Insurance Group: 41
MPG: 47.1
CO2: 159
0-62 Mph: 6.2 secs
BHP: 258 BHP
Range: 725 miles
The one big problem is the handling, which is not sharp enough and although the problem is instantly solved with the addition of dampers, it comes at a big cost.
PROS: A powerful, strong and refined engine with great efficiency and emissions. The estate is sleek and the cabin comes with everything you would expect of a BMW.
CONS: The performance of the 530d is held back by the handling, which is brought back up to standard by damper additions but at a rather big cost.
As you would expect from a BMW, the drive of the 5 Series is smooth, powerful and refined, although it does require a lot of extras to reach its potential.
The suspension on the 5 Series is not as supportive as you might expect, but there is a rather expensive option to add Variable Damper Control to the four-cylinder models and Adaptive Drive to the six-cylinder models, which is worth the money for the difference it makes in the performance and handling.
The cabin is insulated from the outside noise of the engine, tyre and suspension, although there is a little wind noise at high speeds. The engine is smooth and responsive.
The 530d M Sport has a 258 bhp engine delivering 398 lb-ft of torque and reaches 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph.
The BMW cabin is arguably one of the best available and the 5 Series is made with high-quality materials and beautifully finished. This is an estate offering the elegance and practicality of the BMW badge on top of great performance from the engine.
The iDrive system is much easier to get to grips with than before and all the controls are angled towards the driver, with perhaps the only downside being how many generic looking buttons 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 530d M Sport estate comes with leather seats, metallic paint, 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.
BMW are manufacturers that have a great track record when it comes to reliability, so that shouldn’t be too much of a concern.
Safety is top rate, too with standard equipment including a minimum of six airbags, dynamic stability control, inclusive of ABS, and dynamic traction control. An optional extra is the Active Security Package (with lane changes and lane departure-warning systems), with an alarm, deadlocks and locking wheelnuts as standard. The 5 Series also comes with a spring-loaded bonnet, which makes it much kinder to pedestrians in the case of a crash.
The ‘Efficient Dynamics’ technology that keeps the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions low includes an automatic stop-start system, brake energy regeneration, tyres with less rolling resistance, along with improved aerodynamics, while manual gearboxes have Optimum gearshift indicators.
In space terms, the 5 Series are practical cars with loads of space in the front and back. Although BMW claim it is a five-seater, the middle back seat is not ideal as it has to accommodate the large transmission tunnel which runs through the centre of the car. The boot is sizeable too, offering 560 litres of space even when all the seats are in place.
The 5 Series benefits from BMW’s Efficient Dynamics technology, which makes it a great business car option with economic running costs and low CO2 emissions. The 530d M Sport model costs £44,390 and has a combined economy of 45.6 mpg and CO2 emission rate of 162 g/km.
The 530d engine is a powerful engine with great efficiency and the diesel version is much better than the petrol engine. The M Sport also comes with loads of kit, all of which make the price good value for money.
There is always the downside to the 5 Series that it requires a few expensive extras (i.e. the suspension modifications), which completely alter the performance of the car and are definitely worth buying, but do add considerably to the price. The M Sport trim and its sport additions are left a little redundant after the damper additions, so it makes much more economical sense to get the SE trim.
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