[Boss330]

"The big news on the engine front is the arrival of the 518d. It gets a version of the 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine used in the existing 520d, detuned to produce 141bhp and 266lb ft of torque. BMW puts the 0-62mph time at 9.6sec, combined economy at 62.8mpg and CO2 emissions at 119g/km."


http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/ne...eries-revealed

[AP]

Thats going to feel sluggish surely?
CO2 is I belive teh same as the 520d and I suspect real world economy isn't much better than a 520d (as you'll be pushing the gas pedal more to keep up with cars)

I'll have a guess that 99% of them will be debadged...

[gspannu]

Originally Posted by AP

Thats going to feel sluggish surely?
CO2 is I belive teh same as the 520d and I suspect real world economy isn't much better than a 520d (as you'll be pushing the gas pedal more to keep up with cars)

I'll have a guess that 99% of them will be debadged...

You are right…

It's almost a sense of false economy - as you just have to push the engine harder each time you want to accelerate.

I am not satisfied by my current 2012 520D; so looking to upgrade to (the new LCI) 535D soon...

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by gspannu

You are right…

It's almost a sense of false economy - as you just have to push the engine harder each time you want to accelerate.

I am not satisfied by my current 2012 520D; so looking to upgrade to (the new LCI) 535D soon...

Most likely the 518d will be less economical in real world conditions, than the 520d. I note the 318d is reporting worse mpg figures than the 320d (both auto and manual) on Honest John's site. Doesn't bode well for the heavier 5-series.

HighlandPete

[Ellmat]

Originally Posted by Boss330

"The big news on the engine front is the arrival of the 518d. It gets a version of the 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine used in the existing 520d, detuned to produce 141bhp and 266lb ft of torque. BMW puts the 0-62mph time at 9.6sec, combined economy at 62.8mpg and CO2 emissions at 119g/km."


http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/ne...eries-revealed

I suspect these cars will appeal to company reps who drive up and down motorways and aspire to driving a BMW and not a Vauxhall or VW, but who can blame them..? I guess the low CO2 will also make sense to those who have a company car and want to pay less tax..?

From a company provider point of view, i would think if you offered your employees a 5 series, they would be pretty happy to have this as a company car, plus i would bet the overall running costs over 3 years would fall in favour of a BMW if compared to a similar size VW, Ford or Vauxhall.

[camnhoj]

No doubt it will be underpowered , but I can see this being a good seller here in Ireland !

[rsyed]

95% of the time, it will be sufficient... because i dare to say that about 90% of the people who own a 5 series have a regular job and drive to work at 8ish and return an 6ish in the evening. during these hours, the 143hp should be sufficient.. only time you will miss more power is when you are overtaking other cars on a single carriage way..

and to claim a 9ish seconds form 0-60 is slow and is just a waste of space on our roads: in that case, you can elimanate about 60% of the cars from the roads (and that includes the astras, the golfs etc.) that are slower than the 518d..

[AP]

I did eliminate the Golfs and Astras which is why I bought a 530d!

[rsyed]

Originally Posted by AP

I did eliminate the Golfs and Astras which is why I bought a 530d!

and now honestly: how often have you needed the 258 HP (o4 245)? probably max once a week..

[Shake n Bake]

I suspect it will sell in high numbers. Lower purchase price, lower running costs, lower company car tax (UK) - it lowers the entry level budget for a 5-series. Will be popular with company car drivers for sure but also anyone who isn't performance oriented and is looking for a prestige drive with a plush interior.

We've seen lots of these detuned engines selling well in A4's and Passat's and the like for many years.

I wouldn't buy one though.......my 520d is already too slow for me. That said I'll be ordering another in about 6 months - £10,000 extra for a 530! Ouch.

[AP]

Originally Posted by rsyed

and now honestly: how often have you needed the 258 HP (o4 245)? probably max once a week..

Well I tend to use the car only at weekends anyway so it doesn't ghet much use. The full 258HP, very rarely is the honest answer but I like the smooth straight six and just knowing that the power is there as and when I want it.
When I test drove the 520d, I didn't thrash it buit didn't like the refinement , the 530d was different again.

I just may think people may get disapointed with thsi engine in such a large and heavy car.

[gspannu]

I have a 520D (and a decent spec as well) but my biggest gripe was the pulling power of the car.

I also have a 330 Coupe and it just pulls effortlessly; appreciate that the weight difference and power/weight ratio of a 3 series/ 5 series is going to be vastly different; but I still feel that the 5 series is a big car and the 520D is just a bit too small.

