BMW 5 series - BMW 518d Drive Review

Thirty years ago there was already a 518. That was in the E34 - era when the consumer needs and the required criteria for approval were much lower severe and BMW respect than now. How sophisticated and sufficiently powerful the new BMW 518d perhaps, can BMW is the day still afford such a (low) rating today?

He is not efficient and not cleaner, but not meager. The BMW 518d is only less powerful than the 520d. BMW forced the originally 184 hp 2.0 - liter four-cylinder turbo diesel for the occasion off at 143 hp and the torque decreased. It went from 380 to 360 Nm.
Although the maximum tensile force only decreased by 20 Nm, must be in terms of performance or delivered. With an acceleration of 9.6 seconds, the 518d sprint almost a full second slower than the 520d to a hundred. The top speed has come to rest, a decrease of 29 km / h. By the back - tuning at 212 km / h

No performance to require sleep through the night, but something gnaws. At least with us. The supreme feeling that BMW has us feel in a 5 series over the years in the 518d mostly disappeared. A subtle reprimand with the accelerator to that person in his provocative patched Golfer you do behind the wheel of the BMW 518d at least not to. High probability that the schmuck with an obscene motion flown before you can see how and how much raised fingers he challenged you. Very well have gone

Wisdom comes with age
it is better to do in the BMW 518d. Calming there you put the least attention along and, even better, the 5 - series simply at its best. Who previously had an E34 or E39 in his possession will immediately realize that the ' Funfair ' not that sport sedan that generations since 2009. And does it not wrong us. The 5 Series is still an above average sharp steering large sedan and similarly balanced as it was then, but the finesse has now taken the upper hand by which he has become noticeably more muted in character by the bank. The slightly more direct steering that BMW claims to have introduced the facelift does not change anything. Handsome guy who notice the difference.

 There is a close attention to in order to discover the innovations. You must have read that the light units are classified and anything else that the bumpers and the creases in the bonnet slightly sharper raised. Almost anywhere fortunately, because the 5-series thus retains it’s muscular and yet graceful appearance that - in our view - has still not been matched by competitors.

Ride
Take that increased 'wisdom' with age into consideration, then bringing the 518d not illogical step. This accretion model runs, despite the dubious, but for the flat Netherlands adequate performance, not unlike a 535d. Once the fantastic, butter soft 8 -speed automatic has brought you up to speed the miles effortlessly tapping under you.
We caught us a little curious that we played in the beginning with the Driving Experience Control, soon to permanently leave. Then in Comfort The control, the reactions of the engine and transmission as well as that of the base in this mode best suited to the 5 Series. The Sport mode is at most the better choice, for example, the German Autobahn, where you can drive over tens of kilometers very high speeds and thereby wants to get the car. Bit more confidence it is that we are talking about a BMW, but otherwise we consider that the Sport mode is inferior to the touch. There is also an Eco Pro mode. Handling is the same as in the Comfort herein, except that, in the lifting of the accelerator pedal and the engine of the tank to be disconnected from each other. On a quiet road can thus hundreds of meters ' sailing ' without consuming fuel. For this purpose also the air conditioning a great softer put, you immediately notice incidentally on a hot, summer day.

Cost / relationship status
we enjoyed the new BMW 518d. But a 5 series at heart? With that judgment we have some difficulty. A car brand to sell in three years more than a million copies of a model from the top series know you would not expect this need to do. Grading down to it is not often that a car with a price tag of at least half a ton in currency (anywhere in the world) so often did in such a short time over the counter. And that, in a global economic depression. Yet, if we are to believe the Dutch importer of the brands lower asking price BMW’s been some motive to take. The BMW 518d in the books Three thousand euros, that the potential risks that can deal with this ' sticker model coupled - throw example to cheapen the name of the 5 Series - BMW worth it to take! Because that one is a little ashamed for designation as "518” is shown by a small poll we held: almost everyone would be removed from the rear. Because what the fox does not know, either. Know the hare but whether this is a healthy development, is doubtful. You're not sensitive to any form of status, do you benefit from the 518d. Or better, go for a packed 325dA.