Test drive BMW 5 series E60 2003 - 2007 sedan

Ticket to the future

BMW 5th series Car and attraction
Inspecting the new 5th BMW series, you feel something like an excitement bordering on fear. The future always excites all the more if it parted so decisively with the present. Is it easy to get rid of similar sensations? We tried to answer this question during the three -day BMW 530i dough.
The new five no longer causes the storm of emotions that was observed at the time of the BMW of the 7th series. In this regard, the BMW chief designer Chris Bangle can celebrate the victory of his peculiar style gradually gets together with reality. It seems that the cemark has successfully fulfilled its super minor: she taught the world to the new design of the Bavarian concern.
The new BMW has one feature: photos do not fully display the face of Bavarian machines of the 21st century. For example, looking at the image of the new five, it is possible to identify it with the previous 5th series (E39 body) only by formal signs: branded emblems and characteristic nostrils of the fake radiator. However, the new five is quite recognizable, especially if you look at it in front of the projection for three quarters: this is, of course, a BMW car.
The machine looks dynamic and aggressive, but in the elegance and severity of the cutting of the E60 body is inferior to the five previous generation. The appearance of the 530th has become more cosmopolitan. In my personal opinion, in the top five, the features of the German modest design that became a household chores are now lost. The gaze dwells on the details inherent in American cars more likely: orange LED strips mounted in the corners of the slanting eye-far, and refrigerators in the rear bumper. These details carry more decorative than functional load, which is not at all characteristic of the Germans: usually in their products the style and practicality are verified in an ideal ratio of 50 to 50.
The dynamics of the new five emphasizes its low, almost sports landing. When you look at the car, it seems that such a small clearance is not for our roads. However, during the test, problems with a low landing practically did not arise, the car did not struck the belly when moving through bedridled policemen (though only those that are made in accordance with GOSTs).
Low landing and as a result, the deep arrangement of the seats in the new five makes it difficult to land and exit the car, although, when you drive, you forget about the flexibility lost over the years. The driver’s landing is truly sports. Adjustments of the seat and steering wheel allow you to get a job, as if in a racing car: the legs are extended, the arms are bent at the elbows, all controls are conveniently located and ready to execute your commands.
However, these miracle peasants will help conveniently get a job fans of the sports style of driving, but also to those who prefer to sit high far away: the adjustment range is very large. The servo drives change (in addition to standard seats) lumbar backdoles at different levels (from the lower back to the shoulder blades), the height of the headrest, the length of the seat pillow. But the adjustment of the side underpans is especially impressive. By clicking on one of the buttons, the driver (like the front passenger) can make the chair tightly grab the body. From such embrace you will not break even in the most intense turns. In addition, the front seats of the new five are the most striking and impressive detail of the interior, made in a geometrically correct style.
As for the rear passengers, the new five can hardly be recommended as a family car (however, it does not claim this role). In the second row, only two passengers can accommodate comfortably, the third will interfere with the high tunnel in which the cardan shaft is laid. It's a shame that in the basic version the five is not equipped with the folding backs of the rear seat. Lovers of outdoor activities will have to order this option. A new five and an abundance of space for placing various small things are not distinguished: at the disposal of the BMW crew a small glove compartment, modest pockets in the doors, and two niches in a torpedo for trifles and a mobile phone. True, a large and convenient trunk is pleasing.
There are two complaints about the ergonomics of the driver's seat. My left leg rested against the sharp line of the handle of the door of the details of the beautiful, but low -functional (again a certain dissonance of style and functionality). But most of all, the turn of the turning indicator with non -fixed positions annoyed (exactly the same algorithm for the work of the turn signals is now used, for example, on Opel Vectra). It’s easy to turn it on, but to return it to the original, neutral, position (for example, when you make a rebuild from a row in a row) rarely is rarely obtained. I failed to get used to the turn signal management algorithm in three days. As a result, in order not to be distracted from the road, I chose not to use the indicators of turns at high speeds.
And I don’t want to be distracted from the road behind the wheel. The car provokes an active driving style. A hard suspension, a sharp steering wheel, active stabilizers Dynamic Drive (the system is included in the list of additional equipment), the drivership on the axles of 50 to 50 give true pleasure. The car prescribes turns as a compass. The tenacious is amazing, the rolls are minimal (for the latter, you need to thank the Dynamic Drive system). All these are the properties of real BMW. In direct high -speed areas, the car is inimitable: no transverse and longitudinal swing, no marine disease for passengers. However, at low speeds, when passing small and large irregularities, the suspension for the business class sedan seemed too stiff.
It is amazing not only the accuracy with which the new BMW writes out the arcs, but also how its steering works. Our car was equipped with an active steering system AFS (additional option). At low speeds, the system increases the sharpness of the steering wheel (for example, when parking from the stop to the stop, the helm makes only 1.8 turns). On the top five, there is practically no need to steer with interception. With the speed of speed, the steering wheel becomes less sharp. Moreover, the system works so harmonious that you forget about its presence. AFS also plays the role of an electronic assistant of the stabilization system, independently stinging at the beginning of slipping.
BMW 530i is equipped with a six -cylinder engine with a capacity of 231 hp. The engine, coupled with a six -speed automatic transmission, accelerates the car to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds. The maximum speed of the five is limited by electronics at a mark of 245 km/h.
A car that has been on a test test is now standing at Russian dealers of BMW 75,000 euros. Prior to the appearance of five Kaliningrad assembly on the market, such a price is unlikely to contribute to exciting demand. However, sellers of premium cars claim that for their customers the price does not play a decisive role. Probably, really 75,000 euros are quite inexpensive for a travel ticket to the future.

Igor Komarov
 

Source: Wheel (company)