2012 BMW 528

2012 528 Photos
The Little Engine That Could Gets Its First Real Test BMW owners in Europe have traditionally been presented with a wide variety of engine options from which to choose, ranging from a slew of four-cylinder petrol or diesel variants to a few six-, eight- and even 10-cylinder options. Here in the U.S., the pickings had been decidedly more slim for a long time, with the 3.0-liter inline six serving as the smallest measure of cylinder displacement. Even the ultra-compact 1 Series could only be ordered with the naturally aspirated or turbocharged 3.0. That changed for the 2012 model year when a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hit our shores. This new engine is more powerful than the naturally aspirated 3.0-liter, with 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque at our beck and call. The engine was a common sense fit for the 3 Series, and early returns show that the 328i may, in fact, be the 3er to get. But while the 3 Series was an obvious pairing for the 2.0T, the bigger and heavier 5 Series is a less apparent choice. That didn't stop BMW from offering the engine under the hood of the 2012 528i, and the German automaker didn't even shy away from pairing the mini mill with its weighty xDrive all-wheel-drive system, even though it wasn't even an option in the six-cylinder 2011 528i. We spent a week with a well-appointed 528i with xDrive to see if the new turbocharged 2.0-liter had the guts to motivate 4,001 pounds of German engineering, while still feeling like a luxury sport sedan. We wouldn't mind the engine noise as much if the mill sounded more like the N55 inline six. Aesthetically, the 5 Series hasn't changed compared to the 2011 model, though we were very fond of our tester's rich, chocolaty Mojave Metallic paint job – a $550 option. We weren't quite as smitten with the 18-inch alloy wheels, which look a bit too plain and undersized. A set of 20-inch M wheels would add gobs of visual pop to an already pleasing profile, though we'd be very uninterested in that option's $5,870 price tag. The interior of the 5 Series continues to feature improved materials, superb fit and finish and extraordinarily comfortable seats. And we always love the simplicity of BMW's leather-wrapped steering wheel, which can occupy our hands any day of the week. The same cannot be said for the wonky electronic shifter, which takes plenty of practice to get used to. Pushing up to go into Reverse just seems terribly unnatural, but after a few days it was like riding a bike... backwards. We'd also like more sound insulation to keep the noise from the very hard working 2.0-liter engine out of the cabin. We wouldn't mind the engine noise as much if the mill sounded more like the N55 inline six, but unfortunately this engine is more of an Alto than our ears would like. The xDrive model rings in at a full $2,100 more than its …
Full Review
The Little Engine That Could Gets Its First Real Test BMW owners in Europe have traditionally been presented with a wide variety of engine options from which to choose, ranging from a slew of four-cylinder petrol or diesel variants to a few six-, eight- and even 10-cylinder options. Here in the U.S., the pickings had been decidedly more slim for a long time, with the 3.0-liter inline six serving as the smallest measure of cylinder displacement. Even the ultra-compact 1 Series could only be ordered with the naturally aspirated or turbocharged 3.0. That changed for the 2012 model year when a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hit our shores. This new engine is more powerful than the naturally aspirated 3.0-liter, with 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque at our beck and call. The engine was a common sense fit for the 3 Series, and early returns show that the 328i may, in fact, be the 3er to get. But while the 3 Series was an obvious pairing for the 2.0T, the bigger and heavier 5 Series is a less apparent choice. That didn't stop BMW from offering the engine under the hood of the 2012 528i, and the German automaker didn't even shy away from pairing the mini mill with its weighty xDrive all-wheel-drive system, even though it wasn't even an option in the six-cylinder 2011 528i. We spent a week with a well-appointed 528i with xDrive to see if the new turbocharged 2.0-liter had the guts to motivate 4,001 pounds of German engineering, while still feeling like a luxury sport sedan. We wouldn't mind the engine noise as much if the mill sounded more like the N55 inline six. Aesthetically, the 5 Series hasn't changed compared to the 2011 model, though we were very fond of our tester's rich, chocolaty Mojave Metallic paint job – a $550 option. We weren't quite as smitten with the 18-inch alloy wheels, which look a bit too plain and undersized. A set of 20-inch M wheels would add gobs of visual pop to an already pleasing profile, though we'd be very uninterested in that option's $5,870 price tag. The interior of the 5 Series continues to feature improved materials, superb fit and finish and extraordinarily comfortable seats. And we always love the simplicity of BMW's leather-wrapped steering wheel, which can occupy our hands any day of the week. The same cannot be said for the wonky electronic shifter, which takes plenty of practice to get used to. Pushing up to go into Reverse just seems terribly unnatural, but after a few days it was like riding a bike... backwards. We'd also like more sound insulation to keep the noise from the very hard working 2.0-liter engine out of the cabin. We wouldn't mind the engine noise as much if the mill sounded more like the N55 inline six, but unfortunately this engine is more of an Alto than our ears would like. The xDrive model rings in at a full $2,100 more than its …
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Retail Price

$46,900 - $49,200 MSRP / Window Sticker Price
Engine 2.0L I-4
MPG Up to 23 city / 34 highway
Seating 5 Passengers
Transmission 8-spd w/OD
Power 240 @ 5000 rpm
Drivetrain all wheel, rear-wheel
Curb Weight 3,792 - 4,001 lbs
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