Test drive BMW 5 series E60 2003 - 2007 sedan

Business classics

Full -wheel drive party
The all-wheel drive business class sedans combine high technologies and improved cross-country ability with a rich image. Who does it best? Meet: powerful and all -wheel drive Mercedes E350 4MATIC, BMW 530xia and Infiniti M35.
What is there
BMW 530xia
Price 72700
Max. Power 258 liters. With. at 6700 vol./min
Max. moment 320 nm at 2750 rpm/min
Acceleration 0100 km/h, 6.8 s
Infiniti M35 AWD
Price from $ 78900
Max. Power 280 liters. With. at 6200 vol./min
Max moment 363 Nm at 4800 rpm/min
Acceleration 0100 km/h, 7.1 s
MB E350 4MATIC
The price is from 71500
Max. Power 272 l. With. at 6000 vol./min
Max moment 350 nm at 2400 rpm/min
Acceleration 0100 km/h, 7.1 s
 
SAFETY
BMW 530xia *****
A strong body and a fairly high load on the legs of the driver with a frontal collision were noted. Frontal blow 11 points out of 18 (69%), a side blow of 16 points out of 18 (89%), only 29 points. Protection of the child (four of five stars) 42 points (86%), pedestrian protection (one star out of four) 2 points (6%).
Infiniti M35 AWD *****
The American Institute of Road Security (IIHS) held a series of tests Infiniti M35, which IIHS specialists liked both in lateral and frontal tests. In the basic configuration, the sedan is equipped with lateral airbags, which perfectly protect the head and body of the front passengers.
Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic *****
There is an exceptionally durable body that preserves the geometry of the salon during impact. Frontal blow 13 points out of 18 (81%), a side blow of 18 points (100%), only 33 points. Protection of the child is noted as good, pedestrian protection (one star out of four) 4 points (11%).
 
This three machines are filled with a reasonable maximum of what can be potentially useful to a hurry and desperately loving to guarantee the successful chapter of a company, who has not yet aged to a personal driver. In the standard version, a three -removable body and four doors already give a pass to the world of a serious business, where everyone is met not only in the thickness of the investment portfolio, but also for clothing. And four leading wheels add a portrait of a businessman of living features. So, he is not just a walking ATM, since he still dreamed of a three -hundredth all -terrain toy! Each of the brands has long -standing and clear adherents who can in a matter of minutes to lay out all the advantages and disadvantages of competitors. And initially all three are related by the rear -wheel drive. Consequently, the basis of the management of the mother’s milk and the smell of the take -off of the carrier is based on classical skills. Considering that there is no shortage of power, we attracted our first test pilot and fia GT racer Alexei Vasiliev, who was not difficult to fully realize a considerable torque on slippery coating. And at the same time, feel the difference in the intricacies of distribution of Newton's meters along the axes, depending on the characteristics of each car.
 
CAUGHT A FISH! In terms of conditional units, one maintenance can be equated to 5,687,432 caught karasiks

Bukovka A in the designation Xia means an automatic gearbox
 
Engine
Type of gasoline R6
Working volume, cm3 2996
Max. Power, l. With. at about./min 272/6700
Max. moment, nm at about./min 320/2750
Dynamics
Maximum speed, km/h 250
Acceleration 0100 km/h, from 6.8
common data
Fuel consumption (EU), l/100 km 6.811.6
Fuel tank volume, l 70
Wheel base, mm 2890
Length, mm 4970
Width, mm 1845
Height, mm 1490
Diameter of the turn, m 11.9
Clearance, see 12
A mass of equipment/full., Kg 1635/2215
Price, 72 700

The moment to the front wheels is connected unnoticed. Only the arc of the trajectory will be slightly bent, and no jerks
The turned wheels allow you to easily lick the front wheel with the imaginary turning center of the Bavarian engine of the Bavarian engine caresses the ears of no less juicy bass of the audio center. You can only imagine yourself by the conductor of the orchestra from both
 
