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BMW 5-Series (G30) Forum 2017+ BMW 5 Series (G30) General Discussions From 520i to 540i

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      04-01-2020, 02:12 PM   #1
csm7djs
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From 520i to 540i

So after 2 years of leasing a 520i, my lease has expired and the car is due back.

Overall the car has been great - with the exception of one thing - serious lack of power.

After considering my options, I had initially decided to move into another 5 series - but this time a 520d MHT.

That was until I put a deposit down on a 540i xdrive.

Unfortunately not been able to test drive it yet, but once things get back to normal that should be sorted out pretty quickly. So going from a car with no options to loads of stuff.

Seems to be a good spec as well:
Bluestone Metallic
Comfort Pack
M Sport Plus Pack
Premium Pack
Technology Pack
Piano black - bmw ind
Ambient air
Ceramic finish for controls
Split-folding rear seats
Four-zone automatic air conditioning
Ivory White Nappa leather

Interested to read the other owners on here talking about mpg in the low 30's. In my 520i over 2 years, I managed 35.9mpg. Not massively great and miles away from the figures quoted.
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      04-01-2020, 02:41 PM   #2
SteveinArizona
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You will love the car. You will especially love the Nappa upholstery. I have it (albeit in mocha as I wanted ivory white but chickened out).

I am not familiar with the UK packages but if you get the Nappa upholstery, I would urge you to get the leather dash as well. it comes as Nappa and includes the door tops as well as the dash. Really finishes off the interior. Personally, I would rather invest in the leather dash than the ceramic controls.
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      04-01-2020, 02:56 PM   #3
csm7djs
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It’s a demonstrator so no choice in the spec

Must say I was really impressed with the look of the ceramic and piano black against the cream leather.
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      04-01-2020, 05:40 PM   #4
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the one piece of advice I have read is don't wear blue jeans (dungarees) as they will bleed into the white upholstery.
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      04-03-2020, 08:50 PM   #5
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The 520i is not sold in North America but it is essentially a detuned B46 2 liter 4 cyl gasoline engine with only 180hp at the wheel. It is a fine city car but definitely challenged in the G30 application.

The 530i has 58HP more than the 520i. While the 530i is the base trim model in the US and Canada, the 530i is a mid grade model in Europe and other world markets.

520i is the entry level gasoline G30.

There is also a 518D diesel, 520D (Best selling model), 525D and 530D (6 cyl in line turbo diesel).
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      04-04-2020, 02:38 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 530iDriver View Post
The 520i is not sold in North America but it is essentially a detuned B46 2 liter 4 cyl gasoline engine with only 180hp at the wheel. It is a fine city car but definitely challenged in the G30 application.

The 530i has 58HP more than the 520i. While the 530i is the base trim model in the US and Canada, the 530i is a mid grade model in Europe and other world markets.

520i is the entry level gasoline G30.

There is also a 518D diesel, 520D (Best selling model), 525D and 530D (6 cyl in line turbo diesel).
Have you driven a 520i? That's my ride and I have no complaints for my style of driving on uk clogged roads and an occasional foray to Europe. MPG 43.5. Lovely and quiet.
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      04-04-2020, 04:32 AM   #7
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Congratulations on your choice there, and the spec looks great too! The ceramic control finish is very good I think, really does lift the interior. I wish mine had the upgraded leather etc so seems like you got a good deal there all in all! Enjoy it - out of interest my mpg is currently showing as 33.8mpg which I'm pretty pleased with. On a normal motorway/a-road run I see high 30s or low 40s which always impresses me!
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      04-04-2020, 06:20 PM   #8
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Congratulations!

What a pure joy this has to be! Back into the ultimate bimmer with the perfect tuned 6 inline. This car combines all virtues that made BMW great.
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      04-05-2020, 01:09 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dephead2004 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by 530iDriver View Post
The 520i is not sold in North America but it is essentially a detuned B46 2 liter 4 cyl gasoline engine with only 180hp at the wheel. It is a fine city car but definitely challenged in the G30 application.

The 530i has 58HP more than the 520i. While the 530i is the base trim model in the US and Canada, the 530i is a mid grade model in Europe and other world markets.

520i is the entry level gasoline G30.

There is also a 518D diesel, 520D (Best selling model), 525D and 530D (6 cyl in line turbo diesel).
Have you driven a 520i? That's my ride and I have no complaints for my style of driving on uk clogged roads and an occasional foray to Europe. MPG 43.5. Lovely and quiet.
I have seen it in Europe but not driven it. US buyers are unaware of its existence as the "base" model here is the 530i gasoline and 530e hybrid.

I am sure the 520i is sufficient for more than 98% of driving situations it will encounter. And makes sense to sell it parts of the world where price is an issue and high taxation play a role into the buying decision. A 520i doesn't make sense in North America due to cheap gasoline, would be perceived as being too underpowered and too down market for a 5 series. Same reason why Mercedes doesn't sell the E180/200 here either.

But the 520i is a heavy car (3600-3700 pounds) and the detuned B46 engine will probably feel a bit lacking in some highway passing situations. This is probably why the 520D is the best selling model due to it being diesel, more favorable taxation, better mileage and more low end torque from its 2 liter engine.

But I agree with you the 520i is still very much a lovely car and place to be. And much rather be in a G30 than a new G20 3-Series. Nice car but there is absolutely no comparison to our 5 Series, no matter what engine or trim level.
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      04-05-2020, 01:26 PM   #10
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Originally Posted by KoenG View Post
Congratulations!

