BMW 530i M Sport

A mid-life refresh gives the 5 Series a tweaked nose, an upgraded interior but leaves the mechanical package unchanged. Is it worth your attention?

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STYLING? YOU’RE GOING TO start a BMW story talking about styling?” I can hear the silly side of my brain berating the sensible side. Sensible-side isn’t taking that lying down. “This is a facelift. Face. Lift. Talk about the damn face first,” it fires back. Six more expletive-laden volleys later, they agree to flip a coin. Heads, we talk driving. Tails, we talk styling.

Tails it is. Sheesh. This is what happens when the biggest change to a new BMW are its bumpers.

Let’s get right to it then. Upfront, the face has been re-profiled to look a little sleeker. The grille is new — it is now wider and taller (but not disproportionate), while the slats jut out strongly at the top. Meanwhile, the slimmer headlamps give the new 5 a rather serious appearance. As if it’s squinting. And scowling, thanks to that angry M Sport bumper. Adaptive LEDs with matrix tech are standard while this M Sport variant gets the higher-spec Laser Lights, instantly recognisable from the tinge of blue in the headlamp cluster.