The horse is a raven
Two front slots of the black Bavarian 530xia (the last letter denotes an automatic transmission) straight nostrils of a thoroughbred horse. Nervously stretched rudders of the steering wheel driver BMW literally feels every millimeter of the road. As a fishing line of mormyshka, even a fish trifle at its other end, the information content of management at an indisputable height. The slightest deviations of the bagels cause response to the course. Aviation terminology feels? And there is! The BMW flight sensation is closest. Also, thanks to the speedometer projected onto the windshield, and because from generation to generation, these cars mysteriously can mask the true speed. So, having not yet had time to get a job, from a place to the quarry. And only then a click of the belt, and looking at what kind of buttons are there. Comfortable? Highly. Fast? It seems not too much. And on the devices? The devices are already much too much. We stop, take a breath. And we look around more carefully. Alexei, for example, already has something to say: the driver's seat is even more here than it seems necessary. In addition to standard up and down and back and forth, the bend of the back itself changes, and all this is done in a wide range. This machine has an ideal, better landing. But the steering wheel is too thick. Some kind of sausage. There are enough fingers. The projection of the devices on the windshield is located low for me. But you can get used to, as well as to the inclined panel of the windows control. The flowmeter on the BMW thing is traditional and irritably useless. It is worth at least a little drowning the gas pedal for a long time leaves for the maximum 30 liters per hundred. I do not like a hard suspension that refuses to swallow small irregularities. It seems that there are just too hard rear springs. The reaction from irregularities on the steering wheel is very noticeable. But she has a good overview: the front stand is closer to the driver than competitors, and visibility is better. A sharply configured chassis allows you to easily rotate the car around the front wheel at large corners of the steering wheel. Despite the fact that the BMW among the tested ones in the smallest volume of the engine, its characteristics allow us to remove the power in a wide range, and there is a sensation of a larger engine.
 
From ourselves, we also note that even on the order of an order of worn rubber, the Bavarian sedan remains controlled and incendiaryly attractive. The rigidity of his suspension turned into a noticeable predominance of sports qualities. Which, in fact, was expected from the personification of a semi-automobile subsidiary. The embodiment of the Bavarian technical genius system XDRive, connecting the front wheels only if necessary. It provides a very easy and understandable dynamics of turning. Vasilyev noted by Vasilyev, when turning around the front wheel, the visible confirmation of this. More than one generation of Bavarians, which had grown on the rear -wheel drive chassis, took precisely this classic concept as a basis, only supplementing it with the front -wheel drive. Exactly as much as necessary. Therefore, this black beast of Pyatias is so easily drawn one by one, as if tied with a fishing line to an invisible center. Or maybe just at the other end of the fishing line a gold fish fell on the hook?
 
 
The appearance of the machine sometimes means more than its parameters. Agree, damn beautiful!

 
Instantly obedient Infiniti, despite the light steering wheel, perfectly demonstrates the driver where the wheels are turned
SNOWBOARDER! Flying over your own car, do not forget to close the hatch in order to avoid entering adhering snow. Or just falling inside ...
 
Engine
Basin type V6
Working volume, cm3 3498
Max. Power, l. With. at about./min 280/6200
Max. moment, nm at about./min 363/4800
Dynamics
Maximum speed, km/h 230
Acceleration 0100 km/h, from 7.1
common data
Fuel consumption (EU), l/100 km 9.813.8
Fuel tank volume, l 75
Wheel base, mm 2900
Length, mm 4890
Width, mm 1800
Height, mm 1510
Diameter of the turn, m 12.2
Clearance, cm 12.5
Mass equipment/full., Kg 1835
Price, $ 78 900
 
The snowboarders team will fit in the M35 cabin easily. Their shells are not so simple, but in the end they will find a place
 
Infinitiism
Infiniti and looks like the most original of the trinity, and even when comparing salons and even more so. Alexei could not restrain his surprise: at first glance, the panel of the devices is like a bar of a bar. The lowered upper part gives a sensation of room before the eyes, but the middle and the console are so overloaded that there is a feeling of squeezing, as if you are sitting in the cockpit of the formulas. In addition, the armrest interferes with the right hand with intensive steering. It is a pity that he is not cleaned. Review, as usual, is reduced by a thick and far located front stand. Also with an air duct, which all the time caught my eye. The central display during the day is poorly visible. And the glow of the control bulbs on the horizontal part of the console during the day is not visible at all. But the keys on the steering wheel are very convenient. One -time click of one menu position. And do not think.
 
