[SteVTEC]

The 528i has a different engine than the 328i and it's not just a matter of it being tuned differently. It has direct injection and a 12.0:1 compression ratio as the major difference, as opposed to port injection and a lower 10.x:1 CR for the 328 engine. I'm not even sure it's an N52 anymore. It might be an N53 since it has direct injection? And yes a higher state of tune than the 328i version for sure. The extra power but especially the extra torque (30 lb-ft worth!) is what allows it to perform very well, and get better gas mileage since the extra torque will help it pull taller overdrive gears. I see it more as a return of the 530i than I do as a 528i.

Wife and I are gonna try to pick one of these up before they replace the 3.0NA engine with the turbo-4 at the beginning of the next model year. Not sure if we'll be able to do an ED or not, but if not we'll probably just get one off the lot.