BMW 530d/520d (2009) CAR review

When faced with the all-new Mercedes E-class, the apparently new Audi A6 and Jaguar’s XF, it’s all too easy to forget about the executive saloon segment’s benchmark, the BMW 5-series. With a replacement due in 2010, we at CAR thought it time to reappraise the Five. Not least because CAR Online wasn’t around when the current 5-series was first launched, so we don't have many reviews on our site. So read on for our 'first' web drive of the latest BMW 530d and 520d.

I think I know the BMW 5-series pretty well, but remind me what it’s about...

The 5-series is what BMW does best. The 1-series isn’t much better than a Golf and the Three is too ubiquitous for more discerning clientele, while the big 7-series is still beaten by the Mercedes S-class around these parts. But the Five stands proud, arguably the best mainstream car BMW makes.

The current 5-series was originally introduced in 2003 (and the public’s love-hate relationship with the styling seems to have mellowed since then), and we drove the facelifted car in 2007, when BMW’s EfficientDynamics technology was introduced to the range. That means regenerative braking (actually just intelligent charging of the alternator), a gearshift indicator and active aerodynamics – meaning flaps over the air intakes don’t open when the engine’s cold. There's no stop-start technology (or start-stop as BMW calls it) on the current Five though, but the next-gen car will have it.

How does the current car stack up with its engines?

The 530d really is all the car you ever need. Sure, the 535d (really the same 3.0-litre straight six, but with twin turbos to the 530d’s single blower) is faster, but you don’t need that extra grunt. Believe us, 232bhp and 368lb ft is perfectly acceptable. It pushes you along on that wave of torque, and even adds a pleasing (albeit muted) straight six howl.

Our test car was a manual, so it should do a claimed 44.1mpg and only puff out 170g/km CO2; despite its 1655kg kerbweight, it’ll still hit 62mph in 6.8 seconds. More importantly, it’ll pile on thrust through the mid-range, making overtaking dawdlers a doddle.

The manual shift itself is pretty good, typically BMW with a real mechanical feel, though those used to finger-light Audi shifts might find it a little arthritic.

Our car was equipped with the M Sport pack, which adds a fancy gearstick and steering wheel, sports seats, 18-in alloys, sports suspension and a bodykit. It’s a £3065 extra, and but although we like the bulging body addendum and seats, we much prefer the standard suspension (it’s firm enough with those run flat tyres) and thinner non-M steering wheel.

>> Click 'Next' below to read our review of the BMW 520d