Comments on: BMW 5 Series generation six due next year

By: e39 m5

e39 m5 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:57:19 +0000

The car is just so uninspiring to look at. I mean – it’s boring. I want to see what the M5 version looks like – having said that – the 550i looks so good on paper – why would you have to buy the m5? Why is the front grill so big? The rear end just looks too Japanese/ import to me. I’m lost with this design and really disappointed.
Maybe it will grow on me over time or it will look better in person.

By: The Realist

The Realist — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:30:16 +0000

We won’t go down this path again re Jaguar… :-)

If you take into account the BMW “Individual” options the range of colours should be quite broad. I believe in larger markets there are a greater base range of colours.

By: gearboxdawg

gearboxdawg — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:02:50 +0000

This new 5 series takes alot of design features from the 7 series. I don’t like the new rear end as it looks like someone has put a sledgehammer and dented it in.

The front grille is enormous, looks very conservative face on but if you see it from side view, the grille protrudes out like a echnidna which doesn’t look cool. Headlamps are not exciting but they are not offensive either.

I guess the market for 5 series is the baby boomers, grey hair industry bigwigs who care about ride quality and prestige rather than looks. It will be interesting to see if it will sell more than Bangle’s creations.

By: john

john — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:02:29 +0000

The Bangle design philosophy is odd IMO, but I see what he was trying too achieve with his design direction. Confronting design which is ahead of its time should still look fresh 5 years or so down the track. He succeeded with the current 5 series. I admit it looked awkward when it was released but it looks very modern nowadays and IMO better than the opposition. How many cars look great when first released but in only 1 years time look like crapola?
The next gen 5 looks fresh and modern but very plain jane like the new 7!

By: Motorhead

Motorhead — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:40:23 +0000

Massive improvement over the overcomplicated & fussy previous model. The new shape appears much wider, lower & sleaker compared to the noddy car look of the old one. Now just have to hope they dump the rubbish gearbox from the M5.

By: Blaze

Blaze — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:04:33 +0000

I agree…I initially found the previous 5 to be too radical…but it\’s grown on me over time.

When I first saw this model, I thought that it was a little conservative, but it\’s growing on me, the more I look at it.

While I do tend to be biased towards BMW, even taking this into account, I find the Mercedes Benz E-Class to be significantly uglier than this new 5-series is conservative.

By: Neo Utopia

Neo Utopia — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:08:03 +0000

When I first saw the previous 5 I quite liked it, radical design (but too radical for some) with the creases, stretched and sucked in shapes now being copied by many brands. This new generation looks like BMW has indeed blended elements from the 3 and 7 series, with traces of the previous generation. I don’t really like the nose pointing out, looks a bit unusual. Other than that though I really like the rear, like other people have mentioned hear: BMW seem to be aligning their models design more closely like what Audi have done, to save costs or to have a more consistent corporate design?

By: 1ill

1ill — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:53:53 +0000

This is such an improvement over the previous gen! They got rid of that stupid Bangle but which spoiled the previous gen.

I’d buy this in a heartbeat. Bring on the M5. It will be a awesome.

By: Steve-Poyza

Steve-Poyza — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:38:01 +0000

Wow this car is beautiful. Like all new BMW’s no doubt. This car manufacturer is getting better and better.

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:48:06 +0000

Forgot to write – One thing that BMW need to do is have a decent range of colours to choose from. I think for a car like the 5 Series to have any less than about twenty five different colours is wrong. Most will be bought in silver and black, but you have to give some real chance of individuality or at the very least, some real choice. I think the new Z4 only has about eight colours to choose from and that’s just not enough. BMW and Mini have been slipping badly in colour choice lately.
They also need to offer manual gearboxes in Australia. I’m pretty sure they haven’t done that in a while and if they have, it’s been limited to certain engines. Which gearbox you get should be a choice made by the consumer, not the dealer.

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:38:54 +0000

I really love it. I like the current one too, but this looks like a more natural re-generation from the E39. My only problem is that from the front, it looks a bit like the pre-facelift current 3 Series. I’m not sure if it’s perhaps just slightly understyled, but I feel bad writing that because when the current one came out I thought it was ugly and overstyled. You have to let them win at some point.
Obviously BMW will have no problems getting sales, but I think the biggest problem with them these days is that they just aren’t as special or interesting as what Jaguar are putting out. This just isn’t quite as special as the XF. I’m not making any comments here on quality or drive (I’m not getting into that argument yet again), I’m just saying that as a piece of metal with wheels and an engine, the Jaguar XF is a bit more special. I feel the same with the new 7 Series versus the new XJ.
However, that 520d getting 4.16 litres per 100kms? Brilliant! Honestly, is there any point in the Prius?

By: Deco

Deco — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:16:14 +0000

Looking at other sites, i think CA stuffed up.

I think they mean the engine in the 535i????

By: The Realist

The Realist — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:00:38 +0000

The rear lights are LEDs – the darkness around the lights would be as a result of the contrast.

By: Benjo

Benjo — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:57:36 +0000

Couldnt agree more, I see the previous Z4 and struggle to keep my food down.

By: shak

shak — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:23:03 +0000

In all honesty it looks better than the E-Class but still looks soft compared to the old 5. They should have toned down the ugly from the old model and stuck the other changes on.

By: alex

alex — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:59:45 +0000

Ive noticed this as well…

By: Baddass

Baddass — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:59:32 +0000

I’m pleased with how it turned out, but the black outlines on the tail lights are a little strange. I’m all for toning down the 5-series, but does anyone else think they’ve toned it down too much?

By: alex

alex — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:58:32 +0000

I do like the styling however it has become to similar to 3/7 series… like audis look very similar. Merc does a better job of diferentiating each model I think.

But those economy numbers are amazing!

By: Car fanatic

Car fanatic — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:59:06 +0000

I thought that figure was too good to be true. But miud tens is bloody impressive from such a powerful fast car

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:54:06 +0000

Current 5 series looks better IMO. Though the rear lights on this look nice. Like others said, too conservative for my liking.