2021 BMW 530i M Sport

SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE 1998cc TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder BS VI engine TRANSMISSION 8-speed steptronic sport automatic transmission

POWER 252hp@5200-6500rpm

TORQUE 350Nm@1450-4800 rpm

FUEL EFFICIENCY 15.56 kmpl

PRICE `62.90 lakh(ex-showroom Delhi)

FIRST DRIVE

2021 BMW 530I M SPORT

5SERIES

SUBTLE CHANGES SERIES

Text: Roy Punnoose Tharyan / Photo: Afsar Beg

The new facelifted 7th generation BMW 5 series car comes with a display key that continues to fascinate me. For a moment it brought out the boy in me and I simply indulged in its brilliant capabilities. I mean it is not just opening and closing the car doors and windows and the tailgate, it was about moving the vehicle like a remote controlled toy. The versatile key gets a separate mention in another article.

For now, let me tell you about the new facelifted BMW 5 series car. The models on offer are the 530i (petrol), the 530d and 520d (both diesel). We drove the new 530i M Sport. Though it is just a 530i, this one gets an M Sport character package.

EXTERIORS

The vehicle looks almost identical in shape and size to its predecessor. The width, height and wheelbase are unchanged, but the length is a tad extra at 27 mm. To be more precise, the length is now 4963mm, the height is at 1497mm and the width is 1868 mm, excluding the ORVMs. The wheelbase is at 2975mm.

The proportions are very BMW and the car continues to boast of a drag coefficient as low as Cd 0.23.

The car has a revised front end with a bold BMW kidney grille with modified contouring. The grille takes a new, octagonal form, adding extra width and height and is framed by a single- piece surround. Not to be missed are the vertical bars, the top sections of which kind of protrude further out. It gets new laser lights with L-shaped DRLs. These comprise of LED low-beam headlights and high-beam headlights with laser module with up to 650m range. You will notice the blue laser design element and exclusive BMW Laserlight signature. It also has cornering light function and LED turn indicators.

The M Sport Package in this car ensures that the air breather is in satinised aluminium, the vertical slats in the grille and the front bumper are in black high-gloss. The ‘M’ is displayed on the front side panels. As part of the M Aerodynamics package, the front apron, side skirts and rear apron all come with diffuser insert in dark shadow metallic.

As you move away from the front you get to see M door sill finishers, with the mirror base, B-pillar finisher and window guide rail in black high-gloss. The car sits on 18” M light alloy wheels double-spoke style 662 M with mixed tyres. Mixed tyres imply that the tyres come with different tread depths. A closer look will reveal M Sport brake with dark blue brake calipers with M imprint.

Move to the rear and you get to see the new L-shaped light graphic. With a black edging the rear lights and brake lights are integrated into a single light fixture. Regardless of the equipment line and engine specified, all models of the new BMW 5 Series come with trapezoidal tailpipe finishers, but since this one has an M package, the same comes in high gloss chrome.

As for the car paint, the new 5 series is being offered in new paint finishes and the one we drove came with a new addition that goes by the name phytonic Blue metallic..

INTERIOR

Once you step inside the cabin, its elegance all the way. The car now has a bigger 12.3-inch screen as standard. You also get a fully digital instrument display with 12.3 inches diagonal display adapted to individual character design for drive modes. As for the touchscreen infotainment display on the dashboard, it can take you through a range of features and functions. One can also set the ambient interior lighting as there are six selectable light designs.

The new BMW 5 series is an electrically controlled treat with

its new BMW Operating System 7. With the help of the iDrive Touch Controller, the steering wheel control, voice control using the BMW VirtualAssistant or BMW gesture control, one can control the vehicle, its infotainment, and communication and navigation functions.

The car’s system is now both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible. The car also gets a multifunction M leather steering wheel that can be electrically adjusted. Wireless charging space for your mobile phone and other charging outlets make up some other features of this car. Then there is a power socket (12 V) in the rear centre console with a socket in the luggage compartment with double USB adapter.

The front arm rest comes with a storage compartment while at the rear you get foldable centre armrest with two cup holders.

