VIDEO: Is The 2011 BMW 5-Series Missing Its Key Ingredient?

I've got a family member with the new 550 and it's really nice. The only problem I found when driving it is the turning radius was pretty bad compared to my GS

well IAS should solve that

For a publication that doesn't place a lot of priority on handling/performance, their picking up on the lack of the traditional BMW performance seems to indicate that the 5-series have indeed changed its characteristic. And I realise many of you don't trust Consumer Report but even BMW-enamored Car & Driver has similar opinion on the new 5.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/10q3/2011_bmw_550i_automatic_and_manual-short_take_road_test

I'm quite certain BMW is fully aware of this change and is indeed intentional but let's see if the new 5 will gain new customers (those traditionally favoring comfort leaning MB and Lexus) while maintaining the choke hold on their traditional performance-leaning customers.

This car really look dated already. Like it is in a need for a mid-life front fascia revamp. Its so bland.

A sports package can only do so much. I see these all over California and I don't like it. People hated the Bangle 5, but I liked it a hell of a lot more than the current 5 series, which looks like a watered down & generic 7-Series.

Ditto for it's interior.

this seems to be the inevitable result of platform sharing with the 7. I loved my E39, and like the looks of this new model, but if the feel has changed as much as reported, I would probably go for a 3 next time.

Well if you see the latest report of Crash Test now from Marginal, the 5 Series jump to 5 stars....It drives a bit different cause it is heavier but a more secure car. It looks bland but with some M sport modifications it will be very nice. However feel that still behind the E series in sales, which makes no sense for me. I hope the numbers will imporve during the year. The car is great and any secure car will sacrifice agility in order to satisfy security. BWM Did a great Job..and by the way it drives better than the outgoing model , so what do you whant?...Still better than the outgoing model....

it's behind the E class in sales for one big reason that everyone seems to be forgetting -- all-wheel drive. The E-class has it, the 5-Series didn't until literally just now (my local dealer just got their first one in yesterday). Subtract the E-class 4MATIC sales each month for the past few months since the new 5-Series came out, and I'd fathom a guess that the numbers would be much different. Let's see how the numbers look from here on out now that both cars have it.

To thine own self be true! In order to "compete" (I still laugh out loud) with the likes of (gag) Audi, Merc etc, the KING has sold itself short. The naysayers suggested you go "upmarket" with Mazda like fancy lights and soft push buttons and whistles (yes, I am still talking to you Audi)and you (foolishly?) listened. Now they want what?? Driving dynamics? Handling?? Say it ain't so. They want YOU back! So fickle this biz. If I want a Euro trash couch, I go to Ikea (sorry Ikea, love you, man) or Audi. If I want a CAR, I go to one place. Hi roundel!!! They wish they had what you HAVE in spades! You compete with (OMG) Porsche while they feed off your engineering scraps and try to find ways to build cars like you...every year..and still no success (poor babies) To thine own self be true BMW. Or end up like them, wanting desperately to be...(wait for it, wait for it, wait for it)....YOU!!

Its because people who do want the magic feel BMW has, they should get the sport package or M sport package that will have the dynamic handling package.
I do think the steering wheel is too thin on the vehicle and it does give a perception of not a very "sport" minded vehicle.
I almost feel like BMW is getting closer to the other brands while the other brands are trying to be like BMW. The gap is narrowing.
If the new 3 series drives anything like the new 5, I will not be purchasing a mew BMW. It would be my 5th and last.

Sport package changes suspension setup, not steering system. When BMW switches to electrical setup to offset extra 400lb from 7's platform, it's dead. I agree they better not do the same on next 3.

It is what it is. BMW fans will still love it. Non-fans may think twice. It's not ugly (to my eyes), like the outgoing 5, and that's good. I bet there will be sufficient customers to generate "successful" unit sales numbers.

In my opinion, we do ourselves a disservice by buying into "Street Cred" or "Street Rep." BMW is "known" as "the ultimate driving machine," so any 25 year old who gets a BMW is instantly "the ultimate driver." That sells... to some. I think we're better off if we get what suits us. And if what suits you happens to be this 5, regardless of what others think of it, then bless you! Same goes for the previous 5 that *I* think is ugly -- If you like it, then good for you, and it shouldn't matters that others don't.

"BMW fans will still love it. Non-fans may think twice" I fear it is the exact opposite.

BMW fans on the whole love models such as the E39 5 series, E46 3 series etc...(myself included). Nimble, tidy relatively compact cars that handled very well and were very comfortable considering their sporting demeanor. In the past two generations, BMW has abused technology to try to serve 2 masters: 1) packing their cars with latest & greatest features to compete with MB, Audi, Lexus etc.. (22 way power massaging seats, auto open and close doors and trunks etc...) and 2) preserve performance given the higher curb weights that follow the added stuff from #1. To accomplish #2 BMW is using computers and technology...active this and that (roll bars shocks etc..) and wider tires. This adds more weight and kills much of the driving sensation that comes through the steering wheel (or at least used to). So the new BMWs accelerate just a hard if nor harder (bigger engines in the last decade which = lower economy), corner just as fast if not faster. And the only price you have to pay for this is that they're not as fun to drive. The irony is blatant.

BMW will not redirect to core values without sales troubles. With hope, maybe the green movement will give a shove in that direction.

BMWs simply need to lighten up. The current 550 weighs 200 lbs. more than my 2001 7 series did.

IMHO, the only people giving the new 5 stellar reviews are probably afraid of criticizing it given BMW long standing rep as best in class. Like a teacher afraid to give the valedictorian anything less than an A.

