When purchasing a car, we can choose two critical moments: the choice of model and the choice of engine.
Canceling the model variable – among so many other variables that we could add – we are left with motorization. The model in question is the BMW 5 Series.
The AutoTopNL channel managed to bring together four of the five diesel engines that power the BMW 5 Series and put them in direct confrontation. In terms of performance, what's the difference between them?
The technical sheet…
The most modest diesel engine in this video is the 520d, a four-cylinder engine with 190 hp of power and 400 Nm of maximum torque. In Portugal, the BMW 520d saloon is offered for around 57 000 euros (considering the automatic transmission version).On the next level, we have the 530d. An in-line six engine with 265 hp and 620 Nm of maximum torque. An engine that is associated with the Series 5 saloon costs in our country more than 75,000 euros (considering the rear-wheel drive version.
Sharing the block with the 530d we also have the 540d (320 hp, 680 Nm and all-wheel drive) and the four-turbo monster M550d (400 hp, 760 Nm and traction). The latter two with prices starting at 87 000 and 112 000 euros, respectively.
… versus reality
With such different technical sheets, one would expect expressive differences in terms of performance. But in the real world these differences aren't all that significant. The fact sheet does not tell the whole story.
The 520d naturally, little or nothing can cope with the more powerful versions, but the 530d does very well against the 540d and even against the 550d – which, moreover, has numbers from another championship.
Given the results of this video, is it worth opting for the more powerful versions? Between the 530d and the 540d we are talking about a difference of 12 000 euros. A difference that, according to this video, surprisingly appears to be more significant in financial terms than in practical terms.
If the comparison is made with the M550d, we are talking about a 37 000 euros difference – enough to buy a BMW 1 Series. Still, it is worth noting that the M550d adds a series of extras (aesthetic and dynamic) that the 530d version does not offers. As for performance, the differences are quite obvious, especially from 200 km/h.
The answer to the question "is it worth opting for the more powerful versions?" it will depend on the tastes and wallets of each one. But one thing is certain: unlike in the not-too-distant past, more modest engines are now real alternatives to larger engines. Not only in terms of economy but also in terms of performance.
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