kscarrol

zipper525, I assume you're asking me that. This entire discussion began several weeks ago when it was revealed that the new 5 series had only received 3 stars, but that BMW was going to be allowed to make mods and retest. I'll have to do a search, but I think there is a link is this long thread to the NCAP test where they state that BMW was allowed to make the mods to gain a star.

zippers525

Ok ill check around the site too.

EBMCS03

But 20 or 30 years ago other cars on the road were just as "unsafe" and most of the cars then were built to crash a certain way... the cars built now are different... so it would be fine if you ran into an older cheaper built car... but if you run into a nice big safely built S Class now... might be a little more problem...

Shredder

Yes, the E60 initially earned a 3 star rating, which BMW was not happy with, so they were allowed to make modifications to earn the 4 star rating in a second test.

The 4 star rating wa the E60's second test!
[/quote]


Re << the E60 initially earned a 3 star rating >>

Thanks for the info. Where did you hear it earned a 3 star rating? Is there a link to a web page that you could point me to?

I have only seen the brief NCAP result at the page below and it does not say how many stars it would have earned before the retest. http://www.euroncap.com/content/safety_rat...p?id1=4&id2=208

If there is any more public domain material, then I'd be very interested to see it.

Thanks.

kscarrol

Since NCAP never officially published the results and allowed the re-test, I'm afraid the source that began this back in Sept was a UK auto magazine. Here's a link to the blurb, not a full write up I'm afraid.

http://www.autocarmagazine.co.uk/news_arti...sp?na_id=210953

mihusky

I agree - I lurked at RF before discovering this place and the discourse I've seen in this thread is just healthy debate. Doing more debate from time to time would be good as we can only talk about wood trim for so long. We'll know if we approach RF because we'll want to protect it and in this instance we got good moderators to insure that.

Now in terms of safety, I agree with the comment above that as soon-to-be US owner, I'll go by the US rating for a US spec car. In terms of Euro NCAP, the car may have been a 3 by inference (did not see an exact report of the 1st rating in print -so please provide link) and based on the NCAP rating each star is related to risk.

From their Euro NCAP FAQ -

"How will you know if Euro NCAP has been effective?
Euro NCAP has been responsible for a dramatic change to overall car safety. This is readily seen in how quickly manufacturers improve their safety equipment and the steps they take to do well in the tests. Real world injury studies carried out by SNRA (Swedish National Roads Aministration) and SARAC (Safety Advisory Rating Committee) demonstrate a reduction in injury risk for every Euro NCAP star received"

Now a three star (assuming it was) may be still a safe car (e.g., not unsafe) but if that real-world study is correct, a 4 will be safer than a 3. Now should BMW disclose the first rating (yes), should they offer remedies to those owners that demand corrections (I think that should be negotiated on an individual basis) and if it is a big mod should be a basis for a recall. My two cents.

zippers525

"BMW?s new 5-series range has run into trouble in the crucial Euro NCAP crash tests. According to an inside source, the initial tests would have led to the car being given a low three-star rating. The source claimed that the car?s problem was ?structural? rather than a series of minor problems.

BMW denied this but admitted that the 5-series has been crash-tested. However, BMW has ?agreed? with Euro NCAP that the tests were hampered by ?inconsistencies?. The impact tests are likely to be re-run in the near future.

?We genuinely hope for, and expect, a five-star rating,? a BMW spokesman told Autocar.
"

quoted from Auto Car Magizine. A low 3 starts doesn't sound very good at all to me

mihusky

Thanks for the quotes. Sounds like a 3 to me. Also, sounds that BMW is implying invalidity of tests based on "inconsistencies". Is that corporate CYA language or are the tests such that they are variable and inherently subject to inconsistencies? They claim on the site good re-test validation.

Shredder

Thanks for the autocar link.

Now, I don't want to throw fuel on the fire, but did anyone notice the results of the 5 series Rear Crash Protection test carried out in the US by IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)?

Base Seats: Overall Rating = Poor
Sports Seats with Active Head Restraints: Overall Rating = Acceptable

http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/head_r...ts/head_bmw.htm

So as long as we own a 2005 car with upgraded seats and don't get hit from the rear, we should all be fine

At least I'm not as concerned as I used to be about my radio's RDS feature not working in my 2003 standard seated car

zippers525

Edit: Sorry, wrong MY. Nevermind