BMW 5 Series 520d M Sport Auto 4dr Car Review - March 2012

REVIEW
Awaiting more images
List Price: £36,315
Tax Band: D
Insurance Group: 34
MPG: 57.6
CO2: 129
0-62 Mph: 7.9 secs
BHP: 184 BHP
Range: 887 miles
CarSite Verdict:  4/5
The 520d cannot be faulted for efficiency and performance. It is a great option in terms of economy and efficiency, particularly as a company car, and handles brilliantly for a large saloon. However, the ride is simply too firm.

PROS:  Low CO2 emissions, impressive fuel economy, good performance, plenty of standard equipment.

CONS:  The run-flat tyres completely ruin the ride.

Behind the Wheel

The 520d M Sport has a 280 bhp engine delivering 280 lb-ft of torque at 1900-2750 rpm and reaches 62mph in 8.1 seconds with a top speed of 140 mph.

The 520d handles brilliantly thanks to its well balanced chassis and sharp, accurate steering. The 5 Series really is peerless when it comes to driving pleasure.

There is the option to add Variable Damper Control to the car which improves handling and ride comfort and, although it is a pricey option, it is well worth the money.

The cabin is insulated from the outside noise of the engine, tyre and suspension, although there is a little wind noise at high speeds. An eight-speed automatic gearbox lets the car accelerate responsively up through the gears smoothly and quickly.

Looks & Equipment

The 520d is a fine looking car and its interior is stylish and built to a high quality. BMW really are peerless when it comes to quality in this price range - not even Mercedes-Benz can keep up.

The iDrive system is much easier to get to grips with than before and all the controls of angled towards the driver, with perhaps the only downside being how many generic looking buttons and controls there are for the stereo. The system also features electronic controls for the seat height and backrest angle, although you still have to slide back and forth using a manual lever.

The M Sport saloon comes with leather seats, power steering, stability control, cruise control, climate control, alloy wheels, stereo, MP3 connectivity, rear parking sensors and Bluetooth as standard, with optional extras including satellite navigation for £1,580. The backseat entertainment option includes satellite navigation.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

The 520d should be a very safe car with six airbags and numerous systems fitted as standard features to keep the car and its occupants safe. To protect against theft there is an alarm, deadlocks and locking wheelnuts all fitted as standard and the 5 Series also comes with a spring-loaded bonnet, which protects pedestrians in the event of a collision.

BMW produce very reliable cars and there is no reason to assume that the 520d will buck this trend.

The 520d is a very spacious car but, although BMW claim it is a five-seater, the middle back seat is not ideal as it has to accommodate the large transmission tunnel. The boot is sizeable too, offering 520 litres of space.

Value for Money

The 520d M Sport costs £34,855 which is fairly reasonable. It is extremely fuel efficient, returning 57.6 mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 129g/km.

The 520d has got a good combination of power and fuel economy, making it one of the best value for money engines in the range. The CO2 emissions are very low too and it is a great company car option - especially considering resale values are strong. However, the SE is arguably the better version to go for, and has a similar amount of standard equipment but costs over £4k less.

BMW 5 Series 520d M Sport Auto 4dr Car Review - by 
All BMW 5 Series Reviews
BMW 5 Series 520i SE 4dr - March 2012
The 520i SE is a great saloon as one of the cheapest in the 5 Series range. The engine is powerful and responsive and the fuel economy and CO2 emissions are both low. However, the diesel engine is ...
BMW 5 Series 528i M Sport 4dr - March 2012
The 528i M Sport is a cost-effective car, which has a powerful, quick engine with low running costs - although the diesel engines are much more efficient. The 5 Series does vastly benefit from ...
BMW 5 Series 535i SE Auto 4dr - March 2012
The 535i offers great performance and handling, however the ride is very firm. The diesel engines offer much better fuel efficiency and roughly similar performance figures, making them a more sensi...
BMW 5 Series 520d SE 4dr - March 2012
The 520d SE has a strong and highly efficient diesel engine, which makes it a fantastic company car and one of the best executive saloons on the market for private or business buyers. However, alth...
BMW 5 Series 520d M Sport Auto 4dr - March 2012
The 520d cannot be faulted for efficiency and performance. It is a great option in terms of economy and efficiency, particularly as a company car, and handles brilliantly for a large saloon. Howeve...
Comments
Large Exec Alternatives

You might want to read reviews for other Large Exec cars that you can then compare to the BMW 5 Series. Here are some popular BMW 5 Series alternatives:

NEW RELEASE
Jeep Avenger revealed for 2023
NEW RELEASE
Ferrari Purosangue revealed
NEW RELEASE
Ford Mustang revealed for 2023
NEW RELEASE
New BMW M2 has been revealed
NEW RELEASE
Electric SUV coming soon
NEW RELEASE
Popular hatchback gets an update