BMW: 5-Series News
11-06-2003, 10:44 AM
#402
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They do look better in person, but they are still a wreck of a design with a sitty designed interior.
12-01-2003, 06:49 PM
#403
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(08:39 Dec. 01, 2003)
New 5 Series put through rigorous 4-month testing by BMW
By ANNA KOCHAN | Automotive News Europe
DINGOLFING, Germany - The level of on-board electronics on BMW's new 5 Series is particularly high.
Because of the risks associated with new electronics systems as well as the large number of model variations and a steep ramp-up, BMW's quality department instituted a new large-scale vehicle testing program.
Instead of testing five to 10 vehicles on the road, as was done in the past, BMW tested 500 units of the new 5 Series.
"On March 1, 2003, we stepped up daily production to 100 units," says Xaver Franz, director of quality management. "By the end of a week we had 500 cars, and we gave them to BMW personnel to test drive, including both management and shop floor employees. We asked them to imagine themselves as a BMW customer and to report back anything that bothered them. As a result, we achieved ramp-up to 800 units per day in two months."
One improvement made as a result of the tests is the trunk lid opening. It had a tendency to open too fast and hit the driver on the forehead. An air valve was fitted to the mechanism.
Franz says such feedback related to every aspect of the car. An information system was set up to handle the data.
The tests lasted from March 10 to July 5. Franz says the testing procedure will be repeated for new models but maybe not with such a large number of vehicles.
"Five hundred is a lot of vehicles and is difficult to manage," Franz says. "But in this special case it was necessary because of the large number of model variations and the really steep ramp-up. Maybe we'll use just 100 in the future."
The level of on-board electronics in the new 5 series caused BMW concern.
"What software development does not have bugs?" Franz says. "The big challenge is to create systems and protection measures that find all the bugs and, of course, eliminate them." For BMW, this has meant introducing backup systems for transmitting vital signals. For example, in the active front steering system, two pathways, with separate processors and software, have been set up so that the steering angle calculation can be relied on without fail. In the most critical areas, three pathways are used.
BMW created two teams to take responsibility for the quality of the on-board electronics: one for components and one for complete systems.
Ensuring that the individual functions connect to create an integrated system is a major focus of attention, says Franz, since no industry standards for electronics interfaces exist.
Source: AUTOWEEK
New 5 Series put through rigorous 4-month testing by BMW
By ANNA KOCHAN | Automotive News Europe
DINGOLFING, Germany - The level of on-board electronics on BMW's new 5 Series is particularly high.
Because of the risks associated with new electronics systems as well as the large number of model variations and a steep ramp-up, BMW's quality department instituted a new large-scale vehicle testing program.
Instead of testing five to 10 vehicles on the road, as was done in the past, BMW tested 500 units of the new 5 Series.
"On March 1, 2003, we stepped up daily production to 100 units," says Xaver Franz, director of quality management. "By the end of a week we had 500 cars, and we gave them to BMW personnel to test drive, including both management and shop floor employees. We asked them to imagine themselves as a BMW customer and to report back anything that bothered them. As a result, we achieved ramp-up to 800 units per day in two months."
One improvement made as a result of the tests is the trunk lid opening. It had a tendency to open too fast and hit the driver on the forehead. An air valve was fitted to the mechanism.
Franz says such feedback related to every aspect of the car. An information system was set up to handle the data.
The tests lasted from March 10 to July 5. Franz says the testing procedure will be repeated for new models but maybe not with such a large number of vehicles.
"Five hundred is a lot of vehicles and is difficult to manage," Franz says. "But in this special case it was necessary because of the large number of model variations and the really steep ramp-up. Maybe we'll use just 100 in the future."
The level of on-board electronics in the new 5 series caused BMW concern.
"What software development does not have bugs?" Franz says. "The big challenge is to create systems and protection measures that find all the bugs and, of course, eliminate them." For BMW, this has meant introducing backup systems for transmitting vital signals. For example, in the active front steering system, two pathways, with separate processors and software, have been set up so that the steering angle calculation can be relied on without fail. In the most critical areas, three pathways are used.
