New BMW 5 series spied
10-17-2002, 03:36 PM
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New BMW 5 series spied
Due in the States next summer as a 2004 model, the fifth-generation 5 Series will likely bow at the Geneva motor show in March with a new 380-hp, twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder. Other engines slated for the 5 include a turbo 2.0-liter inline four and naturally aspirated versions of BMW’s 2.2-, 2.5- and 3.0-liter inline sixes. A 3.6-liter V8 and 4.5-liter V8 already offered in the 7 Series also will be available.
Underneath, the 5 Series chassis uses lightweight hybrid construction borrowed from the Z8 and upcoming Rolls-Royce. The chassis incorporates an aluminum space frame with extensive use of aluminum suspension bits to keep weight below the 3500-lb ’02 model.
The next 5 may not carry all of the 7’s design cues, but it will come with much of the high-tech range-topper’s hardware. Shared pieces include steering that corrects for high cross winds and heavy braking, automatic damping and dynamic stability controls, along with a less complex (read: not a Windows-software based) iDrive device and screen for managing onboard systems.
10-17-2002, 03:37 PM
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A 2 liter 4cyl turbo on top of the 3 liter turbo. Now that's an interesting spin. To see BMW go the forced fed route is a good thing in my opinion.
Say it ain't so!!!! Are they trying to look like everyone else???
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10-17-2002, 03:55 PM
#8
Cajun Gumbo Man
I see the 6th gen Accord from the front side fender area ! Whoopie ! Now they all look alike, BMW's that is !
10-17-2002, 04:30 PM
#14
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i'm sure the finished product will be more to everyones liking, i hope. just like the 7 series, i think those look nice in person.
10-17-2002, 04:42 PM
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Interesting to see most (if not all of you) not..."feeling it". Cos I hate the current 5 series look and I do like what I see here. Still would not buy it though 
10-17-2002, 04:43 PM
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Looke weird right now, but I wouldn't say it's totally ugly, maybe it'll grow on me when I see it in person. The front grille area looks to stretched out to the front through, it pops out too much.
10-17-2002, 04:56 PM
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i like it.
my dad has a 2000 540i and ill tell you, the style is out dated, just like the 7 was. the back end is fine, not gorgeous, but its there, it works and it wouldnt send me into cardiac arrest. all it needs is big rims and a more agressive front bumper-thingy.
ive also noticed im the only youngn chiming in, maybe its a thing that you old people like to hold on to the past
(j/k yall arent that old.....yet)
my dad has a 2000 540i and ill tell you, the style is out dated, just like the 7 was. the back end is fine, not gorgeous, but its there, it works and it wouldnt send me into cardiac arrest. all it needs is big rims and a more agressive front bumper-thingy.
ive also noticed im the only youngn chiming in, maybe its a thing that you old people like to hold on to the past
(j/k yall arent that old.....yet)
, this next one looks awful and cheap. The new 7 has grown on me some, but the rear and front look cheap, not for a 80k car.
10-17-2002, 05:20 PM
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Here are some comments from a guy who saw the car in person........
The end of BMW as we know it? (way long)
I was invited by BMW to the New Jersey Expo Center last night "to see the new protoypes." For my trouble (about 2.5 hours spent looking at cars, answering questions and filling out questionaires) BMW gave me a check for $150. When I arrived at the Expo Center I went through a security checkpoint where a beffy guard (I think her name was Shirley) made sure I had no cameras, cellphones, etc., after which I was escorted into a large partioned room with seven cars, only four of which were visble to me at first.
The four cars I could see were (left to right) the current BMW 5 series, the Audi A6, the new prototype BMW 5 series (which I guess a lot of you have seen pictures of) and a Mercedes E class. I was invited to inspect each car several times, climb in and out of all the seats, open the trunk (but not the hood) and then answer all sorts of questions about what I liked or disliked about each particular model.
