In the wee hours of this morning the facelifted BMW 5 Series was unveiled to the world. This revision is in keeping with tradition that is called Lifecycle Cycle Impulse (LCI) or mid-life refresh if you don’t speak BMW. The facelifted BMW 5 Series is based on the current model that is available for sale locally, of which 600 000 units have been sold worldwide. BMW has given its designers the opportunity to sharpen up the cars looks.

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Exterior changes

New design elements have been applied at the front and rear of the 5er. A newly designed BMW kidney grille is now wider and taller, bringing the 5’s appearance closer to the 7. New, slimmer LED headlights are complemented by new sculpted taillights, reminiscent of those found on the rear of the current 3 Series (read our driving review here). The exhaust finishers are now trapezoidal on all derivatives. To accentuate the new styling BMW has also introduced several new alloy wheel designs ranging from in 18- to 20-inch formats.

Interior changes

It’s not just the exterior that has undergone some form of change, the interior has also been upgraded. A 10,25-inch touchscreen infotainment interface is now standard as is automatic climate control with extended features, and a sports leather steering wheel. The latter features newly arranged multifunction buttons. Controls on the centre console are now in high-gloss black.

Click here to read about the auction BMW SA is hosting to sell its limited-edition M2 CS.

Standard smartphone integration now features Android Auto and to Apple CarPlay. A new cloud-based navigation system offers real-time traffic data updates at short intervals. Remote software upgrade allows for upgrades such as function extensions for driver assistance systems that can be integrated into the car over the air. The vehicle software therefore always has the latest updates and digital services can be added at a later date.

Local introduction

BMW has introduced a new 48V mild-hybrid technology for all four- and six-cylinder engines. The 48V starter-generator provides an extra 8 kW of power to help with acceleration off the line and under large throttle openings. New plug-in hybrid options have also been added to the line-up in some markets. Those additions will not, however, be available locally and we can expect the local range to include the 520d, 530i, M550i and M5 Competition. Expect the facelifted BMW 5 Series to hit local showrooms before the year ends.