BMW Group Malaysia launches facelifted F10 5 Series
The latest facelift of the BMW 5 Series (F10) will be available for viewing at BMW dealerships nationwide from Saturday, 12 October 2013. Before that, the car is currently on display at the Concourse Entrance of The Pavilion Kuala Lumpur until Sunday, 13 October 2013 in conjunction with the Swiss Watch Gallery (SWG) Art of Time Exhibition.
Available in three variants, this latest version of the F10 generation will represent the first occasion which the BMW 5 Series comes without the option of a six-cylinder engine. The range-topping but slow-selling 535i has been dropped, leaving the 520d, 520i, and 528i M Sport to carry the range. As before, all three variants feature highly advanced and efficient 2.0-litre turbocharged powertrains mated with 8-speed automatic transmissions as standard.
Outputs are unchanged from before, so we have the 520d pushing out 184hp and 380Nm, the 520i making 184hp and 270Nm, and the 528i having 245hp and 350Nm at its disposal. Fuel consumption and carbon emissions range from 4.5 l/100km and 119 g/km with the 520d to 6.5 l/100km and 152 g/km with the 528i. The 520i slots nicely in between with 6.2 l/100km and 144 g/km.
Efficiency of the new 5 Series is enhanced by the new functions of the Eco Pro driving mode included as standard in all variants. Accessible via the Driving Experience Control switch, Eco Pro mode enables freewheel coasting at speeds up to 160kph. The new 5 Series also comes with a Route-Ahead Assistant working in combination with the Navigation System Professional to tell drivers to ease off the accelerator at the right time before entering bends, thus enabling efficient sailing.
Typical of BMW facelift exercises, the new uprated F10 features subtly enhanced details over its predecessor. The front apron incorporates new air inlets and the flank indicators are now incorporated into the side mirrors. All variants feature LED illumination as standard front and rear – head lights, front fog lights, and tail lights.
Key upgrades to the interior include the new Multifunction Instrument Display, which is essentially a 10.25″ monitor assuming the appearance of the traditional instrument panel, but with the option of allowing drivers to select displays from a wide range of data choices. Depending on the driving mode selected, drivers can customise the Multifunctional Instrument Display to show various styles, positions and also individual preferences such as status and function displays. Check Control updates or navigation prompts can also be customised. The 528i additionally incorporates a head-up display.
The other new feature to marvel at is an enhanced iDrive Controller with touch-sensitive surface allowing character recognition. We last experienced this in the Audi A6 Hybrid tested earlier this year – you basically ‘write’ the characters on the touch pad situated on top of the rotary knob. Depending on preference, user can alternate between using the touch surface or the traditional method of rotating through the alphabet menu via the selector knob to spell out commands.
Complementing the uprated iDrive interface, the new BMW 5 series offers a BMW ConnectedDrive Apps Interface which enables integration with the BMW Connected App. With an iPhone connected, the “BMW Apps” menu provides direct access to web radio, Facebook and Twitter. A 3D map display is also included in the New Generation Navigation System Professional which is operated via the new iDrive Touch Controller.
Retail prices (on the road, without insurance, with BMW Service + Repair Inclusive (BS+RI) for the new BMW 5 Series are:
– 520d – RM 354,800.00
– 520i – RM 369,800.00
– 528i M Sport – RM 419,800.00
