…But with very different “hearts”
Identical twins are two people sharing the same DNA and
having the same appearance. As they grow up, they might also have uncannily
similar personalities and interests. But twins are essentially still two
different individuals who dress differently and all, with their own lives to
lead.
Twins exist in the automotive world, too. The BMW 520d and
520i you see here not only look identical, they also occupy the same
entry-level positions in the 5 Series family. Parked side by side, it’s
impossible to tell them apart unless you look closely.
BMW’s diesel 520d
The easiest identifiers are the “520d” and “520i” boot-lid
badges. The 520d also wears smaller wheels – 17-inch ones against the 18-inch
alloys of the 520i, which come with the optional $7k Luxury package. Additional
chrome trimmings on both the front and rear bumpers are part of this, too.
The cabins of the two cars are so alike that even the most
eagle-eyed enthusiast won’t be able to know which is which, although the diesel
model’s “shorter” tachometer range is a good clue. Both vehicles have the same
Iequipment and decoration, such as Dakota leather for the seats and Fineline
anthracite wood trim on the dashboard and door panels.
The “footwear” of the two cars is different, though. As the
saying goes: “You can tell a lot about a person from the shoes he’s wearing.”
The wheels gripping the road also reflect the personality of each twin here.
The 520i, shod with athletic Continental ContiSportContact 3
tyres, has a lively and dynamic character, whereas the 520d, shod with “green”
and fuel efficient Pirelli Cinturato P7 tyres, is reserved and soft-spoken. In
other words, the 520i wears running shoes while its sibling prefers cushy
loafers.
BMW’s diesel 520d
Engine
The P7s are perfectly suited to the 520d’s eco-friendly
nature, for the “heart” beating beneath the bonnet is a 2-litre turbo-diesel
motor that, BMW claims, can average up to 20.4km per litre.
Meanwhile, the 520i’s “heart”, a petrol-fuelled 2-litre
turbo unit, can only manage a (combined) fuel consumption figure of 15.6km per
litre.
Given that the 520i is thirstier than the NARROW VERSUS
BROAD 520i can be revved to no less than 7000rpm, whereas the diesel-powered
520d redlines at 5500rpm520d, one might assume the former is faster. In fact,
both are evenly matched in the century sprint timing (7.9 seconds), and they
max out within 2km/h of each other (on paper). Their engines have the same
184bhp output, too. It’s the difference in torque that’s telling – 380Nm in the
520d versus 270Nm in the 520i.
BMW 520i 2.0 (A)
While the two BMWs perform similarly, they differ greatly in
power delivery. The 520i is zestier, more responsive and more forthcoming in
the way it accelerates. Keen drivers will enjoy making quick getaways from the
traffic lights in it.
The 520d, in contrast, is more laid-back on the go. Bury the
throttle pedal and it takes a second longer than the 520i to pick up speed, as
the diesel’s turbocharger spools up less promptly. But once the turbo-diesel
boost is blowing strongly, so to speak, the ample ensuing torque makes the
driver feel like he’s being carried forward on the crest of a big invisible
wave.
BMW 520i 2.0 (A)
Engine
So, while the 520d and 520i look alike, their different
“hearts” beating to different, distinctive rhythms make them dissimilar
Bimmers.