At the same time, the quality of the interior decoration makes you forget about some uncomfortable trifles. Moreover, today we are tuned to ride properly, and do not boast of a rarity of a variety of finishing wood. Infiniti turned out to be surprisingly gleam and obedient. The same road bumps are no longer so significantly penetrated into the salon, and the steering wheel damps most of the blows of fate, while remaining at the same time both light and sensitive.
 
Vasiliev does not spare compliments: the motor is excellent. Elastic, confident picking up, although it blooms in manual mode quite high. The steering wheel immediately reacts to the movements. The back of the car is light enough, immediately breaks down, which immediately adds raisins. ABS works comfortably, does not interfere. Small trips do not cause a feeling of lengthening the brake route. Everything is quiet and pleasant, does not bother in the leg. In comparison with German cars, this is a great advantage!
 
Of course, honing the characteristics of the suspension, the designers of this American Japanese primarily achieved comfort and once again comfort. It is unlikely that they counted on domestic pods, but conquers them M35 as if created for them. Nevertheless, the creators managed to preserve a completely transparent steering wheel and a fair share of adrenaline in behavior with the stabilization system disconnected. If you trust the electronic strangle, it turns out that the all -wheel drive M35 before others begins to straighten the trajectory, and, a little that it removes the engine speed to a minimum. But the system of the ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive, again gravitating to the usual classics and constantly leading only the rear wheels, so gently and intelligently adds the moment ahead that you understand this, only realizing what a slippery coating under the wheels. This is a thin world woven from pleasure in management, comfort of a convenient tracksuit, and speed, speed, speed. M35 as a monoling fastened to the legs, ready to follow your desires and take anywhere, if only the owner corrected the trajectory in time.
 
But we were surprised by the noise of the motor at the top. But for Infiniti class M, this is not the most powerful engine ... and the motor adjustment motors sing their unexpectedly loud and long song. Long, because before settling comfortably at the wheel, a tall person will have to decently conjure with landing. But even after this Bimmer's convenience, it will not be possible to feel. And all the coziness included in this kingdom is obliged to step over the high threshold with an infiniti inscription with a beautifully glowing pale light. And in a whisper to read this word a couple of times. Like a prayer ...

The Mercedes responds to the discharge of gas with a barely distinguishable winding of the back. In this discipline, there is little drift from the classic school
Turning the wheels, Mercedes is in no hurry to turn. Inertia takes its own. Reset and addition of traction have little effect on its trajectory. A real man decided once, then forever!

Engine
Basin type V6
Working volume, cm3 3498
Max. Power, l. With. at about./min 272/6000
Max. moment, nm at about./min 350/2400
Dynamics
Maximum speed, km/h 250
Acceleration 0100 km/h, with 7.1
common data
Fuel consumption (EU), l/100 km 814.5
Fuel tank volume, l 80
Wheel base, mm 2855
Length, mm 4850
Width, mm 1820
Height, mm 1485
Diameter of the turn, m 11.4
Clearance, cm 16
A mass of equipment/full., Kg 1750/2310
Price, from 61 800
 
Unlotted front wheels make an all-wheel drive e-class an enviable rogue. With this at least hunting
 
Only above ...
We love the stars. All sorts. On the witty towers and in the sky above them. On the uniform of officers and on their chest. But to the three -beam on the hood of Mercedes, love is special. From the driver’s place, this constant attribute of the most ancient automobile brand is also a convenient sight, which is a sin not to drive a competitor from the neighboring row. A kind of iron crosshair of the time of World War II, when everything is simple and honest. He caught up with the enemy’s plane, caught on a deadly thread, felt the trigger with his finger, and as the famous AS Pokryshkin used to say: Tama shook ...
 
That's the same, everything is honest with the Mercedes. Unlike competitors, a real all -wheel drive. Constantly yellow. Differential-male. 60% of the moment ago, 40% forward. It is enough to get the car out of any drift. Or rather, to make sure that she does not go to the skid.
 
Alexey Vasiliev finds his advantages and disadvantages in this machine: ESP does not turn off! And the motor begins to truly go only from 4,000 revolutions. Compared to other cars, it is less interesting in management. It is not clear in what position the wheels are not enough of the reverse information. The steering wheel is already turned by more than 45 degrees, and the front part continues to go straight, and the car does not turn. And there is not enough sharpness to the steering wheel. There is no feeling that you can take it by adding gas. Although the set, at least the draft is almost no reacting, goes to himself diagonals anyway. For sports driving and thin flair of car, this is bad. Mercedes is perceived by a more massive car than both competitors. Its ABS works much tougher and more than a long strict blows. From this it seems that at times it ceases to slow down in general, and the information content of the steering wheel is still weakened.
 
