BMW 520d xDrive review: First impression of the new 5 Series after three days
A TEST REPORT from David Haydl 
on January 22, 2024, 9:30 | Write a comment
Not long ago, BMW updated its 5 Series. I now had the opportunity to drive one of the models, the BMW 520d xDrive, for a few days.
tl; dr: The BMW 520d xDrive is one of the classier BMWs with a lower price tag than a 7 Series vehicle or a iX. You can notice this in the simple interior with the modern designed elements and the high level of driving comfort. A general bonus of the model range is that there is something for every preference. The BMW 520d xDrive is a mild hybrid car, but there is also a conventional hybrid and, with the i5, an electric vehicle. My colleagues from Germany will be testing the i5 more closely in the near future.
What struck me negatively were the lane change assistant in a specific situation, the flexibility of the rearview mirror and the structure of the infotainment operating system.
Design
The 520d xDrive makes a “dangerous” impression. At least that's what I would say about the configuration of my test car with the color "Transit Blue Metallic", the black kidney grille with the lights as a border and the rims. At the same time, it looks ultra-modern and is still recognizable as a BMW. “Transit Blue Metallic” is a “BMW Individual paint” for an additional charge. The only paint finish that doesn’t cost anything extra is “Alpine White.”
BMW stuck to tried and tested things here in several places. So here we still have the small kidney in comparison to the i4 and the wide rear, which we know from the series. Nevertheless, the manufacturer also incorporated some modern design elements, such as the door handles that are flush with the door, which are increasingly seen in the company's vehicles. Then you can find several small details throughout the car. This includes the “5” emblem in the C-pillar, the M logo on the side and the xDrive logo at the rear.
Picture: TechnikNews
Diesel goes into the rear tank cap of the BMW 520d xDrive. There is no socket for charging on this car because, as mentioned at the beginning, it is a mild hybrid.
inner space
The interior is a lot more luxurious than that of an i4, you feel more like you're in a vehicle from the 7 series fleet or an iX.
The “BMW Individual Leather Merino” seats have seat heating and cooling. You sit very comfortably in the front and back with more than enough legroom. However, taller people may experience a feeling of tightness due to the height of the vehicle.
Let's take a look at the center console. BMW gave the iDrive control wheel, the gear rocker and the volume control a crystal look. All three feel extremely comfortable in the hand and also have a good pressure or click point. The media control buttons respond to firmer touches and provide good feedback. This means I can operate them more accurately than just touch-sensitive surfaces. They are also less susceptible to incorrect entries. My only criticism of the center console is that the storage space is a bit tight. There is only a small compartment under the armrest and shelves for two smartphones.
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- Picture: TechnikNews
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- Picture: TechnikNews
The rest was kept very simple. You will only find buttons for the light control, the alarm flashing system and the maximum levels of the front and rear window heating. In addition to the latter, there would have been some space for additional functions, but I didn't really miss anything in my test. It is also noticeable that the ventilation slots are barely visible.
Another point of criticism about the interior is that I didn't like the white streak pattern on the dashboard at all. I also have to briefly talk about the rear-view mirror, because in my opinion it could be adjusted a little more flexibly. I always had to bend down a little to get a full view of the rear window.
What was positive, however, was the trunk, which seems very small at first glance. In fact, with a volume of 520 liters, it isn't that at all.
infotainment
Hard to miss in the interior is the curved display in front of the driver, which functions as an infotainment and driver information display. It runs BMW OS 8 and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported wirelessly if desired. The whole thing looks great, but depending on your height, you may not be able to reach the end of the display with your hand. Every aspect can be operated with the iDrive switch.
What I probably liked best about the infotainment was the customizability of the head-up display and the driver information display. There are numerous options that can be adjusted quickly and easily using buttons on the steering wheel. BMW even integrated a display for the current media playback, which I know I always want. I found it interesting how the head-up display is often used as an extension rather than a reflection of the driver information display. Among other things, you can only see the information about a phone call in the windshield, but not on the display behind the steering wheel.
I also really liked the smart suggestions. These are small banners on the infotainment screen that suggest, for example, deactivating speed warnings if they sound several times in a row. In one iX3 I also once saw that it was offered to condition the battery when the battery level was low.
Unfortunately, it often happened that I was looking for a specific menu item in the operating system and couldn't find it. When I wanted to see the consumption, I looked for something like “vehicle data” or “trip data”. Instead, this information was available in a view called “Live Vehicle”. The app for the operating instructions is very helpful in such situations.
Picture: TechnikNews
My highlight of the infotainment is clearly the sound system from Bowsers & Wilkins. I would say that I have never experienced such a thrilling, powerful and full sound in a car.
driving experience
The BMW 520d xDrive has an output of 197 hp, four cylinders and an eight-speed Steptronic transmission. In addition, the small electric motor, which makes the car a mild hybrid, has an output of 11 hp or eight kilowatts. Consumption should be between 5,5 and six liters pro 100 kilometers away.
When driving, the car feels strong and safe at the same time. You notice the energy as soon as you touch the accelerator pedal and you still have a very safe feeling. For the test, I drove through the city, across the country and on highways for 200 kilometers on a fairly cold day and had a consumption of 6,4 liters per 100 kilometers.
The steering wheel has three spokes and is thicker than you would normally expect. It feels comfortable in the hand and can also be heated in winter. The steering itself is soft and still has a little resistance, which gives a very natural feeling.
The assistance systems include a limiter, a distance assistant and assisted driving. In the latter case, the BMW drives independently and changes lanes itself, which is particularly useful on motorways. The whole thing can be set up very intuitively and worked largely reliably for me. Once it just happened to me that I didn't hold the steering wheel for too long and the car stopped the maneuver while changing lanes. I doubt whether this should be the case, as something like this can be very irritating for other road users. By the way, models sold in Germany have eye detection, so you no longer have to hold the steering wheel during assisted driving.
BMW 520d xDrive: prices
The basic list price of the 520d xDrive with standard equipment is 67.200 euros. My test car is priced at 102.076 euros with features such as the Bowsers & Wilkins system, the 21-inch aerodynamic rims and the paint.
We would like to thank BMW Austria for providing the BMW 520d xDrive.