Well said.

As great as the previous generation 5-Series sales were (best in the segment, at least in the U.S.), keep in mind that more total people still bought other cars in the class than 5's. Why? Maybe it was too sporty. Maybe they didn't like the ride. Maybe they didn't like the looks. Maybe it wasn't roomy enough, or didn't get high enough fuel economy, or wasn't nice enough inside, etc. Whatever the reason, as many people as there were buying 5's there were plenty of people buying E's, A6's, GS's, M's, etc. So while BMW may lose a portion of the clients who DID buy the last one because they liked all those things the people who didn't buy a 5-Series previously didn't, they're likely going to pick up MORE of the clients who bought something ELSE last time. And the reality is, that's a larger pool of buyers. Period. Lose a small group to pick up a larger group.

It's a business. BMW can cater to the small group of people who don't want the electronic gadgets, who want the car to only have one suspension setting, who want the car to handle like a sports car at the expense of ride quality -- people who are willing to trade off features and creature comforts in their $60k luxury car. But then they'd sell cars ONLY to those buyers, and that's an increasingly small number. (it is, however, the more vocal of the two groups, at least in forums like this)

If the goal is to keep selling more cars than every other luxury brand, then they have to make vehicles that appeal to the largest audience. And when you apply that logic to midsize luxury sedans, that gives you... the 2011 5-Series. You guys all forget that everything everyone is saying right now about the 5-Series? Yeah, they said they same things about every other new BMW previously. When the E30 became the E36 then the E46 then the E90, when the E39 became the E60, etc. EVERY TIME there was a change, you heard the same thing. And every time, the cars outsold the previous ones.

It's a business. When you're chasing sales crowns (and let's call a spade a spade -- you can't turn around on this site without reading flame wars between Audi/Benz/BMW/Lexus fans talking about how "my brand is outselling/gaining marketshare on your brand"), then that's what you get. Cars that are great at lots of things, but not necessarily focused on any one thing. These aren't boutique brands anymore. You all got what you wanted, now deal with it.

they say all this as they drive the touring model. also, yes the car does a few things different, but not every new car you purchase is going to be like your last. You will have to learn the controls of any new vehicle you purchase and will adjust and become accustom. Consumer Reports needs to stop being petty.

BMW's slowly selling out!

JRobUSC

I respectfully disagree on all points. Selling more cars is an empiric victory if 10-20 years down the line the car has lost its brand identity in the process. Then bankruptcy becomes an option...

You're logic overlooks the halo effect: if 10% of BMW buyers are hard core enthusiasts, who may track their car, modify the suspension etc... Their love for the car will indirectly compel the less knowledgable buyers (maybe 60%+ of buyers...[just look at Audis for the last 4 years, all Porsche Cayennes...cars IMHO hat are purchased on things other than merit]).

So bottom line: BMW making a sportier car is what established them in the first place. Its been the proliferation of AMGs, RSs and R types that boost non-BMW sales in the past 5 years. And these divisions exist to bring the fight to BMWs... So you essentially suggesting that BMW should build a better Mercedes isn't a compelling long term argument in my opinion.

Regards,
DRP

you're misunderstanding what I'm saying. I'm not saying I want BMW to do that, I'm saying that's where things are heading. BMW, Mercedes, and Audi are all intent on being the worldwide #1 luxury brand in terms of total sales. And when you chase sales crowns, you have to appeal to the buyers of those other brands, too. You can't build a midsize luxury sedan that doesn't have all the gadgets everyone else does, that isn't as nice as everyone elses is, that turns off half the consumers with its exterior looks, that rides like a sports car at the expense of comfort, etc. And I'm not just talking about BMW, those hold true for any brand trying to "win" this race (a race, incidentally, that I have railed against on here repeatedly). All the luxury brands seem intent on selling the most as opposed to building the best. But that's what people are asking for when they sit on forums like this and flamebait each other with the "my brand is outselling/gaining marketshare on your brand" crap. When all that matters is "who sells the most", and you're not talking about niche, boutique brands, then you end up with vehicles that are less focused on any one thing and are more about being well rounded. And that's what you have with the 2011 5-Series. And the E-class, and the A6, and... you get the idea. "Appeal to as many people are possible, and you'll sell more than anyone else" -- it's the Camry method of selling cars, and that's where things are headed, because that's what the majority of people are asking for, even if they don't realize it. Remember that the next time you see a thread about how Mercedes and BMW are poised to overtake Lexus in the U.S., or how Audi wants to be #1 globally and sell 4.8 trillion cars by 2015, etc. When Audi is making A1's, Mercedes is bringing out the A-class, and BMW is coming out with front wheel drive vehicles, it is obvious all that matters is numbers. Because it's definitely not about "maintaining core brand values". The "purists" out here can cry all they want about it, but it's still true. Audi, Mercedes, and BMW could afford to be focused when they were small. That becomes harder when you're trying to be huge. Look at Porsche. If you'd have told someone 20 years ago that Porsche would one day not only sell an SUV but that it would be the best selling vehicle in their arsenal, what do you think they'd have said? Or that their second best selling vehicle would be a four door hatchback? And that they supposedly have a second SUV on the way? Sacrilege! But here we are.

We can cry into our beer all we want. Welcome to a future when numbers are all that matters.

Blah blah blah...

The guy doing the review in the video sounds like he will never be able to afford a 5 series so he is finding stuff to complain about for the hell of it. Everything he pointed out is stuff that you would get use to if you owned one. Wiper/signal controls dont "stick" but return to center position? Dude please...