We must pay tribute to the Mercedes-Benz suspension. Not a single bump is able to shake the German, as well as hit the steering wheel with a steering wheel behind a bump of a bump under the wheel. And also, of course, the E350 is quiet, as befits a real German sedan of this class. And as much as possible, although not created for large mud. Of course, it is possible to overdo it in the conquest of space, but it will already be outright off -road.
 
Not paying attention to such flaws as the lack of space between the seat and upholstery of the door and, which has already become familiar, detailed axis of the steering column, joyfully note that in care of our safety the PRE-SAFE system, or rather, its part of the belt, several times I reacted to spectacular drifts, grabbing my tormentors with belts to the backs with all the stiffness. Mercedes is founded. All of its essence is rustic and a little old -fashioned. The protruding signature sign and longer than many the center differential retained the longest. And around here and here, even on sportsmen, ultra -fair electronics, and such a seemingly unstable, partially connected front bridge. Surely, Mercedes-Benz will have to surrender soon, he will also have a WISKOFT or HALDEX coupling. It's a question of time. There, there is no familiar sight on A and in classes. The pulse of electronic networks becomes more frequent, and the age of honest iron is leaving. So I want to say hold on, old man!
 
 
Wait! WHO GOES? Not a single boar is visible. Hares also hid. Let's go to another place!

Mercedes is neutral in appearance, habits and image

HOW DO THEY LOOK? Look from the inside
Nikita Rozanov
 
Infiniti M35
The first show of 2006, the design under the leadership of Shiro Nakamura.
 
Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic
The first show of 2006, the design under the leadership of Peter Pfeifer.
 
BMW 530xi
The first show of 2003, the design under the leadership of Adrian Van Hoydonck.
 
OUTSIDE
Often they are called sports -oriented sedans, and they are decided on such grades with the same courage of both manufacturers and owners. What drives them? It is clear that all -wheel drive, but its external signs can be studied only from below (on the belly), but from behind, on the trunk lid. But if you look more closely, then you can convince yourself of the sports of these four -door sedans and looking more closely at their appearance. Sports charisma did not affect the brand of the brand, and the signature grilies of the radiator cladding are not flattened by aerodynamics and are not painted red by the will of the fanatic stylist. However, Mercedes is equipped with a separate four -eyed optics, which a priori claims the high -speed possibilities granted to dashing drivers. In addition, the bumper is distinguishable by jewelry, in which the functional details of the aerodynamic body kit are stylized. Plus two stripes near the fog on the ovals. BMW does not require any analogues. Everything is self-sufficient: menacingly frowned vaps-gabarits, trembling from the breath of the nostrils, the additional floor of the air intake is even beautiful. Japanese sedan from the face itself is infantility. The gaze has some kind of unsportsmanlike surprise, and in the brilliant linings on the bottom and at the top of the cladding, some philistine well-being appears. On the side, the Banlal case lives and wins with particular convincing day, and, thanks to fantastic optics, even at night. The silhouettes of the entire trinity in terms of sports and the dynamics of medium expressiveness. Although again, if you look separately: BMW is beautiful, and Infiniti is solid and dynamic. There is practically no trace from behind sports charisma. In particular, when looking at the overwhelmed form of Infiniti lanterns, one can only think about their value.
INSIDE
As it often happens, the design reveals the essence of the cars more intelligible inside. One gaze is enough to cool the ardor of the homegrown Schumacher, immerse the leader in a comfortable chair and make the tires go off the place without a screech. The style is sedative. The soft waves of the upper cover covering the I-Drive display and BMW devices, or almost the Infiniti home shelf, on which with Japanese spontaneity (in relation to world automobile design), buttons and streams are placed. Good! Mercedes is a relic in comparison with this psychedelic. But this does not look bad. It is simply different: reasonable and impeccable, and this, may the fans of the three -beam star forgive me, resembles my Golf ... The materials of the finish are good: and any: plastic, and wood, and PVC film, and skin. The architecture of the instrument panels is classically like and very balanced, and its parts are trials. The dominant of the central console is moved upwards for everyone except MB, and the steering wheel, except BMW, is solid four -spokes and buttocks, like high -calorie rolls with raisins.
SUMMARY
This is just the case when everything is the image. Therefore, the choice, most likely, will determine the price and prevailing preferences of the target audience. And she is not as conservative here as in the class above ...

