THE NEW 6th GENERATION BMW 5 SERIES UNVEILED IN MUNICH 23.11.2009The Perfect Symbiosis of Modern Design and Dynamic Performance.
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – November 23, 2009, 2:00pm EST… The
world debut of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan marks the epitome of modern
design and driving pleasure in the world of premium midsize sedans.
Through its athletic and executive looks, driving dynamics typical of
BMW, and innovative comfort and safety features, the sixth generation
of BMW’s executive express accurately reflects the standards
upheld by the world’s most successful manufacturer of premium cars.
Design: charismatic and athletic. With the longest wheelbase in
the segment, a long and sleek hood, short overhangs, and a coupe-like
roofline, the new BMW 5 Series Sedan stands out clearly from the
competition. Overall, the aesthetic looks of the car are achieved
through balanced proportions. Design features emblematic of BMW are to
be found at the front with its kidney grille inclined slightly
forward, in the stylish and elegant side view of the car, and at the
muscular rear end.
Within the interior, precise functionality and a fresh ambience come
together in perfect harmony, unmistakable style, and clear orientation
to the driver.
Driving experience: benchmark dynamics and exceptional
comfort. Highly advanced drivetrain and suspension technologies
combine agile handling for the driver and a high standard of riding
comfort for passengers. When equipped with the Sport Package, the new
BMW 5 Series Sedan includes Adaptive Drive, which encompasses Driving
Dynamics Control, Electronic Damper Control, and Active Roll
Stabilization. Optional Integral Active Steering will virtually extend
or shorten the vehicle’s wheelbase for improved stability at
high speeds and enhanced agility at lower speeds.
At launch, the new BMW 5 Series Sedan will be available with one V-8
and one inline-6 gasoline engine. The top-of-the-range BMW 550i
arrives with BMW’s “reverse-flow” V-8 engine
featuring twin turbochargers and High Precision direct injection for
maximum output of 400 hp. The new inline-6 of the BMW 535i
features a single twin-scroll turbocharger, High Precision direct
injection, and, for the first time, VALVETRONIC throttle-less intake
technology. It delivers a maximum output of 300 hp and 300 lb-ft.
The 535i and 550i will be available with a choice of 6-speed manual
transmission, BMW’s new 8-speed automatic transmission, or new
“Sport Automatic” 8-speed.
Later, the BMW 528i will debut with a 240 hp inline-6 featuring
lightweight magnesium-aluminum construction and VALVETRONIC
throttle-less intake technology for efficiency and unparalleled responsiveness.
BMW EfficientDynamics: BMW 5 Series increasing the lead. BMW
EfficientDynamics technologies are featured in appropriate
combinations on each model, including features such as Brake Energy
Regeneration, Electric Power Steering, a gearshift point indicator,
active cooling air flaps, and on-demand operation of engine accessory
drives. Lightweight materials are used intelligently to balance the
vehicle and lower its overall weight. For example, components such as
doors, hood, front fenders, and suspension assemblies are made of aluminum.
Innovative driver assistance systems. The driver assistance
systems offered with the new 5 Series include an all-new Parking
Assistant, Top View cameras, and Frontal Collision Warning with
application of the brakes when ordered with Active Cruise Control plus
Stop & Go. Other driver assistance features available
include Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning, a Head-Up Display,
BMW Night Vision with Pedestrian Detection.
Joint development and production together with the BMW 7
Series. The world debut of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan opens up
the latest chapter in a truly impressive story of success. In the
course of five model generations, overall sales of the BMW 5 Series
already amount to more than 5.5 million units. Now the new model
is based on a newly developed vehicle architecture also featured in
the BMW 7 Series luxury sedans.
Joint production of the BMW 5 Series Sedan and the BMW 7 Series at
BMW Plant Dingolfing, together with the extensive use of shared
components, ensures highly efficient production with the highest
standards of quality.
The New BMW 5 Series In Detail Design: Tailored Elegance and
Sporting Aesthetics.
Exterior: Dynamic proportions in perfect balance. The
proportions of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan are defined in archetypal
BMW style by the long wheelbase and hood, short overhangs, aft-set
greenhouse, and the coupe-like flowing roofline. The slightly
wedge-like shape of the body creates a sporty, forward-moving
character. The fresh interpretation of BMW’s signature
Hofmeister kink at the bottom of the C-pillar further emphasizes the
dynamic looks of the car in profile.
The entire silhouette is superbly balanced, providing a clear
indication of the near-perfect front-to-rear weight distribution for
all engine variants. Measuring 2.97 meters or 116.9”, the
wheelbase of the new BMW 5 Series is the longest in the car’s
segment, while the sculptural design again distinctive of BMW provides
a smooth flow of lines from the front along the side to the rear,
creating a body where everything fits together as if out of one mould.
Charismatic front, elegant side, muscular rear. The expressive
front end of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan presents the sporting
character of the car. The upright BMW kidney grille - even appearing
from some angles to lean forward - symbolizes the forward-pushing
motion of the sedan and, together with the powerfully flared wheel
arches, gives the front end of the car strong charismatic presence.
