Even though I am living in Belgium I think I am well placed to reply to your question.
First, I wish to stress that I am not a BMW fanatic, my heart lies with Jaguars and Range Rovers, that sort of thing.
Over the course of the years however, I have had a number of BMWs, and invariably they all were very good.
As I am looking for a new car, I have tested most of the cars that were tested in the road&track review.
To me the BMW seemed like a very coherent machine, like all BMWs the new 5series still seems like it was crafted from one piece of metal and it is very much an excellent car, although I could do without the I-drive. I even like the styling
of the new BMWs. In my opinion the BMW would beat all others, except maybe for the excellent S-type (if only it were more roomy in the back!)
And let's not forget that BMW did the Range Rover and Rolls Royce Phantom, two of the best (and most expensive) cars in the world.
What strikes me as very strange however is the victory of the very mediocre Cadillac CTS. I'm guessing it must have been a V-spec.
But even with 400bhp it could not have won over a 530i, could it. I have found the fit and finish very flimsy, and styling interesting but awkwardly narrow.
Suspension is so incoherent on bad roads, it seemed to jump all the time when I drove it, and the gearbox was also very slow on kickdown.
Never mind, the subject was BMW, and BMWs are still excellent.
Then why haven't I bought one? I am afraid that all of these cars are outrun by the new Jaguar XJ6, a model not available in the U.S.
Even though it is much larger, it weighs less than all of the tested cars, and is powered by a 240bhp V6. In these times of speed control performance is more than adequate and over here the price is equivalent to a well specked 530i/E320 (some €65,000 incl. VAT).
Keep up the good work, greetings
Mischa B.
Brussels, Belgium
The 5 Series ranking the R&T article is just the tip of the iceberg.
I've purchased three new BMW's since '00. The first was so bad BMW bought it back. They retained me as a customer when they swapped me into a replacement '02 330i at no charge, despite 11,000 miles on my old '00 coupe. The 330i has had decent reliability, but its quality isn't even close to what I've experienced with Asian brands.
The third car is an '03 325i that I bought as a birthday gift for my mother. In less than 9,000 miles she's had to be towed in three times; it's been at Vista BMW (Florida) for a full 39 days over eight repair visits. Apparently, I placed my mother in the "BMW Product Test Team" when I bought this car--what a mess. (Now there's a new "dealer only" service bulletin on the infamous Bremi ignition coils; too bad they couldn't learn from Audi/VW's experience with these coils from over two years ago.)
BMW's quality is simply atrocious. Furthermore, the local BMW NA representative has actually lied to us, telling us the car "fully meets the Florida Lemon Law criteria" and later telling BMW headquarters that "the car doesn't meet the criteria for a lemon." Their latest insult was their customer satisfaction "offer" to us to make up for all the trouble my mother has endured; it's actually less than they would have to offer under Florida's Lemon Law.
I am sending our thick stack of service receipts (and the correspondence that BMW never bothered to acknowledge) to an attorney in Florida later this week. How quickly they've turned me from a "Customer for Life" who used to strongly recommend their cars, into someone who warns others away from the brand at every opportunity. BMW today is a shadow of what used to be a very special car brand.
Thanks for telling it like it is, and warning others that BMW has lost its way . . . .
Sincerely,
Mark P.
Texas
In my view, BMW has lost its direction, and has rightly lost favor with the auto mags. Their "Flame Surface" styling can be called innovative, provocative, polarizing, or just about anything other than "beautiful." It reminds one of Asian styling cues, or even those of Chrysler's posteriors. In the "old days", BMW's greatest sin was being perhaps a tad conservative in their styling department.
BMW's interiors have become stylized, trendy, and gadget-laden. The iDrive, which has been revised (read "dummied down" for BMW's non-technical drivers) for the new 5, still fails to gain popularity, and auto reviewers and 7-series owners alike are left scratching their head wondering if a turn-signal stalk really needed to be "automated" while removing the manual cancellation feature. Not too long ago, BMW's harshest criticism in this respect was that the interiors, though perfectly functional and ergonomically sound, didn't look "as modern" as the latest offerings from other makes. BMW has yet to learn what the music synthesizer industry learned in the mid 1980s, and that is that a single controller that lets you select a parameter then enter/adjust the value (like iDrive) is sub-optimal for real-time interaction.
Fortunately, BMW's cars still drive and handle really well, but for many folks like me, I can't see myself aspiring to own an unattractive and slightly awkward, yet "really good" car. It's like having an ugly dog that you'll eventually get used to.
