Singapore
It’s impossible to make a car that can suit every need. A high-performance coupe with seating for seven that’s also really frugal with fuel isn’t just wishful thinking, it’d probably look terrible in real life as well.
But while a single car can’t do it all, there is a model nameplate that can fulfill the wishes of almost any buyer: The BMW 5 Series.
The BMW 540i M Sport
As CarBuyer Magazine itself stated in its review of the new, seventh-generation G30 5 Series, “The question is not whether to buy a 5 Series, in other words, but which 5 Series to buy.”
We help you answer that question with a visual representation of each member of the modern 5 Series line-up. With six models to choose from, the 5 Series gives Singaporean buyers of a large luxury sedan the greatest choice of specific model variants, bar none.
And while any and all 5 Series models are already widely capable machines, more than up to the challenge of meeting a driver’s varied needs – see Standard Features – we’ve scaled all six models on a spectrum from efficiency to high-performance to help give you an idea of the individual talents of each 5 Series model.
*Prices quoted are accurate as of end December 2017, but with the introduction of Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES) on January 1, 2018, prices may change without notice. Please contact www.pml-bmw.com.sg for a comprehensive quote.
Standard Features
The BMW 5 Series has a staggering number of standard features, that keep you safe, comfortable and ahead of the information curve when it comes to day-to-day driving and the entire ownership experience. These include:
10.25-inch iDrive system with touchscreen and Navigation Professional
Active Protection + 6 airbags
Driving Experience Control with Eco Pro
Gesture Control
BMW Display Key
BMW ConnectedDrive
Parking Assistant Plus, Park Distance Control, Surround View
Wireless Charging
BMW 530e iPerformance $282,888 with COE
Two cars in one: A zero tailpipe emissions EV and a regular hybrid
252hp, 420Nm, 2.0-litre inline 4 engine and
hybrid system with electric motor
0-100km/h 6.2 seconds, 235km/h top speed
6.3L/100km, 144g/km CO2, 50km electric range
Electric vehicles (EVs) give inexpensive, non locally-polluting motoring, but what if you need a normal car for other times? The BMW 530e iPerformance, like all of the modern iPerformance range of cars, is a plug-in hybrid so it combines the best of EVs and regular hybrids to give you strong performance, unbeatable efficiency and the mobility of the future all in one affordable package you can buy today.
BMW 520i Luxury $263,888 with COE
A Singapore’s best-seller returns with a very competitive price
184hp, 290Nm, 2.0-litre inline 4 turbocharged
0-100km/h 7.8 seconds, 235km/h top speed
6.2L/100k, 134g/km CO2
In 2011 and 2012, BMW was the best-selling car brand in Singapore, and the top-selling of them all was the BMW 520i. While the market is no longer skewed towards luxury cars as best-sellers, the modern BMW 520i and its load of standard equipment proves that a class-leading experience needn’t cost the world.
BMW 530i Luxury $279,888 with COE
Mid-range model gives generous power and classic 5er drivability
252hp, 350Nm, 2.0-litre inline 4 turbocharged engine
0-100km/h 6.2 seconds, 250km/h top speed (limited)
6.2L/100km, 141g/km CO2
‘Enough power’ is an intensely subjective thing, but we think 252hp is a just-nice figure for anything a driver wants to do, from quick city maneuvers to high-speed highway runs. That conveniently sums up the BMW 530i, which despite more power, still delivers almost the same efficiency as the 520i.
BMW 530i M Sport $294,888 with COE
M Sport additions deliver a keener edge and more fun to the 530i
252hp, 350Nm, 2.0-litre inline 4 turbocharged engine
0-100km/h 6.2 seconds, 250km/h top speed (limited)
6.2L/100km, 141g/km CO2
For those who love driving, the M Sport trim adds on important upgrades in multiple areas: Higher-performance M Sport Brakes in blue and M Sport Suspension for greater stopping and handling/ride performance. The M Aerodynamics Package also displays more aggressive styling with better aerodynamics.
BMW 540i M Sport $365,888 with COE
The regular 5 Series with the longest legs makes short work of all roads
340hp, 450Nm, 3.0-litre inline 6 turbocharged engine
0-100km/h 5.1 seconds, 250km/h top speed (limited)
7.2L/100km, 164g/km CO2
Driving a BMW with an inline six is one of the ultimate experiences for a driver, and the 540i gives you that every single day. The unmistakable straight-six purr and turbocharged 340hp muscle are perfectly matched with the M Sport additions, making the 540i M Sport a stirring combo of sporting driver’s and executive sedan.
BMW M5 – 2018 launch 
A legend in high performance is back in 2018 and better than ever
600hp, 750Nm, 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8
0-100km/h 3.4 seconds, 250km/h top speed (limited)
Efficiency figures TBA
In the past, high-performance sedans were slightly more sedate alternatives to supercars – though the BMW M5 has always proved otherwise. The latest model, available here in 2018, continues that trend and is the first all-wheel drive M5, but comes with a Drift Mode and will be just as at home tearing up the track as it always has been.
This special feature is brought to you by BMW.