In conjunction with the BMW Adaptive Xenon headlights (optional on
528i), the daytime running lights incorporate quite unmistakable LED
corona rings, while the direction indicators moved far to the outside
are made up of ten LED units each. As a final highlight, an LED focus
light marks the upper edge of each headlight unit.
Above the striking contour line running along the car at the height
of the door openers, a slightly flared shoulder surface, together with
the coupe-like roofline and the stretched window surface, gives the
glazed section of the passenger cell a light and stretched look
despite its size. Further down the body, concave modeled surfaces
create lively light and shade effects emphasizing the sporting
character of the sedan. Greater curvature around the rear wheel
arches, finally, bears clear testimony to rear-wheel drive typical of
a BMW of this kind.
The dynamic lines of the car are further enhanced by the strikingly
compact counter-swing at the bottom of the C-pillar. Featuring the
smallest radius at this point ever to be seen on a BMW sedan, this
re-interpretation of the typical Hofmeister kick underlines the
stretched silhouette of the car and gives the passenger cell a light
and low appearance.
Running parallel to one another, the contour and sill lines rise up
dynamically, the former stretching out from the front wheel arch all
the way to the rear lights to create the elegant and dynamic look of
the car from the side. The sculptural shape typical of a BMW
established in this way makes the side sections and the rear end
literally flow into one another.
The contour lines continue into the contours of the rear light
clusters and finally come together above the license plate. Seen from
the rear, the new BMW 5 Series Sedan also stands out through the
concave surface between the contour line and the wheel arches giving
the body a distinctly recognizable waist. The flared wheel arches and
the horizontal breakdown of the rear end, in turn, strongly emphasize
the powerful stature of the sedan, the wide track and the wheels
ending flush with the wheel arches further enhancing this impression.
The L-shaped rear light clusters again reflect the typical look of a
BMW and provide that unmistakable night design. Three rows of LED
lights form the look of homogeneously glowing bodies again quite
characteristic of BMW. And last but not least, the direction
indicators and brake lights also come in LED technology.
Interior Design Modern cockpit with clear orientation to the
driver The cockpit is inclined towards the driver at an angle of
approximately 7o and the asymmetrically designed center console
likewise emphasizes this clear orientation to the driver. The
horizontal lines of the instrument panel accentuate the feeling of space.
As in all BMWs, well-researched ergonomics allow for optimum
operation of driving controls and other functions. All displays, knobs
and buttons serving comfort functions are situated centrally for use
by the driver and front passengers; controls for the driver’s
use only are to the left of the steering wheel, on or near the
steering wheel, or on the front center console. The steering wheel has
power tilt and telescopic adjustment and tilt-away for exit and entry;
and of course both front seats come standard with 10-way power
adjustment including head-restraint height.
The seating position has been improved over the former model both
front and rear, with knee-room on the rear seats of the new BMW 5
Series Sedan up by 13 millimeters or 0.5”. Luggage compartment
capacity is 520 litres or 18.2 cubic feet, and the folding
rear-seat backrest available as an option provides greater flexibility
in enlarging the car’s transport capacities. In addition to its
40:60 split, the rear-seat backrest also comes with through-loading
and, as yet a further option, a ski-bag for additional convenience.
Instrument panel in Black Panel technology. Like so many aspects
of the new 5 Series sedan, its instrument cluster combines BMW
tradition with advanced, beautiful new executions. Here the entire
cluster is in a high-resolution Black Panel display, in which four
classic circular instruments are most prominent; other
driving-relevant displays and readouts – including Navigation if
present, vehicle-monitoring functions, upcoming service requirements
and other information – also appear here in their various (and
function-related) graphic forms. Climate-control settings and controls
are located in a second Black Panel display in the center console stack.
4th-generation iDrive: Intuitive, powerful and fast. With the
new 5 Series sedan, BMW’s 4th generation iDrive control screen
appears in two versions: with 7.0-in. dimensions and 800 x 480-pixel
resolution in standard form, or with the optional Navigation system,
in a dazzling 10.2-in., 1280 x 480-pixel version with a wider range of
features and functions as in the new BMW 7 Series. Displays are
transreflective so that light from the sun actually enhances the
images on the screen.
The instrument cluster interacts in new ways with the iDrive control
display and the available Head-up Display. According to selected
function, users can call up phone numbers or radio stations via the
steering-wheel controls. The cluster display also augments
iDrive’s optional Navigation display with road-realistic
directional instructions, helping the driver to change lanes or
negotiate a complicated intersection. If the optional Head-up Display
is activated, the relevant directions appear there.
Materials and colors: enhancing the elegance. The choices of
colors and materials further enhance the impression of personal luxury
and the interior’s interplay of lines and surfaces. For the
dash’s finely grained upper section, there are two colors
depending upon the chosen interior color. Dakota leather is standard
on the 550i, and available in six color schemes of which three are
new; BMW’s luxurious Nappa leather is optional, and available in
three color schemes.
Dark Burl Ash wood trim interior trim is standard, appearing in
sweeping expanses on the dash, doors and front center console; Ash
Anthracite (gray tone) and another distinctive wood called Fineline
Matte are optional.
