New BMW 5 Series launched in South Africa – Pricing and features

BMW has just released the new 530i in South Africa at a starting price of R1,321,081.

The 530i is the first model in the current 5 Series to offer a petrol engine, as the sedan was initially launched in its base 520d diesel form, followed by the all-electric i5.

Engine

The latest addition to the 5 Series family is powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine equipped with the automaker’s signature TwinPower Turbo technology.

The end result is that the 530i packs a healthy 190kW and 400Nm under the hood – enough to give it a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 250km/h.

Furthermore, the sedan is fitted with 48V mild-hybrid tech comprising a starter generator on the belt drive and a Stop/Start function, improving acceleration and efficiency at low speeds, leading to a typical consumption of 7.8l/100km on a combined cycle.

To put this in perspective, the diesel 520d produces 145kW and 400Nm, letting it sprint to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds before capping out at 233km/h.

It also consumes an average of 5.6l/100km, illustrating how the petrol models trade a bit of efficiency for significantly improved performance.

Both the 520d and the new 530i are fitted with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, which connects the driveshaft to the rear wheels.

Features

The 530i comes with all of the same kit as its diesel counterpart, meaning you can expect a number of luxury-themed items.

This includes the new curved dual-display with a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch infotainment system running on the brand’s latest iDrive 8.5 software, which supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, onboard navigation, voice assist, over-the-air updates, and online video streaming services.

Also standard on the 5 Series are adaptive LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a hands-free tailgate, keyless entry and start with Comfort Access support for a digital key, heated Veganza leather Sports seats with electronic adjustability, automatic aircon, cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, front and rear parking sensors, and a reverse camera.

The new model additionally features the M Sport Package, which throws in athletic-themed bumpers and side skirts to complement the 19-inch light alloy wheels, which can be optionally upgraded to larger 20 or 21-inch rims.

Pricing

The South African pricing for the updated BMW 5 Series is as follows:

BMW 520d M Sport – R1,248,731
BMW 530i M Sport – R1,321,081 (new)
BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport – R1,842,500
BMW i5 M60 xDrive – R2,190,000

This includes a 2-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and a 5-year/100,000km maintenance plan, with the i5 additionally receiving an 8-year/100,000km battery warranty.