Test drive BMW 5 series E60 2003 - 2007 sedan

What the future looks like

This is what the future looks like. BMW 5th series. Advertising with this inscription is hung throughout Moscow. And although the official premiere of the new five has not yet been held only in early September in Frankfurt, this future has already been on sale. And thus became real.


They were looking forward to the new five, and not just because the new one. It has already become clear that BMW, abandoning the principles of evolution, moved to revolutionary methods. More recently, the mind of many motorists was confused by the loud debut of the seven, shocked by its design. And the new BMW Z4 Roadster with his extraordinary appearance brought this mind almost to a boil.


The first official photos of the new five appeared in the spring. And if in the case of the seven critics are divided into two camps either either like or not, now it appeared and I don’t know the third opinion. I adhered to the last. It was very embarrassed by some sweetness of the appearance of the new model. At the same time, the design as such seemed proportional, competent, virtually indisputable. Therefore, I do not know.


All doubts disappeared as soon as I saw the car alive. Very beautiful body is plastic, muscular. The silver color reveals all the nuances of the relief. In each perspective, the body looks different, glare and faces play differently.


Having added in solidity, the five did not lose in dynamism. The slanted, summarized eastern eyes of the anterior optics and playing the back others will see in this loss of masculinity inherent in the predecessors of this car. But the inherent BMW restrained aggression has been preserved: 18-inch wheels (245 mm in front and 275 behind) already in the basic configuration, a low long hood, a short front overhang ...


The interior is solved in the spirit of seven and Z4. Sharp edges, simple surfaces. A familiar display of the on -board computer in the center under the visor, and the joystick of the sensational Idrive system in place. It sits in a BEEMEMENTARY tightly, with a family effect everything around, the salon does not seem spacious, although geometrically there are plenty of places. An enlarged wheelbase gave more space to the rear passengers.


Seven seven, fully electric (like a three -spoke sports wheel). Heap adjustments. Here is a floating lumbar background, and changed side support, and a separately working upper back, the headrest and roller under the feet are not forgotten. You can also order chairs with ventilation and massage. In general, everything is like a seven.


Comfort squinted, but did not replace the driver components. The DSC shutdown button on the panel (and not deep in the Idrive menu), the handbrake is still mechanical. Idrive is simpler than on the source there is no circuit in the handle on the handle, instead of eight sections of the menu only four, and there was also a large return button in the main menu. The easier means more convenient.


The climate, of course, is separate, for the rear passengers, too, there are fewer functions there, but there is its own adjustment and heating of the sofa. The stereo system is serious, with a processor, a subwoofer and even with a central speaker. Plays with dignity. All this splendor is revived by a regular key.


In the bowels of the motor compartment, a classic three -liter in -line six. Confident traction of practitioners from the bottom, picking up after 4000 rpm. It is spinning to almost 7000. The sound, genuine breed. Only noise insulation has become more effective, the motor is not heard as well as on the previous five ...


Seven seconds and already a hundred. The speed is not felt, only everyone around is driving somehow slowly ... The six-speed machine operates softly and quickly, in manual mode, patiently hangs on the selected gear. And how the new five is steering! Without rolls and interceptions, quickly, clearly large cards, and nothing more. Actually, it does not even need to steer, just direct it. Like in a computer simulator.


There are several reasons for this. First of all, they achieved exemplary weighting on the axes of 50/50. This is achieved by considerable blood almost the entire aluminum front, pendants too. And they also introduced two new products. The first AFS system is active steering, the essence depending on the speed of movement changes using the planetary mechanism with electronic control. To turn around in the parking lot, just slightly move the steering wheel, but at speed it must be twisted more thoroughly. AFS also works for safety, hearing independently in the right direction when drifting.


The new five is much sharper than its predecessor, especially at high speeds, when you need to be careful with the steering wheel, despite the fact that the system dissolves it somewhat, reducing sensitivity. Is this a prestigious class in the spirit? Perhaps this would be more to the face of a three -license plate. However, the AFS system is an option, the steering can be others: either the usual gear rack with a variable step, or equipped with a Servotronic hydraulic power steering with a variable force on the steering wheel.


The second novelty is the Dynamic Drive system, borrowed, again, from the seven, it is active stabilizers of the transverse stability with built-in hydraulic models, which, if necessary, are accommodated, increasing rigidity. Thus, the comfortable component of the suspension has been preserved, and its angular rigidity increased.


It may seem that the five has become too robotic. But DSC is still disabled, stealing AFS function too. It would be nice to do this and all of AFS in general. However, it turns off in emergency mode, blocking the planetary row and closing the gear with the rail directly.


The five grew both physically and morally. Is it determined as BMW still definitely? Undoubtedly. But this is another BMW. The German company has once again set new automobile standards, this applies to comfort, controllability, and technical equipment in general. The fashion for unisex is also taken into account. BMW models are further moving away from the image of Gangster-Kars that has prevailed in Russia. Now, a woman will look good at the wheel of five. As for the design, it will very soon begin to perceive it for granted, an example of a seven.


The life of the car has just begun. There is still a lot of new and interesting station wagon, which will appear next summer, eight-cylinder versions 540 and 545, not to mention the M5 with the promised formula 10-cylinder engine. At the moment, the 520th and 530th models are available, diesel versions will not be sold in Russia yet. The one that was on the test costs about 70,000 euros, but in general prices start from 45,000 so much for the 520th.
 
Sergey Yakubov
 

Source: Motor magazine [September 2003]