FYI, I own 3 BMWs, a '97 328 cab, a '98 Z3 2.8, and a BMW motorcycle, and I love them all for being built well, for being solid performers, and for being attractive. When I got each of them, I did it because of passion rather than practicality. At the time, BMW had products that inspired me to do "stupid things" with my money. Now, I am not sure if I have just grown wiser, or if indeed BMW has diminished its ability to motivate me to dump a wad of cash for a new BMW automobile. Mind you, Mercedes is looking mighty good, and I'm starting to collect a nice stack of MB brochures. Hey, wait a minute – that's what happened for the couple of years preceding the purchase of my first BMW.
-Steve
I never understood how the automotive press continued to rate BMW’s so highly year after year. I’ve had lots of cars in my life including one BMW. Some of them were temporary cars while I waited for my factory ordered cars to arrive. The BMW was by far the largest disappointment and worst experience I’ve had with all of my cars. I made it a point to question people I met about their cars when I learned that they had a BMW. For the most part they told me how much they liked their cars and that they were trouble free. When I pressed them, they confessed that the cars were a maintenance nightmare. I haven’t met anybody with a new 7 that doesn’t hate the iDrive system and had significant problems with it. The truth is finally being exposed about these overpriced unreliable cars. It’s just taken too many years for the press to discover what most BMW owners have regrettably known for years.
Stephan
When you mess with a design that works that much you're just rolling the dice. BMW blew it with the new 04 design.
Tom
Mill Valley, CA
While I will admit that I have not read the entire article, I do not see how the BMW could have ranked this low in this class of cars. Sure, it has a lot of problems with the styling and iDrive. We all know about that. But, it still has the advantage of being a BMW at heart. Sporty performance. While across the board the new 5er has not been as critically acclaimed as the previous generation, I can't believe that it would fall this low.
I think the BMW camp has split very sharply between the lovers and haters, and very little ground in between. A lot of the criticism is deserved. While the exterior styling is livable, the interior styling is poor. BMW was never known for this aspect, and it shows!
The biggest criticism that I have with this comparo is the selection of cars. I mean, the CTS and Chrysler 300. What are they doing here? And considering that CTS reviews have been lackluster, placing first is a little suspicious.
Torolf
Absolutely! The I-Drive is an abomination and the new 5 is quite ugly.
Dave M
I have 2 BMWs in the family an //M Roadster and a new 745i. -- Nice cars but the Dealer is arrogant and indifferent…BMW customer service is rude.
I also have a S4 Audi -- it's our car of choice for a ride or just going to the store.
BMW is "old " design + the German politics are offensive and this balanced with the Japanese and US contemporary new designs will move me to a US car, my first choice or Japanese if their hybrids live up to expectations –
They (the Japanese) have been helpful and sympathetic to the US --- I appreciate this a lot…
Ronald O
Upstate New York
As a current BMW owner (2001 530i Sport), I have to agree with R&T. I have not driven the new E60 5-series, but from what I have read in several auto publications it is no major improvement over the E39. No way does it justify the $55K price tag -- $55K should be the price of a loaded 545i. I thought I would start to like the new exterior by now but it still does not appeal to me (same with the new 7). Hopefully, the new 3-series due next year is not "Bangle-ized". I am very disappointed in the direction that BMW is headed in both exterior and interior styling.....Pricing is also a concern, I am about to trade in my 530i for a new Infiniti 280 HP G35 Coupe for about $35K, as where, a loaded 330i with Performance package and only
235 HP would cost almost $48K -- is a 235 HP 330i worth $48K?? I don't think
so.
Nick
I own an 01 325i, and love it. I'm also a BMWCCA member, and really want to like BMW's latest creations. But, someone would probably have to pay me to drive an e60, e65, x3, z4 or 6er. The interior and exterior design and quality is laughably atrocious. I am very happy to see more reviewers putting BMW in their place for their ridiculous styling, cheap and ugly interiors and horrible ergonomics. I'm hoping that they'll eventually get the "kick in the ass" they need to start addressing these issues.
RG
Too early to say what the results really mean. If one doesn't like the new design or the I-Drive then the numbers are what they are. Road and Track editors apparently don't.
If there was a subjective category for what Company and car attempts to set itself apart from the mainstream then the BMW 5 series would get extra points, putting it in the top three cars on the list. Okay, so the BMW 5 series design and ergonomics are (as they are in the 7 series) controversial and may not be for everyone. If I wanted to be like everyone else I would buy a Honda Accord. But make no mistake, BMW is the ultimate driving machine. You can tell because BMW drivers are the ones smiling when they drive their cars.