BMW created two teams to take responsibility for the quality of the on-board electronics: one for components and one for complete systems.
Ensuring that the individual functions connect to create an integrated system is a major focus of attention, says Franz, since no industry standards for electronics interfaces exist.
Source: AUTOWEEK
12-03-2003, 10:12 PM
#404
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BMW gets 5-series right
Sedan excels in safety, styling and performance
By Paul Lienert / Special to The Detroit News
BMW design boss Chris Bangle rattled loyal fans of the premium German marque two years ago with his radical makeover of the flagship 7-series sedan.
Bangle, an American expatriate who grew up in the Midwest, envisioned a complete overhaul of BMW's product design, starting at the top of the range and progressing down through the 5-series and eventually the 3-series. The edgy new look can also be seen in the Z4 roadster and the recently launched 6-series coupe, and will surface next year on the all-new 1-series.
Whether you like it or hate it, the 7-series really stands out from the crowd in the upper-luxury segment. But Bangle and BMW may have anticipated the antipathy and made allowances for future models, judging from the more cautious approach they took on the redesigned 5-series sedan for model year 2004.
Curiously, some European critics have derided the Neue Funf (New Five) as too conservative -- an ironic charge considering the global uproar over the Seven.
I got my first closeup look at the 5-series in September at the Frankfurt auto show, where visitors could see the mid-range sedan in context with its sister 6- and 7-series models on the BMW stand. From a styling standpoint, the Five strikes me as the automotive equivalent of Baby Bear in the Goldilocks nursery story -- not too wild, not too tame, but just about right.
In October, I had a chance to drive the 2004 530i for a week in Detroit and put several hundred miles on the car in a variety of settings.
From the driver's seat, my reaction is mixed. Dynamically, this is the best 5-series ever and, to my eye, the best-looking. It's fresh and contemporary, without straying too far from its predecessor or offending BMW purists.
Compared with German rivals from Mercedes-Benz (E-class) and Audi (A6), the new Bimmer may also be the best in its segment. But it is not without some maddening idiosyncrasies that are shared with the larger, more expensive Seven.
Like the 7-series, the 5-series is truly a technological marvel. For the most part, that's a good thing.
It seems like BMW has crammed just about every new whiz-bang gadget it can into the car, although some of the fancier equipment is only available on the top-of-the-line 545i or costs extra on the 530i and the base 525i.
Some features, like active steering and active roll stabilization, are truly dazzling and ultimately will make better and safer drivers out of many 5-series owners.
Simply put, active steering is an electro-mechanical system that varies the steering rate based on vehicle speed and other driving conditions. Low-speed maneuvers such as parking and U-turns require far less steering-wheel movement than usual, while high-speed handling feels crisper and more precise.
Active roll stabilization greatly reduces body roll in hard corners. The system replaces conventional stabilizer bars.
Both features are bundled in the optional $3,300 Sport Package, which includes larger wheels and run-flat performance tires, firmer suspension calibration, sport bucket seats and satin-chrome exterior trim.
Other standard high-tech features include dynamic stability control, rain-sensing windshield wipers, adaptive brake lights (which vary in intensity depending on pedal pressure) and side air bags and side curtains. My test 530i was also equipped with a number of advanced options,including park distance control, adaptive xenon headlamps and heated rear seats.
The 530i carries a base sticker of $44,995, which includes a $695 destination charge. My test car had another $11,150 worth of options, including the Sport Package, as well as a Cold Weather Package ($750) and a Premium Package ($2,400), pushing the bottom line to $56,145 -- not unreasonable, considering the car's technical prowess and performance capability.
Powering the 530i is a twin-cam 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, which can be mated to one of three six-speed transmissions. The standard gearbox is a six-speed manual, which in my test vehicle shifted like a fine piece of precision machinery. The six-cylinder also can be ordered with a six-speed Steptronic automatic with sport and manual shift modes, as well as a glitzy new six-speed Sequential Manual Gearbox with automated, manual and sport programs.