Well, let me tell you, the new 5 series is an absolute nightmare. Where do I start? The headlights have the blinkers on top, similar to the new 7 series, but they look like eyebrows -- the only way I can decribe them is to say they make the new 5 look like that dasterdly fellow from the old-time movies who ties damsels in distess to train tracks. Terrible!
Next, the new 5 has no side molding, so good luck parking it at the supermarket. And the trunk looks wierdly detached from the rest of the car, like it's floating behind. And the stupid antenna in the rear center of the roof looks like a shark fin, for pete's sake. To me the car completely lacked elegance. It reminded me of the new Honda Accord. The one good thing I can say about the exterior is that from the rear it did look pretty cool. Oh, and the c-pillars looked okay. Other than that they should start over from scratch.
Next the interior. It has the cool cursor-control device and LCD display from the new 7 series, which is good, but it also had these wierd captains chairs for the driver and front passenger that completely block the driver's view to his left rear. It would be easier to change lanes in a Ryder truck than this car. The next thing I noticed was that the car had NO CUPHOLDERS! I called over a represetative to ask about this and she said they didn't put cupholders in since this was a prototype. Okay, where would the cup holders be in the production vehicle, I aksed. She said (I kid you not) they would be in the dash directly in front of the passenger -- meaning that for the driver to get his piping hot coffe he would have to reach (way) over into the passengers personal space, lift the flimsy paper coffe cup out of the holder (directly over the passenger's vulnerable lap) and then hope a bunny rabbit didn't run out and force him to swerve or hit the brakes. I told them this arrangement was unaceptable, that the cup holders had to be in the center console. The representative wrote this down and told me I was providing "good feedback."
After I looked at all the cars in the first room (the Mercedes E class was the best of the bunch) I went in and answered lots of questions by computer about price points -- but I basically would not buy the new 5 series as shown for any amount of money. I'm sorry, but it looked ridiculous, worse than the new 7 series. In fact, I would be embarrassed to drive this car or even to ride in it as a passenger.
Next I was escorted into the second room where there was (left to right) a new 7, the prototype 5 series in a different color (dark grey metallic as opposed to silver) and the new roadster. Now I had something to cheer about. The roadster is a gorgeous car, and I told them so. I asked if I could walk around the roadster and take a closer look and my escort said sure. So I walked around the car, got to the dirver's door and opened it. She freaked out! No, no, no, close the door, she shouted. Ooops, sorry. She laughed it off and then told me I was going to get her fired.
Anyway, they wanted to know how I liked the new 5 after seeing it next to the others. And you know what? I liked it even less. This is a joke of a car, and I can only hope they never actually build it. Or, I at least hope they never do the same thing to the 3 series (although I'm sure they will.) If this is the new "look" for BMW, then sad to say I will no longer be a BMW customer, even though I grew up around BMWs and love my 325xi.
In short, it's my opinion that anything would be better than the new 5 and BMW had better get back to the drawing board or risk losing many loyal customers. But you know what? I think a lot of the pin heads who also were invited to this little dog and pony show said they loved the car's look. Maybe they thought they risked not getting their check if they said bad things.
I'm going to cash mine now, while BMW's still in business.
The end of BMW as we know it? (way long)
I was invited by BMW to the New Jersey Expo Center last night "to see the new protoypes." For my trouble (about 2.5 hours spent looking at cars, answering questions and filling out questionaires) BMW gave me a check for $150. When I arrived at the Expo Center I went through a security checkpoint where a beffy guard (I think her name was Shirley) made sure I had no cameras, cellphones, etc., after which I was escorted into a large partioned room with seven cars, only four of which were visble to me at first.
The four cars I could see were (left to right) the current BMW 5 series, the Audi A6, the new prototype BMW 5 series (which I guess a lot of you have seen pictures of) and a Mercedes E class. I was invited to inspect each car several times, climb in and out of all the seats, open the trunk (but not the hood) and then answer all sorts of questions about what I liked or disliked about each particular model.
Well, let me tell you, the new 5 series is an absolute nightmare. Where do I start? The headlights have the blinkers on top, similar to the new 7 series, but they look like eyebrows -- the only way I can decribe them is to say they make the new 5 look like that dasterdly fellow from the old-time movies who ties damsels in distess to train tracks. Terrible!
