Allymunro

The 523 & 525 petrol engines are both 2.5 L but the 523 is 177BHP whilst 525 is 218 BHP. BMW 0-62 mph figures quote it as 1 sec faster (7.8 to 8.8 on Tourer).The price difference is ?1615.

Surely the difference is negligble for the extra price?

Comments please.

tcoz

The E61 is a heavy car at just over 4000 lb (US version). My 530xiT has 255 hp which seems about right. I can't imagine it with almost 80 hp less although in the real world, torque is more important than horsepower. The 3.0 is only 220 lb-ft. If the 2.3 isn't a whole lot less, then it might not be a big difference.

tegel

Hi,
the other day I drove the 523i with Steptronic and M sport package. Really nice and smooth engine, fell in love immediately. Chassis superb. Whatever you do, go for the m-package or at least sports suspension, gives so much better damping control and imho, better comfort.

All above compared to my current 525i Touring with standard chassis.

/M

Herwig

Test drove both, loved both and decided in favour of the 525i.

The difference is noticeable when you compare them back to back which is what I did. The 525i is more effortless and and powerful. That said the difference is not that massive - both engines are similar in terms of their characteristics.

For the relatively small difference in price between the two I believe the 525i is the better engine to have in the E61.

But then again will you feel having made the wrong choice buying a 523i and using it on UK motorways under normal conditions ? No is the answer.

Without getting too philosophical here - its easy to believe a bigger engine is always better. And once you have an engine in the car which is bigger than another one and you get used to it its even easier to imagine the smaller engine would simply be not powerful enough. Foolish.

tegel

In Sweden that difference is 3k EUR which translates into a lot of equipment.....

/M

msjwhite

I test drove both too and the 523 did feel like it had some decent power. But for me I wanted an increase on my previous 192bhp 2.5, so was willing to pay a little more for the little extra.

But I wasn't willing to give up my extras so I couldn't reach to the 3.0. All the new I6's are as smooth as silk and a delight to spin to the red line, so you can't go too wrong with either.

needforspeed

In the USA the 525 has a 3.0litre engine, with similar output to the old 530i (may even be the same engine).

523 / 525 comparison is only really valid for the UK version where both have 2.5 litre displacement.

523 is just a detuned version, which is great cause it keeps the refinement of the straight 6.

Personally, I think a manual 523 would perform similarly to an auto 525.

Herwig

Absolutely true

kdagher

Anyone knows if the detune is only ECU wise, or it's also mechanical ? for the 523i VS 525 with the 2.5L V6 engine

thanks

Babak Eslami Nejad

Hi
525i after 2005 gained to 3.0 as N52 .