7-day Test
Model: BMW 530d automatic
RRP: $114,500
Price as tested: $137,725
Distance covered: 334kms
Road tester: Russell Williamson
Date tested: May 2006
BMW's 5 Series has long been recognised as one of the best mid-sized four-door sedans in the world. With superb driving dynamics, quality fit and finish and excellent engines, there is little reason to mark it down.
The current E60 model, now three-years old may be polarising in its looks thanks to the pen of Chris Bangle and despite some improvements, the hyped i-Drive system for controlling all the creature comforts remains complex and not particularly intuitive, but overall the 5 Series is still one of the best in its class.
So what you can you do to improve it? In this climate of $1.40 a litre petrol prices, dropping a diesel engine under the bonnet wouldn't be a bad way to start.
And that is exactly what BMW has done. It is hardly a new car in global terms but for Australia, the 530d is the first ever diesel passenger car the company has sold here. Pushed on by the rising price of petrol, improvements in the diesel fuel standard and the growing sales figures of its luxury rivals in the diesel sector, the 530d is just the first of a swag of diesel passenger cars set to arrive in Australia over the next 12 months from the baby 1 Series hatch through to the volume 3 Series sedan.
Looking at the 530d, there is nothing to provide a clue to its powerplant apart from the badge and even once you hit the starter button (the key fob slips into a slot on the steering column and starting and stopping are controlled by a button on the dash) there is still little to betray its diesel engine.
Outside, there is slight but discernible tick but inside the quiet cabin, it is barely audible. The major giveaway is the low numbers on the tacho and the needle sitting at around 600rpm at idle.
On the throttle, there is some initial lag as you squeeze the accelerator pedal but the 530d is still strong off the line. BMW quotes maximum output figures for the 3.0-litre in-line six of 160kW at 4000rpm and a very substantial 480Nm between 1750rpm and 2750rpm.
It is this latter that really hits the spot once the tacho is reading about 2500rpm with a surge of torque through the rear wheels strong enough to push you gently into the backrest. The gearshifts via the six-speed automatic transmission are smooth and effective and if you want to shift your own or hold steady in a particular gear to make the most of the engine's mid-range grunt, there is a tip-shift function. The sequential manual shift yourself option however, proved to be a little less autonomous than you might think with the transmission occasionally shifting up to third before it was required or requested.
Out on the highway, cruising in sixth at 100kmh, the engine is turning over at around 1400rpm, helping to provide the superb fuel economy. For our test total of 334km at an average speed of 50.2 kmh the 530d returned an average fuel economy of 8.5l/100km. For the first few days just driving around town, the consumption was sitting around 10.4l/100km but a bit of highway cruising helped bring down the average.
And it is out on the highway that the car truly feels like an executive express. There is plenty of room for front and rear occupants with a good-sized boot. The leather trimmed seats are comfortable and supportive -- although they could do with just a little firmer side bolsters for when the road gets twisty -- and the CD sound system delivers superb quality.
There are plenty of creature comforts as you would expect but in time honoured BMW tradition, there is still plenty more you can add with a little extra cash. The base 530d for example retails at $114,500 but our test car managed to hit the price scales at nearly $25,000 more with the big ticket options being the active cruise control ($4500), satnav/TV/voice control ($4000), electric sunroof ($3300), front seat ventilation and heating ($2750), head-up display ($2600) and Xenon headlights ($2110). Most you could definitely live without -- especially the head-up display which I found rather distracting -- although the active cruise control works a treat and makes cruising the freeway almost a set-and-forget affair.
This is helped by the quiet ambience inside the cabin and good quality ride that although on the firmer side, is nicely compliant soaking up all but the harshest ruts.
But the 5 Series, as with most BMWs, was designed to be driven and just because there is an economical diesel under the bonnet, it doesn't mean you should shy away from trying to elicit some thrills on a challenging piece of road.
The chassis is superbly balanced and if you keep the engine in its strongest zone, it delivers what you ask. Solid, predictable and very confident handling. Working through a tight twisting road, the steering loosens up nicely to become very fluid with plenty of feel, the car sits flat and solid on the road and when they do kick in, the electronic safety nannies like traction control and ESP, are very well calibrated to be subtle enough to keep the car on the road and the momentum going.
The diesel 530d may be a slightly different car to drive compared to its much-lauded 530 petrol kin, but it is no less involving when you want it to be and there is the big bonus of significantly better fuel consumption.
CarPoint recently tested a BMW 530d Touring in Italy. Read the review here.