While endowing the new 5-series with tremendous agility and great stability, the new active steer system is still rather lifeless. Incorporating a rear steer function that sees the rear wheels move in the opposite direction to the fronts at speeds below 37mph and in the same direction at higher speeds, it is claimed to reduce the turning circle by up to 0.5m at parking speeds.
However, the altering of the steering ratio at higher speeds is not seamless, and it takes a good while before you feel confident enough to attack corners with any great gusto.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/...series/246752/
Integral Active Steering is another new option. This promises to improve all-round road manners, from low-speed manoeuvrability to high-speed stability. At its core is an active rear-wheel-steering arrangement which ensures the 5 turns into corners more rapidly than before. There’s a new aluminium front axle, while the engine is set as far back in the bay as possible – and all this means the new 5-Series is one of the most accomplished driver’s cars BMW has ever launched.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carrevi...#ixzz0qF10uYOy
... but in short – go for the dampers, avoid the steering, and the roll-bars are a matter of preference.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/blogs/still...-the-same.aspx