Fuel consumption: BMW 525d xDrive Touring (F11 / MY2012)

Model (Code / Model Year): BMW 525d xDrive Touring (F11 / MY2012)

Engine: 4-cylinder diesel engine (1995 cm³) - engine code: N47D20D

Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission
Performance: 218hp / 450nm
0 to 100km/h: 7,3sec
Top speed: 228km/h (142mp/h)

Weight: 1.820kg
Fuel tank (US gallons): 70 liters (18.5 US gallons)

Doing a fuel consumption test in a BMW 525d xDrive Touring (F11 / MY2012). Aim of this test is not to give an exact specification of the fuel consumption of this car, but to show an approximation of the fuel consumption under real life circumstances.

In the video I did a test of the consumption at different speeds. Aim of this test is not to give an exact specification of the fuel consumption of this car, but to show an approximation of the fuel consumption under real life circumstances. As the result also depends on tyres, size of the rims, road condition, weather and equipment that may alter the exact weight of the car, your personal experience may differ from mine.

Fuel consumption: BMW 525d Limousine (F10 / MY2013)

Model (Code / Model Year): BMW 525d Limousine (F10 / MY2013)

Engine: 4-cylinder diesel engine (1995 cm³) - engine code: N47D20D

Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission
Performance: 218hp / 450nm
0 to 100km/h: 7,0sec
Top speed: 239km/h (149mp/h)

Weight: 1.650kg
Fuel tank (US gallons): 70 liters (18.5 US gallons)

Doing a fuel consumption test in a BMW 525d (F10 / MY2013). Aim of this test is not to give an exact specification of the fuel consumption of this car, but to show an approximation of the fuel consumption under real life circumstances.

In the video I did a test of the consumption at different speeds. Aim of this test is not to give an exact specification of the fuel consumption of this car, but to show an approximation of the fuel consumption under real life circumstances. As the result also depends on tyres, size of the rims, road condition, weather and equipment that may alter the exact weight of the car, your personal experience may differ from mine.

Video update: BMW 525d xDrive Touring (2012 / F11)

Also known as the F10 (sedan) and F11 (Touring), the current BMW 5-series has been available since early 2010. The car is produced in BMWs Dingolfing plant in Germany, but also in Shenyang in China, where next to the standard 5-series the F18 - Long Wheel Base - 5-series is produced that is only available on the Chinese market. 

Initially 6 engines have been available (four petrol engines and two diesel engines), while a four-cylinder diesel engine (520d) with 184hp was introduced later in 2010. In an effort to reduce CO2-emissions, BMW has replaced several six-cylinder engines with four cylinder engines. Thus the BMW 525d (204hp, six-cylinders) became a 525d (218hp, four-cylinders), the 523i (204hp, six-cylinders) was replaced by the 520i (184hp, four-cylinders) and the 528i (258hp, six-cylinders) became a 528i (245hp, four-cylinders). 
Apart from these changes, BMW also introduced a 530i (until the LCI, after which it was dropped again) and a 520d "Efficient-Dynamics Edition". Changes from the standard 520d include a longer rear-axle ration, tires with a low rolling resistance and improved aerodynamics.

Optional is the eight-speed automatic gearbox, that due to the large spread between the gears lower the torque and decrease both noise levels and fuel consumption. Even though the gearbox has two extra gears compared to the six-speed automatic gearbox used before, no extra parts were necessary, while the total weight of the gearbox only increased marginally. The gearbox is produced by ZF Friedrichshafen.

In Juli 2013 BMW introduced the LCI (LifeCycle Impulse) - also known as a facelift - for the F10-range. Changes included the BMW Lines, previously known from the 1- and 3-series, like the Luxury and Modern Line. Another new element was the full-LED headlights, while the xenon headlights now have become a standard feature, rather then being optional equipment. Another new element is the introduction of the x18d into the 5-series, now available as the BMW 518d.

