2012 BMW 5 Series Trims and Specs

Endowed with a new turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine (I4), the 2012 BMW 528i actually gains some 40 lb-ft of torque, as well as a notable jump in fuel efficiency. And all this is on top of a handsome visage, 14 cubic feet of trunk space and one of the most well appointed cabins on the market. Outside, this primped-up 5-passenger luxury sedan boasts Integral Active Steering with its useful, though limited, rear-wheel turning radius, as well as a standard power sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels and heated, reverse-tilting power mirrors. Inside, look for posh touches like leatherette upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, a leather steering wheel and wood and alloy cabin accents. Standard comfort features include iDrive hands-free audio, navigation and communications adjustment, dual-zone climate control, memory for driver's settings and telescoping tilt-wheel steering. Convenience-wise, expect standard cruise control, power windows and door locks and steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls. For entertainment, this snazzy sedan sports an MP3-capable single-CD player, 10 speakers and a USB connection, while Bluetooth hands-free technology bolsters the touted BMW Assist directions/connections feature.

Options, though a tad expensive, include a pair of Sport Packages (Sport and M Sport) with upgraded 18-inch alloy wheels, driver-selectable four-mode Driving Dynamics Control, active suspension damping and an increased top speed. Some of the more exotic options include hard-drive-based navigation, remote engine start, automated parallel parking, upgraded audio components, head-up windshield display, satellite radio and rear-seat DVD entertainment. Curiously, split-folding rear seats are an optional item aboard this high-end auto, as is a rear-view camera system (with top and side views), not to mention heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel in the Cold Weather Package. Finally, front and rear parking sensors, BMW Apps for iPhone interface and a hard-drive-based navigation system are all additionally available.

Powering the next-gen 528i is a new-for-2012 direct-injected (DI) 2.0-liter turbocharged straight-four engine. This efficient powerplant is mated with an 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission with brake hill-holder for 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, good enough for this rear-wheel-drive sedan to get 23 mpg city/34 highway. The addition of standard engine stop/start technology doubtless improves gas mileage, as does integrated variable valve timing (VVT).

Garnering a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Beemer’s 2012 528i boasts standard 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and front active head restraints. Additionally, front fog/driving lights, daytime running lights and a remote antitheft alarm all come standard, as does a post-collision safety system bolstered by BMW Assist emergency services and alerts (as well as navigation and communications functions). Optional for this well-endowed 4-door is a blind-spot warning system and lane departure alert, automatic hi/lo-beam headlights and an infrared night-vision system with pedestrian alert.

Defining the notion of luxury in an automobile, the 2012 BMW 528i xDrive 5-passenger sedan sports a new engine and, finally, Beemer’s intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive (AWD) technology. This posh 4-door also comes standard with a power sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels and heated reverse-tilt power mirrors outside, and leatherette upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, a leather steering wheel and wood and alloy accents inside. This base-yet-plush trim also sports power door locks and windows, telescoping tilt-wheel steering and cruise control, as well as dual-zone climate control, extended cabin cooling and memory for driver's settings. Standard Integral Active Steering, meantime, offers a limited turning radius with the rear wheels for extra maneuverability. Audio and telematics include a 180-watt system driving an MP3-capable single-CD player and 10 speakers, bolstered by Beemer’s touted iDrive hands-free audio and communications adjustments along with a USB connection. Meantime, Bluetooth hands-free technology and phone pre-wiring are standard communications equipment.

Options for the 2012 528i xDrive include the Sport and M Sport packages, with 18-inch alloy wheels, Driving Dynamics Control with driver-selectable Normal, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ steering and suspension modes, active suspension damping and an increased top speed, while an aerodynamic body kit and dedicated M steering wheel come with the M Sport Package. Other options in either package form or as standalones include remote engine start, rear-seat DVD entertainment, split-folding rear seats, an automated parallel parking system, front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera with available top and side views, a windshield head-up display and an upgraded audio system. Further optional features include four-zone climate control, heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel in the Cold Weather package. A hard-drive-based navigation system and satellite radio are also available for this snazzy sedan, as is the BMW Apps system, allowing a limited iPhone internet interface.

