BMW call it the ‘business athlete’, and position it as the performance leader in the mid-size executive sedan market. BERNIE HELLBERG attended the local launch of BMW’s seventh generation of the brand’s most successful car to date, after the 3 Series sedan.
BMW caters for leaders of all types, and pay grades, from the compact 3 Series to the luxurious 7. But if one were to choose a flag-bearer for the Bayerische brand, it would be neither of the two bookend ranges, but rather the sedan where it all began – the 5 Series.
Described as the ultimate driving machine for executives everywhere, generations of 5 Series cars have given definition to the modern sports sedan, and to the BMW brand itself.
The 5 Series still is the undisputed benchmark for performance sedans and carries its title with aplomb. It always has, and judging by how accomplished the new generation car is, it is likely to continue dominating this segment.
RETURN TO ITS ROOTS
Although the original 5 Series – model name E12 – was built internationally until 1981, it was constructed in South Africa (at BMW’s first international plant) up to 1984. Being the first BMW to meaningfully challenge the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the original 5 Series has come a long way locally, which partly explains the reverence that South Africans have for the sedan.
The 5 Series star has shone brightly through consecutive series. From the second- and third-generation E28 and E34 respectively, the fourth-generation E39 and the Bangle-angled E60/E61 of the new millennium, all the way to the sixth-incarnation F10 that ended production in 2016.
What better way then, to celebrate the release of the newest Munich road muncher, than on the fabulously twisty roads around George in the Western Cape? Offering some of the most spectacular scenery and challenging driving roads in the country, this is certainly the best place to challenge both driver and car to the full.
REFINED EXTERIOR
The 5 Series has a powerful visual legacy which makes radical changes to the car’s design a difficult task to accomplish. Hence, the new gen’s evolutionary exterior design changes over the previous 5.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to discern between the recent generations when the cars are not physically parked next to one another, but as was the case at the launch in George, I had the opportunity to compare the new car to its F10 forebear.
While retaining the distinctive 5 Series shape – along with the signature Hoffmeister kink in the rear quarter window – the new 5er has undergone quite a significant redesign at the front. The larger headlights – LED on all models and adaptive as an option – flank the significantly bigger kidney grilles that now also feature automatic shutters for improved aerodynamics at high speeds.
To distance the 5’s design language from its larger 7 Series sibling, BMW design chief, Adrian van Hooydonk and his team added a new signature crease above the establish rising beltline that runs through the door handles on every BMW. This character is reserved exclusively for the 5 Series. Redesigned rear lights with standard LED strips look sophisticated and elegant and complete the overall 5 Series update.
Not that BMW can afford to distance the 5 from the superlative 7 Series too far. As new technology always trickles down from above, so does desirability, and the 7 Series remains the ultimate BMW sedan.
INTERIOR
On the technology front specifically, the new 5 Series receives many enhancements directly from the 7 saloon. Features such as gesture control, self-parking and autonomous driving systems that include active cruise control and lane keeping aids are all available as options. Standard equipment on derivatives lower down the 5 Series model range – where the 520i and 520d live – are unsurprisingly sparse. Aside from four-zone climate control, the updated BMW iDrive infotainment control, and navigation system, entry level cars don’t offer much more in the way of creature comforts than the 3 Series.
Although fit and finish on the 5 is significantly improved, and outside noises from wind or road are virtually non-existent, the lesser 5s don’t quite reach the lofty heights of interior luxury achieved by the 7’s interior.
As one progresses up the displacement (and price) ladder, the lines between the 5- and 7 Series become increasingly blurred. The range is led by the 2,998 cc 540i that delivers 250 kW upwards from 5,500 r/min and maximum torque of 450 Nm between 1,380 and 5,200 r/min. At this level one expects standard equipment to abound, and while it does to an extent – including gesture control for its 10.25” touchscreen display, head-up display, Apple CarPlay and inductive charging for your cell phone, you will need to add ConnectedDrive and automated parking should you wish to have these features.
The 5 is a large vehicle, which accordingly adds volume to the interior and the boot.
CONNECTIVITY & MOBILITY
I would be remiss to not discuss the 5 Series in the context of its technological advancements. BMW has obviously placed as much emphasis on this aspect of the car as they have on its dynamic abilities.
The iDrive 6.0 system is predictably advanced and as intuitive as any other. Selecting functions can now be accomplished via the iDrive controller, voice, gesture, or by using the steering mounted buttons. Although introduced on the 7 Series last year, the new 5er system seems less fussy than I remember it on the last big Beamer that I drove. The addition of a touchscreen makes all the difference.
A wealth of assistance systems bring aspects of autonomous driving to the 5 Series for the first time. As part of the active cruise control system, the car will assist its driver to maintain following distances and steer at speeds of up to 210 km/h. I never tested the system at its top end, but initial impressions are that the system easily rivals the advanced PilotAssist system in the Volvo S90 and XC90.
Adding to the mix, the advanced intelligent auto Start/Stop function now adapts to your route and to traffic conditions, which means it will only activate when necessary, and not when the vehicle is performing a short stop-and-go manoeuvre. I find unnecessary engine shutdowns annoying and welcome this little bit of common sense technology.
DRIVING THE CHANGE
BMW has initially launched the current (G30/31/32) model series locally with the choice of derivatives: 520d, 530d, 530i, and 540i. All engines in the series are borne from BMW’s new modular EfficientDynamics family of power units. An entry 520i and ballistic new M5 are expected later this year.
Considering the updated engines and the somewhat conservative restyling, the 5 Series might seem, to the untrained eye, as little more than a mid-cycle update. But this is an all-new model, and what it lacks in dramatic changes, it makes up for in with a much more dynamic chassis and drivetrain than its predecessor.
At launch we spent the most time in the six-cylinder 540i M-Sport; an engine that I believe suits the new BMW’s character best. While we wait patiently for the M5, the 540i is certainly the car to have, as it delivers its phenomenal power (laying down close on 25 kW more than the previous 535i) and hushed refinement, in a perfect blend of sport and luxury.
BMW claims that the 540i runs the zero to 100 km/h gauntlet in as little as 4.9 seconds. As BMW has discontinued manual transmissions in the 5 Series going forward, the only non-option option is the eight-speed ZF-sourced automatic that shifts with torque delivery perfectly modulated, and the ready surge of the next gear.
Although available in other markets before, BMW South Africa has introduced the optional Integral Active Steering (IAS), which combines rear-wheel steering with variable-ratio front steering. The result is a somewhat disorienting at first as initial turn-in at low speed feels like the car swivels too sharply on its axis – which it does, technically. At higher speeds, the rear-wheel steering came into its own around the bends down the Outeniqua Pass above George. The only criticism here is that steering weight seems somewhat lighter than it should be, and feedback is too muted for the benchmark sports sedan.
LAST WORD
5 Series pricing begins at R770,500 for the standard four-cylinder 520d and R838,700 for the 530i. The six-cylinder end of the range starts at R952,500 for the 530d and R985,300 for the petrol 540i. All models are upgradeable with optional Sport-, Luxury-, or M Sport packages.
The new 5 Series returns BMW’s second-most successful sedan to its athletic roots, and while it won’t rejuvenate the brand or the marque wholesale, it will extend the successful run of a motoring legend for yet another season.
Report by BERNIE HELLBERG | Images © BMW SOUTH AFRICA/BMW AG
