The BMW E60 automobile platform is the basis for the 2004 5-series of automobiles. It replaced the BMW E39 for 2004. Models available at launch include the 525, 530, and 545. All models received an engine upgrade for 2006, with a 550 replacing the 545 in the fall of 2005. The exterior of the design by Chris Bangle and Adrian van Hooydonk is controversial, as is BMW’s new iDrive interface for accessing things like the radio and HVAC controls.
From the start, the fifth generation of the BMW 5 Series introduced in 2003 stood out through its impressive design and innovative technology. Once again, both the sedan and the Touring launched in 2004 set new standards in terms of active safety, driver assistance systems, and efficiency. BMW’s typical design language with convex and concave surfaces as well as flowing transitions from the front and side to the rear gave the fifth edition of the BMW 5 Series a particularly characteristic note, the interior with its clear-cut functions highlighting above all the iDrive control system featured as standard.
The fourth generation of the BMW 5 Series made its debut at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show, offering an evolutionary development through its design of the former model with its sporting and elegant style. A particular feature at the front was the dual round headlights behind a glass cover, with the light rings for the positioning and daytime driving lights so typical of BMW being added in the year 2000.
Both the sedan and the Touring introduced in 1997 once again offered even more space within the passenger compartment. Boasting features such as a multifunction steering wheel, a navigation system, active seats and Dynamic Stability Control, the BMW 5 Series was acknowledged as a particularly outstanding high-tech representative of its segment.
In the interest of enhanced driving dynamics and safety, the body came with a significant increase in torsional stiffness over the former model, and the fourth-generation BMW 5 Series was the first large-scale production car worldwide made almost completely of light alloy. The newly developed all-aluminium power units also helped to significantly reduce the weight of the car.
The fourth generation of the BMW 5 Series once again set up a new sales record accounting for 1.47 million units sold up to the end of production in early 2004.
The next generation BMW 5-Series luxury sedan has just made its world debut. As expected the design of the all new 5 takes cues from both the 7-Series limousine and the 5-Series GT crossover, all coming together to give the 5-Series a a much more elegant and streamlined appearance.
BMW will power the new 5-Series with a V8 as well as an assortment of six cylinder engines burning both gasoline and diesel. The new car’s lineup will range from the fuel efficient BMW 520d making 184 HP, the 535i powered BMW TwinPower Turbo using High Precision Injection and VALVETRONIC variable valve timing that cranks out 306 HP as well as the top of the line 550i powered by a 407 HP eight cylinder engine; just to name a few.
As part of BMW’s new car lineup, every new 5-Series models will come equipped with an eight speed automatic transmission. Aside from the the German automaker’s automatic transmission optimized for efficiency, the new 5-Series will come standard with other gas saving features like EPS Electric Power Steering that takes some stress off the drive train by reducing parasitic drag and frees up a few more horsepower at the same time. One thing that is for certain is that the new 5-Series is guaranteed to impress new car shoppers.
It’s not much, but we’ll take it any way we can get it.
The new 2011 BMW 5 Series won’t be revealed for a few more days, but BMW has given us a sneak peek of what the car – or at least the front side of it – will ultimately look like.
Now, we’ve circled November 24 on our calendars for a while now, but we’re not disappointed that these photos came out two days before the highly-anticipated debut of the new 5-Series. Based from what we’re seeing, the new 5-Series bears some resemblance to the incumbent 7-Series that’s out on the market these days.
But before we get too carried away with our comparisons, we’re going to hold on to our horses until BMW’s official unveiling.
When some manufacturers think that building one million cars is an achievement in itself – well, in some cases, it is – they should nonetheless try to take a page out of BMW’s remarkable output.
The German automaker’s 5-Series line, which began production back in 1972, has produced well over 5 million units. To be exact, this particular 525 xDrive Touring became car no. 5,555,555, which, if you’re keeping count, is a mind-boggling number.
The historic car will not be for sale but will instead be donated to the Bavarian Forest Naitonal Park, the oldest park reserve in all of Germany since it was opened in 1970 - two years before the 5-Series went into production.
To prepare car no. 5,555,555 for its new enclave, BMW outfitted with its xDrive all-wheel technology with a power output of a little under 200 hp and an average fuel consumption of 6.9 liters per 100 km.
We know that success is relative, especially when it comes to an industry as big as the auto biz. Nevertheless, you don’t come across a lot of manufacturers that can claim that they’ve built over 5 million cars from the same line. Props to BMW for achieving a great milestone!
BMW USA announced prices for the 550i GT - the only 5-Series Gran Tursimo version the US market will get. Sales will begin in spring of 2010 at a price of $64,725, including an $825 destination fee.
The 550i GT is powered by a 4.4L V8 engine that delivers a total of 400-hp and a peak torque of 450 lb-ft. The engine is mated to a new 8-speed automatic transmission and sprints the car from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds, while top speed is 150 mph when equipped with the Sport Package (priced at $4,200).
The next generation BMW 5 Series won’t be revealed until November 23 but that hasn’t stopped a lot of us from speculating as to what the new car would look like.
Thanks to a recent spy video - and minimal camouflaging by BMW – that was taken of the 5 Series taking in a few test laps, we finally have an idea, small as it may be, of what the new 5 Series would look like. As an added bonus, we also get to see all three variants of the 5 Series in the video: the M5, the F10 sedan, and the F11 Touring.
While the video does shed some light on what to expect from the new 5 Series, BMW has nonetheless kept pretty much everything under wraps for its November 23 launch.
For a lot of us that have been waiting anxiously for that day to come, this video is about as close as we can get to seeing the next-gen 5 Series before then. You know what they say, beggars can’t be choosers.
After months of speculations, BMW officially announced today that the 2011 5-Series sedan will make its world debut on November 23rd. The future sedan will feature a "sporting and elegant design", inspired by both the 7-Series limousine and the sports activity vehicle 5-Series GT.
The next BMW 5-Series should be based on three elements: larger, lower and lighter. The car is expected to share a chassis with the 7-Series, but it will weight less because the engine lineup is expected to use smaller engines with turbochargers.
Hartge has revealed a new customization program for the new BMW 5-Series GT. They mode a few modifications to the suspensions, body, interior and wheels, leaving the engine unchanged.
The Hartge 5-Series GT get a new sport spring set that lowers the ride by 30 mm, Hartge set of emblems for bonnet and boot lid, aluminum pedals and foot rest and also an aluminum emblem for the center of the steering wheel.
The tuner is also offering a set of 22" wheels, in four different designs and finishes.
A new set of wheels can go a long way towards improving the appearance of an automobile. Not only do they change the car’s stance, but when done correctly, they can completely transform the vehicle’s character. The German tuner AC Schnitzer has come up with a few new offerings tailored to fit the BMW 5-Series GT alter the more spacious luxury sedan’s appearance according to the owner’s preference. For the first time AC Schnitzer is offering their new ten spoke Type VIII Racing Forged Wheel as well as their classic Type V Lightweight Forged Wheel and the two tone Type IV BiColor rim sized anywhere from 19 to 22 inches in diameter.
To go along with the new shoes, AC Schnitzer also has a few performance upgrades like a set of sport tuned rear silencers and polished tailpipes a reworked suspension for improved handling and better road feel. There are also a few aerodynamic components in the works from AC Schnitzer that will emphasize the bold character of their rim selection.
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