In a departure from previous years, a direct-injected (DI) 2.0-liter turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine powers the 2012 528i xDrive. Mated with the standard 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission, this peppy four-banger puts out 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. With automatic engine stop/start and variable valve timing, expect 22 mpg city/32 highway, while the all-wheel-drive (xDrive) system is managed by a mechanical center limited-slip differential to transfer torque from rear-wheel drive (RWD) to an AWD mode when slippage is detected in the rear wheels. The drivetrain, as is traditional, also boasts the brake hill-holder feature.

Standard safety features aboard the 2012 528i xDrive include 4-wheel antilock brakes, traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and front active head restraints. Further standard safety equipment includes daytime running lights, front fog/driving lights, cornering lights, a remote antitheft alarm, high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights and a post-collision safety system. Additionally, Beemer’s touted BMW Assist system is also standard, with emergency service, collision notification and stolen vehicle tracking, as well as directions and communications services, among its notable advantages. Optional safety equipment, meantime, includes an infra-red night-vision system with pedestrian alert, Active Blind-Spot Detection, Lane Departure alerts, and, finally, automatic high/low-beam headlights.

BMW’s vaunted 5 Series 5-passenger midsize sedans, including the 535i, are a bit beamier for 2012. Nevertheless, this luxurious midlevel trim still sports some enviable moves, 14 cubic feet of trunk space, a posh cabin and a turbocharged straight-six powerplant. There are also a boatload of standard doodads, such as a power sunroof, heated, power-adjustable reverse-tilt mirrors and 18-inch alloy wheels, as well as Integral Active Steering boasting a 2.5-degree turning radius in the rear wheels for better maneuverability—and that’s just on the outside. Inside, look for understated elegance with standard leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, a leather steering wheel and wood and alloy cabin accents. Power windows and door locks also come standard in this snappy sedan, as do memory for driver's settings, cruise control, dual-zone climate control and telescoping tilt-wheel steering. Tunes are provided by a 180-watt audio system that stars an MP3-capable single-CD player and 10 speakers, with all of it bolstered by a standard USB connection and iDrive hands-free convenience. Finally, Bluetooth technology and phone pre-wiring complete the list of standard techno-features.

Options for this princely conveyance include two Sport packages, the Sport and the M Sport, each with 19-inch alloy wheels, four-mode driver-selectable Driving Dynamics Control, active suspension damping and an increased top speed. The M Sport Package, meantime, also features an aerodynamic body kit and unique M steering wheel. Remote engine start, split-folding rear seats, heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel in the Cold Weather Package and four-zone climate control are added comfort and convenience features, as are front and rear parking sensors, an automated parallel parking system, a windshield-focused head-up display, active cruise control and rear-seat DVD entertainment. Also available are an automated parallel parking system and BMW Apps, which allows internet access through personal iPhones.

Standard power for the 2012 535i trims comes from a 300-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged inline 6-cylinder (I6) engine. This potent mill is harnessed to the standard 6-speed manual transmission (with brake hill-holder) in the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) 535i or the optional 8-speed automatic. Look for 19 mpg city/29 highway from the stick shift and 21/31 from the automatic.

Safety-wise, the 2012 535i is delivered with standard 4-wheel antilock braking (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and front active head restraints. Further standard safety equipment includes front fog/driving lights, daytime running lights, cornering lights, high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights, a remote antitheft alarm and a post-collision safety system that incorporates BMW Assist emergency service, collision notification and stolen vehicle tracking (as well as user-friendly directions and communications services). Additionally, Active Blind-Spot Detection, Lane Departure warnings, automatic high/low-beam headlights and an infra-red night-vision system with pedestrian alert are all available to this well-appointed sedan, which received a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

