As part of a facelift of the big-selling 5-series, BMW is introducing a new ultra-frugal entry-level diesel option to the UK
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 Euro6 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