The center console comes in two variants: On cars with a manual
gearbox the console is split into two sections, the black surface
surrounding the gearshift lever and the buttons on the optional
Driving Dynamics Control oriented towards the driver. A key holder has
been placed between the gearshift lever and the climate controls.
On models with automatic transmission, the space between the
electronic gear selector lever and the climate control unit offers
enough room for two cupholders and a key holder. A further storage
compartment is located behind the iDrive Controller (where there is
another cupholder on models with a manual gearbox).
Powertrain: The essence of BMW EfficientDynamics. The new 5
Series will be offered in the United States with a choice of three
gasoline engines. At its introduction, the new 5 Series will be
available as a 535i and 550i. The 528i and xDrive all-wheel drive
variants of all three models will arrive later in the year.
The 550i is powered by BMW’s stunning 4.4-liter, 400-hp twin
turbocharged V-8 engine. Compared to BMW’s earlier, normally
aspirated V-8, displacement is reduced from 4.8 to 4.4 liters, and
incorporates twin turbochargers with High Precision direct injection.
In quantitative terms, the new engine delivers its 400 hp over a range
from 5500 to 6400 rpm. Maximum torque is 450 lb-ft, available over the
extremely broad range of 1800 to 4500 rpm. Aside from the dramatic
thrust that drivers will notice subjectively, the objective data are
dramatic too: 0-60 mph is estimated to be in just 5.0 seconds
(preliminary) and a top speed when equipped with the Sport Package of
150 mph. For models without Sport Package the maximum speed is limited
to 130 mph.
Through its unique reverse-flow layout, the 550i’s V-8 engine
is able to achieve higher output without correspondingly higher fuel
consumption. In technical terms, the approach involves some very new
design details. For the first time, twin turbochargers and the
exhaust-cleansing catalytic converters are placed between the
V-8’s two cylinder banks. In turn, this required the exhaust
camshafts and valves to be inboard so that the path from cylinders to
turbochargers (which are driven by exhaust gas) would be kept short. A
key benefit of this layout becomes a more compact engine package. This
is the reverse of a traditional V-8 layout, and opens a new era of V-8
engine development potential.
BMW’s newest gasoline inline-6 engine will be the powerplant
for the new 535i Sedan. It features a single, twin-scroll turbocharger
and 3.0 liters of displacement. In addition to High Precision direct
injection, the new engine is the first BMW inline-6 to be equipped
with both turbocharging and BMW’s VALVETRONIC throttle-less
intake technology. The combination of these BMW EfficientDynamics
technologies delivers improved throttle response from idle to redline,
reduced fuel consumption, and substantially reduced emissions. The new
engine is rated at 300 hp at 5800 rpm and 300 lb-ft of torque. The
torque peak is notable for its incredible accessibility: the full 300
lb-ft is available from 1200 rpm – 5000 rpm.
Playing a supporting role: innovative new 8-speed automatic
transmission. All new BMW 5 Series models will feature an 8-speed
automatic transmission, which brings smooth shifting, sportiness and
efficiency to new levels of perfection. Compared to the exemplary
6-speed automatic offered in past BMW models, the 8-speed’s
“taller” cruising gears make a significant contribution to
reduced fuel consumption and emissions, as well as quietness. And its
wider spread of ratios from lowest to highest gear enhances
acceleration and response across the range of driving speeds.
Technically speaking, this new automatic’s attributes have been
achieved via an innovative concept that provides the two additional
ratios (7 and 8) with no increase in bulk or weight. In an arrangement
not heretofore employed in an 8-speed automatic, four planetary
gearsets and five clutch packs are controlled in a way that no more
than two of the five clutch packs are freewheeling at any given time.
The modest increase in the number of mechanical elements allows the
new transmission to achieve unusually high efficiency: the so-called
“gearing efficiency” is higher than 98% in all eight
gears. In 6th gear, it’s highest of all because that is direct
drive, with no gearing reduction at all. Combine this with reduced
friction and the ability to keep the torque converter “locked
up” more of the total driving time, and the transmission becomes
very much a part of the new 5 Series’ overall efficiency concept.
Two additional gears mean threefold progress: quicker shifts, greater
smoothness, enhanced efficiency. The wider spread of ratios
allows the engine to run at lower speeds, mainly in the
“tallest” gear, 8th. Yet even with this wider spread, the
steps between adjacent gears are reduced; in turn this means a
stronger, smoother flow of power during acceleration.
And for the same reason, faster shifts are a further benefit because
only one clutch pack is disengaged to shift up or down by one or two
gears. On the other hand, downshifting more than two gears is
accomplished as a direct shift. For example, a downshift from 8th to
2nd gear is made with only one clutch pack disengagement, and thus
occurs without stepping down through the intermediate gears. Thus at
one instant the driver can be enjoying the quiet, fuel-efficient low
rpm of 8th gear, and in the next instant getting maximum acceleration.
Manual Transmissions: Continuing a BMW tradition BMW continues
as the only manufacturer to offer manual transmissions in the 5
Series’ competitive set, underlining the sporty nature of the
car, as well as BMW’s commitment to driving enthusiasts.
