BMW soon will launch a diesel version of the newest 5-series sedan in the U.S. called the 540d, a company spokesperson has confirmed. The new diesel-powered sedan will join diesel versions of the 3-series, X3, and X5, all of which are currently for sale after passing more stringent EPA emissions testing for the 2017 model year.
Although no official U.S. information is available yet, we assume the 540d will be powered by the 3.0-liter turbo-diesel inline-six found in the Europe-market 530d. In that application, it makes 262 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque; the 540d nomenclature suggests that our version of the car might make some extra power.
The previous-generation 5-series diesel, called the 535d in the States, offered both rear- and all-wheel drive, so that should be the case for the new car. We can probably expect an uptick over the 2016 535d’s 30-mpg EPA combined rating, given BMW’s claim that the Europe-market 530d is 13 percent more efficient than its predecessor. We drove a 530d earlier this year and were impressed with the engine’s effortless power and smooth demeanor.
First Drive: BMW 530d Euro-Spec
BMW Sticking with Diesels in the U.S.
BMW 5-series Research: Reviews, Specs, and More

Stay tuned for more official info on this new oil-burning 5-series. BMW isn’t ready to share specifics on the 540d, but we’d expect it to go on sale late this year, likely as a 2018 model.

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