Beemer

So finally I got the oppourtunity to drive the new five for the first time.
I didn?t get to drive the car, 530i with steptronic, active steering and dynamic drive, for more than 20 minutes. I was though even given the short time able to drive it on both straight and winding roads with good and bad pavement.

Driving impression
The Active steering feels strange the first time you turn the wheel but after 5 minutes or so you get the hang of it.
At low speeds and while moving around a parking lot the steering response is extremly direct and the feel is very light. When driving faster (I didn?t go more than 100 mph) the steering feels very stable and totally diffrent from the way it feel and behave at low speeds.
However the change in steering behaviour feels very natural and happens smoothly and gradually.

The car feels like a larger car than the old five and behave more mature.
I would say that the the old five feels more nimble and sporty compared to the new five which feels slightly more like a Mercedes-Benz or Audi.
Handling and driving dynamics of the new five is however superior to the predecessor. With the dynamic drive and active steering the car handles extremly well and cornering can be done at incredible high speeds. Ride comfort of the new five is at the same time significantly better compared to the old five. With the Dynamic drive virtually all body-roll is eliminated and the ride is very smooth.
The car is also a lot more quiet than the old model. Performance of the 3-litre engine is good, however the sound of the engine is a disapointment. The engine is way too quite and doesn?t sound nearly as good and sporty as the same engine do in the 330i.
The brakes of the new five is very impressive and also feels improved over the the already very good predecessor.

In conclusion
The new five has grown both in size and behaviour. Some of the sportiness from the predecessor, the E39 is gone and replaced with a more comfortable ride. The siginificantly improved handling and driving dynamics however 10 times makes up for the slight loss in sportiness compared to the predecessor. And compared with the A6 and E-class the 5-series is still the sportiest car.
The way this car combine superb handling with ride comfort is truly amazing. Engine sound is however a disapointment , hopefully the 545i will be a different story.

I will report more next week after I?ve taken the car for a longer testdrive.

Thats all for now
/Beemer

segovia

Thanks, great info, I thought I was reading a car mag. You?re luckier than me, beacause the launch in Spain has been delayed a couple of weeks for unknown reasons, so I haven?t been able to even see the car in the metal. Just one question, what about the Steptronic? I?m considering it but I?ve never had a car with automatic transmission, so I don?t know if I?ll get bored or not

Thanks again, gracias

Litster

Beemer, thanks very much for the review. Good to hear that the ride is comfortable yet handling is still superb! Keep us posted when you get to do a longer test drive.

Beemer

Well, I think that it?s a matter of personal taste, only you can answer what is right for you, personally I like the steptronic. The new 6-speed automatic in the new five is silky smooth and works splendid. However Steptronic does NOT substitute a manual transmission. Personally even though I?ve only driven it with automatic I belive that the character of the new five blends best with automatic transmission. But try both and decide what is the right choise for you.

/Beemer

RichReg

Beemer;

Thanks for a great review. I am getting the feeling now more & more that the only acceptable configuration for the E60 for me will be with the Sport Package & S.M.G. instead of with the standard six-speed manual. I love the manual trans in my 323Ci, but with the 5 Series now as large as it has become, I can't help but think that they will eventually do away with that option, especially if the car doesn't feel right with it (E60 is almost as large as an E38, which only had an auto available). Only problem is the cost of all those extra goodies....

Of course, there is the V8 solution which eliminates the need for any Sport Package or S.M.G. just by opting for the Steptronic. I guess I am still not too sure how to get the optimum bang for the buck if BMW upgrades the 530 to a 535 in model year 2005. Decisions, decisions, decisions........

segovia

thanks, I?ll do that (BMW Spain permitting)

monkeyman2279

thanks for the great post. what was your impression of the interior? both verses the old 5 and the new 7, if you have any experience with it. this isnt really an idrive question, bc we have the "complicated" idrive, and we're ok with it. im just wondering what the quality and design felt like to you.

thanks again and take care.

steven

Beemer

The interior quality felt significantly better on this car compared to the pre-production car that was at the preview in may. I didn?t feel that the build quality has gone down compared to the old 5. The design looks better and much more exclusive when you see it for real compared to the pics. I think the design of the dashboard and the interior feels a lot more up to date compared to the predecessor. The interior side of the doors are a step down though. I?m not talking about the way they look, which in my opinion is just fine. However the doorpockets are way to small and shallow and is not carpeted all around like the way they are on the old 5. Compared to the new 7 the dash board does not at all have that sort of "Buick" feeling. Sure it?s similar to the one found in 7 but in same way it?s not. The dashbaord of the new 5 looks much sportier than teh dashboard of the 7 and lines goes much better togheter with the door moldings.
In conclusion the dashboard is better looking than the one found in the new 7 and I prefer it over both the old 5 and the new 7 and the build quality and materials is not lower than in those two cars.