BMW Series 5

The Series 5 range is available with two-body or four-door family Touring - Eleven engines (power all versions), manual gearboxes or automatic six-speed always-except in the "M5", which is seven-, and rear or total.

It is a car with a good compromise between comfort and stability with the serial configuration. Optionally there are two more suspensions are rigid and various measures of wheels and tires give it a sportier feel, but detrimental to comfort.

Both materials and settings, the quality is above average and I find it difficult to establish any significant difference compared to a Lexus GS or a Mercedes-Benz E-Class (which is a reference on these issues). The Series 5 is also the best for the quantity and sophistication of the equipment that you can have.

In general, the range of engines is because consumption is low for the benefits they give (get good fuel energy). BMW uses some systems in order to achieve a reduction in consumption in the engines of six cylinders or eight (more information on these systems).

Since September 2007, a new version (520i), which has a gasoline engine with direct injection and 170 hp. Has approved an average consumption of 6.7 l/100 km, a value too low: there is no car with gasoline engine and size like you spend the same or less, even with the diesel engine is something that spend more (like the Audi A6 2.7 TDi and the Citroën C6).

There are also changes in version 520d: A new engine replaces the previous 177 hp to 166 hp. The average consumption of this version is also very low (5.1 l/100 km), the same as a Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion 1.9 TDI 105 CV, a car specifically developed to achieve a low consumption. To find a car that is spending less we need to find models with smaller engines of 100 hp (table ordered saloons consumption from 4.5 to 5.0 m in length with diesel engine).

In addition to the manual six relationships that bring all versions as standard (except the 535d), there are two different changes automatically. Both are hydraulic torque converter and six walks, but one box is faster than the other (more on these two gearboxes automatic).

All versions have rear. XDrive traction total (more) is reserved for versions 530xi, 525xi, 525 and 530xd xd.

The least expensive 5 Series (520i) is priced at € 38,400, the most expensive (M5) costs € 98,500. A BMW 525d costs € 44,800, a price higher than most alternatives in size, while the BMW is more powerful than most of them (comparative table of prices). Touring versions cost € 3,000 more.

Among the items of equipment that can have from the 2007 model year are night vision, with a range of up to 300 m (comment on this device), an improved iDrive with eight programmable buttons, browser recognition voice commands (optional with the browser "Professional"), connection type mini-jack and USB to play music and a warning of unintended lane-changing ( "LDW" Lane Departure Warning; Comment on this device).

You can also take a programmer with speed and a braking function active. The latter, only with the automatic transmission, runs from 0 to 180 km / h. In addition to maintaining the distance (there are four levels to choose) with the vehicle ahead, it has a "Stop & Go", which stops and restarts automatically. Has a significant functional difference compared to the same system used by Mercedes-Benz: the BMW is not doing anything necessary to restart the motion if the car has been detained for less than three seconds (otherwise, we must briefly set foot on the accelerator or press Key 'Resume' of the programmer).

The device also prepares the brakes for maximum braking power if it detects an obstacle and consider the intervention of the driver (that visual and audible warning) to stop the vehicle, the maximum deceleration that can provide on its own is 4 m / s ².

Other items of equipment that distinguish the Series 5 are the alternatives to active management, stabilizing the active, the information projected on the windshield (Head up display, more information) and automatic switching between long and short (comment on this device).

The stability control has functions such as Brake Drying, compensation of the fading effect (loss of efficiency due to heat) and the helpful support system to start ramp.

In April 2007, the BMW 5 Series received minor changes in design (more information), equipping (more information) and in the range of engines.