Model (Code / Model Year): BMW 525d xDrive Touring (2012 / F11) Engine: four-cylinder turbocharged common rail diesel engine (1995cm³) / engine code: N47D20 Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission Performance: 218hp / 450nm 0 to 100km/h: 7,3 sec Top speed: 228km/h (143mp/h)

BMW 525d xDrive Touring Walkaround - Exterior and interior shots of the car

BMW 525d xDrive Touring Fuel Consumption Test - testing the fuel consumption under real life conditions

BMW 525d xDrive Touring Flatout - Putting the pedal to the metal on the German Autobahn

Fuel consumption: 520d / 525d xDrive Touring

In 2010 BMW introduced its current 5-series, internally designated as the "F10" (sedan) and "F11" (Touring). Guitigefilmpjes has hit the German Autobahn with both the 520d F10 and 525d xDrive Touring F11 in order to see how the fuel economy is when driving at high speeds and if the engines live up to its expectations. Technical details can be found below:

Engine: 4-cylinder diesel engine (1995 cm³) 

Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission
Performance: 184hp / 380nm
0 to 100km/h: 8,1sec
Top speed: 227km/h (142mp/h)
Fuel tank (US gallons): 70 liters (18.5 US gallons)

Fuel consumption depends on many different factors, among the tire pressure / size of alloy wheels, the weight of the car (4 people with bagage or travelling alone), the driving profile is the most important determinant of the result. Therefore you can find the driving profile during this trip below:

• 500 kilometers (310 miles) Autobahn at high speeds, 180km/h and more
• 200 kilometers (125 miles) Autobahn between 100km/h and 130km/h 
• 150 kilometer secondary road between 80km/h and 100km/h
• 45 kilometer city traffic in normal conditions, outside rush hours

The total trip compromised of 895 kilometers (560 miles), and in contrast to previous tests where I tried to achieve the best possible consumption, this time I drove to travel as fast as possible (sticking to speed limits where they apply). 

Driving at high speeds always leads to a higher consumption, but in the 520d the relatively small engine has to work hard to power the heavy 5-series. This has resulted in an average fuel consumption of 8,7l / 100km (27mpg US), which is a far cry from the 5,4l / 100km (43,6mpg US) when trying to drive as economically as possible. 

Engine: 4-cylinder diesel engine (1995 cm³) 

Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission
Performance: 218hp / 450nm
0 to 100km/h: 7,2sec
Top speed: 236km/h (148mp/h)
Fuel tank (US gallons): 70 liters (18.5 US gallons)

As new government regulations tax CO2-emissions increasingly heavier, car manufacturers are looking for new ways to cut these. Efficient Dynamics was introduced by BMW several years ago to reduce both fuel consumption and CO2-emissions, so that they would fall into the lower green A- and B-labels that are obligatory in Europe (these labels measure fuel consumption, where the green A-label is the best, and the red G-label the "worst"). By falling in these lower categories, many countries offer tax discounts on these "green" vehicles, making them financially attractive to many customers.

Downsizing is another method used to cut CO2-emissions and fuel consumption. Many car manufacturers, especially in Europe, are replacing engines with smaller engines that use a turbocharger to maintain the same level of performance. BMW has done the same with the 525d, when the 5-series was introduced in 2010 it still features a 6-cylinder 3.0 liter engine. In 2012 it was replaced by a 4-cylinder 3.0 liter engine, the same in the 520d but then with an added TwinPower Turbo (Two-in-one turbocharger).

On paper the figures look good, the engine becomes more efficient while even increasing performance (204hp against 218hp now). However, in reality there are some drawbacks to downsizing. As the 4-cylinder engine is smaller, it has to work harder and shift more often to achieve the same acceleration and speed as a larger 6-cylinder engine. In Germany tests have been comparing the 4-cylinder 525d to the 6-cylinder 530d and found that under the same circumstances, the 530d used 0,5l / 100km less fuel then a 525d.

The exact difference in fuel consumption will depend on the driver, but it is likely that the new 4-cylinder 525d under normal circumstances will not offer a substantial advantage in fuel efficiency. The advantage on paper will result in less fixed costs for the car, but that is it.

When driving a BMW 525d Touring xDrive, I had the following driving profile:

• 490 kilometers (310 miles) Autobahn at high speeds, 180km/h+
• 300 kilometers (125 miles) Autobahn between 100km/h and 130km/h 
• 150 kilometer secondary road between 80km/h and 100km/h
• 41 kilometer city traffic in normal conditions, outside rush hours

Resulting in a fuel consumption of 8.5l / 100km or 27,7mpg (US) after having drivin 981 kilometers (613 miles). Comparing it to BMW 530d xDrive's I drove before, though they were the sedan (F10), the result is quite comparable. This questions if the method of downsizing really does help fuel efficiency or if it is merely destined to look good on paper.

