BMW Malaysia introduces G30 BMW 520i Luxury and 530e M Sport variants – RM329k and RM339k

BMW Malaysia has announced the expansion of its G30 BMW 5 Series range in the country to four models with the introduction of two new variants, the 530e M Sport and 520i Luxury. The duo join the 530i M Sport and 530e Sport in the local line-up.

The 530e iPerformance plug-in hybrid made its debut here in Sport Line guise last year, and the car now comes dressed in M Sport form. The exterior features BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line elements, M aerodynamics package, M badging on the front fenders and M Sport brakes with blue-painted brake calipers.

At the back, the car gets light chrome trapezoidal-shaped exhaust tips, and completing the look are 19-inch M light alloy double-spoke 664 M wheels in black with mixed tyres. Standard fit items include LED fog lights and adaptive LED headlights, which is an upgrade from the full-LED units found on the 530e Sport. The units also feature BMW Selective Beam, an anti-dazzle high-beam assistant.

No revisions to the powertrain, and so the 530e continues on with the output of its B48 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine unchanged. The unit offers 184 hp from 5,000 to 6,500 rpm and 290 Nm of torque from 1,350 to 4,250 rpm.

The mill is paired with a 113 hp/250 Nm electric motor, and total system output is 252 hp and 420 Nm of torque. With power transferred to the wheels by an ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, performance figures include a 0-100 km/h time of 6.2 seconds and a 235 km/h top speed.

Inside, the 530e is furnished with Dakota leather upholstery, with interior trim finishers in Aluminium Rhombicle and highlight trim finishers in Pearl Chrome. The centre console now also gets leather trim. As you’d expect, aside from front sports seats, there are quite a few M elements to be found, and these come in the form of an M leather steering wheel, M illuminated door sill finishers and M-specific pedals.

Elsewhere, the equipment list follows on that seen in the 530e Sport Line, with items such as Comfort Access keyless entry and tailgate operation, a four-zone auto climate control, sun blinds for the rear windows (manual) and windscreen (electric) and 11-colour interior ambient lighting.

Also on, ConnectedDrive, a Navigation Professional system with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch multi-function instrument display, a 12-speaker, 205-watt HiFi sound system, reverse camera as well as Parking Assistant, which offers automated parallel and perpendicular parking.

Like the 530e Sport, the car features Dynamic Damper Control, but there’s no BMW Display Key or Gesture Control system to be found, items that are of course on the petrol 530i. Also, the car doesn’t feature adaptive cruise control – this was on the CBU 530i but omitted from it when the car switched to local assembly. As such, the 530e M Sport comes with a passive cruise control system with braking function.

Safety-wise, the car comes with a Driving Assistant package, which includes Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Warning and front collision warning with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), rear cross traffic alert and rear collision prevention. It’s worth noting that of the two cars, only the 530e M Sport has the Driving Assistance package specified.

The 530e M Sport is available in Black Sapphire or Sophisto Grey, paired with either black or Night Blue Dakota leather upholstery, or in Bluestone or Alpine White with black Dakota leather upholstery.

Moving on, we come to the 520i Luxury, which features a Chrome Line exterior, with the ornamental kidney grille as well as front bumper getting shiny elements. The variant, which sits on 18-inch light alloy V-spoke style 684 wheels, also comes with LED fog lights and adaptive LED headlights along with BMW Selective Beam.

The 520i Luxury is equipped with the same B48 2.0 litre petrol engine as its hybrid sibling, the TwinPower Turbo unit delivering an identical 184 hp from 5,000 to 6,500 rpm and 290 Nm of torque from 1,350 to 4,250 rpm. Paired with an eight-speed Steptronic transmission, the car does the 0-100 km/h run in 7.8 seconds and has a 235 km/h top speed.

The 520i Luxury’s interior features Dakota leather upholstery and a Sensatec dashboard, the latter making its way on to the 5 Series for the first time locally, even the 530i never having had it. Elsewhere, the interior trim is finished in black high-gloss with highlights in Pearl Chrome. Kit includes front sports seats, a sport leather steering wheel and illuminated aluminium door sill finishers, along with an 11-colour ambient lighting system.

Like the 530e M Sport, the 520i Luxury comes with ConnectedDrive, which features items such as Intelligent Emergency Call and Teleservices in its workings, as well as Navigation Professional system and a 12-speaker, 205-watt HiFi sound system.

Other items include Comfort Access, automatic air-conditioning with four-zone control, but as mentioned earlier, unlike the 530e, there’s no Driving Assistance package to be found here, and so driver assistance kit on the 520i is limited to passive cruise control with braking function, Parking Assistant and a rear view camera.

The 520i Luxury is available in Black Sapphire, Glacier Silver, Imperial Blue or Alpine White, and all exterior colours are paired with black Dakota leather upholstery featuring exclusive stitching in contrast black.

The BMW 530e M Sport is priced at RM338,800, which is just RM10k more than the 530e Sport (RM328,800), but RM34k less than the 530i (RM372,800). As for the 520i Luxury, that is priced at RM328,800 (both on-the-road, without insurance), making a very strong case for the 530e M Sport – for RM10k more, there’s quite a bit of additional kit and safety equipment.

Both new 5 Series variants come with BMW Malaysia’s latest five-year Unlimited Mileage Warranty, Free Scheduled Service Programme and a two-year BMW Tyre Warranty Programme for its run-flat tyre offering and services.

GALLERY: G30 BMW 520i Luxury

GALLERY: G30 BMW 530e M Sport

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