2017 BMW 5-Series

The design of the new BMW 5-Series Sedan exudes athletic prowess, elegance and stylistic assurance. The new model therefore remains the quintessential sporting business sedan. "The new BMW 5-Series will make a mature, confidently stylish and dynamic impression at every opportunity. The formal and precise design combines presence, aesthetic appeal and functionality in equal measure," says Karim Habib, Head of Design BMW Automobiles. The exterior dimensions of the new car are only slightly larger than those of its predecessor. The new BMW 5-Series Sedan is 36 millimetres longer than the outgoing model (at 4,935 millimetres), six millimetres wider (1,868 millimetres) and two millimetres taller (1,466 millimetres). Its wheelbase measures 2,975 millimetres (+7 millimetres).

The front end: a more striking face, LED headlights as standard

The familiar BMW kidney grille, flanked by twin circular headlights, lends the front of the new BMW 5-Series a more eye-catching appearance. The glass headlight covers now connect seamlessly with the kidney grille, emphasising the car's width.

The standard LED headlights already make the BMW 5-Series a captivating prospect, its concentrated gaze locked onto the road. Adaptive LED Headlights alter the light graphic and can be specified as an option with BMW Selective Beam anti-dazzle high beam with a range of up to 500 metres. The LED tubes of the daytime driving lights are hexagonal and extend up to the kidney grille element, creating a stylistic connection which accentuates the wide, low-to-the-road appearance of the front end.

The side view: short overhangs, elongated silhouette

The new BMW 5-Series Sedan cuts a dynamic figure before it has so much as turned a wheel. The passenger cell is set back when viewed in relation to the long wheelbase and leads the eye over a flowing roofline to the rear end, while a short front overhang underscores the car's sporting appearance. "For the first time, the new BMW 5-Series Sedan brings together two traditional BMW design elements which are normally separate from one another. The swage line turns up as it heads rearwards, moving from shadow to light and sweeping up the Hofmeister kink in its path rather than continuing into the rear. This upwards motion lends the car a forward-surging character, and the expressive, swooping surface imbues it with an undeniable muscularity," explains Habib.

The rear: a visually lower centre of gravity

The low-slung, expressive and width-accentuating design of the rear end points to the dynamic, direct handling of the new BMW 5-Series Sedan. The rear lights reach deep into the sides of the car, creating a visual connection between its flanks and rear end. Cutting-edge LED bars enable a slim interpretation of the hallmark BMW "L" shape and underline the width of the new sedan. Other defining elements of the rear end include the exhaust tailpipes, which are now arranged symmetrically on both sides on all model variants. Depending on the engine and equipment package specified, the tailpipes will be circular, trapezoidal or rectangular and in a quartet.

Significantly lower drag coefficient sets the sedan benchmark

The BMW engineers carried out a large number of detail optimisations to reduce the drag coefficient of the new BMW 5-Series Sedan by 10 per cent compared to its predecessor and set a new sedan benchmark of Cd = 0.22. For example, all new BMW 5-Series models will now come with active air flap control for the radiator. This system opens the louvres in the kidney grille elements and lower air intakes when more cooling air is required, but otherwise keeps them closed to optimise aerodynamic efficiency.

The Air Curtains in the front apron team up with Air Breathers to cut air turbulence in the wheel arches significantly and channel the onrushing air effectively as the car pushes through it. A further improvement in the drag coefficient comes courtesy of optimised trim and airflow-channelling elements fitted across the whole of the underbody; these provide a considerable degree of underbody sealing. Another consequence of these measures is a reduction in lift, which enhances dynamics.

A total of 21 colours, wheels in 17-inch to 20-inch sizes

Two non-metallic and 11 metallic colour shades are available for the new BMW 5-Series, and six BMW Individual paint finishes and two BMW Individual Frozen paint finishes will join the selection over the course of 2017. Customers can choose from a total of 17 different light-alloy wheels (17-inch to 20-inch). And the Original BMW Accessories range offers another three complete wheel sets in 20-inch format.

Distinctive looks: the Sport Line and Luxury Line

BMW offers the Sport Line and Luxury Line equipment packages for the BMW 5-Series, allowing it to be tailored as closely as possible to the customer's personal wishes.

Sport Line shines the spotlight on the car's dynamic character and stands out with numerous trim elements in high-gloss black and line-specific 18-inch light-alloy wheels (optional 19-inch) in a bi-colour polished finish. Opening the doors reveals illuminated aluminium door sill strips with a BMW logo and Sport Line badge. For the interior, Sport Line adds BMW sports seats with cloth/leather covers in the front, a BMW sports leather steering wheel and specific trim strips.