Next, the new 5 has no side molding, so good luck parking it at the supermarket. And the trunk looks wierdly detached from the rest of the car, like it's floating behind. And the stupid antenna in the rear center of the roof looks like a shark fin, for pete's sake. To me the car completely lacked elegance. It reminded me of the new Honda Accord. The one good thing I can say about the exterior is that from the rear it did look pretty cool. Oh, and the c-pillars looked okay. Other than that they should start over from scratch.
Next the interior. It has the cool cursor-control device and LCD display from the new 7 series, which is good, but it also had these wierd captains chairs for the driver and front passenger that completely block the driver's view to his left rear. It would be easier to change lanes in a Ryder truck than this car. The next thing I noticed was that the car had NO CUPHOLDERS! I called over a represetative to ask about this and she said they didn't put cupholders in since this was a prototype. Okay, where would the cup holders be in the production vehicle, I aksed. She said (I kid you not) they would be in the dash directly in front of the passenger -- meaning that for the driver to get his piping hot coffe he would have to reach (way) over into the passengers personal space, lift the flimsy paper coffe cup out of the holder (directly over the passenger's vulnerable lap) and then hope a bunny rabbit didn't run out and force him to swerve or hit the brakes. I told them this arrangement was unaceptable, that the cup holders had to be in the center console. The representative wrote this down and told me I was providing "good feedback."
After I looked at all the cars in the first room (the Mercedes E class was the best of the bunch) I went in and answered lots of questions by computer about price points -- but I basically would not buy the new 5 series as shown for any amount of money. I'm sorry, but it looked ridiculous, worse than the new 7 series. In fact, I would be embarrassed to drive this car or even to ride in it as a passenger.
Next I was escorted into the second room where there was (left to right) a new 7, the prototype 5 series in a different color (dark grey metallic as opposed to silver) and the new roadster. Now I had something to cheer about. The roadster is a gorgeous car, and I told them so. I asked if I could walk around the roadster and take a closer look and my escort said sure. So I walked around the car, got to the dirver's door and opened it. She freaked out! No, no, no, close the door, she shouted. Ooops, sorry. She laughed it off and then told me I was going to get her fired.
Anyway, they wanted to know how I liked the new 5 after seeing it next to the others. And you know what? I liked it even less. This is a joke of a car, and I can only hope they never actually build it. Or, I at least hope they never do the same thing to the 3 series (although I'm sure they will.) If this is the new "look" for BMW, then sad to say I will no longer be a BMW customer, even though I grew up around BMWs and love my 325xi.
In short, it's my opinion that anything would be better than the new 5 and BMW had better get back to the drawing board or risk losing many loyal customers. But you know what? I think a lot of the pin heads who also were invited to this little dog and pony show said they loved the car's look. Maybe they thought they risked not getting their check if they said bad things.
I'm going to cash mine now, while BMW's still in business.
10-17-2002, 05:24 PM
#26
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robb m.
robb m.
good comments....wait till GM comes out with their V8 RWD Malibu for 2004 
10-17-2002, 06:47 PM
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Wow.... Me no likey....
This car just looks cheap. Definitely not up to the standards of the old 5 series. I think that was one of the best looking and most rock solid cars ever built. It just looked expensive, and looked like it was built out of a block of steel. This new 5 series looks like a midsize mainstream sedan (a bit of Galant, Malibu, Accord, and Bonneville through in and mixed together)...
This car just looks cheap. Definitely not up to the standards of the old 5 series. I think that was one of the best looking and most rock solid cars ever built. It just looked expensive, and looked like it was built out of a block of steel. This new 5 series looks like a midsize mainstream sedan (a bit of Galant, Malibu, Accord, and Bonneville through in and mixed together)...
