8.3 vs. 7.0 seconds (0-60/automatic)
That's basically it. Depending on which car she's been driving, that may or may not be a big deal. I decided it was worth it to me, but I'm a 34 year old male, not an xx year old female. There are also wheel differences (big deal). IMHO, the 525i is underpowered, but again, she should test drive to understand the real performance difference considering her needs and driving style.