Luxury Line emphasises the car's elegant character with features such as chrome kidney grille bars, Air Breathers and window surrounds. Line-specific light-alloy wheels (standard: 18-inch, optional: 19-inch) underscore its exclusive looks. The aluminium door sill strips with BMW logo bear Luxury Line lettering. Leather covers with contrast stitching and special decorative inlays shine an even brighter light on the high-class character of the interior. The instrument panel is covered in Sensatec.

M Sport package adds extra dynamic allure

The M Sport package will be available from launch for the new BMW 5-Series. It includes the M aerodynamic package (front apron with larger air intakes, side skirt trim, a diffusor-style rear apron and an exhaust system with two rectangular tailpipes), lowered M Sport suspension and M light-alloy wheels in 18-inch (optional 19-inch) format. Inside the car, M sports seats with Alcantara covers highlight its sporting focus and are joined by the new M Sport leather steering wheel, exclusive floor mats, interior trim strips and aluminium pedals.

All equipment lines and the M Sport package also offer customers the option of Sensatec covering in the colour shade Coffee for the instrument panel and shoulder area of the side door panel trim.

Interior and controls

The interior of the new BMW 5-Series Sedan strikes a fine balance between sporty driver focus on the one hand and sophisticated elegance on the other. Top-class materials, supreme build quality and attention to detail, a great feeling of spaciousness and new technologies in abundance combine to offer both driver and passengers comfort and driving pleasure of the highest order. "In the seventh model generation, we have upped the precision and the quality of finish considerably and revolutionised the display and control concept. The result is a BMW 5-Series that once again hits the mark as the ideal business sedan," says Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design.

Luxury travel: more freedom of movement, low noise levels

The low roof line flows smoothly into the tail end, but the new BMW 5-Series nevertheless offers noticeably more headroom in the rear as well as an increased boot capacity of 530 litres. The car feels much roomier inside, something which can be attributed not just to the lowered instrument panel and free-standing display, but also to the cabin's enlarged dimensions, particularly in terms of elbow and shoulder room. Passengers in the rear now have more space to spread out, thanks to the increased kneeroom and extended legroom, while the optimised design of the door cut-outs makes getting in easier than ever.

The headliner with built-in soundproofing forms part of the interior's acoustic design measures

The sound absorbers incorporated into the liner eliminate interfering sounds in the particularly sensitive area close to the occupants' heads. This results in greater comfort in general, but is particularly effective at allowing the driver and passengers in the rear to talk to each other more intelligibly.

The storage pockets in the doors are now able to hold drink bottles up to one litre in size. The cupholders in the centre console are positioned more deeply, ensuring clear access to the controls above at all times, even when they are holding bottles. The extra storage compartment in front of the cupholders can be specified with a wireless charging function for mobile phones as an option.

Seats with massage function, room for up to three child seats in the rear

Even the standard front seats are electrically adjustable and offer tremendous safety and comfort together with a wide choice of materials, plus special decorative stitching and quilting for the optional Dakota and Nappa leather trims. The optional sports seats feature adjustable side bolsters for optimum lateral support through even quickly-taken corners. The multifunction seats, which are available with a massage function, represent the pinnacle in comfort. Eight different massage programmes, each with a choice of three intensity modes, relax the muscles in the back and relieve the strain on the spinal discs while driving. The eight programmes are subdivided into three categories: Mobilisation, Relaxation and Vitality. The massage function uses 20 air chambers incorporated into the seat backrest and cushion, which are alternately inflated and deflated. The driver is furthermore able to set temperature thresholds for activating the seat heating and seat ventilation, as well as the steering wheel heating - a highly convenient feature which starts heating or ventilation automatically when the temperature falls below or rises above the respective limit.

There is room for up to three adults on the rear seats

When the middle seat isn't occupied, passengers in the rear can make use of the centre armrest and its integral cupholders. A through-loading system can be added as an option. The rear seat is designed to allow room for up to three child seats (the two outer places have ISOFIX attachments).

Contact sensors for the seat control

Using the multitude of seat adjustment options has been made as easy as possible to allow the driver and front passenger to get as comfortable as possible. The new seat adjustment switches with touch-sensitive sensors are a major help here. When a finger touches the switch located on the outside edge of the seat, thereby activating one of its five sensors, the corresponding menu opens in the central display. Lightly pressing on the switch again then carries out the desired adjustment, all clearly illustrated by a matching animation in the display.

Gesture control, voice control, touchscreen and iDrive Controller

Gesture control for key functions was premiered last year in the BMW 7-Series, and the BMW 5-Series now features the latest version of this system. Navigation, telephone, entertainment features and vehicle functions can be visualised on the optionally available high-resolution 10.25-inch screen and controlled not just in the usual manner using the iDrive Controller, but also by means of gestures, voice commands or simply touching the buttons on the display.

