BMW 530e long-term test: report 4
Following a recent facelift, the plug-in hybrid BMW 530e promises punchy performance and a longer electric range. We're living with one to see if it delivers...
The car BMW 530e M Sport Run by Steve Huntingford, editor
Why it’s here We want to know if this luxurious saloon really gives buyers the best of both worlds
Needs to Combine outstanding comfort and refinement with strong performance and good real-world fuel economy
Mileage 2040 List price £52,325 Target Price £44,583 Price as tested £59,080 Test economy 78.6mpg Official economy 156.9-201.8mpg
3 March – Tuning into the wireless
Like many modern cars, my BMW 530e has a wireless charging pad in one of its storage cubbies, which lets me keep my phone topped up without having to bother with a cable. However, as handy as this is, what I really want is to be able to charge the car itself without plugging in.
You see, in most respects, the fact that the 530e is a plug-in hybrid that can travel for up to 37 miles on battery power alone contributes to its luxurious feel; the instant torque of the electric motor allows it to build speed effortlessly, while the absence of engine noise enhances the general calm inside the car.
There’s nothing luxurious, though, about standing around in the cold trying to get a temperamental charging post to work, or wrestling a wet and dirty cable back into the boot of your car. And that’s perhaps why BMW UK originally planned to offer the 530e with the option of wireless charging.
Ultimately it decided against it, due to the complete lack of public infrastructure in place to support this technology. And it’s definitely a chicken and egg issue: car makers don’t want to waste money engineering a system that can’t be used, while charging companies are reluctant to invest in wireless devices for exactly the same reason.
Long-term, however, I reckon that waving goodbye to cables has got to be the answer, and not just because plugging in is a faff. After all, if charging pads were buried beneath the ground at the sort of places people typically park – and perhaps even at traffic lights – going electric would make a lot more sense for people without front drives.
Beyond the benefits that come with electrification, there’s plenty else about the 530e that make it a very pleasant way to cover miles. For example, beefed up side bolsters ensure that the seats in M Sport cars like mine hold you securely in place through corners, but unlike many sports seats, they’re not so tight that they leave you feeling like you’re caught in a pincer after an extended period behind the wheel.
The fact that you can adjust the length of the seat base is another plus. And electric adjustment for the backrest angle and adjustable lumbar support makes it easy to tweak your driving position on the move, even if you do have to pay extra to get full electric adjustment and a driver’s seat memory function.
Personally, I’ve never regretted not ticking this option. But I reckon you will regret it if you don’t specify the optional adaptive dampers, which are part of the £2495 M Sport Pro Pack. While SE-spec cars shimmy around a bit, and the standard M Sport suspension is pretty firm, the trick dampers do a great job of settling down the ride, without compromising the driving fun that the 5 Series has long been associated with.
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