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.
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.
Diesel-powered 520d redlines at 5500rpm.
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 equipment 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.
520i can be revved to no less than 7000rpm.
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 520d, 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.
Road tax for the diesel 2-litre 520d is $2006.
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.
So, while the 520d and 520i look alike, their different “hearts” beating to different, distinctive rhythms make them dissimilar Bimmers.
Petrol 2-litre 520i attracts an annual road tax of $1210.
BMW 520i 2.0 (A)
ENGINE 1997cc, 16-valves, inline-4, turbocharged
MAX POWER 184bhp at 5000rpm
MAX TORQUE 270Nm at 1250-4500rpm
GEARBOX 8-speed automatic with manual select
0-100KM/H 7.9 seconds
TOP SPEED 233km/h
CONSUMPTION 15.6km/L (combined)
PRICE INCL. COE $259,888
BMW 520d 2.0 (A)
ENGINE 1995cc, 16-valves, inline-4, turbo-diesel
MAX POWER 184bhp at 4000rpm
MAX TORQUE 380Nm at 1750-2750rpm
GEARBOX 8-speed automatic with manual select
0-100KM/H 7.9 seconds
TOP SPEED 231km/h
CONSUMPTION 20.4km/L (combined)
PRICE INCL. COE On application
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