2011 BMW 5 Series First Look

Seems only yesterday that the first-generation BMW 5 Series E12 came out and quietly started to revolutionize North America's outlook on the four-door sedan. But that was actually 37 years and 5.5 million worldwide sales ago. Now we're talking about the sixth-generation F10, the 2011 BMW 5 Series sedan model, and it looks about a half size larger than the old E12. Have we all gotten that big?

BMW just had us in to the FIZ projekt centre in Munich to gaze at every square inch of its new premium midsize executive sedan, up close and inside-out. We'll get to drive it in January 2010, but right now it's easy to say that this 5 Series is nowhere near as controversial to look at as the current E60 car with its Chris Bangle-era styling — those Dame Edna lights and flattened not-so-kidney grille we first beheld in 2003.


This all-new 2011 BMW 5 Series is back to being one stern and handsome German, meant to take on the other sternly handsome Germans like the Audi A6 and Mercedes E-Class. Not forgetting, of course, the serious trio of Cadillac CTS, Jaguar XF and Lexus GS.

Turbos Are Go
When the F10 5 Series sedan comes to North America in June 2010, the first two setups will be the gas-slaking marquee cars, the 2011 BMW 535i with its 302-horsepower turbocharged direct-injected 3.0-liter inline-6 with intake-side Valvetronic, and the 2011 BMW 550i with its recently developed, 402-hp twin-turbo direct-injected 4.4-liter V8.

Meanwhile, North American BMW reps also tell us that "pricing still hasn't been finalized, but we may see little or no price hike at all on the 535i." Ahh, yes, there are some bright sides to a Great Recession and total market collapse, aren't there? So, that theoretically would still be $51,100 for the 2011 BMW 535i with its optional eight-speed automatic transmission. If all true, wow.


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jeffy210 - 11/28/2009 12:49:36 PM

+2 Boost

Not bad, but I hate the flat nose. I don't even think it's their fault though. Unless I'm mistaken isn't the new flat front because of pedestrian safety laws that have been passed? You can see this happening on more cars.

LexSucks - 11/29/2009 8:50:03 AM

+2 Boost

"What happens when your battery dies?"

- The same thing that happens to all cars when their batteries die, the car wont start. What is your point?

LexSucks - 11/29/2009 6:59:07 PM

+2 Boost

" but with electric have nothing and you are in trouble at this point."

- Do you know for sure that BMW's system will behave in that manner, or are you just speculating?

rxh8me9000 - 11/28/2009 1:46:08 PM

+2 Boost

550 hp twin turbo V8 M5=game over.

downtoearth - 11/28/2009 3:45:46 PM

-6 Boost

— rxh8me9000:

> 550 hp twin turbo V8 M5=game over.

I think the new M5 will loose lots of its uniqueness and speciality by debasing from a V10 to a V8.

Look. What's so special in a V8? Almost every type of non-midget vehicle has it. Soccer moms' SUVs have it. Rednecks' trucks and pickups have it. Vans have it. Large cars have it too.

V10 at the same time plays in supercar territory, in a different league. It powers Lamborghinis. Lexus LF-A has it. And Porsche Carrera GT.

There is more. M5 key opponent, the Audi RS6, also has a V10, a twin turbo'ed one, which will make it simply more special than the next M5 and more worthy huge price premiums.

To make matters even worse, turbos obviously give the low end power, but they quash beautiful engine noise. It's simply physics. That's why current twin turbo V8 from BMW sounds nowhere near as good as the proper American muscle V8 (or a V8 in Mercedes AMGs, Lexus IS-Fs or the Audi RS4s). Forget the trademark V10 howl of the last M5.

Just like this wasn't enough, twin turbo engines are never allowed to rev really high, in order not to destroy turbochargers. Forget the lovely 8k+ revline of current M5s or M3s.

Finally: M5 will be RWD only and it's front-engined, so the rear axle is not loaded as much as in midengined cars. A turbocharged engine will deliver lots of power in low revs already. Result? In the wet/snowy conditions, this car will be barely driveable without electronic traction/stability control assistance.


In a vehicle that is about passion living under the bonnet, a twin turbo V8 is simply a misfit.

JRobUSC - 11/28/2009 4:53:13 PM

+9 Boost

blah blah blah. It was good enough for the Ferrari F40 (and upcoming F70 or whatever they're calling it), it's good enough for me. Porsche also uses plenty of twin turbo 6 and 8-cylinders quite successfully, and I don't see the lack of a V10 hurting the 911, Panamera, or Cayenne (incidentally, the V10-powered Carrera GT you mentioned was a sales failure for Porsche, while the twin turbo 959 is a collectors car). Mercedes also used blown V6's and V8's for years in their AMG models. And let's not forget the GT-R, which "makes do" just fine with its twin turbo V6.