What a pure joy this has to be! Back into the ultimate bimmer with the perfect tuned 6 inline. This car combines all virtues that made BMW great.
Actually what made BMW "great" was a 4-cyl engine. This is why the BMW building headquarters in Munich was designed to resemble 4 cylinders.

In North America people seem to conveniently forget that the first BMWs ever sold in the US where 4 pot models. But can't blame the mentality as BMW does indeed build the best 6 cyl in line engines in the business and for many, many years (Until 2012) the only way you could purchase a new BMW in the US was with a normally aspirated 6 cyl in line engine as the base engine.

This changed in 2012 when BMW replaced the old N52 6 cyl NA engine with the now defunct N20 2 liter 4 cyl turbo as the base engine in the F30 3 Series and F10 5 Series, 320i, 328i and 528i respectively.

But remember BMWs roots are on those lowly "4 pots" that everyone seem to take for granted these days.
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      04-06-2020, 08:26 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 530iDriver View Post
Actually what made BMW "great" was a 4-cyl engine. This is why the BMW building headquarters in Munich was designed to resemble 4 cylinders.

In North America people seem to conveniently forget that the first BMWs ever sold in the US where 4 pot models. But can't blame the mentality as BMW does indeed build the best 6 cyl in line engines in the business and for many, many years (Until 2012) the only way you could purchase a new BMW in the US was with a normally aspirated 6 cyl in line engine as the base engine.

This changed in 2012 when BMW replaced the old N52 6 cyl NA engine with the now defunct N20 2 liter 4 cyl turbo as the base engine in the F30 3 Series and F10 5 Series, 320i, 328i and 528i respectively.

But remember BMWs roots are on those lowly "4 pots" that everyone seem to take for granted these days.

Yes, you're right. Join the G20 forum and help me convince the guy he doesn't need a M340i just because it's a 6 cyl and that the 330i 4cyl will be perfectly fine.

Anyway, a 540i is still some kind of a magnificent car to me, and the smooth 6 cyl has its part in it.
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      04-06-2020, 08:32 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by 530iDriver View Post
But I agree with you the 520i is still very much a lovely car and place to be. And much rather be in a G30 than a new G20 3-Series. Nice car but there is absolutely no comparison to our 5 Series, no matter what engine or trim level.
Maybe you can join me in the G20 thread on this one also!

A new member contemplating to buy a 318i but also considering a mildly pre-used G30 530i. Reading his profile would direct to the latter, a full 300%.
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      04-06-2020, 08:35 PM   #13
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520 to 540 will be quite a jump
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      04-13-2020, 03:21 PM   #14
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Dealer is still shut so it’s just a waiting game now.
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      04-13-2020, 05:59 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KoenG View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by 530iDriver View Post
But I agree with you the 520i is still very much a lovely car and place to be. And much rather be in a G30 than a new G20 3-Series. Nice car but there is absolutely no comparison to our 5 Series, no matter what engine or trim level.
Maybe you can join me in the G20 thread on this one also!

A new member contemplating to buy a 318i but also considering a mildly pre-used G30 530i. Reading his profile would direct to the latter, a full 300%.
Damn, how much HP in that 318i?

If all things being considered are equal and price, condition and equipment on that 530i are right, I would go with the pre-loved G30
Over the 318i new.

You can't never go wrong with a 5 Series.
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      04-14-2020, 05:21 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 530iDriver View Post
The 520i is not sold in North America but it is essentially a detuned B46 2 liter 4 cyl gasoline engine with only 180hp at the wheel. It is a fine city car but definitely challenged in the G30 application.

The 530i has 58HP more than the 520i. While the 530i is the base trim model in the US and Canada, the 530i is a mid grade model in Europe and other world markets.

520i is the entry level gasoline G30.

There is also a 518D diesel, 520D (Best selling model), 525D and 530D (6 cyl in line turbo diesel).
The 520i has a B48 engine, I believe the B46 is for places like California with strict emissions rules and used in other (ie non 5-series) applications

Although the 520i is never going to be as fast as a 530 or 540 it is perfectly adequate, you just have to work it a bit harder if you really want to make progress. It still does 0-60 in around 7.5 seconds so is certainly no slouch.

Apparently in some markets eg Turkey there is a 1.6 litre engine - I'd imagine that would be a little underpowered
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      04-14-2020, 06:34 PM   #17
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I'm also looking at a 540i xDrive M Sport- a one owner 2017 at my local dealer, It's also Bluestone but with a black interior. Comfort seats and B&W audio. I'll have to add the MPPSK, but other than that it's perfect.
As far as BMW fours and sixes, I've had both and they have all been great- M10, M30, S38, M42, M54, N20 and N55.
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      04-15-2020, 09:38 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveinArizona View Post
the one piece of advice I have read is don't wear blue jeans (dungarees) as they will bleed into the white upholstery.
Quite true. Blue Jean dye transfer is a real problem on light interiors. I have had tan or beige interiors on most of my recent cars and I can attest to that. So far the 540xi is not exhibiting a lot and I do clean it from time to time. But my Corvette was a problem so I did something heretical--I bought a cheap ($25) tan car seat from Auto Zone and use it when I am driving. Take it off for shows (or at least used to when we had them!), Not real pretty but has saved the seats and since I am usually the only one in the car no problem. It might be you could get a reasonably high quality seat cover for the white BMW seats if you think it might be an issue. --Bob
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      04-15-2020, 02:31 PM   #19
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I was running a JB+ box on my 520i and this made a real difference to the car. It basically over boosted the car. Get investment for £175 and bought from a forum sponsor on here
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