BMW 5 Series (2020) On The Way To Ireland!

BMW Ireland has confirmed that a revamped BMW 5 Series will arrive in Ireland this July.

Styling has been updated as has the interior, while there is also new equipment and most models will feature mild hybrid technology.

There will be a range of four and six cylinder petrol and diesel engines, and a 5 Series plug-in hybrid (‘BMW 530e’). The 5 Series Touring (estate) will be available as a plug-in hybrid for the first time from November 2020.

What’s new for the 2020 BMW 5 Series?

The BMW kidney grille is now bigger flanked by slimmer LED headlights with two U-shaped daytime running lights. With the Visibility pack, customers can upgrade to either Adaptive LED headlights with matrix technology or BMW Laserlights including High-beam Assistant. These headlight upgrades will have two L-shaped daytime running lights to differentiate them. The front apron of both SE and M Sport trim levels have also been redesigned with larger and more pronounced air inlets. At the rear, the taillights have been redesigned with blackened glass, there’s a redesigned rear apron, trapezoidal tailpipe finishers and a sportier mounted diffuser.

The M Sport package features new 19” and 20” wheels, while the new limited M Sport Edition comes with exclusive Individual metallic paint and unique 20” Air Performance wheels.

New interior features include a larger 12.3” Central Information Display powered by the latest Operating System 7.0, including BMW’s Intelligent Personal Assistant and smartphone integration. The new 5 Series also benefits from the latest camera- and radar-based driving assistant systems, including features like steering and lane-control assistant and active cruise control.

In Ireland the new BMW 5 Series will be available in SE, M Sport and M Sport Edition trims, while for the first time there will also be a range-topping M Performance M550i xDrive on Saloon models.

SE standard features include a choice of 17”, 18” and 19” alloy wheels and Steptronic or Steptronic Sport transmission depending on the engine variant. Inside there’s Dakota leather upholstery, Oxide Silver dark matt trim, Sport leather steering wheel and heated front seats. The SE Touring specification includes split folding rear seats and matt silver roof rails, with all body styles also having an electronic tailgate. New for the SE are folding mirrors, front electric lumbar support and Parking Assistant. There’s also automatic air conditioning, DAB radio, Connected Package Professional and BMW Live Cockpit Professional.

Equipment and trim lines

The M Sport trim level adds new alloy wheel designs in 18”, 19” and 20”sizes, the M aerodynamics package and high gloss shadowline exterior trim, which now extends to the roof rails on the Touring. Inside, there is the M leather steering wheel, front sports seats, a distinctive instrument panel finished in Sensatec, anthracite headliner and Aluminium Rhombicle Grey trim details. M Sport suspension is standard, except on 530e and 530e xDrive models.

The M Sport Edition comes finished in either Tanzanite Blue or exclusive Donington Grey. Equipment includes 20-inch alloy wheels fitted with runflat tyres, shadowline adaptive LED headlights, red M brake callipers, extended high-gloss shadowline exterior trim and sun protection glass. The M Sport Edition specification also includes an M rear spoiler and M multifunction seats on the Saloon model.

The range-topping M550i XDrive Saloon is  distinguished from the core 5 Series models with a 4.4 litre V8 TwinPower turbocharged powertrain, exclusive 20” wheels, cerium grey exterior detailing, Harman/Kardon Surround Sound System, an M Sport differential and adaptive M suspension.

Mild-hybrid technology, first introduced in the BMW 520d and BMW 520d xDrive models in autumn 2019, will now offer enhanced performance combined with lower fuel consumption and improved driving comfort in all four- and six-cylinder variants of the new BMW 5 Series. BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive is also offered on select variants including the 520d, 530d, 530e, 540i, 545e and M550i models.

Expected 5 Series pricing for Ireland

Pricing is expected to start in the region of €51,850 for the 520i and €52,110 for the 520d Saloon, with the Touring range kicking off in the region of €55,570.

More than 600,000 units of the BMW 5 Series Saloon and Touring have been sold worldwide since the current generation was launched. It remains one of the bestselling BMW models in Ireland.

In 2017, we drove the new BMW 5 Series soon after it was launched in Ireland. Read our latest BMW 520d review to find out about all the features and driving ability of this popular large executive saloon.