BMW 530d
The BMW 530d is a surprising car. Diesels are loud and clattery aren't they? Best for farmers and frugal ducks and other types who perceive the gratuitous enjoyment of driving as an abstract exercise in futility. Having recently tested the superlative joys of a big engined petrol in the over whelmingly pleasurable overindulgence of BMW's 760iL, the 530d arriving on my door was to be a substantial anti-climax. A frugal, oil burning, rattle-on-idle precis of the 7 series' luxury.
Boy was I in for a surprise. This engined revved. And sounded good. Very good. A diesel that was smooth with a decent soundtrack under full throttle. So good that I did a double take. Imagine a sculpted powerhouse of a V8 muted with a layer of sophisticated finess, removing brutality in pursuit of luxury. This is the turbo charged three litre straight six's soundtrack. An entire laboratory of german mechanical engineers must have been enslaved, shackled to the bench with their laptops and whipped into submission by a car enthusiast with a good ear until they got it right.
Don't ask me how it was done. Sublime muted aural pleasure. As for coming down with a crash from the 7 series' luxurious delights. Errm no. The new five was developed alongside new 7 and shares systems and components. And this is a good thing. The BMW 7 and Merc S Class have always been the harbingers of future tech with an eventual trickle down to lesser mortals daily drives. Not so with new 5. From the back to its root BMW signature driver oriented cockpit, avoiding the tragedy of understated minimalism of recent year, this is a good place to sit. Lots of great toys, an iDrive that works.
Buttons for things you actually need. A simple selector for the different modes, from comfort through sport+. Four modes. I love it. Smile and effective. Sport+ allows the back to hang out in controlled oversteer a bit, enough to make you feel brave, not enough to go backwards through the bushes on the side of the road. For my taste, I would prefer a touch more slip before the nanny came on, but a great step in the right direction from the politically correct big brother approach of traction systems of old. Combined with BMW's adaptive suspension and steering angle, the 7's rear wheel steering and we have a winner.
Niceties like keyless go, and
optional collision warning, lane
departure safety systems and the
party trick, Infra red pedestrian
active detection systems, there is
a lot less risk of hitting that coal miner dressed in black on a dark
country road. This car is quiet
and sophisticated when called for.
Sporty and a joy to hustle when
the mood arrives. Infused with
BMWness of old. The 180kw
of diesel giving a heady 540Nm
of torque take us from standstill
to the ton in 6.3 seconds.
It claims to do this with a
miserly fuel consumption of
6.2l/100km. 
Not in my
experience. Even with all the
power consumption cutting
accessories and power storage
under braking, this figure didn't
seem tangible in my drive.
Due to the addictive driving dynamics, perhaps, I couldn't achieve a fuel consumption below 10 litres per 100. I think this could be achieved, but that is hardly the seduction at play. Admittedly, a petrol exec sedan with the largest wheelbase of its class driven in this way would just manage consumption above 15 litres per hundred if you were lucky.
Frugality will be the role of the upcoming 4 cylinder 520d. Buy this one is for power and fun, while remaining sensitive to fuel consumption. No eco-warrior, but certainly power and luxury with a conscience.