Bottom line: the twin turbo V8 M5 with its 550hp and 500lb-ft will run rings around the V10 M5, get better fuel economy, and cost less to produce and maintain. And I'm sure it'll sound just fine. It also won't cost a zillion dollars like all the other V10-powered vehicles you mentioned (RS6? Cha-ching. R8? Cha-ching. Lamborghini or non-existant LF-A? Cha-cha-cha ching.)

Again, works for me.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 11/28/2009 9:33:49 PM

+4 Boost

downtoearth
Koeniggsegg USES Forced V8s. 750BHP - 1018BHP Glorius Soundtrack
Ferrari USES V8s 480+BHP Glorius Soundtrack
Porsche Uses V8s (Some Forced)450+BHP Beautiful Soundtrack

Have you heard the Maseratti Granturismo S at full throttle ?
Your Flag Pole would be at Full Height {V8 also}

So why oh why would BMW have a problem with V8 packaging ?

Its an adapt or die situation with all the emissions regulations being thrown at them. when we manage to get rid of the AGW Religious Fanatics we might reach the days of Ear Splitting V10 Soundtracks at 9000rpm redline in a 5 door Estate that can seat 5 comfortably.

jl3787 - 11/28/2009 2:18:46 PM

0 Boost

Its a clean and fresh design.

But i think its look to much like a 3 series.

Its missing the "bigger,mature" car look. (the mercedez E-Class has it)

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 11/28/2009 9:38:56 PM

+1 Boost

Current E-Class looks like a Taxi.

Plain Straight Lines and Light Clusters.
Look at the Rear LED Array Design, talk about LAZY.
Compare them to the Rear LED arrays of the Current 5-Series or Rear LED arrays of the refreshed A6 and tell me the E-Class's is better.

I see serious signs of cost cutting in the design of this vehicle and i hope it does not affect the build quality.

Willis - 11/29/2009 1:40:58 PM

+1 Boost

"I see serious signs of cost cutting in the design of this vehicle"

Excuse me, but what does cost cutting have to do with design? Your statement is ludicrous.

Jaybrn - 11/28/2009 9:07:37 PM

+3 Boost

I hope that like the 7 series, the 5 will have option to combine sport package on X drive models. In terms of the tranny, I love manuals but the sport automatic sounds slick. Does anyone intend on getting the manual for the TT V-8? I bet the sport auto is faster and gets better mileage with the 7th and 8th gears.

truckman - 11/29/2009 4:05:25 PM

-3 Boost

Lets look at the engines, I will get de boosted for stating the facts,
The BMW's 302HP-3L makes 100.66 HP per Liter
there 4.4L makes 125 HP per Liter not bad for yesterday,

And here is the kicker, for 2011 Fords Coyote ecoboost engine is a 3L making 133.33HP per liter! from a domestic! And it is more efficient with 400 foot pounds of torque and Fords engine has higher compression with the twin turbos, it is there new injection system that makes this engine.Although this is a nice car (expensive to maintain) they are technically way behind Ford in engine tech.

truckman - 11/30/2009 6:36:18 PM

0 Boost

Did I lie? Or make a mistake about the numbers? All I am saying is that they are falling behind fords new engine as far as economy and power, So I am not that impressed when a domestic a third of the costs is way better than this BMW.

Yonder7 - 11/30/2009 11:35:40 AM

0 Boost

Everybnody kwnows me as an Mercedes Benz Fan jur for their great engines. So I have to talk about the new V8 4.4 TT of BMW M5. Great Power , a lot of torque. that car Will destroy the previous weak high reving BMW V10. It will have better performance in low or high rpms than the V10, it will be cheaper, more fuel efficient and more reliable. Yes you'll miss the high rpms and the screaming sound but I do not care about that things, BMW is taking care of the performance and the new M5 will be better than the old M5 just for the engine.....It won't disapoint you. Regarding the design The E class have a better front but side and rear in this car looks beautyful. Now It is true the E is one of the most common taxis in Europe, ask to the owners why: this is the answer: The most reliable european car in this category, long endurance inside and outside, all other will be broken with half of the workload than this car can support and finaly is cheaper to repair , something very unlikely cause is unbreakable. If you are looking for reliable cars, pay attention to the taxis cause that is a rule around the world.