These buttons, which are clearly arranged in a total of six large pads over two screen pages, provide the driver with direct access to functions as well as a live display of the associated content. The button for the entertainment programme, for example, shows the song that's currently playing complete with album cover, and when the navigation function is active the driver can see the route the vehicle is taking in the main menu's navigation button pad. If the driver now touches this map section, the navigation screen opens, showing the detailed map view. Touching a pad's header line, on the other hand, opens the respective function's main menu, in this case the navigation menu. It is therefore possible to access the desired content swiftly and surely. The two sets of three pads can be rearranged as desired, allowing drivers to position the menus they use most in the first screen. One of the new button functions is a message centre, where all incoming SMS messages, emails and information about the car's operating state can be found.

Users select menu options and the associated functions in the usual way with the iDrive Controller or by simply tapping the button on the touch display with their finger.

The new BMW 5-Series can also be operated by means of gestures or voice control, as the driver prefers. BMW gesture control offers a particularly intuitive and easy way of operating commonly used infotainment system and telephone functions. All that is needed are simple movements of the hand or fingers, which are detected by a 3D sensor in the vicinity of the centre console and translated into commands: pointing at the screen with the index finger is all it takes to accept a phone call, for instance, while a swiping motion with the hand rejects it. The swiping action can also be used to open submenus. Tracing a circle with the index finger adjusts the audio system's volume, and the driver can pull their thumb and index finger away from the navigation map towards them to zoom in on that section of the map. And the two-finger victory sign can be used to carry out an individually selectable command, such as instructing the navigation system to start route guidance to the home address or skipping to the next track in a playlist.

More functions than ever before can be controlled using gestures in the new BMW 5-Series Sedan. The voice dialogue system can also be started and terminated in this way, for instance, and the navigation system option "Resume route guidance" confirmed or declined.

The Intelligent Voice Assistant offers the most advanced level of natural voice control currently available. Instead of having to use set spoken commands, the driver can formulate their request in everyday language and simply ask, for example, where the nearest Italian restaurant is. Besides German and English, the most sophisticated generation of the Voice Assistant also understands Chinese, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Japanese, depending on where the vehicle is being delivered to.

Latest-generation multicolour Head-Up Display

In the new BMW 5-Series, drivers can see the most pertinent information on current traffic conditions, navigation instructions, warnings from the driver assistance systems, phone lists and the track currently being played by the infotainment system without having to avert their gaze from the road. This is thanks to the latest generation of the BMW Head-Up Display, which projects a wealth of information onto the windscreen as and when it is required. With a resolution of 800 x 400 pixels, the projection area is around 70 per cent larger than in the outgoing model, resulting in even more relaxed driving with complete concentration on the road ahead.

A good climate at all times, air ionisation and Ambient light

The new BMW 5-Series Sedan is equipped as standard with two-zone automatic climate control featuring independent temperature control for driver and front passenger. A version with extended functionality is available as an option, with features such as automatic activation of the air recirculation function, for instance when driving through a tunnel. Also on the list of optional extras is a four-zone climate control system that allows passengers in the rear to adjust the temperature, air distribution and airflow using a separate control console.

The Ambient Air package uses ionisation to ensure the air inside the passenger compartment is of the highest quality. Besides ionising the air, the package also comprises a unit for fragrancing the vehicle interior with selected scents. Three levels of intensity can be set for the fragrancing, and there is a choice of eight scents in all. These come in the form of cartridges that are plugged into the system inside the glove compartment. There are connections here for two different scent cartridges.

The optional Ambient light function also serves to enhance the occupants' sense of wellbeing. The coloured LED light provides harmonious illumination of the interior and accentuates its design contours, particularly around the instrument panel and the doors. There is a choice of eleven different lighting effects with six different light colours, and the brightness can also be adjusted individually.

Surround sound delivers flawless listening pleasure

A surround sound system from Bowers & Wilkins with diamond tweeters is available for the first time in the new BMW 5-Series range. This optional high-end audio system is renowned for delivering the ultimate in listening pleasure. The 10-channel amplifier feeds a total of 16 speakers with brushed stainless steel grilles sporting the exclusive Fibonacci-patterned holes, which illuminate when the system is switched on. Total output is an impressive 1,400 watts. A measuring microphone is built into the car to allow the acoustics to be precision tuned to the specific conditions - for example, the number of occupants - in order to create a flawless surround sound experience for everyone in the car. What's more, the sound setting can be matched to the selected music genre.

Alternatively, there is the option of a nine-channel sound system with 16 speakers and a total output of 600 watts from Harman Kardon, as well as an eight-channel system with 12 speakers. The Professional radio with twin tuner fitted as standard comes with six speakers.

The optional Rear-seat entertainment Professional system offers occupants in the rear the luxury of two independently controlled, high-resolution 10.2-inch screens with DVD player, which also include connections for MP3 players, USB devices, games consoles and headphones. Passengers can also access the vehicle's entertainment functions, such as the TV, radio or the DVD changer, as well as surf the internet or use their phone.

