Our view:
BMW, like many other manufacturers, has diversified enormously since the start of the 21st century. Just 15 years ago, the range of machines you could buy from Munich consisted of the 3-, 5- and 7 Series, we were grappling with the concept of the recently-revealed X5 SUV and the MINI hadn't even made an appearance on the scene. About the oddest things the company did were the Z3 and Z8 roadsters. In essence, big-hearted, straight-six sports saloons were still central to the Bavarians' business.
Nowadays, the vast amount of choice on offer means cars like this, the facelifted F10 530d M Sport, are no longer the core business of BMW. But if you're lamenting this sea change and wondering if the 530d is still relevant in an age of four-cylinder diesels, crossovers and electric power, you'll be pleased to know that this is one of the most capable, rewarding and easy-to-live-with cars we've had the pleasure of dealing with.
Let's start with the only bugbear of this particular car, YL13 AUK, which is the price. Let's face it, inflation or no, in excess of 60 grand for a 5 Series is a huge pile of cash. In BMW's defence, as this is a press car, it is loaded with every conceivable bit of optional equipment in order to showcase the range's available tech. You could be more selective when specifying your own car, but even so there are some things on the lengthy options list that you'd definitely want to have - such as Dynamic Drive, which counters body roll, but costs a faintly scary £2,770. Strip all the needless bells and whistles away, though, and it remains an essentially brilliant piece of engineering.
This shines through in all the major controls, which are without fault. The steering weight and feedback is exceptional for an electrically-assisted system, and after thoroughly enjoying a similar set-up
in the 435i, I think BMW has got the knack of the post-hydraulic era quicker than other manufacturers. The brakes are another area that you could have picked BMW up on before, but these have the holy trinity of great pedal feel, perfect progression and monster bite. The eight-speed auto is immaculate, while the ride - on UK roads - is never harsh nor wobbly, no matter what you do with the Drive Performance Control (DPC) selector - an overly firm ride was always the weak link of Bangle BMWs.
That DPC button does the usual trick of firming up suspension, weighting the steering differently and sharpening throttle response according to which of the five modes you have the car in. But it also changes the beautiful TFT instrument display, from the blue-tinted Eco Pro mode through the classy brown-black displays of Comfort+ and Comfort, to the red-and-white intensity of Sport and Sport+. Considering it's a diesel executive barge, the way it can convey this change of character, both through the visuals it presents and how it dynamically goes about its business, is remarkably good. On the latter point, the big BMW feels lithe and biddable when you decide to up the pace on cross-country roads - it certainly deserves its 'Sport' tag.
The interior is sumptuous and all the toys on it - including the fancy anti-dazzle LED headlights that dip selected 'bulbs' of the main beam according to cars ahead or coming the other way - work to ease away the miles, which of course is the 530d's forte. The engine is magnificent, being clean, economical and ultra-refined too, yet also healthily barrel-chested. It bestows more than acceptable urge on the Five no matter what speed you're going at and what you then demand of it. Once again, though, the 19-inch wheel-adjusted combined figure of 51.4mpg looks optimistic to say the least. Reckon on around 40mpg on the motorway, 45 or so on smooth-flowing A-roads. Range is good, as we easily achieved around 500 miles of mixed driving on one tank.
Externally, the very minor revisions of the 5 Series facelift are next to impossible to spot, but there's no denying that, in Carbon Black M Sport guise, it's a superb and muscular thing. The only slight flaw is that even on those lovely 19s, it still looks a bit under-wheeled in profile; that's thanks to the F10's higher bonnet line for pedestrian safety.
In summary, our test car was ridiculously expensive and it's also top spec - you could, of course, go for this engine in one of the lesser two trim lines. But, as mentioned earlier, pick and choose options carefully, and the 530d really would be that oldest of clichés: all the car you'll ever need. It is a master of all trades, and jack of none. In a long line of class-leading, supremely talented 530ds going back to the E39, this is unequivocally the best by far.
