Refreshed BMW 5 Series revealed: updated styling, tweaked powertrains
by Ryan Bubear
[UPDATE: BMW Group South Africa has confirmed the local range will comprise the 520d, 530i and M550i xDrive, as well as the M5 Competition, at launch in the last quarter of 2020.]
After a series of leaks, BMW has (finally) officially unwrapped its facelifted 5 Series, handing the sedan updated styling and new electrified powertrains.
Exterior changes include a wider, taller kidney grille, redesigned LED headlamps, updated taillamps and trapezoidal exhaust tailpipe trim. There are also a handful of new exterior colours on offer, along with an updated M Sport package and optional M Sport brakes with either blue or red callipers.
Fresh alloy wheel designs have also been added to the mix (measuring from 18 to 20 inches in diameter), while 20-inch BMW Individual Air Performance Wheels are available as an option for the first time.
Inside, the 10,25-inch control display is now standard, while the 12,3-inch version is optional. Standard smartphone integration now also features Android Auto, in addition to Apple CarPlay.
The Munich-based firm has furthermore rolled out “extended features” for the automatic climate control system and rearranged the buttons on the sports leather steering wheel. Of course, the German firm has also expanded its suite of driver assistance systems.
So, what about those powertrain changes? Well, the plug-in hybrid range has been expanded to include the 290 kW/600 N.m, six-cylinder 545e xDrive (in addition to the 530e xDrive), while a new 48 V mild-hybrid system has been added to all four- and six-cylinder engines in Europe (it’s not yet clear whether this tech will be offered in South Africa). In addition, BMW says all diesel engines now feature two-stage turbocharging.
Interestingly, the 540i offered in South Africa appears to have lost a little oomph, with its peak power now listed as 245 kW (down from the pre-facelift model’s 250 kW). The 520d, meanwhile, still offers 140 kW and 400 N.m, while the 530d has had its peak outputs hiked from 195 kW and 620 N.m to 210 kW and 650 N.m.
Finally, the company has announced a new 5 Series M Sport Edition, which will be limited to 1 000 units worldwide. This special-edition includes the M Sport package, Donington Grey metallic paint and the abovementioned 20-inch BMW Individual Air Performance Wheels in a bi-colour design.
See Full BMW 5 Series Sedan price and specs here