Previous fuel consumption reports:

• Audi A4 2.0 TDI / Audi A6 3.0 TDI / Mercedes Benz E220 CDI
• BMW 530d xDrive / Mercedes Benz C220 CDI
• Mercedes Benz C180 / VW Passat 1.4 TSI / BMW 520d Touring
• Audi A6 3.0 TDI 204hp (MY2012 / C7)
• Mercedes Benz C180 Avantgarde BlueEffiency Facelift
• Audi A4 2.0 TDI Avant Facelift

And watch the designated playlist on Youtube, that features many more fuel consumption tests on video.

Picture update: BMW 525d xDrive (2012 / F10)

Last year BMW introduced its new BMW 5-series, the limousine is designated as the F10 and the wagon as the F11, while the Gran Turismo is called F07 in the BMW nomenclatura.

Pictures of the a Titanium Silver Metallic BMW 520d Touring can be found here. 

Pictures of an Alpine White BMW 520d can be found here.

Pictures of a Sophisto Grey II Metallic BMW 530d xDrive can be found here.

Pictures of an Imperial Blue Metallic BMW 520d Touring can be found here.

Pictures of a Black Sapphire Metallic BMW 520d Touring can be found here.

Model (Code / Model Year): BMW 520d Touring (F11 / 2012)
Engine: 4-cylinder diesel engine (1995cm3)   Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission "Steptronic" Performance: 218hp / 450nm 0 to 100km/h: 7,0sec Top speed: 234km/h (146mp/h) Weight: 1795kg Fuel tank (US gallons): 70 liter (18.5 US gallons)
€50.900,00 BMW 525d xDrive F11

€980,00 Space Grey metallic
€900,00 18x8J V-spoke style 328 alloy wheels
€2010,00 Black Dakota leather
€530,00 Fineline Anthracite wood

€2.200,00 8-speed Steptronic automatic gearbox 

 €2.400,00 Comfort package

Air conditioning, automatic with extended feature

Soft-close doors

Climate Comfort windscreen

Comfort Access

Ambient lighting

€2.650,00 Innovation package

 

Black panel display, full

Xenon headlights

Speed limit display

Head-up Display

Headlights wash

Adaptive Headlights

€380,00 Sunblind - rear windscreen, electric
€590,00 Sunblinds for side and rear windows

€140,00 Sport Steering Wheel
€-,-- (standard) 12v power sockets
€-,-- (standard) Floor mats, velour
€1.330,00 Electric Glass Sunroof
€50,00 Smokers package
€150,00 High-beam Assistant
€1.550,00 Active Cruise Control with “Stop and Go” function

€2.260,00 Comfort seats, front
€-,-- Split-folding rear seats
€-,--Lumbar support, driver and front passenger
€380,00 Seat heating, front

€3.310,00 Navigation system – Professional with bluetooth preperation
€0,00 BMW Assist
€0,00 BMW Online
€0,00 Internet
€-,-- (standard) Voice Control
€590,00 Loadspeaker system - BMW Business
€100,00 Telephone USB audio interface
€150,00  Apps

€-,-- Runflat tyres

€550,00 Exterior and interior mirrors - folding, auto-dimming
€810,00 Park Distance Control (PDC), front and rear
€620,00 Lane change warning system
€350,00 Active Protection

Total price in Germany: €73.300,-*

*Prices are the German prices in February 2013:

Some pro's and con's on the BMW 525d xDrive:

Pro:

Good interior finish

Good fuel consumption for a car of this size and with the all-wheel drive

Excellent 8-speed automatic gearbox

Excellent Comfort seats

Excellent stereo system

Excellent 3d navigation system

Con:

Bad location of the cup holders, right in front of the airconditioning

Handling of the xDrive model is more neutral then of the rear-wheel drive model

The button to open the trunk is located in an incovenient place

Storage space for personal items is scarce

Steep price

More pictures of this BMW 525d xDrive can be found here, please click and scroll down.

 

Video update: BMW 525d xDrive (2012 / F10)

When BMW introduced the new 5-series F10 in 2010, the 525d still had a 6-cylinder diesel engine. Since 09 / 2011 BMW however replaced this engine with a 4-cylinder diesel engine, the same as in the 520d but then equipped with two turbos and some extra horsepower (520d: 184hp / 525d: 218hp). Also the xDrive all wheel drive became available for the new 525d.

Videos of a 2012 BMW 525d xDrive can be found below:

BMW 525d xDrive Walkaround - Exterior and interior shots of the car

BMW 525d xDrive Fuel Consumption Test - testing the fuel consumption under real life conditions

  BMW 525d xDrive Acceleration - Acceleration test from 0km/h

BMW 525d xDrive Flatout - Putting the pedal to the metal on the German Autobahn