BMW 5 Series (Germany, 2010-2016)

Sedan

In spring 2010 the sixth generation BMW 5 Series Sedan arrived to the European markets. The German make’s sedan continues to offer the typical driving dynamics its clients are already used to. New are the more efficient engines and the elegant and sporting looks.

Touring

The Touring version of the sixth generation BMW 5 Series was unveiled in March 2010, just before the sedan version reached the market. Combining driving dynamics, efficiency, versatility and sporting design, this new generation was created to consolidate its position as an upper midrange touring car.

Sedan

The new 5 Series Sedan is equipped with the longest wheelbase in the segment, has a long and sleek engine compartment lid, short overhangs front and rear and a coupe-like roofline and continues to show some of the typical design features of the brand, found at the front with its BMW kidney grille inclined slightly forward and on the chiselled engine compartment lid, in the side view of the car and on the muscular rear end.

Touring

In terms of design the new 5 Series Touring features a long bonnet, short overhangs, the longest wheelbase in its segment, a stretched silhouette and a steeply inclined roofline, which gives it a dynamic and sporting look.

Sedan

The 2010 BMW 5 Series Sedan is powered by one eight-cylinder and three six-cylinder petrol engines as well as two six-cylinder diesels. The range also counts with a four-cylinder turbodiesel with an aluminium crankcase and common-rail direct injection.

BMW’s new eight-speed automatic transmission is an option available for all the versions of the new 5 Series Sedan. The BMW 550i comes as standard with BMW’s automatic transmission optimised for efficiency.

Avant

The Avant version debuted with a range of four engines: two straight-six petrol engines and two diesel engines (a four-cylinder and a six-cylinder), all versions fulfilling the EU5 requirement

The four-cylinder turbo diesel engine, with a power output of 135 kW will be fitted in the BMW 520d Touring. Equipped with the Auto Start Stop function it has fuel consumption of 5.2 litres/100km and CO2 emissions of 137 g/km. The BMW 530d Touring features a straight six-cylinder diesel with a 180 kW output.

As for the petrol engines the BMW 535i is equipped by straight-six engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo, with High Precision Injection and VALVETRONIC being able to develop 225 kW of power output. The other petrol engine onboard, the 523i Touring,  has a maximum output of 150 kW.

The 5 Series get slight changes to the design and new engine options for the refresh.

There are added contour lines around the kidney grill, new air intakes in front grill, an extra crease in the rear apron and newly designed rear lights. The Gran Turismo gets a changed front apron, a lower rear bumper with a new design around the license plate holder and an extra chrome strip on the rear bumper.

All 5 Series come with standard xenon headlights and have optional adaptive LED headlights and optional LED fog lights. Turn signals have been added to the side mirrors.

Inside, the refreshed cars all get chrome trim around the infotainment display and larger storage compartments and larger cup holders in the center console. The Gran Turismo has 60 liters (2.1 cubic feet) more rear cargo room.

The drivetrains have also received an upgrade for the refresh. All models with the eight-speed automatic have stop/start and regenerative braking. There is a new 518d model with a four-cylinder diesel producing 141hp that uses 4.5l/100km and emits 119g/km of CO2. BMW has also added the 520d xDrive. The V8 in the M550d was upgraded to produce 443hp.

The M5 gets its own suite of upgrades as part of the refresh. The kidney grill now has an "M5" badge on the top right, and it gets a special grill with slats styled after the double-spoke wheels. There is a new M leather steering wheel that is also inspired by the wheels.

There are three new colors on the M5 - Pure Metal Silver, Pyrite Brown metallic and Frozen Blue metallic. There are also two new leather colors - Cashmere Beige and Nutmeg.

The Competition Package boosts power by 15hp over the standard M5 to 567hp and adds carbon-ceramic brakes as an option.

The cars also get a stiffer suspension with updated dampers and thicker stabilizer bars. The changes lower the car by 10mm. The M Differential gets is own control unit when buyers opt for the Competition Package. It also replaces the electric power steering with a traditional hydraulic unit. Buyers also get 20in wheels exclusive to the package.

Overall, it takes 0.1 seconds away on the run to 100km/h and 0.2 seconds to 200km/h, but the biggest changes are to the handling.