Driving the new diesel-powered BMW 520d

"New BMW 520d delivers 21.07 km/li. in DOE fuel economy run"

That statement could very well have been the headline of this article — amazing as it is for a P4 million-plus (P4.09M, to be exact) luxury car to attain fuel consumption figures akin to a tiny economy car.

But that’s not the main reason people buy BMWs, is it? People buy these magnificent Bavarian automobiles for their prestige and performance. Of the former, there is no question. But the latter — with a diesel engine?

As they say, the proof of the pudding is in the tasting — which is why BMW Philippines let some members of the motoring press loose in half a dozen brand new 520ds to wring them out in a quick drive to Tagaytay Highlands for lunch and back. "Quick" was the operative word as STAR motoring editor Dong Magsajo, who was riding shotgun with me, needed to make it back to Makati for a 3:00 pm meeting with a consul general of one of the European embassies.

Fortunately, the BMW 520d was a very willing partner in crime in setting a very decent Manila-Tagaytay-Manila record run. At no point in our rush did the engine feel taxed or underpowered. The diesel engine revved and delivered power every bit like its gasoline-engined counterpart. Even the sound of the motor as it raced to its redline was engagingly sporty. In traffic, it was a marvel of smoothness and quietness.

Producing 163hp at 4,000rpm and a stunning 340Nm of torque at an amazingly low 2,000rpm, the autobahn-bred luxury sedan could accelerate from 0 to 100kph in 8.7 seconds and pass three speeding buses with a single stomp on the accelerator. (The 520d has a top speed of 223kph — which we did not aim to reach.)

Now as far as the fuel efficiency of the BMW 520d was concerned, it was showcased in the recently staged Department of Energy (DOE) Fuel Economy Run for Passenger Cars and Light Duty Vehicles. Amidst adverse conditions — against gusting winds and steady downpour of rain brought by typhoon Caloy — the 520d delivered outstanding results with an official DOE fuel consumption rating of 21.07 kilometers to a liter.

The government-sponsored efficiency test, which aims to promote the awareness of fuel economy among consumers, drew 27 entries from eight car manufacturers in the country. All cars were fuelled under tight scrutiny, and then driven a total of 163 kilometers by randomly assigned volunteer drivers. The new BMW 520d turned out to be one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles tested — delivering better results than a hybrid vehicle, as well as subcompact cars with engine displacements of as small as 1100cc.

The secret of the new BMW 520d is its technologically advanced turbocharged diesel powerplant featuring the latest-generation common-rail technology and BMW’s Digital Diesel Electronics (DDE) engine management system. These features enable the vehicle to be extremely fuel-efficient without sacrificing power and performance.

The turbocharged BMW diesel engines also utilize variable-nozzle turbo technology that adjusts automatically at both high and low engine speeds, delivering responsiveness and formidable torque especially in demanding driving conditions. It also allows for optimized fuel consumption over the entire engine speed range.

BMW’s DDE Diesel Management System intelligently controls the car’s operating system. With DDE, it is possible to have automatic, spontaneous engine starts without preheating. The other benefits of DDE include volumetric calculation of fuel so that fuel is delivered only in the amount required and automatic regulation of the airconditioning compressor to ensure that the engine delivers high torque when needed. Furthermore, the diesel engine is mounted on hydraulic engine mounts and uses special valve adjusters to reduce engine noise and vibration.

The new BMW 520d comes with a 6-speed automatic gearbox with Steptronic — a first-of-its-kind application with the 2.0-liter BMW diesel engine. Other standard features of the luxury sedan are 17-inch alloy wheels with run-flat tyres, Start-Stop button, iDrive multimedia controller, automatic air conditioning with extended features, and a multi-function steering wheel.

Performance, prestige and fuel economy — who says you can’t have your cake and eat it, too?