BMW 5 Series to get diesel engine upgrades

BMW has announced mechanical upgrades to its entry level diesel engines for the BMW 5 Series. The 5 Series will get upgraded engines on the internationally available 518d engine and the Indian 520d soon. The engines, incorporating BMW’s TwinPower turbo technology and a new common rail technology offer both improved fuel economy and performance. The new engines will be available immediately on international models and will be offered soon on the entry level BMW 520d in India.

The BMW 520d engine will receive 6PS of extra power, increasing max output to 187PS while peak torque will be upgraded from 380Nm to 400Nm, an increase of 20Nm. The 0-100kmph times too has been marginally reduced with the 520d now reaching 100kmph in only 7.9 seconds. Emissions levels have also been bettered with CO2 emissions now rated at an impressive only 114g/km. The BMW 520d is mated to the same 8-speed gearbox that does duty in most BMWs today.

The entry level BMW 518d, although not currently available in India has also been given a few upgrades. The 518d now makes 150PS of peak power, a 7PS increase over the original along with a marginal increase in torque. The TwinPower turbo helps the 518d get from 0-100 in 9.5 seconds with an emissions figure of 114g/km just like the 520d. Although the BMW 518d is not available in India, BMW should consider launching it as the entry-level alternative. The 518d would make a lot of sense to fleet and hotel operators along with individuals whose priorities are aimed more towards comfort as compared to driving performance.