The 3.0-liter V-6 makes 225 horsepower, which is a shade more than the 3.2-liter V-6 in the Mercedes-Benz E320 and the 3.0-liter V-6 in the Audi A6. Combined with the standard six-speed manual that I sampled, the 530i belies its luxury-car trappings and behaves more like a thoroughbred sport sedan, exuding far more of a performance persona than its Teutonic rivals in the class.
I'd recommend serious buyers opt for the larger six-cylinder variant over the base 525i, which gets a 184-horsepower 2.5-liter engine and is not nearly as quick or well-equipped. The 530i is more than a second quicker than the 525i, and actually returns better fuel economy -- 20 miles per gallon in city driving and 30 on the highway vs. 18 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway for the 525i. The530i makes the 0-to-60 sprint in a remarkably quick 6.6 seconds; the 525i takes 7.8 seconds.
Of course, if you're seeking optimum performance, the range-topping 545i boasts a dual overhead cam 4.4-liter V-8 that pumps out a muscular 325 horsepower. It will bolt from zero to 60 in a mere 5.7 seconds -- true sports-car speed.
The new 5-series is so impressive in terms of performance, safety, comfort and general driving dynamics that it comes as a shock to find the dreaded iDrive controller fitted to every car.
A carry-over from the 7-series, the iDrive controls audio and climate systems, as well as a variety of other functions, including the navigation and communications systems. It consists primarily of a massive rotary mounted on the console and a color monitor in the center of the instrument panel.
The idea was intriguing -- to easily control a large number of functions with a few simple, intuitive twists of the controller, which operates a bit like a giant joystick. The reality is a bit different, however.
I've driven hundreds of miles in both the 7- and 5-series, and still feel ill at ease with iDrive. But I also have friends who own one or the other model, and tell me they have mastered the iDrive and actually find it useful.
Fortunately, both of those models should also benefit from many of the other stunning technical advances and enhancements in comfort and safety that make the new 530i such a pleasure to drive.
You can reach Paul Lienert at plienert@yahoo.com.
pics at:
http://www.detnews.com/2003/autoscon...g01-340289.htm
Sedan excels in safety, styling and performance
By Paul Lienert / Special to The Detroit News
BMW design boss Chris Bangle rattled loyal fans of the premium German marque two years ago with his radical makeover of the flagship 7-series sedan.
Bangle, an American expatriate who grew up in the Midwest, envisioned a complete overhaul of BMW's product design, starting at the top of the range and progressing down through the 5-series and eventually the 3-series. The edgy new look can also be seen in the Z4 roadster and the recently launched 6-series coupe, and will surface next year on the all-new 1-series.
Whether you like it or hate it, the 7-series really stands out from the crowd in the upper-luxury segment. But Bangle and BMW may have anticipated the antipathy and made allowances for future models, judging from the more cautious approach they took on the redesigned 5-series sedan for model year 2004.
Curiously, some European critics have derided the Neue Funf (New Five) as too conservative -- an ironic charge considering the global uproar over the Seven.
I got my first closeup look at the 5-series in September at the Frankfurt auto show, where visitors could see the mid-range sedan in context with its sister 6- and 7-series models on the BMW stand. From a styling standpoint, the Five strikes me as the automotive equivalent of Baby Bear in the Goldilocks nursery story -- not too wild, not too tame, but just about right.
In October, I had a chance to drive the 2004 530i for a week in Detroit and put several hundred miles on the car in a variety of settings.
From the driver's seat, my reaction is mixed. Dynamically, this is the best 5-series ever and, to my eye, the best-looking. It's fresh and contemporary, without straying too far from its predecessor or offending BMW purists.
Compared with German rivals from Mercedes-Benz (E-class) and Audi (A6), the new Bimmer may also be the best in its segment. But it is not without some maddening idiosyncrasies that are shared with the larger, more expensive Seven.
Like the 7-series, the 5-series is truly a technological marvel. For the most part, that's a good thing.
It seems like BMW has crammed just about every new whiz-bang gadget it can into the car, although some of the fancier equipment is only available on the top-of-the-line 545i or costs extra on the 530i and the base 525i.
Some features, like active steering and active roll stabilization, are truly dazzling and ultimately will make better and safer drivers out of many 5-series owners.
