priced at $7900 for the base 520d sedan and wagon.

BMW’s sixth-generation (F10) 5 Series sedan went on sale in Australia in June, while the fourth-generation 5 Series Touring goes on sale here from September, including the 520d ($92,800) and 535i ($138,900).

Left: BMW 5 Series M Sport. Below: BMW 520d engine.

Comprising a host of suspension and interior and exterior cosmetic upgrades, the M Sport package will cost $6100 with the 528i sedan and $4900 with the 535i sedan and wagon, the upcoming 535d sedan and the flagship 550i sedan.

As we’ve reported, the 5 Series M kit previews the look of next year’s all-new M5 performance sedan, and in base form comprises 18-inch double-spoke M alloy wheels (19-inch for the 550i M Sport pack), sports leather seats, an M leather steering wheel, BMW Individual Anthracite headlining, M-badged door sills, M Aluminium Hexagon interior trim and a full M bodykit including M rear spoiler.

The M Sport Suspension component can be deleted, while 535i, 535d and 550i customers can also purchase the Adaptive Drive option including Dynamic Damper Control and selectable Dynamic Drive suspension system.

BMW says the addition of the 520d sedan and wagon and the 535d sedan should further increase the popularity of diesel models within its Australian model range. So far this year, diesels have accounted for half of all BMWs sold – up from 40 per cent in 2009 and 35 per cent for the total luxury car market.

BMW Group Australia managing director Stavros Yallouridis said BMW diesel engines were winning international accolades and challenging many preconceptions about diesel technology.

“The combination of enormous torque, blistering power and extraordinary fuel economy from our latest diesel engines is winning many fans in Australia,” he said.

As we’ve reported, the 2.0-litre 520d sedan delivers impressive outputs of 135kW and 380Nm, yet returns average fuel consumption of just 5.2L/100km and CO2 emissions of 137g/km and can sprint to 100km/h in a claimed 8.1 seconds.

It comes with a host of standard extras compared to its predecessor, including an eight-speed automatic transmission, 17-inch alloy wheels, electric power steering, head-up display,black high-gloss interior trim, through loading system, front/rear parking sensors, an active bonnet and EfficientDynamics technologies like low rolling-resistance tyres, brake energy regeneration and air vent control.

The straight-six 535d diesel, meantime, delivers 220kW and no less than 600Nm of torque, enabling it to hit 100km/h in a claimed 5.7 seconds despite being able to return efficiency figures of just 6.1L/100km and 162g/km.

Standard 535d sedan equipment will include metallic paint, 18-inch alloy wheels, an eight-speed sports automatic transmission with Steptronic manual mode, adaptive Bi-Xenon headlights with washers, a rear-view camera, power front seat adjustment with driver’s memoryand Comfort Access, a sports leather steering wheel and a 12-speaker sound system.

BMW 5 Series pricing:
Sedan
520d (a)	$83,300
528i (a)	$99,900
535i &nbsp (a)	$128,900
535d (a)	$134,400
550i (a)	$178,900
Touring
520d (a)	$92,800
535d (a)	$138,900
M Sport pack
520d (a)	$7900
528i (a)	$6100
535i &nbsp (a)	$4900
535d (a)	$4900
550i (a)	$4900