As its moniker implies, BMW’s touted xDrive all-wheel-drive (AWD) technology comes standard with the German automaker’s 2012 535i xDrive 5-passenger midsize sedan. Beamier and with a bit more weight, has this traditional high-end favorite begun to mellow in its old age? Nope. Reviewers and plenty of owners still like its genteel-yet-still-exhilarating agility, its upper-crust cabin ambiance, its 14 cubic feet of trunk space and its turbocharged straight-6 engine. Tire-kickers can also look for 18-inch alloy wheels, a power sunroof, heated power-adjustable reverse-tilt mirrors, and Integral Active Steering that allows the rear wheels to be turned up to 2.5 degrees for a little edge in tight corners. Meanwhile, expect plush leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats and a leather steering wheel, complemented by wood and alloy interior trim to grace the cabin. Further standard posh includes power windows and remote power door locks, memory for driver's settings, telescoping tilt-wheel steering, cruise control and dual-zone climate control, not to mention BMW Assist with directions and communications services. Finally, entertainment is via a 180-watt stereo with MP3-capable single-CD player with 10 speakers, bolstered by a USB connection and Bluetooth-integrated iDrive hands-free audio and communications management.

Optional in this high-end Beemer are two Sport packages, the Sport and M Sport, each of which boasts 19-inch alloy wheels, active suspension damping, a few extra horses and 4-mode Driving Dynamics Control. The M Sport Package, meanwhile, adds on an aerodynamic body kit and the unique M steering wheel. Features in the available Cold Weather Package include a heated steering wheel as well as heated front and rear seats, while remote engine start, split-folding rear seats and automated parallel-parking technology are among the available standalone items. Some more exotic optional items include a windshield-focused head-up display and the touted BMW Apps that allows limited internet accessibility through personal iPhones.

Powering the 2012 535i xDrive is the ubiquitous 300-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged inline 6-cylinder (I6) engine. Combined with the standard 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission, the I6 kicks out 300 lb-ft of torque to the tune of 21 mpg city/30 highway. Beemer’s unique xDrive system, meantime, cruises dry pavement in rear-wheel-drive (RWD) mode, but when engaged by the mechanical limited-slip center differential, torque is transferred from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip, front or rear. Additionally, the handy brake hill-holder feature is standard in this potent drivetrain.

As for safety equipment aboard the 2012 535i xDrive, expect standard 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and front active head restraints. Additionally, front fog/driving lights, daytime running lights, corner-covering high-intensity-discharge (HID)

headlights and a remote antitheft alarm are complemented by BMW Assist emergency services. Finally, optional safety items include active blind-spot detection, lane departure warning, automatic hi/lo-beam headlights and an infrared night vision system with pedestrian alert.

As the flagship of the 5 Series fleet, the 2012 BMW 550i ratchets up the power, as well as the amenities. Of course, this well-heeled midsize 5-passenger sedan boasts a power sunroof, heated, reverse-tilt, power-adjustable mirrors, rear-wheel interfaced Integral Active Steering and 18-inch alloy wheels outside, and leather upholstery, power-adjustable front bucket seats, a leather steering wheel and wood and alloy cabin accents inside. Then there are such extras as a standard universal remote garage door opener, front and rear parking sensors, memory for both front seats' settings and a hard-drive-based navigation system. Traditional goodies like power windows and door locks, telescoping tilt-wheel steering, cruise control and dual-zone climate control with extended cabin cooling are all standard as well. Entertainment is presented by a 180-watt system with an MP3-capable single-CD player and 10 speakers (including two subwoofers) and a USB connection. The handy Bluetooth system and iDrive hands-free interior gadget-adjustment technology, as well as phone pre-wiring also come standard in this high-end 4-door.

Options for the 2012 550i include the M Sport Package, featuring active suspension damping, 19-inch alloy wheels, driver-selectable, four-setting Driving Dynamics Control, active suspension damping and a higher top speed, as well as an aerodynamic body kit and unique “M” steering wheel. Further options available in either package or standalone form include radar-interfaced active cruise control, rear-seat DVD entertainment, a rear-view camera with optional top and side views, upgraded audio with 600 watts and 16 speakers, satellite radio, heated front and rear seats and heated steering wheel (the Cold Weather package), split-folding rear seats and remote keyless entry and engine start. An automated parallel parking system is also available for the 550i, as is the BMW Apps feature that allows selected internet accessibility from personal iPhones and, of course, a power trunk lid. Finally, an optional head-up windshield instrument display will help keep the driver’s eyes on the road.

