2013 BMW 5 Series Touring 520i 6MT RWD (184 HP)

Vehicle Overview

BMW refreshed the entire lineup of the 5 Series’ sixth-generation in 2013, preparing it for the Euro 6 emission standards that were due to come into force in September 2014, and beside the sedan, it also improved the estate version, traditionally named Touring.

The German automaker didn’t come up with new engines at the model’s refresh in 2013, waiting for another year until it replaced the formerly used N-series powerplants with the B-series ones. But still, there were also other significant changes and upgrades that the automaker made to the successful 5 Series. Moreover, it kept its promise to provide customers with a sporty-looking station wagon fitted with enough amenities inside to make buyers feel comfortable and safe at all times. In addition, the introduction of a new infotainment system helped BMW maintain its sales figures high.

There were subtle changes on the car’s exterior, but a keen eye for detail would still notice differences. BMW installed standard bi-xenon headlamps for the entire lineup, with an option for Adaptive LED headlights. In addition, the lower bumper was slightly redesigned, and vehicles fitted with fog lamps had them round-shaped instead of triangular as on the pre-facelifted version. Since BMW didn’t offer the 5 Series F11 (the estate version) with an M-version, like on the previous generation, it still provided an M package that included a revised front bumper with larger side scoops and a chin-spoiler.

The car’s profile looked very much like the non-facelifted version, but the automaker installed new door mirrors featuring integrated LED turn signals. Furthermore, vehicles fitted with the M package sported lowered and aerodynamically profiled side sills that made the 2013 5 Series Touring look sportier. That sensation was amplified by the raked-forward tailgate fitted with the traditional independent opening for the rear window that allowed customers to load and unload smaller items more easily.

Inside, the 5 Series Touring LCI was available with a long list of options that helped it differentiate more from its non-facelifted sibling. BMW provided a new infotainment unit named NBT, which allowed customers to draw letters on the round iDrive controller knob placed on the center stack. They could use that feature to select new addresses or find persons in the phonebook. Fronting the driver was a classic four-dial instrument cluster with a color LCD at the lower half of the panel. Furthermore, a 10.25-inch TFT with configurable layouts was available. In the back, the 5 Series Touring featured a split-folding bench seat (40/20/40), which enlarged the trunk space from 560 liters (19.8 cu-ft) to 1,670 liters (59 cu-ft). Unlike its sedan sibling, the F11 was fitted as standard with adaptive rear suspension that kept the car level regardless of the load in the trunk. Furthermore, the tailgate featured a soft-close function, which was standard across the range.

Under the hood, the automaker installed a wide choice of turbodiesel and gasoline engines paired with a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. Depending on the powerplant version and options, the 2013 5 Series Touring came with either rear or all-wheel drive systems. Those who were looking for more performance for this sporty-looking station wagon could enjoy the upgraded 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 available for the 550i, which produced 450 PS (444 hp). The B-family engines for the inline-four and inline-six replaced the N-family engines later on and produced slightly more power than their predecessors.