I have now ordered the 535D LCI, so lets see how it goes. I also test drove the 528i and it is quite a car. It really revs and is a very smooth engine (almost feels like a straight 6, without the whine), but in the end, I decided for the full-on torque, economical diesel of 535D.

[rsyed]

i love my 535d but when i get a 316 odr 318d as a rental car, you can do what you like with it but fuel consumption starts with a six comma (l/100km - about 50ish mpg)... that puts a smile on my face too even though the engine sounds like a sewing machine

but yes, before i take a 140hp passat or a a4, i would go for a 518d... definitely..

[AP]

I see the new 530d is .2 seconds faster to 100km/h. makes no difference in the real world but interesting that BMW are quoting a faster time for the same 258HP engine.

[rsyed]

the new sportautomatic with launch control does the trick..

[HighlandPete]

I'm sure the 518d will have its place in the range, it is definitely a way into the 5-series for some folks.

As to the power and do we need our bigger engines? Hard to argue the case "we need" something like a 530d or a big petrol engine. I've driven low powered hire cars, and find them frustrating, if you want to get on. You get stuck without overtaking ability, you can't even use overtaking opportunities, you know you can use in a high powered car. So for me, yes the 5% (or less) of the time I use the full power, I appreciate it is there 100% of the time. Plus a bigger engine car for me, is a relaxed car to drive, all of the time. I'm willing to pay for that ability, makes motoring a pleasure, no frustrations.

HighlandPete

[E60MKF]

I think the 518d will be fine for those coming from the E60 520d because it will be powerful enough. I remember when I bought my first F10 I was looking at the 530d but my salesman said that the new 520d is so much more powerful than the E60 520d that for day to day tasks (all I do) it would be plenty.

[the_rangdo]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Most likely the 518d will be less economical in real world conditions, than the 520d. I note the 318d is reporting worse mpg figures than the 320d (both auto and manual) on Honest John's site. Doesn't bode well for the heavier 5-series.

HighlandPete

I had a 318d (E91) - to get close to the quoted 320d figures you had to drive like Miss Daisy. Never got the quoted 318d figures.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by the_rangdo

I had a 318d (E91) - to get close to the quoted 320d figures you had to drive like Miss Daisy. Never got the quoted 318d figures.

Not at all surprised. In my experience (over too many years to remember) there is always the crossover point where an engine becomes too small in output to hold the economy of bigger outputs in the same body shell.

I was driving a Vauxhall 1.8i Insignia hire car the other day, it was one of those cars if you tried to drive normally (nothing excessive) the throttle opening was so high it just drank fuel, probably just a couple of mpg better than driving my F11 535i at the same pace. The only time it became economical was when you really eased off and then it felt sweet, and as if it had adequate power, but in reality, no pace or action possible.

From my observation, the 520d is getting close to that point, where driving on the sharper edge of normal will take you out of the efficiency range. Some users who have driven both 520d and 530d reporting mpg very close to 530d in the real world. Will be interesting to see if the 518d tips the balance.

I see the attraction of the smaller engine models to get into a model range, but if it is thought they drive with the same ease as bigger engines, even at moderate pace, or get better mpg, I would think again.

HighlandPete

[the_rangdo]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

I see the attraction of the smaller engine models to get into a model range, but if it is thought they drive with the same ease as bigger engines, even at moderate pace, or get better mpg, I would think again.

HighlandPete

+1

Other than this ongoing engine vibration I'm hoping to be resolved next week, the 30d performance is superb. Power on tap if required, but drive it normally and it'll reward you with pretty decent economy.

At a steady 75mph on cruise I can get 46-ish, drop that to about 70mph and I'm nudging 50mpg. Pure urban driving I'm in the 34-35 range. I can't grumble at that.

[gspannu]

Originally Posted by the_rangdo

+1

Other than this ongoing engine vibration I'm hoping to be resolved next week, the 30d performance is superb. Power on tap if required, but drive it normally and it'll reward you with pretty decent economy.

At a steady 75mph on cruise I can get 46-ish, drop that to about 70mph and I'm nudging 50mpg. Pure urban driving I'm in the 34-35 range. I can't grumble at that.

Do you think that the 535D will give similar figures (as the quoted mpg figures for both engines 530 and 535d are the same) as well?

[the_rangdo]

Can't see why not, as long as there isn't too much lead in your right foot

Bear in mind mine is a 2010 model which is slightly down on HP and MPG compared to the latest version.