BMW 5 SERIES REVIEW

Photo Courtesy: BMW India

When we hear the name BMW, the first thing that comes to our mind is the circle cut into 4 segments with blue and white shades inside another circle.

What else we think about?

A German automobile company, headquartered in Munich, which has Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc. as its subsidiary, and many more.

BMW  (Bayerische Motoren Werke in German/ Bavarian Motor Works) is a German multinational company which currently produces automobiles and motorcycles.

Today we’re going to talk about the BMW 5 series.

BMW launched its 5 series 7th generation in India in June 2017. The 7th generation looks much sharper than before. BMW 5 series is a modern business sedan with some sporty touch; you can see that in its looks.

Photo Courtesy: BMW India

SPECIFICATION

ENGINE        

       

Type                                             4-cyl, turbo-petrol (P)

Cubic Capacity (cc)                      1998cc (P)                       

                                                     1995cc (D)

                                                      2993cc (D AT)

Max Power (hp @ rpm)                252hp at 5200rpm (P)

                                                     190hp at 4000rpm (D)

                                                      265hp at 4000rpm (D AT)

Max Torque (Nm @ rpm)              350Nm at 1450-4800rpm (P)

                                                     400Nm at 1750-2500rpm (D)

                                                     620Nm at 2000-2500rpm (D AT)

TRANSMISSION  

             

Gearbox Type                               Automatic

No of Gears                                  8

BODY

Front Tyre                                    245/45 R18

Rear Tyre                                     245/45 R18

DIMENSION

Length (mm)                                4936mm

Width (mm)                                  1868mm

Height (mm)                                 1466mm

Wheelbase (mm)                          2975mm

Looks and Design

It has got its all new fresh look, new headlamps to new tail light even from the side-view, it’s stunning. These new headlamps extend from centre grill to the outer edge and the tail light has been stretched a bit wider, which helps to enhance the sporty touch.

The car looks elegant, smart and gorgeous from any angle and same goes for the interior. Interior of 5 series is so much better than the previous one and it’s so elegant and luxuries. The entire car, when touched, feels good; it feels like proper BMW’s finished product.

The I Drive display is bigger and is provided with better graphics. Even the instrument cluster is fully digital but the combination of analogue and digital is so nicely put together. It has got Harman Kardon surround system and the quality of sound is so rich and accurate.

It has also got 4 zones air conditioning by which each one in the car can have temperature and other settings be customized as per their requirement. All the seats are made from Nappa leather with the perfect fit and finish with an elegant touch.

Ambient interior lighting extended with Mood lights including six selectable light designs which make interior looks good even at night.

For years this car has been the bestselling car in this price range in many countries.

Photo Courtesy: BMW India

The Tech and Ergonomics

It is not just about the looks and feels, 5 series is packed with technology.

For starters, 5 series has got the small touchscreen on the key using which you can park your car in tight spaces which comes under parking assistance. It does not just end there, it has also got surround view including top view PDC with linear guidelines, and by using all these the car can park itself automatically and perfectly by calculating all the perimeters.

It has also got BMW heads-up display on which you can see the speed and maps. It has even got wireless charging which can charge 2 phone simultaneously and wirelessly connect to the I drive system. The I drive system can be operated using touch gesture or by voice.

In the front portion of the car, it has got grills which are there just not for show but for a purpose. It has active wings which help in directing airflow and reducing the drag coefficient to 0.22 (well that’s very hi-tech to understand :P).

Photo Courtesy: BMW India

Performance and Drive Quality

Now let’s talk about dynamics, performance and ride quality of the car.

The first imprecision of 5 series (7th generation) will be that it is a bit more inclined towards comfort then sports. But BMW says that ‘it is a business class sedan first and then a sports sedan’.

But those are just first impression we get when we drive. When driving at low speeds, it soaks out bumps and gives pure luxury comfort ride until you hammer down.

It has got multiple driving modes, in 520d you have only 3 modes sports, comfort and eco-pro, but in 530d you have one additional mode, that is called the adaptive. In adaptive mode, the car understands you’re driving behaviours and pattern and maximizes it.

They have tried to make the car as light as possible using lightweight materials and in the process, they have lost 100 kg in the latest version compared to the older one, and as less always means better performance, you can expect more.

Dynamics of the car is really well, and on a twisty curvy road, the car feels agile and sharp. Even in the straight line, it can hit 0-100kph in 6 seconds. It has also got launch control system, wow!

Photo Courtesy: BMW India

Price: - 62, 71,238 – 77, 87,764 (INR)

Final verdict

Looks and design: 9/10

Specs & features: 9/10

Dynamics & performance: 9/10

Safety & quality: 9/10

After-sale service: 8/10

This car is a gem, not just in looks but in all aspects. If you have a budget close to its price, you should buy it.

At last, you can say, it is the best blend of luxury and sports car.

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