The 535i and 550i Sedans will be offered with a 6-speed manual
transmission in the United States, providing a level of driver
involvement unique in the segment.
Brake Energy Regeneration: an energy-saving innovation. The new
5 Series sedan continues the roll-out of BMW’s Brake Energy
Regeneration system on US models. To save energy and reduce the
vehicle’s fuel consumption over time, this system manages the
times at which the alternator charges the battery.
Conventionally, a car’s alternator runs continuously and thus
is always charging the vehicle’s battery. In the new 5 Series,
it charges only when the vehicle is decelerating or braking;
otherwise, it freewheels and draws virtually no power from the engine.
An electronically controlled clutch, similar to that used with the
air-conditioning compressor, is used to engage and disengage the alternator.
Accommodating the less-frequent charging is a special, more powerful
vehicle battery that can satisfy the vehicle’s high electrical
demands without access to continuous charging. The battery uses a
technology called “glass mat,” in which its internal
plates are separated with saturated absorbent glass-boron silicate
rather than the usual liquid electrolyte. This construction sharply
reduces the battery’s conversion of charging energy to heat, and
can provide the necessary electrical power for longer periods between charges.
1. Chassis engineering: State-of-the-art BMW capabilities,
adjustable to suit personal tastes.
Front suspension: a new multi-link system. Until recently, all
BMW front suspension systems since 1965 1 had been of the strut type,
in which a long, essentially vertical strut carries the shock absorber
and participates in the suspension geometry – that is, along
with the lower arms it helps determine the angles wheels take as they
move up and down. With the double-pivot lower arms of most current BMW
Series, the strut concept has been taken to a high level of
sophistication in handling, straight-ahead stability and riding
comfort. However, time and progress never stop; BMW
conceptualists and engineers continually seek even better solutions.
So it was that when the 2nd-generation X5 made its debut in 2007, BMW
introduced a type of front suspension that achieves even better
results, particularly in a large, powerful vehicle.
Now this system has made its debut in the automobile side of
BMW’s vehicle line, first in the new 7 Series in 2009 and now in
the new 5 Series. In place of the strut, this new system has an upper
lateral A-arm. The double-pivot lower arms are retained, so that on
each side there are three links or arms. While the two lower arms
preserve the double-pivot strut system’s advantages, the new
upper arm facilitates the system’s handling and riding comfort
by relieving the strut of its geometric duties.
Among the strengths of the double-pivot system
are: • Small positive steering offset, for best
steering feel and control under all road conditions. Though the two
lower arms don’t actually intersect, if you visually extend
their axes to a point where they would intersect, you find a
“virtual pivot point” that is ideal for achieving this
result. Steering offset is the “lever arm” through which
road forces act on the suspension system. • Large
steering caster, for outstanding stability in straight-line driving
and excellent steering return action coming out of
curves. • Space for large brakes, allowed by the
arrangement of the two lower arms.
The 5 Series sedan’s multi-link configuration adds further
virtues: • Reduced friction because the shock absorber
(which remains essentially concentric with the spring, as it was with
the strut system) no longer helps locate the wheel, and is thus no
longer subject to lateral forces. This allows the shock absorbers to
damp the wheels’ up-and-down motions in a more efficient,
targeted way, enhancing both ride and handling (particularly on uneven
road surfaces). • Anti-roll (stabilizer) bar attached
to wheel carrier. This arrangement, which differs from many
competitors’ attachment to a suspension link, applies the
wheel’s entire vertical movement (up or down) to the anti-roll
bar, thus allowing thinner bars to be used. Effective control of body
roll (lean) and weight savings are thus
achieved. • Greater freedom to optimize both suspension
geometry and shock-absorber action.
In keeping with another BMW tradition – aluminum suspension
components to reduce unsprung weight and thus improve road adhesion
and riding comfort – most major elements of the new front
suspension are aluminum: • Upper and lower lateral
links (1 upper, 2 lower per side) • Steering
knuckle/vertical link (1 per side).
Further reducing unsprung weight are the front brake calipers, which
are of composite aluminum/cast-iron construction. The suspension
subframe, which is sprung weight but important in terms of front/rear
weight distribution and total vehicle weight, is also of aluminum. Yet
more advantages are found in certain details: • The
trailing (forward) lower arm has a rubber/hydraulic cushion, which
provides the most effective “compliance” for reducing road
shock. • The transverse (rearward) lower arm is
cushioned by a finely tuned rubber element that fosters direct and
precise response to the steering wheel when cornering.
Rear suspension. The rear suspension, too, is a significant
evolution for BMW. Like the front suspension, it is a multi-link
system; BMW calls it the Integral system for its small, essentially
vertical Integral Link connecting the upper and lower lateral control planes.
The Integral suspension concept has been in use for some years in BMW
automobiles, appearing currently in the 5 and 6 Series in 4-link form.
With one additional link per side, the Integral V (5-link) system
moves one step closer to perfection in its combination of handling
response, road adhesion and riding comfort. Here too, most major
elements are aluminum, and the rear suspension subframe is also of aluminum.