10-17-2002, 07:05 PM
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i need to see the finished product....
but damn, that rear is fucked up...
anyways, i would GUESS that the turbo 4banger is for europe only...most likely not for North America...
not something BMW would do, if u ask me.
but damn, that rear is fucked up...
anyways, i would GUESS that the turbo 4banger is for europe only...most likely not for North America...
not something BMW would do, if u ask me.
10-17-2002, 07:10 PM
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that is one ugly car. Fucking looks like the old bonneville with all sorts of bulges and stupidity. I'm not impressed. I've been reading that the new Z4 model is the direction BMW design is going to be going in. This is unfortunate, to say the least. Their new designs look to surely kill the character of BMW that we enjoyed up till the last iteration of the 3 and 7 series.
Sweet conformity batman!!!!
Sweet conformity batman!!!!
10-17-2002, 07:43 PM
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The nose is more slanted now so I guess it should indicate that this fifth generation is sportier than the current version. Is BMW going to bring the twin-turbocharged versions to the States?
10-17-2002, 08:06 PM
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From looking at these pictures, if will definetly take some time getting used to it. It took me a while to like the 7 but I do like it now. Just as the saying goes: prettyness never jumps at you.
I really like the current 5 series, so maybe by the time this thing rolls around I would be able to pick up 2003 leftovers for a nice deal.
I really like the current 5 series, so maybe by the time this thing rolls around I would be able to pick up 2003 leftovers for a nice deal.
10-17-2002, 08:22 PM
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I am going to discount this guy's opinion because he sounds like a douche. Some points against him from his own words.
CLS does not have side moldings, and I like that personally. Side moldings are for minivans, they look gaudy otherwise.
He says the New Accord lacks elegance, no way, it is very elegant indeed.
The fact that he needs to look over his left shoulder while changing lanes is silly. Thats what mirrors are for.
And last but not least, he owns a 325xi, enough said.
Originally posted by Beltfed
Here are some comments from a guy who saw the car in person........
snipped......
Next, the new 5 has no side molding, so good luck parking it at the supermarket.
To me the car completely lacked elegance. It reminded me of the new Honda Accord.
..but it also had these wierd captains chairs for the driver and front passenger that completely block the driver's view to his left rear.
and love my 325xi.
Here are some comments from a guy who saw the car in person........
snipped......
Next, the new 5 has no side molding, so good luck parking it at the supermarket.
To me the car completely lacked elegance. It reminded me of the new Honda Accord.
..but it also had these wierd captains chairs for the driver and front passenger that completely block the driver's view to his left rear.
and love my 325xi.
CLS does not have side moldings, and I like that personally. Side moldings are for minivans, they look gaudy otherwise.
He says the New Accord lacks elegance, no way, it is very elegant indeed.
The fact that he needs to look over his left shoulder while changing lanes is silly. Thats what mirrors are for.
And last but not least, he owns a 325xi, enough said.
10-17-2002, 09:02 PM
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Originally posted by BigPimp
The fact that he needs to look over his left shoulder while changing lanes is silly. Thats what mirrors are for.
The fact that he needs to look over his left shoulder while changing lanes is silly. Thats what mirrors are for.
It's just such a basic thing...
10-17-2002, 09:15 PM
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Originally posted by Kkranghkar
You, sir, aside from being a self-proclaimed "offensive driver", are also an idiot if you don't look to the left over your shoulder when changing lanes. Perhaps you have not heard of this thing called a "blind spot"?
It's just such a basic thing...
You, sir, aside from being a self-proclaimed "offensive driver", are also an idiot if you don't look to the left over your shoulder when changing lanes. Perhaps you have not heard of this thing called a "blind spot"?
It's just such a basic thing...
Nooooo smokeeee, you been taught incorrectly. The proper way to check the blind spot is to lean forward and check the mirror, not look back. In fact, its a terrible thing TO TURN YOUR HEAD.
I am sure you not the only one that believes this whole
turnyourheadtocheckblindspot method, but in reality, it is a very bad habit, especially in heavy traffic when sudden stops occur. You gonna rear end somebody if you gonna turn your head to change lanes.
