Elegant new BMW 520i has subtle facelit
Primastuti Handayani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Driving a new car means catching up on the latest technology and design. Which was why I was so excited when given the opportunity to test-drive the new BMW 520i.
With so many changes since the 5 series was launched 30 years ago, I had expected to see the latest generation in the series looking like it did in the magazines. The latest 5 series, which will hit the market soon, looks more like the 3 series with its sporty and dynamic design.
But the car that arrived at my office was hardly recognizable from the previous generation.
The new features on the car are double-glazed windows that offer a noiseless driving experience amid the hustle and bustle of city traffic.
The front headlights are now equipped with white reflectors, while the 16-inch alloy wheels enhance the dynamic performance of the vehicle.
The interior is only slightly different, as the new car now has Montana leather seats and wood panels on its dashboard with the same old modest ergonomics, strengthening the image that the car only belongs to top corporate executives with their suits and shiny shoes.
Although the ergonomics are quite simple, the driver can still monitor how much fuel is consumed per 100 kilometers depending on how fast we drive. Another feature is that you can also monitor the temperature outside the car and adjust the air conditioner inside, manually of course.
Sorry to say but I almost burst out laughing when I found out that the car's front seats and steering wheel had to be adjusted manually. I couldn't even change the stereo from the steering wheel.
To my disappointment, the steptronic transmission was so simple, without any cruise control, which I saw earlier in the BMW 330i -- which has the series' engine capacity at 2,979cc.
Despite my dissatisfaction, I was quite surprised that the car could easily maneuver despite its size: it is 4.775 meters in length, 1.8 meters in width and 1.435 meters in height.
The six-cylinder Valvetronic 2,171cc engine -- the smallest in the 5 series -- resulted in a maximum output of 170 horsepowers at 6,250 revs per minute (rpm) and a maximum torque of 210 Newton meters at 3,500 rpm.
Although the top speed is 220 kilometers per hour (kph), there is no way the car can reach that speed in the city with its traffic jams.
During the test-drive in Tangerang-Jakarta and along the inner-city toll roads, I could only get the car up to 140 kph. Luckily, the toll roads were quite empty thanks to the government's decision to prolong the Independence Day holiday.
Even at those speeds, the car was still able to maneuver smoothly from one lane to another without losing stability, due to its Automatic Stability Control (ASC).
When making a sudden stop, the brakes operated well thanks to its Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) and Cornering Brake Control (CBC).
Satisfied with the car's speed performance, I tried it on some sharp curves and on a U-turn off the toll road and the handling was very satisfying.
To guarantee passenger safety, the car is equipped with six airbags.
The car is also equipped with car and key memory features, crash sensor, electronic temperature control and Park Distance Control (PDC). The PDC is another improvement from the older generation of 520i.
The BMW 520i is available for Rp 592 million (US$69,647). Specifications
Dimensions Length: 4,775 millimeters (mm) Width : 1,800 mm Height: 1,435 mm Wheelbase: 2,830 mm
Engine Capacity: 2,171cc Maximum output: 170 hp at 6,250 rpm Maximum torque: 210 Nm at 3,500 rpm Top speed: 220 kph Tank capacity: 70 liters