Simply put, active steering is an electro-mechanical system that varies the steering rate based on vehicle speed and other driving conditions. Low-speed maneuvers such as parking and U-turns require far less steering-wheel movement than usual, while high-speed handling feels crisper and more precise.
Active roll stabilization greatly reduces body roll in hard corners. The system replaces conventional stabilizer bars.
Both features are bundled in the optional $3,300 Sport Package, which includes larger wheels and run-flat performance tires, firmer suspension calibration, sport bucket seats and satin-chrome exterior trim.
Other standard high-tech features include dynamic stability control, rain-sensing windshield wipers, adaptive brake lights (which vary in intensity depending on pedal pressure) and side air bags and side curtains. My test 530i was also equipped with a number of advanced options,including park distance control, adaptive xenon headlamps and heated rear seats.
The 530i carries a base sticker of $44,995, which includes a $695 destination charge. My test car had another $11,150 worth of options, including the Sport Package, as well as a Cold Weather Package ($750) and a Premium Package ($2,400), pushing the bottom line to $56,145 -- not unreasonable, considering the car's technical prowess and performance capability.
Powering the 530i is a twin-cam 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, which can be mated to one of three six-speed transmissions. The standard gearbox is a six-speed manual, which in my test vehicle shifted like a fine piece of precision machinery. The six-cylinder also can be ordered with a six-speed Steptronic automatic with sport and manual shift modes, as well as a glitzy new six-speed Sequential Manual Gearbox with automated, manual and sport programs.
The 3.0-liter V-6 makes 225 horsepower, which is a shade more than the 3.2-liter V-6 in the Mercedes-Benz E320 and the 3.0-liter V-6 in the Audi A6. Combined with the standard six-speed manual that I sampled, the 530i belies its luxury-car trappings and behaves more like a thoroughbred sport sedan, exuding far more of a performance persona than its Teutonic rivals in the class.
I'd recommend serious buyers opt for the larger six-cylinder variant over the base 525i, which gets a 184-horsepower 2.5-liter engine and is not nearly as quick or well-equipped. The 530i is more than a second quicker than the 525i, and actually returns better fuel economy -- 20 miles per gallon in city driving and 30 on the highway vs. 18 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway for the 525i. The530i makes the 0-to-60 sprint in a remarkably quick 6.6 seconds; the 525i takes 7.8 seconds.
Of course, if you're seeking optimum performance, the range-topping 545i boasts a dual overhead cam 4.4-liter V-8 that pumps out a muscular 325 horsepower. It will bolt from zero to 60 in a mere 5.7 seconds -- true sports-car speed.
The new 5-series is so impressive in terms of performance, safety, comfort and general driving dynamics that it comes as a shock to find the dreaded iDrive controller fitted to every car.
A carry-over from the 7-series, the iDrive controls audio and climate systems, as well as a variety of other functions, including the navigation and communications systems. It consists primarily of a massive rotary mounted on the console and a color monitor in the center of the instrument panel.
The idea was intriguing -- to easily control a large number of functions with a few simple, intuitive twists of the controller, which operates a bit like a giant joystick. The reality is a bit different, however.
I've driven hundreds of miles in both the 7- and 5-series, and still feel ill at ease with iDrive. But I also have friends who own one or the other model, and tell me they have mastered the iDrive and actually find it useful.
Fortunately, both of those models should also benefit from many of the other stunning technical advances and enhancements in comfort and safety that make the new 530i such a pleasure to drive.
You can reach Paul Lienert at plienert@yahoo.com.
pics at:
http://www.detnews.com/2003/autoscon...g01-340289.htm
ugh............such a nice machine, bangle neutered it........ 
:swear2:
02-07-2004, 09:34 AM
#421
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Just got off the phone with my dealer and he said he has confirmed that by next year at this time, a 525 and 530xi (awd) will be part of the BMW product mix.
And with the edition of the xDrive technology, you’ll probably see it available on other vehicles that make sense.
Source: AutoSpies
And with the edition of the xDrive technology, you’ll probably see it available on other vehicles that make sense.
