In addition to being the most recognized brands in the world, major automakers can also afford to do things that some of its lesser equipped peers can do. Take BMW for example. Nobody is going to accuse the German automaker for being a “small” manufacturer and that’s precisely why it can afford to have something like BMW M Performance, a customization program meant to infuse M-like capabilities to most of BMW’s model lineup. The recently held Essen Motor Show showcased these wares to the public, including the new line of M Performance accessories that are set to become available for all variants of the new BMW 5 Series sedan.

If you happen to own any of new 5 Series variants that BMW’s talking about, these accessories are for you. Existing owners of the current-generation 5 Series have no reason to worry too because the accessories can be retrofitted to their cars to provide a dose of upgrades on all sections of the model. If you piece them all together, the new M Performance accessories for the 5 Series follow a similar blueprint as aftermarket programs. There are upgrades on the sedan’s aerodynamics, interior, drivetrain, and suspension. It even offers upgrades to the wheels, which proves the lengths by which BMW is capable of going to give its customers the service they deserve.

Most of the M Performance accessories can be had either separately or as a whole set depending on the whims and preference of a BMW 5 Series owner. BMW is set to launch the M Performance accessories for the new 5 Series in the first quarter of 2017, coinciding with the launch of the high-performance M550i xDrive. The new BMW 5 Series hits the road on February 2017.

Continue reading to learn more about the BMW 5 Series Sedan With M Performance Accessories.

2016 BMW 5 Series Sedan With M Performance Accessories

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  • Model: 2016 BMW 5 Series Sedan With M Performance Accessories
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What makes the BMW 5 Series Sedan With M Performance Accessories special

Let’s get the ball rolling and look at the cosmetic and aerodynamic upgrades that BMW’s M Performance line is offering to variants of the new 5 Series. Visually, owners of the 5 Series can avail of such niceties as carbon fiber mirror caps, a black M Performance radiator grille, side sill stickers, black bards for the brake air channels, and accent strips. Interested 5 Series owners can avail of these upgrades individually or get everything together. The photo, as you can see, is the result of having all these cosmetic upgrades installed on the 5 Series.

Speaking of the photo, you’ll also notice how sportier the 5 Series looks. That aggressive stance is largely credited to the slew of aerodynamic components that M Performance is offering. The significant upgrades here are for the sedan’s front bumper, rear spoiler, and diffuser, although there are also supplementary options like black side sill attachments and a spoiler and diffuser made entirely from polyurethane. All these components are hand-crafted and are made with the highest attention to detail, which is what you should expect from a company as big as BMW.


Finishing off the exterior upgrades is a new set of wheel options, specifically a set of 20-inch light alloy wheels that are available in either Bi-Color or Orbit Grey finishes. The wheels are then wrapped in high performance tires measuring 245/35 R20 on the front and 275/30 R20 at the back. The wheels are also complemented by M Performance’s new sports brake system that provides the typical stopping improvements needed to accommodate the increased power on the car. The brakes also have a styling element to them with the red brake callipers breaking the monotonous look of the alloy wheels.

Stylistically, the exterior upgrades work in so much as they provide the necessary sporty enhancements that a sedan like the 5 Series needs to showcase its more aggressive side. The sporty side of the 5 Series’ interior is also taken cared of, albeit in a different fashion that focuses more on the Alcantara-dressed sports steering wheel that also has a silver-grey cross-stitch seam and a red central marking located in the wheel’s 12 O'clock position. Models that come with an eight-speed Steptronic sports transmission are also eligible to receive shift paddles that are located just behind the steering wheel. The modifications in this particular space are more straightforward, but they’re no less effective when done right.

In case there’s any confusion, it’s worth repeating here: the engine upgrades included in the new M Performance line are not for the BMW M5; they’re for all variants of the 5 Series. Moreover, buying these accessories doesn’t turn the 5 Series into the M5 so don’t expect BMW to fit the latter’s 560-horsepower 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine under the hood of the 5 Series. There’s no reason to worry though because the M Performance upgrades does provide enhancements to specific variants of the 5 Series, including the 540i and the 540i xDrive.


According to BMW, upgrades to the car’s six-cylinder engine will net an output increase of 34 horsepower and 37 pound-feet of torque, bringing the total output up to 360 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque. BMW is even adding a matching silencer system with tailpipe trims finished in either chrome or carbon fiber to further enhance the sound of that extra power.

Other variants of the 5 Series, including the 530i, 530d, and 530d xDrive are also open to getting performance enhancements from M Performance. In the case of the 530i, as well as the 540i and 540i xDrive, the upgrade comes in the form of a silencer that can also be retrofitted to this models. Improved engine acoustics are is the goal here and M Performance has the component to achieve that goal. Even better, the silencer can be combined to either circular or trapezoid tailpipe trims made from either chrome or carbon fiber.

Meanwhile, the two diesel versions of the 530 line are eligible to receive a separate power kit. This kit will only be available in the summer of 2017, but it does provide an increase of 27 horsepower and 22 pound-feet of torque over the standard figures. That adds up to a total output of 292 ponies and 479 pound-feet of torque, enough to give it that extra jolt of acceleration that’s in line with the status and quality of the 5 Series. Like its gas-powered counterparts, diesel models of the 5 Series are also eligible to get M Performance Active Sound exhaust system. The same components – circular or trapezoid tailpipe trims – still applies here, as do their finishes, which includes chrome or carbon fiber.

It's important to remember here that the M Performance accessories have their limitations. Like I said, don't expect your 5 Series sedans to somehow morph into M5s. You're going to need to buy an actual M5 for that to happen.

The improvements here are incremental in the grand scheme of things, but piece-by-piece, the accessories gives owners of the 5 Series an opportunity to add more personality to their 5ers. Be it in the way it looks or the way it drives, the upgrades here may not be over-the-top, but they sure are effective, in more ways than one.