EXCLUSIVE: Spies Nab First Real Life Shots Of The 2011 BMW 5-Series In All Its Glory

Looks like you're there on a "ride and drive" correct?

this car has an updated shape of the old E39 IMO, this is a very clean agile, sexy shape and its not over the top designing like the current model. Even though i still think the current 550 with the sport package is still crazy. I just HOPE that BMW doesnt stay with the BLAND shape and safe designing for ALL of their cars as WE ALL KNOW HOW A CERTAIN GERMAN CAR MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS.....but anyway thats why i loved Bangles work hes had such a great impact on the auto designing industry and countless awards he has received. I think he designed some of the best BMW's to date. the current 5er/M5 in particular was my favorite.

So it does look like nothing more than a 7/8ths scale 7 series.

Nice enough, but completely lacking identity IMO

It looks more like a current 3 series to me. I cannot even tell if it's bigger. Something is wrong.

i suppose BMW is going to follow what Audi did -- make one model and scale it.

it look just like 3 series, except bigger. or a 7 series, except smaller.

Hint: Just because you 'deboost' it doesn't make it any less true ;-)

Hint: the multiple deboosts indicate that the consensus is that you're dead wrong. What makes your statement untrue is your poor eye sight. The car looks much more like a big 3 series, doesn't look like the 7 at all on the outside. The interior, however is visually identical to the 7's.

Badgewhore, you should learn to like it, because history indicates that Toyota's next batch of sedan redesigns will look like this.

Actually: Multiple 'deboost' are usually an indication that there are too many people in here with way too many fake accounts they're using to control the system.

The whole boost/deboost thing is juvenile and useless on a site whose members show zero integrity in the first place.

you guys are idiots.

@pushrod

So says the guy (obviously) with 15 different screen names.

and therein lies your proof: deboosted by 7 points in less than 5 minutes.

Dude, you're desperation to seems important is too transparent - LOL!

Well, they certainly went conservative with the design. I guess they got too much flak off the last one. Looks good, but not very distinctive or edgy. Personally, I would have liked to see them take another risk.

One thing though, I think the M5 of this design could be phenomenal. As it is, it's just missing some of that aggressiveness.

i like it...clean, distinctive lines and a more refined interior than the current 5-series. it also seems to bear a resemblance to both the 3-series (rear) and the 7-series (front) while the side view is unique to the 5. and with further improvements on already spectacular engines and handling, it should continue to lead the class.

my current bmw lease runs out in 2011 so it'e either a 535i or an X5 diesel for me.

First BMW i ever like..Price the M5 right and count me in as a new customer..

Im glad to see BMW back to the 3 sausage formula. Seriously, it works for them. The interior's a step up too, but that's not saying much. Why must BMWs have such harsh creases and angles in their interiors?

I like it a lot but only one problem it look very similar to the current BMW 3-Series. I don't BMW is doing this, why I wouldn't want to paid way for a 5-Series when it look almost like a BMW 3-Series. I would rather get a 3-Series coupe or sedan instead of this new 5-Series.

The interior is a huge improvement from current model. A lot of my friend buy MB, Lexus or Audi because it has a better interior than BMW. With this new improvement in their interior design it should boost their sales even more.

"A lot of my friend buy MB, Lexus or Audi because it has a better interior than BMW."

I find it seriously hard to believe that "your friends" buy cars based on interiors. Many people find BMW interiors to be great. They're spartan and simplistic in appearance but the quality is there.

And there are some people who find BMW interiors to be much better than Lexus. These are simple facts because design and material feel are always subjective.

In real life photos looking much better but agree BMW could have been less conservative. This looks exactly like a bigger 3 series sedan especially rear end.

JUGNU

Ah so what! I feel like I've been looking at this car for the last 3 months now.

This car looks great! looks sporty, and compact despite being larger, like the hood and lights, the hood looks as if it came right from the cs concept car.

will this new 5 have music streaming via bluetooth like every toyota and some fords ??...

That side shot kills it for me. The hood is so low and flat, it totally ruins the lines of what drew me to buy an E60. I'm guessing this is for the EU's pedestrian laws, as I can't imagine the designers wanted it to look like that.

I'm probably in the minority saying this, but I think the Bangle 5 Series was probably the best looking 5 to-date.

I agree. I still love the current 5 series design.

001

Since you're looking at it in real life while we are stuck with the photos for now, can you tell us YOUR impressions on the new design?

Oh look another 3 series, or is it a 7 series (adjusting scale), yes, its a a seven series!

Nothing new here, same boring interior, same obsolete design. No wonder they are loosing market share. MB has greatly improved their interiors and their styling is great. Audi ... well, sales speak for themselves, and class leading interiors, by far. EVEN LEXUS, has better styling (although their dynamics can put a senior driver to sleep).

some nerve... an audi fan critcizing the BMW family resemblance. Audi is the most heinous offender when it comes to this. The new A8 is a swollen A4, nothing more. And Lexus? better styling?
You are what is wrong with America today. People who shamelessly deny facts to support their pre-existing bias and/or agenda.
Like those people who said nothing, as if it made perfect sense when Bush started two wars and gave out tax cuts in one year, but now they're concerned with the budget and the deficit all of a sudden.

wow...you're clueless. obsolete? it's the segment leader and by all accounts will continue to be so. superior performance, good looks, spectacular engines, etc. lexus better designed?!? lol which toyota specifically?

just curious which luxury sport sedan you currently drive?

I like the way this car looks alot, very sporty. You can tell its the 7's little brother, but in no way is it just a smaller version...there is not one feature on the exterior that is the same as the 7. good job BMW, MUCH better then Audi's 3 sizes of one sausage....is it an A4 or an A8, cant tell.

Nice...Just change the hood....the rest of the car is great.

I patiently wait for the 2 door coupe and convertible.

it's a 5-series. what are you talking about?

he probably means the 6 series. it will be pretty much the same mechanically under the skin, the differences will be mostly cosmetic. and the name.

pushrod: yeah, you're right. a different chassis, a coupe/convertible vs. a sedan, not one shared body part, a 2+2 interior vs. a sedan and ONE shared engine. yup the 6-series is basically a 528i. you dumb ass.

The Blond girl sitting in the car looks clueless! lol

Gah, what's with the 1- series bug-eye headlights! Oh well, its not too bad, the rear is nice. The tail-lights actually look good for once.

That last pic looks very similar to the new infiniti M models...

They do look slightly similar and it would be a tough call between the New M and 5, however, I would probably go with the M.