Test drive BMW 5 series E39 2000 - 2003 sedan

Five with a plus

In July of this year, the fifth generation of the BMW 5 Series will appear on the European market. According to the creators, the car differs from its predecessor as a computer from a printing machine so many all kinds of electronics there. Meanwhile, almost all of these smart lotions, mainly borrowed from the new seven, are offered as options.


The change of generations in the sedans of representative and business classes is usually not accompanied by cardinal changes in design. So it happened with the new five BMW. The muscular front part is harmoniously combined with a expressively curved, but already familiar headline.


Designers have preserved the sports appearance of the car from afar BMW 5 Series can be accepted for the compartment.


There was more space in the salon both in front and behind. The volume of the trunk increased significantly. Elegant interior. The design here is built around the electronics control panel located next to the gear lever.


One of the obvious achievements compared to the previous generation of the five lost 65 kilograms. In the chassis and body, aluminum alloys. That is, the machine has become more dynamic, especially complete with Bi-Vanos elastic gasoline engines and a well-known 3-liter second-generation diesel.


In the summer, sales of versions 520i, 530i and 530D will begin. Later, 525i with a 2.5 liter engine with a capacity of 192 hp will be added to them. and 545i with 4.4 l V8 with a capacity of 333 hp and a torque of 450 nm. Even the simplest 2-liter engine may well satisfy the fans of the brand: with it the car accelerates to hundreds in 9 seconds (at a power of 170 hp). The corresponding indicators with 3 liters of gasoline and diesel engines 6.9 and 7.1 seconds.


Of the novelties offered in the basic configuration, only an automatic air conditioning system that supports not only the temperature, but also the constant humidity in the cabin (ordinary air conditioners, dry the air is worthy of mention).


Now about the options. In the new five, most systems are controlled by wires. However, it was decided to abandon the electronic steering in favor of the AFS system that retains the mechanical connection between the wheels and the steering wheel. On the one hand, the driver feels that he has a steering wheel in his hands, not a joystick. On the other hand, AFS changes the reactive effect on the steering wheel using electronics, depending on the speed, driving style and road conditions. In the city (at medium and low speeds), electronics help the driver more, and on the highway and in the conditions of maneuver at high speed the steering wheel becomes more rigid. In addition, AFS interacts with the maintenance system for the course stability (DSC).


Another Option Active Dynamic Drive suspension. It cuts off all unnecessary fluctuations in the body and load on passengers using two active stabilizers of the peretial stability. The company claims that an active suspension manages to compensate for up to 80% of sharp rolls. At the same time, of course, not only comfort is improved, but also handling.


Since 2004, an active cruise control can be installed on the top five, which first appeared on the BMW 7 Series. The system automatically maintains the distance set by the driver to ahead of the coming car. Also, in a distant future, those who wish will be able to acquire as an option a color display, which display all the necessary information (speed, fuel consumption, terrain map) to the windshield at the eye level of the driver. So the driver will be able to receive information without taking his eyes off the road.


Of the optional security options, it is worth mentioning the steering headlights that turn the light flow to the angle up to 15 degrees to the right or to the left, depending on the position of the front wheels and the speed of movement, to better illuminate the winding sections of the highway. In addition, after homologation by the European Union on the five, it will be possible to activate software that increases the glow area of \u200b\u200bthe stop symbols with intense braking.
 
Dmitry Polikarpov
 

Source: Motor magazine [May 2003]