HOME
RESEARCH A CAR
- NEWS & FEATURES
YOUR 4CAR
PLAY & WIN
ESSENTIAL TOOLS
|
| Road Test: BMW 5-Series (2004-) |
|
| Exotic Sports |
by: Matt Prior |
|
 |
|
Click for BMW M5 Gallery
|
|
| COMFORT AND EQUIPMENT RATING: |
 |
Comfort varies dependent on which setting you have the suspension on its electronically controlled dampers. On the softest, the ride is fine, but becomes a little fidgety as the damper settings harden up. The trade-off is the control of body movements: at 1830kg, the M5 is a fairly hefty car. The M5's electrically-adjustable seats are superbly supportive, with a plethora of adjustments via switches which are just where they should be - on the side of the seats.
Ergonomically, the M5 is as good as other 5-Series', although we're still far from convinced that iDrive is the best way to control the car's systems. A head-up display shows the car's speed, or if MDrive button is pressed, speed, revs and gear number. Wind noise is well suppressed, but we suspect that the tyres will roar more on British roads than they did on the smooth German tarmac on which we've so far tested the car. Engine noise is vocal when stretched, but BMW owners will hardly be complaining about that.
Equipment levels are very high, as you'd expect. Leather, sat-nav and so on will all be standard when the car reaches the UK. The options list includes things like protective glazing, TV-function on the sat-nav and Bluetooth preparation (though we feel that ought to be standard, really).
|
 |
Introduction If you want a quick take on just how rapid the latest BMW M5 is, here are a couple of things you should know... |
|
|
