Straight to the faithful

By ALASTAIR SLOANE motoring editor

At the launch of the 3-Series in Spain a few years ago, a BMW executive asked a handful of New Zealand motoring writers which of the models they liked best.

The answer was unanimous: the 320 diesel. Sure, the journos all agreed, the 328i and 318i were good, but the four-cylinder diesel was special. Beautifully balanced, punchy, the best bang for your buck in the BMW stable.

The BMW man killed the conversation: there were no plans to bring the diesel 320d into New Zealand. End of story. Diesel and "the ultimate driving machine" don't sit side by side with New Zealanders. He had done the research.

He was right, too. The prestige segment likes petrol-power, not diesel engine rattle. The best of the all-new 156 Alfa Romeo models back then was the oil-burning JTD. But the Alfa importers wouldn't hear of it. Research again.

The diesel was the pick of the E-Class Mercedes-Benzes back then, too. But only a few made it here, mostly because Benz had a strong diesel history.

Audi? It couldn't give diesel A4 models away here. Didn't fit with the "vorsprung durch Technik" (advancement through technology) advertising.

But attitudes - and diesel engine technology - have changed. So has BMW. It has moved away from largely basing its fortunes on the 3-Series and into new segments, like lifestyle four-wheel-drives.

There are more models to come as it targets 1.5 million worldwide sales by 2008, or 60 per cent growth in five years. It wants to become the most successful premium car company.

Now, five years on from Spain and the 3-Series and five years away from 2008 and its goal, BMW has done something here it once would have never considered: launched a model range with a diesel.

The car wasn't at the unveiling of the new 5-Series near Taupo the other day. The first shipment of 530d oil-burners had arrived late, BMW said, and had gone straight to its dealers. There weren't enough spare for the launch. The six-cylinder 530i was the only car on offer.

In other words, BMW is rushing the 530d to market. It has had a 3- and 5-Series diesel for a couple of years now but it wants the BMW faithful to quickly get acquainted with the new car and its more refined and powerful engine.

It wants the diesel out there for the initial dealer shindigs: slick Barnum and Bailey-type presentations without the dancing bears.

Takapuna dealer Jerry Clayton had about 200 guests at BMW's Mt Wellington headquarters the other night. Newmarket outlet Team McMillan had 600 at the downtown Hilton. More than 150 turned up at BMW's dealership in Nelson - New Zealand's fastest-growing region - many of them wine and food settlers from Europe and familiar with diesels.

They were told that the previous 5-Series was accepted as the best car in the world, so the new 5-Series was therefore better again. There might just be something in what American showman P.T. Barnum said: "Every crowd has a silver lining." He also said "The public is wiser than many imagine."

Said a BMW executive: "The reaction from customers to the new diesels is positive. We are on the verge of gaining acceptance for technology we have been pushing for some time." Most cars allocated for this year have already been sold.

The new 5-Series starts with the 530i and 530d, both high-specification SE versions on sale now. The 530i costs $120,900 with a six-speed manual gearbox and $124,900 with six-speed automatic Steptronic. Its 3-litre straight-six engine produces 170kW (225bhp) and 300Nm of torque.

The 530d is available only with Steptronic and is priced at $119,900. Its 3-litre in-line six produces 160kW and a whopping 500Nm of torque.

The entry-level six-cylinder 525i and top-line 545i V8 will be here in December. The manual 525i is $94,900 and the automatic $98,900. SE versions are $102,900 and $106,900. The 545iSE is $162,900.

The 2.5-litre engine produces 141kW (193bhp) and 245Nm and the V8 245kW (333bhp) and 450Nm.

The obvious appeal of the diesel and its wealth of torque is the 5.4sec it takes to go from 80km/h to 120km/h in fourth gear, a typical overtaking manoeuvre on the open road. The 525i takes 8.4sec, the 530i 7.3sec and the 545i 5.8sec.

Prices are up by between 3 and 6 per cent across the board. For example, the previous 525i cost $91,900 - $3000 less than the new model.

BMW New Zealand marketing manager Mark McCutcheon says the company has no trouble justifying the increase, "when you look at the new content and technology."

Foremost among the new gizmos is active steering, which varies the effort required on the steering wheel.

The system links the car's hydraulic power steering with an electric-powered planetary gear-set on the steering column to vary steering rack ratios.

At low speeds - parking and the like - it requires fewer turns. At higher speeds it weighs up to become more precise. It takes practice, needing constant steering inputs from the first-time driver as speed builds. But it works well.

It is also linked to the car's electronic stability control system. Stability sensors tell the active steering system to take over from the dope who's about to put the car into the trees. In this case, it steers the front wheels to counter a slide.

The new 5-Series also comes with adaptive headlight control, which moves the headlights with the steering wheel to aid visibility around corners.

Safety features include the third-generation stability and traction control systems.

The optional stability system comes from the 7-Series saloon and helps the car corner flatter. The iDrive operating system also comes from the 7-Series, but it isn't as fussy.

The 530i has impressive dynamics, excellent ride, quiet, classy cabin, strong brakes. It is bigger inside and out than the outgoing car and up to 70kg lighter, mostly because of the extensive use of aluminium for the suspension and body.

The body's curves and arched panels are a continuation of what BMW design chief Chris Bangle calls "flame surfacing", which makes his cars look different under different light. It's about refraction and the use of design lines that curve inwards and outwards.

The previous 5-Series was a strong, silent type, with almost immortal design lines. Something like those of a Leica rangefinder camera and a 35mm film canister.

The new model is a product of the digital age, where light is simply a servant. Get used to the look, however. It's where Bangle is taking BMW design.