Robert
BMW has always been my “go to” choice for a real driver’s car that with just enough comfort (and seats) to still feel like an adult while really enjoying yourself. Other German sedan makers have not offered any real competition in that segment and have preferred to focus on customers more interested in luxury. Now, BMW seems to think they should be more like those other guys. In a fascinating Germanic game of follow the leader, the cars are becoming more and more alike as every maker rushes to add the latest hard-to-use electronic gizmos and computerized systems that take the responsibility for driving the car out of the hands of the driver. My wife recently test drove a new 330i. She said it felt disconnected and preferred to keep driving her 1994 325i four door. Oops! If BMW abandons their core customers they will do so at their peril and leave the door open for US and Japanese makers whose new offerings seem to offer an increasingly serious challenge.
Matt P.
In my opinion, BMW is and has always been a second rate Gerrnan car. I unfortunately have owned 3 and all have been BAD. Now they are BAD and UGLY. Porsche and Mercedes are miles better and I own two of each.
Linda
I cannot attest to the new and unproven BMW 530, however I am the unfortunate lessee of a 2004 BMW 745LI and I can assure you that I thought that there would never be a car that could make Jaguar look good, but this is it.
I have had problems with the built in phone, ride control system, emissions and most troubling of all, spontaneous acceleration. This model has been available for the past two years and I am confident that this car will be perfect when my lease is over, in another two and one half years, if I survive the spontaneous acceleration problem. The boys at BMW really do not have a clue as to how to correctly repair this car; and I am convinced that all the corrected software has yet to be written to correct this car's computer problems.
In my opinion, no one deserves a car like my 745. They have now had two plus years to make this a truly luxury car in every sense of the word. It is only expensive. I would obviously not recommend any new BMW. The only consolation that I have is that I did not buy this piece of junk-----they get it back.
In answer to your question====they are rated too well.
Seymour
It’s not too surprising to me that the BMW 530i almost caught last place in the latest test. BMW’s styling and material quality seems to be degrading as of late. And, the car does it all while maintaining a price tag $4k steeper than the equivalent Mercedes which have a long history of costing more than their competitors. BMW advocates might say that the spirit of BMW lives on in the new “exciting” designs and fun to drive vehicles but something has been lost. That “Soul of a BMW” has almost morphed into the ”Soul of Chris Bangle,” which many will argue is a deep, dark path to be headed.
What is very most surprising is that the coveted and highly idealized Mercedes E class was beat out of first place. Not by one of it’s German competitors mind you but by an American relic of another time, reborn. Just as shocking, Chrysler isn’t far behind (although they do have inspiration from above). Could this be the return of the American car? Somehow I doubt that caddy will ever come to overtake the big 4 from Europe (MB, BMW, Audi, Jag) but then again…. It seems it just did.
Jon
No. They are not. I own a non-Bangelized E38 sport and am an avid BMW fan. When the new 7 was introduced two years ago, I was concerned. One of the execs at BMW said something to effect that "if you see the whole lineup together, you will appreciate the beauty of the new design". Well, we now have quite a few models in the new lineup and I think it is clear that BMW has gone in a different direction, albeit resolutely and with solidarity. People may not like the new direction, but it is a coherent move and all the new BMWs certainly look cutting edge. As a matter of personal opinion, I think the problem lies in the following: BMWs (unlike any other 4 door car) are more sporty than luxurious. The pre 2002 model year cars didn't reflect this as bluntly as the new models do. Many people are having problems with this. The mass number of automotive morons who think that BMWs are just slightly sportier and better priced Mercedes are all now in shock! Because the new 6 isn't as beautiful as the SL, and the 5. Oh! The nerve of BMW to ruin the 5! Now many of the previous 5 series owners are going to buy E500s. The E500 is a rolling coffin. Its looks, although handsome, are now dated - before the whole model line has even been introduced! This is best illustrated by comparing the E500 wagon with the new 5 wagon - one is angular, muscular and sharp, the other looks like it belongs in the Cleaver's garage. What I'm getting at here is that BMW has taken some of the race car inspired engineering that we all know and love, and converted it into exterior styling. And the people who don't like the new cars, are probably the same people who wouldn't buy BMWs for their performance but rather for their status. Well, f%#k em! Let them cruise in their build quality deficient canoes from Stuttgart, or their soulless, noiseless sewing machines from the land of the rising sun. This new styling helps BMW to separate itself from the masses (although it is those masses and their dollars that keep car companies afloat). I applaud BMWs gumption. There also seems to be another pocket of automotive enthusiasts who are not comfortable with the design of the new BMW, but do appreciate their driving dynamics (read: middle-aged auto magazine journalists). I honestly think the new cars are beyond them. Depending on the exterior color and wheels etc...The new BMWs can expose the weaknesses in your wardrobe, hairstyle and general appearance very quickly. You'll look like you borrowed your 33 year-old Manhattan stock broker son's car stepping out of a black on black 545i in your favorite golf polo and a pair of khaki's with loafers and no socks. Or picture a 60 year old woman wearing the whole burlap outfit with a big 1980s "Alexis Colby Carrington" hat stepping out of a 645ci. It doesn't work as well as the same woman in an SL. So the bottom line is, BMW has used exterior styling to draw boundaries to define its intended customer base, and some BMW fans/buyers are not sure how to react to the fact that they are now outside of those boundaries. At least, dats wat I tink....
