Box of tricks

The new luxury BMW 5 Series can satisfy those looking for a limousine, a sports car or a cruiser, finds Adrian Ion

July 2010 - From the Print Edition

The first thing that comes into my mind when thinking of a BMW is agility and sportiness, but at the expense of comfort and low consumption.
The image that BMW has tried to create for the brand over the last few years is based on the same principles that defined the German manufacturer over the years – great driver’s cars that bring a joyful experience combined with low consumption and emissions.
The “Efficient Dynamics” concept that BMW implemented throughout the range seems to work well and clients understand that thanks to forward-thinking solutions and electronic gadgets, a driver can still have fun with a car, even if it automatically turns its engine off at a traffic light.
One of the biggest surprises of the year in terms of cars was the new 5 Series test drive. I have to mention that the old 5’er wasn’t on my list for the prettiest cars around. This new model is more pleasant to my taste, with muscular body lines that create the feeling of a really massive car. The new 5 Series is the largest in its class, build on the same chassis as the 7 Series and also mechanically sharing much with its big brother. The new model is a bit heavier compared to its predecessor, but considering the added electronic wiring and improved body rigidity with as much as 55 per cent, the loss is only marginal.

Fully adaptable

The test drive car was the 530 diesel version, equipped with the whole array of gadgetry and electronic aids available in BMW’s engineering shop, from active steering to dynamic drive, that turned this luxury limousine with a push of a few buttons into a comfortable highway cruiser or a vicious sporty car creature.
So what is new under the skin – the engine (not that new, but thoroughly revamped) and relatively new automatic gearboxes with eight gears that can now be found in the 7 Series and some of the SUV range. Plus there is a remarkable double wishbone suspension architecture combined with active rear-wheel steering, user-selectable adaptive drive settings, from very comfortable to sport plus, that shuts off the ESP.
And yes, there is a new and improved iDrive system to control every intimate part of the vehicle from one joystick.

Satisfying luxury

Driving the car is heavenly. The engine purrs quietly most of the times and it is difficult to notice the diesel under the hood. Acceleration is linear and the impressive torque will create sensations that will satisfy every driving mood. BMW has been known to be the headmaster of dynamic driving, but now it also takes on the art of ride comfort, an ideal recipe that will satisfy the luxury market clients.
On the subject of the engines that feed the adrenaline rush, there will be a base 520 diesel that will be introduced later in the year, but for now the diesel category features only two choices, the 525 with 204 HP and 530 with 245 HP. In the petrol powered department, the base model is the 523i with 204 HP and goes through the 528 (258 HP) and 535 (306 HP) all the way up to the whooping 407 HP developed in the 550i’s V8.
The BMW’s safety equipment is complete and included mostly as standard, among which there are stability control, antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags and front and rear side curtain airbags. Rear-seat side airbags are optional. The available lane-departure warning system alerts the driver by way of vibrations in the steering wheel if the car starts to slip out of its lane, and a night vision system is capable of displaying possible hazards that are otherwise out of regular headlight range.
Prices start at 35,850 Euro without VAT for the 523i petrol version and go up to a round 60,000 Euro for the 550i version. Unfortunately the final bill will be much higher than this because the optional extras - that are a must in this category of vehicles - will add several thousands to the already hefty price.