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When it comes to revising a class-leader like BMW's 5 Series, there are two schools of thought to follow. The first guards against resting on laurels and aims to constantly move the game forward. The second questions the wisdom of messing with a winning formula. It doesn't take long at the wheel of BMW's latest 5 Series to realise that the Bavarians have been conscious of both. There's plenty to move the game forward including three fresh petrol engines and a diesel in recent years, but also much that seeks not to change what is undeniably a winning formula.

BMW has traditionally differentiated itself from its Stuttgart rival, Mercedes Benz, by offering more of a dynamic driving experience, with the emphasis on sporting handling and keen performance.
In recent years however, these boundaries have become blurred. As Mercedes has striven to improve the handling of its cars, BMW have worked hard to create models that can marry response with relaxation. The current 5 Series, first introduced in 1986, represented its first major success in this respect, combining the ride and refinement of the larger 7 series with the purist rear wheel drive handling of the smaller 3 series. For this new version BMW being BMW, the majority of the updating budget was spent under the bonnet. Once upon a time, things used to be easy: a 520i had a 2.0-litre engine. No longer. The latest 520i is fitted with a 2.2-litre unit developing 170bhp, a 13% improvement with proportional performance. So much so that the old 523i variant is gone, and in its place is a mid-range 525i model, featuring the same 2.5-litre straight six cylinder engine but with a 13% power hike to 192bhp. Of course, the introduction of the 525i also spelt the end for the more or less identically powered 2.8-litre straight six used in the 528i, which now becomes a 231bhp 3.0-litre powertrain (already found in the 3 Series and the X5 off roader).
Fitted to the 530i, this unit not only develops 20% more power but more importantly has substantially greater torque, - instant response, in other words, from almost any speed in almost any gear. Thanks to the huge advances in refinement and performance introduced to the luxury sector in recent times even boardroom executives are coming round to the benefits of diesel power. With the original 5 Series, BMW's 530d led the way, and the new version is smoother and faster, with output up 9bhp to 193bhp.

The cosmetic changes to the latest range don't amount to very much (in order, BMW says, to protect the residual values of earlier cars). Still, the latest 'Five' does now look slightly tidier. The depth of quality and commitment to engineering excellence which established the 5 series as the finest car in its class remains as strong as ever. With the latest suite of refinements, the competition will need to take a long hard look at their offerings. And then with a resigned sigh, go back to their drawing boards.