BMW 530xia

The rafting of insanity with the avant -garde in the expression on the face of the machine over time is no longer so bold. Then just familiar. And note to anyone unlike anyone. So it was already. More than once. This is BMW!

The best in functionality and convenience is a driver's place. The main thing is not to be distracted from the responsible process of moving in space. Quality? Yes! Plugging? Not! Polish? Not necessary...

BMW rear seats are very convenient and tilted back at the right angle. There is enough space over your head, but for the foot of the space between the counter and the pillow is not enough
 
On the Bavarian shield, only the economy can be recognized as superfluous. Do you have time to think about saving BMW? The monitor is hidden under the visor, and therefore does not glance

Infiniti M35 AWD

A sedan from America is seemed to be created for Russian off -road. Neither low spoilers, nor the protection hanging under the belly.

There are where to walk around here. Hands, thanks to excellent materials, too. But a person is completely crowded because of a wide tunnel and a rather low roof

The soft rear seats M35 are located quite low, and still to the ceiling there is less space than in competitors. And the high threshold is not so convenient to get out
 
Four sectors on the instrument panel are the best layout option. The eye itself fits the scales, and there’s nothing to think about the display screen acceptable, but the buttons under it are turned upward, and the bulbs are not visible during the day

Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic

The all -wheel drive Mercedes has an almost invisible to the eye a centimeter increase in the road lumen and the inscription 4Matic from behind. There are no other external signs

The rounded lines of the interior went to the e-class to the benefit. With the traditional absence of the right -wing steering switch, we are ready to put up with, but the oval buttons at the steering wheel, which was standing slightly at the angle, seemed to us already overgrown. Just the hub of steering wheel, a drop of solidity would not hurt.

Rear Mercedes Seats Sample of spaciousness and comfort. There are enough places in all directions, and the three of them will go here, the average passenger will be the least infringed on the rights
 
Light Mercedes scales are excellently visible and give the interior a solemn appearance of the climate control in our e-class to the very top of the console. Block of handles and buttons visual and very convenient

SUMMARY
Ignoring the package of our experimental, we note only the most outstanding options and pay attention to what this test was carried out by sled qualities. From the point of view of the active and advanced driver of the highest assessment, BMW deserves like a car that responds to any driver’s movement and not melting any of its slightest intention from him. For this, we will forgive him with a less comfortable suspension and the seeming less expensive salon. Next comes the unexpectedly obedient and convenient Infiniti, who conquered us with a combination of comfort and drive, and at the same time beautiful pictures from the video camera video camera. Mercedes-Benz, in the representation of sports representatives of the strong half of humanity, is more suitable for driving from behind, although, with a well-known skill, and it is easy to disguise with the same snow drill raised by it. Its all-wheel drive transmission allows you to compare a business bar with an all-terrain vehicle, but in the intricacies of management it loses more modern systems using electronic assistants.
1 PLACE
BMW 530xia
+ Super-informative steering wheel and suspension. Absolutely transparent and safe management
- A hard suspension. Materials of the interior decoration
2ND PLACE
Infiniti M35 AWD
+ Beautiful interior, high -quality materials, suspension comfort, excellent handling and rich equipment
- a cramped interior, a noisy engine, an unusual dashboard forming a strange shelf
3RD PLACE
Mercedes-Benz E350
+ Impenetrable suspension, the presence of a constant full -wheel drive, spacious interior, excellent sound insulation
- uninformative steering wheel and control complexity with the electronic traction control system disconnected

Arrived
Even the champions have misfires. It seemed frozen and perfectly smooth, this piece of earthly firmament suddenly parted underfoot and wheels. Let us pay tribute, the Mercedes honestly crawled forward until he buried his belly in the viscous substance. But we personally convinced of the fullness of the drive and accessibility, if something happened, a towing loop ...
 
Text Eugene Khapov
Photo by Leonid Grandfather
 

Source: Cars