Luggage compartment: ample proportions and easy loading

The new BMW 5-Series Sedan boasts a larger, 530-litre boot. The boot sill has been lowered compared to its predecessor, which combines with the larger boot opening and the substantial increase in width to ensure that even bulky items can be loaded more easily than ever. Luggage capacity can be increased with the optional through-loading facility, which allows the rear backrest to be folded flat with a 40:20:40 split. Also available as an option is the automatic opening and closing function, which is triggered with either the key or a carefully aimed flick of the foot when standing at the rear of the car.

Powertrain and EfficientDynamics

The seventh model generation of the BMW 5-Series places the focus firmly on driving pleasure. This is in no small part down to its state-of-the-art engines, which form the basis for both sharper performance and lower fuel consumption figures. Not only does the new BMW 5-Series Sedan surpass its predecessors in both of these disciplines, it leads the way in the segment as a whole. A choice of two petrol and two diesel power units with four and six cylinders will be available from launch.

New engine family with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology

All members of the newly developed, modular BMW EfficientDynamics engine family feature an extremely lightweight, thermodynamically optimised all-aluminium construction. Thanks to their unrivalled BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, they meld maximum power with exemplary efficiency, and all comply with the EU6 emission standard.

The petrol units employ TwinScroll turbocharging, High Precision Injection, Double-VANOS variable camshaft control and Valvetronic fully variable valve timing. The diesel models, meanwhile, feature a turbocharger with variable turbine geometry and latest-generation common-rail direct injection, which generates injection pressure of up to 2,500 bar. The diesel exhaust systems operate using BMW BluePerformance technology, which combines close-coupled particulate filters and oxidation catalysts with a NOx storage catalyst. Exhaust gas aftertreatment in all diesel models is performed with the aid of SCR technology, including a water-cooled metering module for the AdBlue fluid, which serves to cut nitrogen oxide emissions still further. AdBlue can now also be replenished from special pumps at filling stations, allowing the reservoir to be topped up more quickly and conveniently.

BMW 530i and BMW 540i: new four and six-cylinder petrol engines

The new two-litre four-cylinder in-line engine in the BMW 530i supersedes the petrol unit previously fitted in the BMW 528i. The turbocharged direct injection engine delivers its peak output of 185 kW/252 hp (up 5 kW/7 hp on its predecessor) between 5,200 and 6,500 rpm, and puts its maximum torque of 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) on tap from 1,450 rpm all the way up to 4,800 rpm. Average fuel consumption works out at 5.4 l/100 km (52.3 mpg imp), equating to CO2 emissions of 126 g/km. CO2 emissions have therefore dropped by around 11 per cent compared to before. The BMW 530i sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.2 seconds and reaches a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

The range-topping engine for the time being can be found in the new BMW 540i and generates 250 kW/340 hp (+25 kW/34 hp) between 5,500 and 6,500 rpm. The three-litre straight-six musters up a mighty 450 Nm / 332 lb ft of torque (+50 Nm/37 lb-ft) from 1,380 - 5,200 rpm. Despite the superior output and the resulting extra dose of dynamic ability, average consumption is a frugal 6.5 l/100 km (43.5 mpg imp). CO2 emissions come in at 150 g/km, a reduction of eleven per cent over the outgoing model. The sedan powers from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 5.1 seconds and top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph). The all-wheel-drive BMW 540i xDrive sets a new class-beating time of 4.8 seconds for the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph). Its fuel consumption is 6.7 l/100 km (42.2 mpg imp) and CO2 emissions come in at 156 g/km.

BMW 520d and BMW 530d: four and six-cylinder diesel engines

The four-cylinder diesel unit powering the BMW 520d has an output of 140 kW/190 hp at 4,000 rpm and unleashes its maximum torque of 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) between 1,750 and 2,500 rpm. Gearshifts are made with either a six-speed manual transmission or the eight-speed Steptronic. Fuel consumption with the eight-speed Steptronic comes in at just 4.0 l/100 km (70.6 mpg imp), resulting in CO2 emissions of 107 g/km. The sedan accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.7 seconds and clocks a top speed of 237 km/h (147 mph).

The ongoing development of BMW TwinPower Turbo technology has endowed the new BMW 530d with added dynamism and efficiency. With output peaking at 195 kW/265 hp at 4,000 rpm (+5 kW/7 hp) and formidable maximum torque of 620 Nm / 457 lb-ft (+60 Nm +44 lb-ft) from 2,000 - 2,500 rpm, the straight-six engine outstrips the model it replaces by some margin. Yet despite its impressive performance figures, the BMW 530d makes do with 4.5 litres of fuel per 100 km (62.8 mpg imp) on average, equating to CO2 emissions of 118 g/km. This represents a reduction of over 12 per cent compared to its predecessor. The new BMW 530d completes the 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint in 5.7 seconds, and its top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph).