THE seventh generation the BMW 5 Series M Sport is no doubt a beauty.
For decades, the 5 Series sedan has been known for its eclectic mixture of luxury, style and sporty performance.
To date, BMW has launched seven generations of the 5 Series and it is one of the company’s most important cars this year.
We had the opportunity to take the fully decked out version of the imported BMW 530i M Sport for a spin.
BMW Group Malaysia launched the locally-assembled version of the BMW 530i M Sport on September, and it only lacks the adaptive cruise control with stop and go function. The rest of the equipment and technologies are the same as the imported variant.
The BMW 530i M Sport is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission. It produces 252hp at 5,200 rpm and 350Nm of torque from 1,450 rpm.
BMW claims that the vehicle can sprint from 0kph to 100kph in 6.2 seconds and the top speed is 249kph. It has a combined fuel consumption rating of 4.8 litres per 100km and a urban fuel consumption rating of 6 per 100km.
Standing at 4,936 mm in length, 1,479 mm in height, 2,126 mm in width, weighs 1,540 kg, 2,975 mm wheel base. It has a fuel tank capacity of 68 litres and a 530 litres of boot space.
The BMW comes with the full M Sport package, which includes the M Sport aerodynamic body kit and M Sport blue brake calipers, as well as the plus adaptive LED headlights with auto high beam, LED fog lights, M illuminated door sills, M powered adjusted sport seats for the driver and front passenger and the M leather steering wheel.
It is equipped with the comfort access keyless entry system, four-zone automatic climate control, sunroof, sun-blinds for the rear passengers, 11-colour ambient lighting, powered tailgate with hands-operation function, M Sport suspension with dynamic damper control, 10.25-inch touchscreen with gesture control, a 12.3-inch multi-function instrument cluster, park assistant function, 600W 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system and the BMW touchscreen display key.
The list does not stop there, the BMW 530i M Sport we drove is also equipped with over RM60,000 worth of BMW M Performance optional parts. It has the 20-inch light-weight wheel set with run-flat tyres, as well as the BMW M Performance parts, including the side skirts, hand crafted carbon fibre front splitter and attachment, high-gloss black front ornamental grille, carbon fibre side mirrors, rear bumper trims, rear carbon fibre diffuser, carbon fibre rear spoiler and the stainless steel pedals.
With the accessories installed, the BMW 530i M Sport is like a moving masterpiece that is elegant, sexy and sporty. The advantage of purchasing the optional parts along with the 530i M Sport, is that the parts can be added into the car’s hire purchase loan for monthly installment. Most importantly, it does not void the warranty of the luxury sports sedan.
In terms of safety the car includes six airbags, anti-lock braking system, brake assist, dynamic stability control, traction control, dynamic brake control, cornering brake control, dynamic brake force display with flash function, approach control warning, person warning with city brake function, lane departure warning, lane change warning, rear collision prevention, rear crossing traffic warning and ISOFIX child seat mounting points.
The locally-assembled BMW 530i M Sport is priced at RM388,800 excluding insurance.
The Drive
The BMW 530i M Sport is a fantastic car, and its optional accessories are perfect for those who love to stand out in the crowd.
BMW did everything right for the 530i M Sport. On its exterior, the new G30-generation 5 Series, is not dramatically different looking from the sixth generation F10 it replaced.
However, it is a well improved version underneath the skin. The automaker makes minor changes, updates what is necessary and left everything that is great in the F10-generation untouched.
We felt the difference the moment we were in the car. The dashboard has been upgraded for a fresher look but it maintains its style. The technologically-advanced BMW is equipped with a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen with gesture control for the convenience of the occupants to switch songs, turn up or down the volume and many more, just by a gesture.
Apart from that, the air-conditioning adjustment panel is also touchscreen. The company has dropped the glossy wood material, and used a more modern silver trims to give an elegant, but sporty look. The materials used in the interior are solid and feel expensive. In fact, the BMW feels more expensive than its price tag as it gives the comfort of its bigger sibling, the 7-Series.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine is smooth, quiet and powerful. The eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission selects its gear ratio intelligently and efficiently. It maintains the most fuel efficient ratio at normal conditions, and reacts quickly and smoothly when there is more input on the throttle.
With the Driving Assistance technology like the lane departure warning and lane change warning, the driver is assured peace of mind when cruising on the highway, as well as when switching lanes.
Even though the BMW’s suspension setting is on the stiffer side, it does not compromise on comfort. Potholes and damage road conditions are overcome with occupants barely feeling a thing. There is good grip during high-speed cornering. The accurate and lightly-weighted steering makes driving the vehicle easy. It also provides excellent feedback.
We drove the BMW 530i M Sport over 350km. The odometer recorded that it consumed 9.8 to 10.3 litres per 100km after a mixture of city and highway drive. After a cruise on the highway within the speed limit, it used about 5.2 to 6.1 litres per 100km. Subsequently, it utilised about 12.1 to 14.6 litres per 100km after an aggressive full throttle driving.
The BMW 530i M Sport is a splendid luxury sports sedan. However, there are still opportunities for further enhancements. The CKD variant should come with the adaptive cruise control with stop and go function to further enhance the driving experience.
It should also come with a head-up display so that the driver can pay full attention on the road during high speed driving. It would be great if the M Performance optional parts include a sporty exhaust system with valve exhaust silencer system to give the driver an option to hear some of that marvellous exhaust noise when driving in sports mode.