This complex multi-link system controls rear-wheel geometry very
precisely, minimizing unwanted effects under load changes (such as
lifting off the accelerator while cornering, or hard acceleration and
braking) and achieving a comfortable, supple ride. In the new 5
Series, it adds yet another capability via optional Integral Active
Steering as introduced on the 2009 BMW 7 Series.
Precise and efficient: EPS Electric Power Steering making its debut
in the BMW 5 Series. The new BMW 5 Series Sedan is the first car
in its segment to feature EPS Electric Power Steering. This innovative
steering system enhances both the precision and comfort of the
steering process, at the same time ensuring the handling typical of
BMW with maximum efficiency. Contrary to conventional
mechanical/hydraulic systems, steering assistance is provided in this
case by an electric motor activated only when assistance is necessary
or desired by the driver. The consumption of energy is reduced to zero
when driving in a straight line or when taking a corner with a steady
steering angle.
Precise, smooth and harmonious set-up of the steering with the
feedback typical of BMW ensures maximum steering accuracy at all
times. In the Sport+ mode of Driving Dynamics Control and with
DSC switched off, the degree of steering forces is slightly increased
in accordance with the style of motoring desired.
EPS serves to control steering feedback from the system with
particular precision. At the same time EPS comes as standard on the
new BMW 5 Series Sedan with Servotronic gearing steering assistance to
the speed of the car. When parking and steering at low speeds, for
example, the driver hardly has to make any effort, while at higher
speeds power assistance is intentionally reduced for optimum contact
to the road and in the interest of well-balanced directional stability.
A further point is that EPS eliminates bumps coming from the steering
and any other adverse vibrations very effectively. And by evaluating
dynamic driving signals in an appropriate process, EPS gives the
driver authentic steering feedback particularly under very dynamic
driving conditions.
Integral Active Steering: greater agility in town, enhanced comfort
& stability during quick lane changes. Available as a
stand-alone option on the new 5 Series Sedan, Integral Active Steering
builds on BMW’s original Active Steering system which debuted on
the previous-generation 5 Series. The new Integral Active Steering
adds precise measures of rear-wheel steering to enhance safety,
comfort, and agility.
At the front wheels, Integral Active Steering electronically varies
the steering ratio (the number of degrees the steering wheel must be
turned to achieve a 1º steering angle at the front wheels) on the
basis of vehicle speed and other driving conditions. This reduces the
steering-wheel movements required for parking maneuvers, U-turns and
sharp corners.
Also with Integral Active Steering, the rear wheels are steered up to
a maximum of 2.5? via a servo motor acting on the track rods. At low
speeds, they are steered oppositely to the front wheels, reducing the
turning circle by approximately 0.5meters (1.6 feet). At higher speeds
(above 60kmh / 35mph), the rear wheels steer in the same direction as
the fronts, enhancing stability. Additionally, the rear-seat passenger
comfort is improved thanks to reduced lateral forces in highway
lane-change conditions.
The most sporting 5 Series Chassis to date. The new 5 Series
can be equipped with a Sport Package that adds Adaptive Drive, which
contains several key features. * Driving Dynamics Control,
introduced on the 2009 BMW 7 Series and Z4 Roadster, allows the driver
to set the ride/handling/drivetrain behavior of the car through a
single rocker switch on the center console. Adjacent to the E-shift
lever or manual shift lever is the Driving Dynamics Control selector
(logically, on the driver’s side). Driving Dynamics Control
provides four standard settings that tailor vehicle behavior to
different moods. The settings are Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport+.
Affected vehicle parameters include engine throttle response,
transmission shift characteristics, power-steering assistance level,
and Dynamic Traction Control mode (in the Sport+ setting). *
Dynamic Damping Control is an evolution of the Electronic Damping
Control (EDC) that has been available on several BMW models. On the
new 5 Series, Dynamic Damping Control (DDC) is combined with a
slightly lowered (10mm) suspension. Dynamic Damping Control adjusts
the shock absorbers to any level of firmness, quickly adapting to road
conditions and the driver’s demands. Suspension control is
always optimum for current road conditions, vehicle speed, and load.
The shocks default to the softest appropriate setting for the
vehicle’s speed, and when the vehicle encounters an irregular
road surface, they adjust instantaneously to control ride motions,
preserve ride comfort, and maintain adhesion to the road. The system
is so fast that even at highway speeds the system can sense a pothole
at a front wheel and adjust rear-wheel damping before it reaches the
same pothole. Dynamic Damping Control is the first BMW system to vary
the shock absorbers’ jounce and rebound strokes (wheel moving
upward and downward) both steplessly and independently; this
capability results in a unique combination of desirable firmness (for
handling) and excellent comfort on uneven road surfaces. * Active
Roll Stabilization. This high-tech system reduces body roll, popularly
known as “lean,” in cornering. It improves handling by
virtue of better suspension geometry (wheel angles relative to
vertical), but there is a psychological component as well: Drivers and
passengers alike marvel at the “flat cornering” that
results from ARS. When the vehicle enters a corner or curve, or begins
an avoidance maneuver, “lateral acceleration” is
generated. This is read by a sensor, which transmits a signal to the
ECU. The ECU processes this signal and transmits it to the
valve/sensor block. In turn, the valve/sensor block determines the
hydraulic pressure applied to the anti-roll bars to control body roll.