DR
I'm a big BMW fan, but after seeing the interior of the new 5 Series, I went out and purchased a 2004 Audi A6 4.2. Hard to believe it is the last model year for this great looking (inside & out) car.
We may replace my wife's 2000 540iT wagon in a couple years with an Audi if BMW does not fix that ugly interior.....and offer all wheel drive!
Mike
Yes, for several reasons...
1) i-drive
2) Styling (the 5 has those over-the-top wrap around turn signals and the also funny looking wrap around brake lights)
3) Cost
4) The 530 is underpowered and needs the 3.5 engine
Maybe the next generation 3-series can save BMW (if it's not too late)!
Trish
BMW is certainly not slipping. R&T, a year ago, put the same CTS, with a different engine in the 3-series class, so of course, it would be faster and would be performing better, because it is smaller and lighter. Also, this is the BMW 530i. If they were to test the 545i or the upcoming 535i, it would be a totally different story. You cannot expect BMW's, along with the other German cars, to compete in price, because that is just what you have to pay, for superior built.
Another concern I have with the test is that they tested the Audi A6 3.0, which is the older one, which will be replaced by the newer A6 3.2. Even then it would only be appropriate to test the A6 2.7 or 4.2, because it is the top of the line A6, besides for the RS6 or new up coming RS6, because the other manufacturers got to use their top of the line in the class... It is unfair, and I think that if they want to test, they should not base it on the similar price level, in the class, but rather the similar trim level in the class, ie. 545i is the top of the line, and the Volvo S80 has the T5, and the CTS, well, they only have 1 trim level, but they are lighter and they could be in either class, so its only right to use the top of the line of each of the manufacturers...
Regards,
Jovi V
Perhaps the competition is just improving faster than BMW.
I’d love to be in a focus group that offers feedback to BMW, but my suggestions would focus on minor stuff – like getting the reddish 6 interior on the 5 instead of the auburn. The over-all driving experience is still second to none. I took delivery of a 545i about five weeks ago. This past week, I was away on business. Yes I missed my family, but I missed my car too!
Before getting my car, I thought I would loath iDrive based on all that I read. But I after a few days with it, I wouldn’t go back to the dash of a thousand buttons. It (at least Version 2 of iDrive) is a terrific system and improves the driving experience. You might say that I am an iDrive convert. Next, I want to mention active steering. This is absolutely a step forward. You realize how good it is when you go back to a conventional steering system. A friend has the Mercedes AMG coupe – amazing acceleration – but dark ages steering compared to the BMW system. Some writers say it takes a while to get used to active steering. Rubbish. But, be careful when you drive quickly in a conventional steering system after enjoying the active steering. The active roll control works very well, but is more a benefit to the passenger’s experience. In short the 545i is an awesome car. However if the 530 or 540 diesels were available, I’d likely have gone for one of them instead. I also think the X3 with the diesel would be an excellent vehicle.
Michael B
Vancouver, BC
BMW is taking hits for several reasons:
1. The new "Bangle" look is a dud. Most people hate it; a few love it.
2. Germans (and French) tend to make things too complex to learn easily/use intuitively. The more upscale the car, the more complex, the less intuitive, and yet the well-off person buying/leasing doesn't have the time/patience for all the techno-complexity. The Japanese seem more adept at making technology accessible, user-friendly, and intuitive. They study their customers -- the Germans still study themselves.
3. Reliability is down in part due to excessive complexity, in part due to outsourcing to avoid outrageous labor and production costs in Western Europe.