There is more than adequate space for all passengers to travel in comfort, though the rear seat that accommodates three people may be a tad uncomfortable for the person sitting in the middle. The cabin is well insulated and comes with four-zone automatic climate control. covers. The front seats come with electrical adjustments. Apart from moving it in front and back, the seat can be adjusted for height, width, backrest rake and headrest height. It has well padded side bolsters and manually adjustable thigh support. The memory function is only for driver seat. You also get lumbar support for driver and front passenger.

The buttons on the centre console now have surfacing in high-gloss black. You also get a glass roof and electrically adjustable roller sunblind for rear side windows and the rear windscreen. The Tailgate can be opened manually or with the help of the display key button or with a foot movement.

ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE

The new BMW 530i M Sport is powered by a 1998cc TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder BS VI engine that churns out a peak power of 252hp@5200-6500rpm and a peak torque of 350Nm@1450-4800 rpm. It accelerates from 0 to 100kmph in just about 6.1 seconds. Average fuel consumption works out at 15.56 kmpl.

The engine is mated to an 8-speed steptronic sport automatic transmission. The transmission now comes with increased gear ratio spread, thus even at higher gears and reduced engine speeds you achieve better efficiency. Gear movement too seems slick and effortless. Since the government has enforced very strict speed laws with the help of speed cameras at strategic locations, we really could not push the vehicle behind the 100kmph mark. But the little experience convinced us about the prowess of the engine and the effectiveness of the suspension.

Features like Auto Start Stop, cruise control, electric parking brake with auto hold proved to be very practical. Mind you, the Auto Start Stop function is not a plain Jain feature, rather in the new 5 series, the Auto Start Stop function reflects the advanced degree of connectivity in the car, as it uses information from the navigation system, stereo camera to prevent the engine from being switched off in situations where that would be inefficient or unwarranted, such as at roundabouts or T-junctions.

Driving can be experienced using the different modes that include Sport, Comfort, Eco Pro and Adaptive. In the new Adaptive Mode, the steering, Adaptive Suspension and Steptronic transmission are automatically adjusted to the driving style and, depending on vehicle specification, also to the route. Besides, for those who want a bit of excitement you also have launch control function, paddle shifters and the manual sport mode. Though the car comes with Adaptive Suspension with independent damping for enhanced driving comfort, I felt it was a bit too soft for parts of our roads, especially where there were terrible speed breakers. The car tends to bottom out if one is not careful while going over these humps.

The new BMW 5 Series is fitted with optimised lightweight brakes featuring single-piece four-piston fixed aluminium callipers at the front, with lightweight discs, and single-piston fixed callipers with an integrated electromechanical parking brake at the rear.

The new BMW 5 Series is fitted as standard with driving and parking assistance features including Parking Assistant Plus, Remote Control Parking, Reversing Assistant, cruise control with brake function and the Attentiveness Assistant.

SAFETY FEATURES

A car like the 5 series also comes with a plethora of safety features. These include airbags for driver and front passenger, side airbags for driver and front passenger, head airbags, front and rear knee airbag. The front passenger side airbag can be deactivated via the key. Then you have the usual Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist and Dynamic Braking lights, Cornering Brake Control (CBC), crash sensor, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) including Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Electric Parking brake with auto hold function, among others. The new Tyre Pressure Monitoring System is an intelligent system that uses sensors in each wheel to warn drivers when air pressure drops below acceptable levels. Accessible through iDrive, this system allows drivers to monitor their tyres individually.

VERDICT

The new facelifted 5 series from BMW continues to remain a sophisticated car, providing immense driving fun as well as cabin comfort. Electrically, there are a zillion functions you play around with. The 5 series strikes a perfect balance when it comes to safety, sophistication and fun. But before signing off, I was not able to understand one feature about the new 5 series I had with me. I noticed it comes with a valvetronic exhaust. But strangely when the car started in the Sport mode, the flaps within the exhaust line remained shut and refused to open up even when I stepped on the accelerator. That’s strange. Is it not supposed to open up and deliver a loud throaty exhaust note? I have asked BMW to revert to my query.