Electronic limited-slip differential When DSC is fully
de-activated, an electronic limited-slip differential comes into play
in vigorous driving. By judicious application of the individual
rear-wheel brakes, DSC simulates the effect of a traditional
mechanical limited-slip differential. This has the effect of better
apportioning power between the two rear wheels and thus improving
traction in this driving situation.
Intelligent driving dynamics: Integrated Chassis Management and
FlexRay All such driving-dynamics functions are coordinated and
overseen by BMW’s Integrated Chassis Management. Via sensing and
analysis of a multitude of inputs, this powerful electronic control
scheme applies and governs the interaction of these functions to
ensure maximum stability. Under rapidly changing conditions, such as
changing road surface, spontaneous steering input, abrupt acceleration
or sudden braking, ICM reacts with ultra-quick and ultra-precise
interventions via the DSC actuators plus – where present –
Dynamic Damping Control, Active Roll Stabilization and Integral Active Steering.
For this extremely sensitive and powerful networking of functions,
the 5 Series shares an electrical architecture with the 7 Series and 5
Series Gran Turismo that employs FlexRay data-transmission technology.
Developed by a consortium of which BMW is a leading member, FlexRay
achieves heretofore unheard-of communication speed, some 20 times that
previously possible. In the new 5 Series, up to 16 electronic control
units can be networked; in no other competitive automobile can
longitudinal, lateral and vertical vehicle motions be so precisely
monitored and influenced. BMW was the first motor-vehicle manufacturer
to offer FlexRay technology in production vehicles; it made its debut
in the current BMW X5.
Generously dimensioned disc brakes with composite front
rotors. In this patented construction, each front brake rotor
(disc) consists of two pieces: the high-carbon cast-iron outer
portion, which functions conventionally as the surface onto which the
brake pads grip to slow or stop the vehicle; and an aluminum
“hat” in the center, which mounts the rotor to the
vehicle. The concept’s advantages include reduced unsprung
weight, complementing the aluminum suspension in benefiting ride
comfort and road adhesion.
Reduced rotor deformation under hard braking is the other benefit.
This means fewer tendencies of the brakes to vibrate when hot, and
reduced likelihood of rotors cracking under extreme heat conditions.
The 5 Series brake system is supported by the comprehensive functions
of Dynamic Stability Control (DSC). These include antilock braking
(ABS), Automatic Stability Control (ASC), Cornering Brake Control and
Dynamic Brake Control; each of these functions contributes to vehicle
stability and some of them do so specifically during braking. Other
braking enhancements via DSC include Brake Fade Compensation, which
compensates for loss of braking power (fading) under hard or repeated
brake use; Brake Standby, which snugs the brake pads up to the rotors
upon sharp deceleration to reduce inherent lag time in brake
application; and Brake Drying, which brings the pads to the rotors
periodically during wet-weather driving to keep the brakes ready.
Automatic Hold, a function included in the 5 Series, 7 Series, X5 and
X6 models, holds the brakes for an indefinite time when the vehicle is
stopped anywhere, preventing rollback or creep; it can be activated or
de-activated by the driver with a console button.
Wheels and tires All 5 Series wheel/tire equipment is decidedly
sporty. The 550i and 535i feature standard 18 x 8.0 alloy wheels,
fitted with 245/45R-18 run-flat all-season tires. The 528i features 17
x 7.0 alloy wheels with 225/55R-17 run-flat all-season tires.
Ordering the optional Sport Package will add larger alloy wheels and
sportier, summer-performance tires for all models. More information
will be available prior to the on-sale date.
Innovative features
The BMW Parking Assistant: extra comfort ensured through fully
automatic steering and optimum user guidance. The range of
comfort- and safety-relevant driver assistance systems offered is now
being supplemented by yet another innovation: The new BMW 5 Series
Sedan is the only BMW available with the BMW Parking Assistant, a new
system supporting the driver in safely and comfortably manoeuvring
into parking spaces running parallel to the road.
The BMW Parking Assistant supports the driver from the start in
choosing appropriate parking space. Ultrasound sensors integrated in
the side indicators measure the length and width of possible parking
spaces when travelling at a speed of up to 22 mph. The system thus
looks for parking spaces exceeding the length of the car by at least
1.20 meters or 47 inches.
When the BMW Parking Assistant is not activated, this measuring
process continues in the background without emitting any particular
signals to the driver. But as soon as the driver comes to a stop and
shifts into Reverse, the iDrive Control Display informs the driver of
a suitable parking space by presenting an appropriate symbol. Once the
driver has activated the system, all parking spaces sufficient for the
car are presented while driving past. In both cases the driver simply
has to press the Controller to use the Parking Assistant.
