BMW has added a new entry-level 518d to its range as part of a host of mid-life changes to the biggest-selling BMW 5 Series ever.
Set to go on sale in the UK in September, the subtly restyled 5 Series features reprofiled bumpers, altered headlight and tail-light graphics, and a new range of alloy wheels among the measures aimed at providing the 5 Series with fresh visual appeal.
The big news on the engine front is the arrival of the 518d. It gets a version of the 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine used in the existing 520d, detuned to produce 141bhp and 266lb ft of torque. BMW puts the 0-62mph time at 9.6sec, combined economy at 62.8mpg and CO2 emissions at 119g/km.
The 181bhp version of the engine used in the 520d has been further improved and now has economy and CO2 emissions to match the 518d’s. As a result, the 520d EfficientDynamics model has been discontinued. The legacy of that car lives on, though, because the 520d ED’s aerodynamic aids are added to the 520d as standard to reduce its drag coefficient to 0.25.
All other engines in the 5 Series line-up are tweaked to meet Euro 6 emissions standards and gain technology such as brake-energy regeneration, stop-start and a fuel-sipping Eco Pro driving mode. A coasting function, which operates under a trailing throttle to disengage the driveline for added fuel savings at speeds between 31mph and 99mph, is also added.
Further driveline choices include a revised petrol-electric hybrid unit in the 5 Series ActiveHybrid, which will continue to be sold in saloon body style only. Topping the line-up is the M5, whose styling receives similarly subtle revisions to those of the standard 5 Series models.
Despite the addition of BMW’s four-wheel-drive xDrive system to many 5 Series models in mainland Europe, no xDrive-equipped 5 Series models are planned for the UK. However, BMW has introduced xDrive to the UK by adding it to the 335d saloon.
Greg Kable
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XDrive
"However, BMW has introduced xDrive to the UK by adding it to the 335d saloon."
Shocking lack of knowledge. I think you will find BMW introduced xdrive to the 3 series a number of months ago in the 320i, 320d and now 330d.
Facelifts are supposed to look...
Different I thought. Hats off for achieving the mpg & CO2 figures, however its just too bland for me....XF-S all day for me.
New Facelifted 5 Series Revealed
"Now will someone tell BMW that we all don't want a Diesel?, i received an E-mail from my local dealer Menzies of Stirling (Scotland)with fantastic reductions, yes, if you like Diesel, they only had one or two petrol,do a national search on BMW own page, and low and behold deisel-itis is riffe,there are hardly any Petrol 5 series,but there are in the 3 series but not at BMW garages, i don't drive far enough to justify Diesel, i don't care how much mpg they can get,i'm a private owner not a business user which BMW seems to be oriented towards,and, why do mags when a new BMW comes around test Diesels?
Peter Cavellini."
I agree with the above. I am also a private BMW owner and I drive less than 10000 miles a year. I have a 325i Coupe (my 9th BMW in 20 years) that I was looking forward to changing for a 425i or 430i later this year. No such luck all the petrol 4 Series will be 4 cylinder turbos or there is the hugely expensive and thirsty 435i with a 6 cylinder turbo. I have driven the 328i M sport auto (the nearest I could get to a 428i) it was the worst car I have driven in 20 years. The engine is rough, noisy (not in a good way) and sounds like a diesel and it gave 0.1 mpg better over the terst drive route than my 325i. It also rattled and fizzed with cheap trim and was just very down market and unpleasant. I asked the salesman what do BMW make with a 6 cylinder non-turbo petrol engine in a coupe or convertible body? The answer - nothing. BMW have lost a loyal customer because of their obession with cheap 4 cylinder turbos and cheap build quality to go with the cheap engines. I will not be buying my 10th BMW instead I will now be looking at Audi because if BMW are going to make rubbish engines I may as well buy a rubbish engine but in a car with no rattles or squeaks.