BMW 5-Series facelift includes engines

BMW has given its 5-Series a facelift. From the outside things look minimal, apart from the wider chrome surrounds of the grille and the redesigned front and rear lights.

The big news is under the bonnet, where the carmaker has replaced the 2.8-litre with a 3.0-litre in-line six and reworked the 2.5-litre engine for more oomph.

The new 3.0-litre engine in the 530i developes 170kW and 300Nm - an increase of 28kW and 20Nm over the current 2.8-litre powerplant.

The 2.5-litre gains a power boost of 18kW to 141kW while torque remains the same at 245Nm.

The current entry-level 5-Series model is badged the 523i, but this is expected to change back to 525i when the upgrade goes on sale soon. The 3.5-litre and 4.4-litre V8 engines remain unchanged.

BMW says the engine changes will boost the cars' mid-range pulling power, with at least 85 per cent of maximum torque available from as low as 1500 rpm.

The upgraded engines will also make their way into the 3-Series sedan and coupe, with the 3.0-litre being released later this month.

While power in the revised 5-Series is up, so too is passive safety. A further two headbags for rear passengers have been mounted in the C-pillar.

Comfort levels have been boosted with the addition of an active seat system that helps avoid lower back pain on long journeys.

Meanwhile, BMW says it will continue to use in-line six-cylinder engines in 3- and 5-Series models , because it believes the design produces better low-speed torque than a V6.

"Straight-six power units are at the cutting edge of technology in minimising friction losses, particularly in comparison with a V6, where the advantage of few crankshaft bearings is more than set off by the increase in bearing diameter and the duplication of all control and drive components," it says.

"And given the same technology and production volume, the V6 is between 10 and 20 per cent more elaborate and more costly."Alastair Sloane