The new BMW 523i, 525i and 530i

BMW Great Britain has announced a range of advanced new petrol engines for 5
Series models. The BMW 523i, 525i and 530i will go on sale in Spring 2005 in SE
and Sport variants, powered by three versions of the all-new
magnesium-aluminium composite six-cylinder petrol engine recently launched to
critical acclaim in the new BMW 630i. Both Saloon and Touring variants will be
available.

See table in attached downloadable document for basic price and performance
data of these models.

BMW Great Britain's Managing Director, Jim O'Donnell said, "BMW's highly
acclaimed diesel engines have overshadowed our continuing developments with
petrol engines recently. VALVETRONIC has become a BMW standard for efficiency,
economy and power delivery and our engineers have now taken the award winning
six-cylinder petrol unit, added the VALVETRONIC system and new lightweight
materials to produce a driver's dream of an engine. Those who think that the
three-litre diesel negates the need for a six-cylinder petrol had better think
again."

Powered by a variant of the world's lightest six-cylinder engine, the new BMW
523i with its all-new 174bhp 2,497cc engine replaces the existing 520i in the
model line-up. The new powerplant, made extensively from lightweight materials
such as magnesium and aluminium, and featuring VALVETRONIC technology for the
first time on a six-cylinder petrol 5 Series, offers buyers the perfect balance
of performance and frugality. Zero to 62mph takes 8.5 seconds (9.3 for the
automatic), top speed is 146mph (144mph) and the combined fuel consumption
figure is 33.2mpg (30.4mpg). Compared to the outgoing BMW 520i, torque has been
increased by 20Nm (+9 per cent) and power is up 4bhp, but fuel consumption has
also improved. Highlighting the flexibility of the new engine, 95 per cent of
the engine's maximum torque of 230Nm is available between 2,000rpm to 5,000rpm.

Those who desire more power will look to the 215bhp BMW 525i, which features a
more highly tuned version of the 523i 2,497cc engine. The result is a car that
posts a zero to 62mph time of 7.5 seconds (7.9), a top speed of 152mph (150mph)
and a combined fuel consumption of 32.5mpg (30.1mpg). Torque is an impressive
250Nm at 2,750rpm to 4,250rpm.

Boasting 258bhp (27bhp or 11.5 per cent more than the unit it replaces), the
new BMW 530i is now the most powerful car of its kind in class. The 2,996cc
powerplant has the same specification as the 630i Coupé and Convertible and
will soon be used in the all-new BMW 3-Series. Torque is on a par with the
previous 530i, but the characteristics of the new engine produce a flatter
torque curve and more power low down for instantaneous response and smooth
acceleration. Thus, peak torque of 300Nm is delivered between 2,500rpm and
4,000rpm. Thanks to its VALVETRONIC technology the engine can now also rev
higher (7,000rpm) for greater breadth of performance. In reality, this equates
to a zero to 62mph time of 6.5 seconds (6.7), a top speed of 155mph and a
combined fuel consumption figure of 32.1mpg (30.4mpg).

All new models come with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. A six-speed
automatic with Steptronic is available as an option. Buyers of the new BMW 525i
and 530i can also specify a Sequential Manual Gearbox.

The new six-cylinder engine incorporates DSC+. This advanced safety system
hones the already accomplished Dynamic Stability Control system featured on
every BMW model. DSC+ adds five features to the standard DSC: Brake Standby,
Rain Brake Support, Hill Start Assist, Fading Compensation and Soft Stop.

... Brake Standby shortens stopping distances by priming the brakes if the
driver lifts off the accelerator sharply in preparation for an emergency stop.
The result is a car that has already commenced the stopping process in an
emergency situation by the time the driver applies the brake.

... Rain Brake Support improves braking performance in the wet. Driving on wet
roads leads to a film of water building up on the brake discs. This naturally
lengthens stopping distances when the brakes are applied as the pads cannot
bite the disc as effectively as in the dry. With Rain Brake Support, the
activation of the windscreen wipers or a signal from the screen-mounted Rain
Sensor enables a periodic gentle application of the brakes to scrub off any
residue. When full stopping power is then needed the maximum force is
achievable. In day-to-day driving, this periodic brake application is
unnoticeable and, to avoid any confusion or danger, the brake lights do not
illuminate when Rain Brake Support is active.

... Hill Start Assist allows a manual transmission car to pull away smoothly
on a gradient without rolling backwards. This is achieved by maintaining brake
pressure for the short time taken to apply the accelerator after releasing the
foot or handbrake. The system judges the gradient of slope and the subsequent
degree of brake pressure needed for a smooth start.

... Fading Compensation. When the brakes get very hot, a driver can experience
some fade in stopping power. Consequently, he or she needs to apply greater
force to achieve the same stopping power. Fading Compensation recognises this
situation and applies additional braking without any extra effort from the
driver.

... Soft Stop guarantees a smoother journey for all occupants. It allows the
car to come to a perfectly smooth halt by releasing a small proportion of the
braking pressure at the end of the braking cycle. In the event of an emergency,
Soft Stop becomes inactive in order to achieve the shortest stopping distance.

The DSC+ system makes its debut on the new 5 Series models and will appear on
other BMW models in the future. In addition, Servotronic speed-proportional
power steering becomes standard on 5 Series Saloon models, having previously
been offered as standard equipment on Touring variants. Prices and full
specifications for all the new 5 Series models will be announced shortly.

Ends