Powering the 2012 550i is a 4.4-liter direct-injected (DI) twin-turbocharged V8 engine that produces 400 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque with the standard 6-speed manual transmission. Mileage in this rear-wheel-drive (RWD) trim is pegged at 15 mpg city/22 highway with the stick shift, and an 8-speed shiftable automatic is also available for this top-shelf trim. Variable valve timing (VVT) and automatic engine stop/start, meantime, do their bit to temper this elite sedan’s almost decent fuel consumption.

Standard safety equipment aboard the 2012 550i includes 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and front active head restraints. To go along with all that, there are also such standards as daytime running lights, front fog/driving lights, high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights, cornering lights, a remote antitheft alarm and a post-collision safety system bolstered by BMW Assist with emergency services and alerts complemented by limited directions/connections technology. Optional safety items, meanwhile, include Active Blind-Spot Detection and Lane Departure warning system, automatic high/low-beam headlights and an infra-red night vision system with pedestrian alert.

Tack BMW’s touted xDrive full-time all-wheel-drive (AWD) system onto an already impressive 5-passenger midsize luxury sedan and behold the 2012 BMW 550i xDrive. As with its rear-wheel-drive-only sibling, this flagship sedan is delivered with 14 cubic feet of trunk space, a power sunroof, heated reverse-tilting power-adjustable mirrors, 18-inch alloy wheels and Integrated Active Steering, which features a limited turning radius in the rear wheels for added maneuverability. It also comes with standard leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, a leather steering wheel and wood and alloy cabin accents. Added features over the lower 5 Series trims include a universal remote garage door opener, front and rear parking sensors, memory settings for both driver's and passenger seats, and a hard-drive-based navigation system. Such less unique goodies as BMW Assist with directions and Bluetooth-bolstered communications services are also standard in this classy conveyance, as are cruise control, dual-zone climate control, power door locks and windows, cruise control and power-adjustable telescoping tilt-wheel steering. A 180-watt audio system, meantime, drives an MP3-capable single-CD player with 10 speakers, all complemented by a USB connection.

Options for this top-shelf Beemer include the M Sport Package with 19-inch alloy wheels, four-mode-selectable Driving Dynamics Control, active suspension damping and a higher top speed. Further options include an automated parallel parking system, a rear-view camera with top and side views also available, upgraded 600-watt, 16-speaker digital audio, four-zone climate control and, strangely, a split-folding rear seat. Rear-seat DVD entertainment is also available to the 2012 550i xDrive, as are heated front and rear seats with heated steering wheel in the Cold Weather Package, remote keyless entry with remote engine start, internet-interfaced BMW Apps and radar-integrated active cruise control.

A potent 400-hp turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine combines with a standard 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission to motivate the 2012 550i xDrive to achieve 460 lb-ft of torque. Look for 16 mpg city/24 highway in this high-end sedan, not bad for a V8 and gained via variable valve timing (VVT) and driver-selectable engine auto-stop/start. The ordinarily rear-wheel-drive (RWD) xDrive system, meanwhile, sports a mechanical limited-slip center differential that can transfer torque from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip, either front or rear.

Standard safety features for the 2012 550i xDrive include 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and front active head restraints. Daytime running lights are also standard aboard this beauteous Beemer, as are front fog driving lights, cornering lights, high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights, a post-collision safety system and a remote antitheft alarm. Beemer’s touted BMW Assist, meantime, provides emergency services, collision notification and stolen vehicle tracking among its less mundane duties. Optional safety equipment includes Active Blind-Spot Detection and Lane Departure warning systems, as well as auto high/low-beam headlights and an infra-red night vision system with pedestrian alert.