BMW 530d eight-speed automatic: emissions now back to 160g/km and under the critical tax break for leasing and writing down allowances

Business Car Manager: Editor’s Blog

IT SEEMS my blog 407 – Unusally, BMW gets it wrong – caused some disquiet in BMW towers.

I met with Steve Chater, BMW’s corporate operations manager, last night to discuss the issue. I had asserted that BMW had produced a great car in the 530d, but had crucially overstepped the key tax break of 160g/km.

At the launch of the car earlier this week, the car had been presented as a 160g/km car – subject to official approval. Being slightly fastidious, I thought I’d check the Business Car Manager Tax Calculator to see what effect this had. And the information there clearly said 162g/km.

Perplexed I checked BMW’s own website – and there it was: the 530d eight-speed auto at 162g/km. Not 160g/km. From the horse’s mouth. Hence my blog and revised road test. However….

…However, Steve explained, incorrect data had been fed by BMW to both ComCar, who power our tax calculator, and to their own website. A small error; but a critical one – because so much hinges on getting the CO2 correct.

So, time for reassessment of the BMW 530d. A brilliant car. Well, we knew that. But now a brilliant car for business, too. It is some achievement to get a car of that power below the 160g/km tax break. But credit to BMW, they have done that. It’s a car that deserves your consideration – although the 520d will be even better on tax I should add. And, of course, more affordable.

But not much credit to the person who loaded the incorrect info on BMW’s website. Unusually for BMW, a case of inefficient dynamics at work…