Car for All Seasons
The BMW 5 series is a driver’s dream with its amazing versatility that complements any mood, any occasion
There I was, in total James Bond mode, getting measured up for my new tux for the Miss Earth Pageant. As the tailor was putting on the finishing touches, he mumbled through closed lips that were holding clothing pins, “Any preferred accessory to cap off the tux?” I scanned myself up and down in the mirror, smiled, and said, “A five series would be perfect.” He looked at me like I had ordered my steak tartare well done then said, “I can give you a series of three buttons, but five is too many.” He was obviously not a car guy. He missed the entire point.
Any car enthusiast worth his heel and toe would know that the 5 series is the perfect complement to any event. Goes well with a tux as with jeans and loafers. It strikes the perfect balance between executive saloon, luxury car, and sports sedan, making it one of the most versatile of the BMW line-up. It’s a car for all occasions, for all seasons. The perfect partner. If I had only one reasonable choice for a sedan to live with day in and day out, it would most likely be the M5. But here in the Philippines where you have the worst power-towait ratio on earth (you must wait forever to get to use that power, get it?), anything above 200 horsepower is useless anyway.
What if you could get the basics—like full leather interior, climate control, cruise control, 10.25-inch on-board computer with iDrive—in that same fundamentally delicious G30 chassis, but priced at under 4 million pesos? You may find a very exploitable gap in the luxury segment. That’s exactly what SMC Asia Car Distributors Corporation, the exclusive distributor of BMW in the Philippines, did when they brought in the 520i. They designed a new entry point for the experience. And they branded it as your first five series.
That got me curious. At under 4 million, can it still hold its own alongside the heavy hitters in the executive parking lot? How much did they need to strip out to hit that
price point—and was anything taken away from its soul? To get an answer, I borrowed one just in time for the pageant. I figured it was the perfect test. And one that the 520 passed with flying colours. My test unit came in a very classy shade of deep metallic brown that looked as comfortable pulling up at Punta Fuego as it did under lights in the most flamboyant driveways like Okada Manila’s, where the pageant was held.
The shape is classic. It doesn’t scream for attention— which is a very refreshing approach in this notice-me era. The trademark kidney grille is now larger, with very cool corner air vents, while the 19-inch rims on the M Sport variant work well to complement those broad shoulder lines and fill up the wheel arches enough to make it look like it didn’t skip leg day at the gym. It also gives it a wider looking footprint and a more confident stance, even when parked, while the LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights give it a very distinct light
signature that only enhances its road presence. It is, by anyone’s standard, a good-looking executive sedan.
What BMW and its local distributor are most proud about the current G30 iteration is the interior space. BMW claims that this one is a l ot roomier than its predecessors—something many an executive will be happy to know. My only concern was the rake and angle of the backrest of the rear seats that started to get uncomfortable during a long trip to Punta Fuego. It really needs a recline function, if only just a few degrees, like many other similar models offer—just to take the edge off.
For a driver, it’s an entirely different experience. Step inside and you’ll be greeted by a cabin that is home to any BMW enthusiast. It’s a driver-centric cockpit that has all the controls right where you’d expect them to be. Just as well, because this is a car that rewards those who really get involved. Designs are elegant and fluid, with great choices of textures and materials; plus it features subdued lighting that complement the shapes as well as an infotainment display that can be manipulated by either the vaunted iDrive controller, touchscreen, or Gesture Control.
The last one is a party trick that lets you perform functions such as turning up the volume by simply making a circular motion using your hand.
This 520 also features the 8-speed Steptronic gearbox that is as smooth as a Swiss timepiece. It reminded me of what I love about driving and how rewarding it can be when you are in a machine that was designed solely around the experience. You feel connected. You feel involved. You feel like you belong together. What’s more, you can choose to play with the drive mode selector and toggle between Comfort, Sport, and the like until you find one that suits your driving style nicely.
You can throw it into a corner quite hard and it will happily take you through it without protest. And the steering, although electrically assisted, weighs up just right. My biggest fear was the power. Or lack thereof. 184hp may be respectable in any other midsize sedan, but it looks like a misprint next to a 5 series. Realistically, it’s plenty. Sure, there’s no replacement for displacement and the M5 or even the bigger diesel mills give you an aftersex glow every time you stab the throttle; but the truth is, you find yourself constantly trying to create artificial situations to justify using that power.
For most situations, this is all you need: a caloriecontrolled experience designed to complement the road diet that is Metro Manila. I know what you’re thinking. Even though you don’t need it, all that power is a lot to lose, but let me put it like this—it’s the kind of 5 series Marie Kondo would choose.
So, start sparking joy.