From this point, all the driver has to do is operate the gas and
brake pedals and supervise the actual driving manoeuvre, while the
Parking Assistant moves the steering wheel appropriately in order to
back up precisely into the parking space available. The driver also
receives functions to guide him/her though the parking process.
Acoustic and visual messages from Park Distance Control and from the
Top View system help the driver in adjusting the distance from other
vehicles or obstacles ahead of or behind the car in the parking space chosen.
Innovative Top View and Side View features: enhanced proximity
awareness for maneuvering. The new BMW 5 Series Sedan is
available with a back-up camera providing images presented in color
and in an optimum perspective in the Control Display. Interactive
tracking lines show the driver the optimum steering wheel angle for
parking as well as the tightest turning circle. However, the new 5
Series offers an even more advanced proximity-camera system: Top View.
Top View provides an even more comprehensive and complete picture of
the car and its surroundings. In addition to the back-up camera and
the PDC sensors, Top View uses two cameras in the side mirrors, and
combines all three images through a central processor. This provides
an overall picture presented in the Control Display showing both the
car and its surroundings from a bird’s eye perspective. This
clear overview enables the driver to manoeuvre precisely even in
confined spaces.
Side View provides specific assistance for the driver in metropolitan
driving situations. Side View uses two cameras integrated in the front
bumper and serves to monitor traffic moving crosswise to the vehicle.
The images obtained in this way are likewise transmitted to the
Control Display and provide an early overview of traffic conditions to
the left and right of the car, particularly when pulling out of a
narrow or unclear driveway.
Innovative combination: Frontal Collision Warning with brake
activation function combined with Active Cruise Control and
Stop & Go. The 5 Series’ standard Cruise
Control adds new functions. One is the ability to apply the brakes to
maintain the set speed on longer downhill stretches; another is
continuously monitoring the vehicle’s lateral acceleration and
adjusting the speed if rounding a curve too quickly would upset
passenger comfort.
Active Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go is optional. In addition to
the speed-maintaining, acceleration and deceleration functions of the
standard cruise control, ACC can adjust the BMW driver’s speed
according to traffic conditions via radar sensors at the front of the
vehicle. The Stop-and-Go function can bring the vehicle to a complete
stop if traffic calls for it. After a stop of more than 3 seconds, the
driver must step on the accelerator or select Resume to accelerate
back to the set speed or whatever speed the radar sensors allow.
When equipped with Active Cruise Control, the new BMW 5 Series Sedan
has a subsystem called Collision Warning which can apply the brakes.
Collision Warning with its brake activation function triggers an alarm
in two stages. The pre-warning is an optical message presented as a
red car symbol in the instrument cluster and, when fitted, also in the
Head-Up Display, warns the driver of the closing rate to the vehicle
in front. As soon as this symbol appears, the Brake Standby function
on DSC Dynamic Stability Control is activated. This ensures rapid
build-up of full brake pressure in an emergency.
The second stage in the collision warning process is activated in the
event of an imminent collision. When the driver is required to
intervene very quickly, the system sends out an acute warning –
in this case not only an optical, but also an acoustic message. It
also initiates the braking process required, slowing down the car with
stopping power of up to 3 meters/sec2 for a maximum of 1.2 seconds.
Brake Standby function is again activated, preparing maximum brake
system pressure to achieve the shortest stopping distance possible.
Active Blind Spot Detection Optional Active Blind Spot
Detection in the new BMW 5 Series warns the driver of potentially
critical situations when overtaking. Using two radar sensors at the
rear end of the car, the system monitors traffic conditions on the
adjacent lanes, covering an area extending from the blind angle on the
next lane all the way back about 60 meters or almost 200 feet. A
triangular yellow light symbol integrated in the housing of the
driver’s exterior mirror shows the driver that a vehicle is in
the critical range, thus improving situational awareness.
Should the driver set the direction indicator nevertheless,
indicating that s/he is about to change lanes, the LED signal in the
light will warn the driver by flashing on and off. The driver will
also be warned by discreet but unmistakable vibration of the steering wheel.
Lane Departure Warning: camera-based system warns the driver of
unintended lane departure even in the dark. Employing a camera
near the interior rearview mirror, Lane Departure Warning monitors
road lane markings. When switched on, anytime the vehicle begins to
move across a lane marking without the turn signals activated, this
system vibrates the steering wheel. If the driver does activate the
signals, LDW does not react. Lane Departure Warning detects unintended
departure from the appropriate lane at a speed of at least
70 km/h or 43 mph. This system is made up of a camera fitted near
the interior mirror on the windscreen, a control unit for comparing
data, and a signal generator making the steering wheel vibrate as in
the case of a Active Blind Spot Detection .
The camera incorporated in the Lane Departure Warning system monitors
the road markings on at least one side of the car, a control unit
calculating the position of the vehicle in relation to such road
markings. The camera is able to look ahead about 50 meters or 165
feet, and is also able to respond appropriately in bends or on narrow
lanes. The system even works in the dark once the headlights have been
switched on, making it helpful under everyday driving conditions.