BMW DISPLAY KEY

A SMART KEY THAT COSTS `45,000

First and foremost, please don’t lose the display key that comes with your expensive BMW 530i M Sport. Or else you may have to shell out around Rs 40,000 to Rs 45,000 for a new key.

It will have to come all the way from Germany and may not be easy to come.

Like all conventional keys, the BMW display key locks and unlocks the car with the press of the lock and unlock button respectively on the key. Now let’s check out the other features. On the left slim side of the key you have a slot on the top half. Once you open the tiny cover, you get to see a charging port. The key can be charged through this port with the help of a cable or it can be put on the wirelesss charging pad on the dash near the centre console while you drive and it will automatically get charged.

Below that charging port is a tiny button which once pressed will activate the display key. The display screen comes alive. Before we explain you the details and functions on the screen, let me take you back to some more buttons on the display key.

On the broad face of the key, on its left is the boot opening button. You press that with your finger and the boot lid of the car opens. On the top there are two buttons for unlocking and locking the car. A long press of the unlock button will roll down the windows and slide open the sunroof. A long press of the lock button will do the reverse. The diamond or rhombus shaped figure on the right of the key is mainly for the welcome lights that can be configured from the idrive.

Before we come to the right slim side of the key, let me explain the display functions. The moment you press the bottom button on the left slim side of the key, the display screen comes alive. The time is displayed on top with the battery charge level. The letters BMW are displayed prominently with a message and arrow which says, “slide up to unlock display”. Once you do that, it displays some security information. Now this information is basically to tell you whether the car is secured or not. Of course, there is a distance that needs to be maintained between the car and the key for it to function. If you are too far away from the car, the key may not respond.

The touch functions now come into play. With your finger tip, you gently touch “secured” and then you get the information that the vehicle, its doors and boot are closed.. You can touch the “back” or “return” sign on the bottom of the screen and then touch on the second word “closed”. Once you touch that, it lets you know whether your windows and sunroof are closed or open. Touch “return” sign again. Now you are back to the screen which shows secured and closed. Now you need to swipe your finger to get to the next function as if you are flipping to the next page.

Now two different functions pop up under “vehicle information”. It says OK and Off. Once you touch ok, you get to see signs of engine oil, brake fluid, vehicle check. If all of them are in green it means all of them are in perfect condition. These signs are also found on the instrument cluster and if one of them malfunctions, the respective sign has a constant glow on the panel. You touch the “back” button and now touch on the “off” sign. On the screen you get to see a “Lights off”

information with side, parking left and parking right in the ‘off” position. This again implies that your vehicle is secure and all lights are off. Touch the “back” button once again and them immediately swipe your finger and you get to see the range information on the screen. On the screen before you, you can see 699km, which means that the petrol inside the 530i M Sport can take you another 699km i.e. if you drive in a civilised manner.

If you swipe the screen once more from right to left, you get to see a “preconditioning setting” with words like set time, next departure, etc. Preconditioning time is meant to set the heating in the car. It’s unfortunately not for air conditioning. Since this function is meant for heating and is ideally meant for cold European climes, this function has been disabled in India.

That takes us back to the narrow parking feature. There are times when you want to park the car in a narrow place and you are uncomfortable doing that, then you can simply step out of the car and use this remote function. You can start the engine using the screen button. Once the engine is started, you have to move closer to the car and then with the help of the “P” button on the right slim side of the key, you can move the car forward or backward. But since this has to done carefully, you have to simultaneously touch the up or down key signs on the display screen. Thus, this operation is carried out using two hands.

Also, keep in mind, though this remote function is something similar to a remote controlled toy car, don’t think you can take the car into a wall or reverse it into stationery object because the car has enough sensors to prevent that. The car will automatically stop and not proceed, despite you trying your best to push it into a wall, either in front or rear. This shows the high level of safety that has gone into the making of the key and creating its functions.

The key also has another function. We all know that cars that come with remote keys are started with the press of a button on the dashboard or the centre console as the case may be. But if the remote key is not inside the car, then the car refuses to start. Here too it is similar. But when the key battery is low for some odd reason, then you can place it by the side of the steering wheel and then press the start button. The car engine is likely to respond to the key and start the engine. You can then place the key in the wireless charging tray for charging.