Frankfurt: 2008 BMW 520i - 170Hp 2.0-liter Petrol Engine

[Bartek S.]

Frankfurt: 2008 BMW 520i - 170Hp 2.0-liter Petrol Engine

***; a 5-Series with a 4cylinder, 2.0-liter gasoline engine? What’s next, a 516i… Ok, we know that European car manufactures are attempting a downsize in engine capacities, but most modern 4cylinder bimmers were a turn off -M3 & 318is excluded. Damn, with the exception of the diesel variants (520d), the last time BMW came out with a 4pot 5-Series was 11 years ago with the E34 518i in ’96! However, take a look at the specs and the 520i doesn’t sound that bad. See, the 520i is equipped with the 120i/320i’s 2.0L unit which delivers a satisfactory 170 Hp and 210 Nm or 155lbs/ft of maximum toque.
BMW says that the 520i, which will be available in both sedan and Touring variants, sprints form zero to 100 km/h (62mph) with a manual 6-speed gearbox in 8.7 seconds (Touring: 9.0 sec) while it can travel to speeds up to 224 km/h – 139mph (Touring: 220 km/h -137mph). Meanwhile, consumption figures are quite low with BMW announcing an avg. fuel cons. of 6.7 litres per 100 km (35.1 mpg) for the sedan and 6.9 litres per 100 km (34.1 mpg) for the Touring.
Sales of the 520i which will be available solely in the European market -forget about N.America, will kick off in the beginning of October.

 

[bmer]

Say what you say but IMO this is I just don't like the idea of 4 cylinder petrol engine in the 5-series no matter how powerful it is...

 

[Giannis]

Actually there was an E39 520i and even an E28 518i....

 

[bmer]

Actually there was an E39 520i and even an E28 518i....

Giannis, the E39 520i was a 6 cylinder engine.

 

[vedjo01]

It makes perfect sense to offer cheaper 5-series to ppl who don´t give a $hit what is the engine under the hood..MB have allready putted small engines to E-class,Audi also..so no suprise is this move by BMW.I don´t like it ..but there will be more than enough ppl who will want to buy it..

 

[Giannis]

Giannis, the E39 520i was a 6 cylinder engine.

sorry, i didn't know that!

 

[klier]

Giannis, the E39 520i was a 6 cylinder engine.

Yes! Good example:

E39 520i Inline 6: 149 hp, 10.2 seconds 0-100 km/h, top 220 km/h
E60 520i Inline 4: 170 hp, 8.7 seconds 0-100 km/h, top 224 km/h

So, I take the 4 cylinder, you may have the 6 cylinder

BMW has had a 4 cylinder 5-series for many, many, many years....and they get better all the time. And lighter. And there was a I4 in the E39 too: the 520d (136 hp vs 177 hp in the current)

E34 518i:

Actually there was an E39 520i and even an E28 518i....

Yes, and a E34 518i....my father used to have one...in Touring form. We went fully packed with a 4 cylinder 518i touring to the south of france when I was a kid with that car!

 

[bmer]

Klier, you got those E39 520i figures wrong (you posted the older version).

The correct ones are:

E39 520i Inline 6: 170 hp (210 Nm), 9.1 seconds 0-100 km/h, top 226 km/h

Just think how much more powerful a 6 cylinder 520i would be today.

BTW my friend's family had a E46 320i Touring (170 hp/210 Nm) and they tested the new E90 320i Touring and were disappointed to the engine. They said exactly the same thing as the car mags: 320i has lost its personality with the loss of 2 cylinders...

 

[bmer]

Double post. Please delete.

 

[KokkenTor]

BTW my friend's family had a E46 320i Touring (170 hp/210 Nm) and they tested the new E90 320i Touring and were disappointed to the engine. They said exactly the same thing as the car mags: 320i has lost its personality with the loss of 2 cylinders...

You missing a point here:

E46 vs E90 (as of sept. 2007)
316i 115hp/175Nm ---> 318i 129hp/180Nm (143hp/190Nm)
318i 143hp/200Nm ---> 320i 150hp/200Nm (170hp/210Nm)
320i 170hp/210Nm ---> 325i 218hp/250Nm (218hp/270Nm)
325i 192hp/245Nm ---> 330i 258hp/300Nm (272hp/320Nm)
330i 231hp/300Nm ---> 335i 306hp/400Nm

E46: 2 four cylinder engines, 3 six cylinder engines
E90: 2 four cylinder engines, 3 six cylinder engines

 

[vedjo01]

Nothing beats straight six in a bemer..not even a sophisticated 4 cylinder IMO..Todays 4-pots have the performance and maners like never before but still 6 cylinder rules in sheer feel of driving pleasure.Only excepion were E30 M3 and 318is(both E30 and E36 versions) engines so far ..

 

[bmer]

I think it's more like this:

316i 115hp/175Nm ---> no successor
318i 143hp/200Nm ---> 318i 129hp/180Nm (143hp/190Nm)
320i 170hp/210Nm ---> 320i 150hp/200Nm (170hp/210Nm)
325i 192hp/245Nm ---> 325i 218hp/250Nm (218hp/270Nm)
330i 231hp/300Nm ---> 330i 258hp/300Nm (272hp/320Nm)
no predecessor ---> 335i 306hp/400Nm

Well, it's complicated we're both wrong and right, I suppose...

 

[Zafiro]

its the same engine I have in my car but mine is lighter than 5er. This engine suit a smaller car better than a heavy 5er. But sure, this is for people who want a 5er but cant afford a 523i I guess.

 

[Tarek]

Don't like this but it's gonna sell like hotcakes and that is all what BMW wants,more sales!