Sophisticated headlight technology with intelligent
control. Standard on the 535i and 550i, the new BMW 5 Series
Sedan is fitted with the latest generation of Xenon Adaptive
Headlights. Xenon Adaptive Headlights illuminate the road ahead
clearly and brightly under all conditions, following curves and
winding routes. In the process the headlights turn in the same
direction as the steering wheel, following the steering, the yaw rate
and the speed of the car.
The optional Automatic High-Beam feature in the new BMW 5 Series
offers additional safety when driving at night. Taking current driving
conditions into account, this system switches the high beam on and off
automatically as required, consistently giving the driver optimum
visibility and at the same time relieving him of the chore to
constantly monitor the high beam in the case of oncoming traffic.
Processing images generated by a camera integrated in the interior
mirror, the Automatic High-Beam feature recognizes vehicles driving
ahead in the same direction up to a distance of approximately 400
meters or 440 yards and oncoming vehicles up to a distance of about
1,000 meters or 1,100 yards. A further feature is that the high-beam
is switched off automatically as soon as the surrounding light reaches
a certain level of intensity and is therefore bright enough.
To avoid collisions from behind, the new BMW 5 Series Sedan, like
other models from BMW, feature special Adaptive Brake Lights
introduced by BMW as the world’s first manufacturer to offer
such a feature. When applying the brakes particularly hard and when
ABS is activated, drivers following from behind are alerted by the
larger brake lights.
Greater safety when driving at night: BMW Night Vision with
Pedestrian Detection. BMW is the world’s first car maker to
offer a night vision system even able to detect individual persons.
The second generation of BMW Night Vision available in the new
BMW 5 Series as an optional extra sets new standards in avoiding
accidents when driving at night. The main feature is a thermal imaging
camera fitted at the front end of the car and naturally designed
appropriately for the new BMW 5 Series. This camera provides a video
image in real time presenting people, animals and other heat-emitting
objects in high resolution in the central Control Display, even when
they are outside of the headlight beam.
This presentation on the screen is supplemented in the case of BMW
Night Vision by the automatic detection of persons on or next to the
road. To provide this function, the video data is analysed by a
control unit using intelligent algorithms to find pedestrians and
cyclists potentially on collision course with the car.
Once the system detects a possible risk involving such persons, the
driver is warned by the Control Display and the optional Head-Up
Display. This warning is restricted to pedestrians and cyclists who,
on account of the speed, steering angle and yaw rate involved, are on
a calculated collision course with the vehicle.
Body and safety. Intelligent lightweight construction of even
greater fuel economy. Appropriate choice of the right materials
helps to balance weight on the new BMW 5 Series Sedan, enhancing both
the agility of the car as well as its fuel economy and emission rating.
This optimization of weight comes together with a further increase in
passive safety and is possible through the appropriate use of
high-strength multi-phase steel, ultra-high-strength hot-moulded
steel, and aluminium. The large share of high-strength and
ultra-high-strength steel gives the safety passenger cell of the new
BMW 5 Series Sedan maximum stiffness and stability without the
additional use of material. The positive properties of the steel used
allow an increase in mean body strength and stiffness by 55 percent
over the former model.
The torsional stiffness of the vehicle as a function of its footprint
and weight has also been significantly improved. Spring supports made
of pressure-cast aluminium enhance the driving dynamics of the new BMW
5 Series in two respects, making the entire front section even stiffer
and, through their low weight, further improving the overall balance
of the car.
For the first time the doors of the BMW 5 Series Sedan are made of
aluminium, reducing weight by approximately 23 kg or 50 lb versus a
conventional structure. The front side panels, the hood and a large
number of the front and rear axle components are also made of this
particularly light metal.
Exemplary occupant protection. Robust structural members,
generously dimensioned and precisely defined deformation zones, and
sophisticated electronically controlled restraint systems constitute
the 5 Series’ state-of-the-art concept of occupant protection.
In a frontal crash, impact forces are channeled over multiple paths
into the floor structure, side members, front bulkhead and roof;
absorbed in deformation zones; and just generally kept away from the
passenger compartment. For the force paths, multi-phase and
heat-treated steels are employed extensively.
In the interior, 2-stage front airbags, seat-mounted side-impact
airbags and curtain-type, front-to-rear head protection are all
standard equipment, controlled according to crash type and severity
for optimum effect. Airbags that are not needed for the impact at hand
are not deployed, yet remain ready to deploy in case of a secondary
impact. The power tilt/telescopic steering column includes a robustly
dimensioned deformation section, improving its ability to protect the
driver from structural intrusion into the cabin.
All seating positions are equipped with 3-point safety belts; all
have force limiters, the front ones also adding automatic tensioners
plus pre-tensioning during emergency braking. For protection against
head and neck injuries in a rear-end impact, the front seats include
active head restraints, which deploy up to 2.36 in. forward and 1.57
in. upward as required – all between the time the rear impact
begins and when the occupants’ heads would be thrown rearward.
The rear outboard seating positions are equipped with LATCH (Lower
Anchors and Tethers for Children) for securing a child restraint seat.
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1 – Except the M1, an exotic mid-engine sports car never
officially offered in the U.S.
------------- Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual
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