Source: AutoSpies
02-07-2004, 10:08 AM
#422
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If the 325 is a dog, imagin what the 525 will feel like. BMW is desparately trying to introduce a "cheap" 5-series version and it shows no interest if the car will suffer performance-wise. Pathetic in my opinion.
The same goes to the AWD 3.0 540Xi. I mean, the current 530 is slow. The AWD will be even slower and above all, it will FEEL a lot slower.
They desparately need larger engines. And they are on the way. Just 2 years too late.
The same goes to the AWD 3.0 540Xi. I mean, the current 530 is slow. The AWD will be even slower and above all, it will FEEL a lot slower.
They desparately need larger engines. And they are on the way. Just 2 years too late.
02-08-2004, 09:58 PM
#423
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u know what, even if they had a 518 w/ a 4 cyl engine people will still buy it. why? cuz they want the name. worked w/ the 3 series and last 5 series. WAYYY more 525's than 530's or 540's.
same reason why people buy the lowest line benz. they just want the name. not everyone is an enthusiest that loves cars like us.
and people who buy 530's or 525's don't buy it for the performance, those people buy 545's . the Xi is good imo for NE people who have to deal w/ snow.
why do they need a larger engine when they have a 545 , the double vanos on the new v8 is amazing, not to forget the active suspenion either.
same reason why people buy the lowest line benz. they just want the name. not everyone is an enthusiest that loves cars like us.
and people who buy 530's or 525's don't buy it for the performance, those people buy 545's . the Xi is good imo for NE people who have to deal w/ snow.
why do they need a larger engine when they have a 545 , the double vanos on the new v8 is amazing, not to forget the active suspenion either.
02-09-2004, 12:21 AM
#425
Safety Car
Originally posted by 1SICKLEX
Then you could argue that people buy the TSX over the Accord for the name, no?
Then you could argue that people buy the TSX over the Accord for the name, no?
02-17-2004, 11:58 PM
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The New BMW 5 Series Touring Unveiled
Source: http://www.germancarfans.com
http://www.germancarfans.com/News.cf...001/bmw/1.html
Gavriil, merge this thread if you wish.
http://www.germancarfans.com/News.cf...001/bmw/1.html
Gavriil, merge this thread if you wish.
02-27-2004, 01:33 PM
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Originally posted by Collective27
Are they suposed to be showing that at geneva?
Are they suposed to be showing that at geneva?
Yes indeed.....
Agreed, I still think the headlights look shitty.....the front bumper is awesome looking though. Makes the headlights look kind of small though.
02-27-2004, 04:04 PM
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M5 Cover Blown - - By Dan Strong - - Source: Autoexpress
It seems the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing at BMW. The firm told us it was keeping the new M5 a surprise until next week, but as Auto Express went to press this grainy image appeared on the Internet.
We immediately contacted BMW and strongly suggested it release official images this week. But a German spokesman refused, blaming another department for mistakenly posting the snap on the firm's website. So for now you'll have to be content with this one - better ones and all the details next week!
02-27-2004, 04:09 PM
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Looks like Beltfed had this info all along, though he posted it in the wrong thread (5-Series). I understand it is confusing to have a thread for the 5 series and one for the M5 though I think the M5 warrants its own thread here (plus it would have been way too much to sort through).
I am spliting and remerging...
I am spliting and remerging...
02-27-2004, 07:16 PM
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BMW ups the diesel stakes - - Source: Autocar
BMW plans to rewrite diesel performance rules this autumn when it launches the fastest-accelerating diesel engine on the UK market.
The twin-turbo version of the existing 3.0-litre diesel will be first installed in the 5-series, badged 535d allowing it to hit 62mph in a staggering 6.6sec. Power leaps by 54bhp to 272bhp; torque soars by 44lbs ft to 413lbs ft at just 2000rpm.
BMW plans to rewrite diesel performance rules this autumn when it launches the fastest-accelerating diesel engine on the UK market.
The twin-turbo version of the existing 3.0-litre diesel will be first installed in the 5-series, badged 535d allowing it to hit 62mph in a staggering 6.6sec. Power leaps by 54bhp to 272bhp; torque soars by 44lbs ft to 413lbs ft at just 2000rpm.