4. Weak dollar/strong Euro is driving up prices against competitive Asian and even American cars.
5. The German car buyer is looking for status as much if not more than performance -- Mercedes/BMW/Porsche going "down market" will increase market share, but will hurt profits.
Mercedes and apparently Porsche are in the same hot water. VW will find itself in the same boat unless the quality/reliability/durability on its upper end Passat and Phaeton become a LOT better thanon the NewBeetle/Golf/Jetta.
--SteveD
C’mon guys, this is an easy one. Bangle is the reason bmw is slipping.
at my company's parking lot, there are plenty of bmws. and plenty of new vehicles. but not a single new bmw. and why? they are hideous. our ceo drives a 740 but would not be caught dead in a 745. soooooo ugly.
ditto for me. i've gone the audi route. would sure be nice to see something about them instead of the usual bmw/lexus/acura chatter.
Matt
THAT IS B.S. THE BMW SHOULD BE RANKED NUMBER ONE. CAR MAGAZINES ARE JUST TRYING TO MAKE BMW LOOK BAD BECAUSE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD A BMW ARE JEALOUS AND TRY TO MAKE THEMSELVES LOOK BETTER BY COMPLAINING AND TRYING TO MAKE IT LOOK BAD. BMW SHOULD BE RANKED WHERE THEY DESERVE TO BE RANKED.... NUMBER 1
C
I currently own an E60, 530. I formerly owned an E39, 525.
Yes BMW is slipping! They had the perfect car in the E39 and they weren't happy. While the E60 adds "under the hood" improvements that make it a technically better car than the E39, the modifications they have made in the E60 to both the exterior and interior design have cheapened the classic look and feel of the E39. I,for one, wish that I had my E39 back. I miss it!
Jack
I think that this is not a fair ranking for this car as the new 5-series is an exceptional vehicle in many ways. It is unfair the publications like this rank vehicle this low just because they don't like the way it looks or just don't like it period. They are not being subjective. I think that this vehicle is definitely better than both the Jaguar S-type and the E320 and definitly the CTS!!! I am very discussed at this apparent oversight of a very good car with great engineering!
Cam
I am a big BMW fan, but I will not consider the new 5 series.
The car is overpriced and underpowered. $54,000 will get you a 530 for 225 hp and the price doesn't even include the navigation system. The 2005 A6 3.2 with 250+ hp looks like a better deal. Even a Honda Accord V6 has more hp than the 530. I have no problem paying premium for getting into a BMW, but a 3.0 liter engine just don't make the cut - I don't care how smooth, balance it is.
The $44,000 "similarly equipped" 525 is another joke. I just don't understand how anyone can pay so much for a 185 hp car.
Too bad BMW doesn't have an engine to match the chassis. BMW does have the technology, especially with the new magnesium block: a 3.0 liter engine can generate the same output as a 3.5 liter engine. What they need to do is to develop a 3.5+ liter engine to crush the competition. Infiniti is doing a great job with its 3.5 liter engine that generates 260 and 280 hp for the G35 sedan and coupe. Infiniti is already developing a 4.0 liter engine. I think the upcoming 535 will merely catch up with the competition. BMW will most probably charge much more for the 535 than the 530 (thinking in terms of the 3-series performance package add-on).
Bernard
I have owned 2 new BMWs in the past. A 323i and a 330i. To be honest at the time I was totally impressed at the finish and handling of the vehicles. I ended up getting rid of both of them before 2 years were up because of way too many problems.
I think I must have paid the dealership a visit at least once a month with some weird problem. My concern was that once the warranty ran out, it would cost me a fortune to maintain.
I ended up jumping from a Pathfinder to a G35, and finally ended up with an FX35. The FX35 to my mind has an equal finish to the X5 and way better performance and handling. I am not even going to go into the reliability factor. I have test driven the X5. Not the most impressive vehicle on the road, and being built in the US, I can only image what kinds of quality problems there are.
I have looked into the new BMW's and the i-drive is ridiculous. They have gone from one extreme to the other assuming that this is what the market wants.
Sorry boys, I think Infiniti are going to be the leader in luxury vehicles. They have style, performance, great finish, oh did I mention reliability. As far as I am concerned BMW stands for Bring Mechanic With. As for price, I think somebody just sucks a number out of their thumb and that's what you pay.
I think they have lost the plot, but are too arrogant to admit it. I am sure they will be back, but not for the foreseeable future.
Brandon (Toronto)