Edmunds choice of top 3 features of 2011 BMW 5 series

Jason · 06-01-2010, 05:47 PM

Edmunds blogs about the top three best features of the 2011 BMW 5 series (F10). Their choices are the Dynamic Handling Package, the automated parking assist with parking cameras, and the Eight-speed automatic transmission. What do our own F10 owners / test drivers think? Feel free to chime in.

Quote:

Weekly Top Three: Best Features Of The 2011 BMW 5 Series

Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor, Edmunds

1. The Dynamic Handling Package

Going with this package equips the 5 Series with adjustable shock absorbers, adjustable stabilizer bars and Driving Dynamic Control. The previous 5 Series also had the adjustable shocks and stabilizers but the new car has the next generation that reacts more quickly and effectively. Driving Dynamics Control, as first seen on the 7 Series, lets you prime the car's automatic suspension by pre-selecting one of four modes: Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport+. The different modes also affect engine throttle response, transmission shift patterns, steering effort and stability control settings (Sport+). The upshot is it gives the 5 Series even greater flexibility in being both a luxury sedan and sport sedan.

2. Automated parking assist with parking cameras

The 5 Series is the first BMW to be equipped with a new parallel parking assist system. In operation it's similar to the system that Ford uses for a variety of its vehicles. Sensors mounted on the side of the car measure the length and width of available parking spaces as you drive by them (up to 22 mph). As the driver, you're only responsible for the throttle and brake; the BMW handles the steering (which is possible now since the 5 Series has electric-assist steering). In action, it works pretty well and takes about approximately 30 seconds from start to completed park. Basically, parallel parking just got a lot easier for drivers who normally dread it. The 5 Series also comes with a new top-view camera and the side-view cameras as first introduced on the 7 Series.

3. Eight-speed automatic transmission

Heck, if six speeds is good then eight is even better, right? Well, in the case of the 5 Series, yes. As we found with the 550i GT, BMW's new eight-speed automatic is quite impressive in the way it shifts quickly and unobtrusively. Unless you're really paying attention, you probably won't even notice it's got eight gears to pick from. The biggest advantage though is that BMW has used the extra gears to give the 5 Series a taller top gear, thereby helping to improve fuel economy. The 535i, for instance, now has a 20 mpg city, 29 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined EPA fuel economy estimate, the best in the midsize luxury sedan segment.

BimmerGuyFL · 06-01-2010, 07:04 PM

edmunds.com is incorrect. The previous generation E60 5-series only had adjustable shocks on the M5 models only and the regular E60 models (528i, 535i etc etc) only had adjustable stabilizers on sport packages only. Couldn't get both.

tim-atl · 06-01-2010, 07:11 PM

Automated parking assist with parking cameras surprised me. Except for major cities there isn't a lot of parallel parking in the US (not sure about Canada) whereas in Germany parallel parking is a way of life.

The collision avoidance system will probably at some point save a life, kind of surprised it didn't get a mention.

just my two cents,

Tim

MBrown1003 · 06-01-2010, 09:56 PM

Is the auto parking assist available with the manual transmission?

Oulixes · 06-02-2010, 07:26 PM

The dynamic handling package is quite an attractive and useful feature of the car. The parallel parking may be also useful in cities.

raleedy · 06-02-2010, 09:21 PM

The only important question about Parking Assist: can you hide it from your friends?

vladberca · 06-03-2010, 04:50 AM

^ good point..

MBrown1003 · 06-03-2010, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raleedy

The only important question about Parking Assist: can you hide it from your friends?

Depends on the friends. My car-geek and techno-geek friends will be out of their minds psyched/impressed. The rest of the crowd, however, will be giving me <bleep> the entire time I have the car.

Imola.ZHP · 06-03-2010, 09:02 AM

Uh...

#1 should be sport or M-Sport package, duh...

raleedy · 06-03-2010, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imola.ZHP

Uh...

#1 should be sport or M-Sport package, duh...

Totally. Never mind the electromechanical stuff. It's a couple pieces of painted plastic that really matter. And that shadow line trim.

Imola.ZHP · 06-03-2010, 10:16 AM

^ yup, makes the car look MUCH better IMO, usually 1" larger diameter wheels, etc, etc...

delvek · 06-03-2010, 11:51 AM

Hence the reason why I believe M-sport should be reserved for M's.

Saalih · 06-03-2010, 04:20 PM

Driver Assisst package is very important addition (specially lane change warrning)

GOLFFRR · 06-03-2010, 06:08 PM

^^^^ that will def save some accidents

bavarian19 · 06-03-2010, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBrown1003

Is the auto parking assist available with the manual transmission?

I doubt it.

intheknow2 · 06-08-2010, 10:26 PM

Dynamic handling (as part of the sport package)...no brainer. Better performance and handling + better, more aggressive looks. My 550i is on order- graphite on black nappa on aluminum. Trumps InfinitiM, JagXF, MercedesE, Audi6.

scottz5 · 06-09-2010, 10:41 AM

I think the Dynamic Handing Package is silly. If I wanted a numb ride I would not buy a BMW. I would get a plush Lexus. I would not consider this option for myself since I would always have it in sports setting anyway. I ordered the sports package and I may lower it a little later on.

06-01-2010, 07:04 PM	#2
BimmerGuyFL Lieutenant Drives: 2013 F10 BMW 535i M-sport Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orlando, FL USA Posts: 515 iTrader: (0)	edmunds.com is incorrect. The previous generation E60 5-series only had adjustable shocks on the M5 models only and the regular E60 models (528i, 535i etc etc) only had adjustable stabilizers on sport packages only. Couldn't get both. __________________ 2013 F10 BMW 535i Alpine White / Oyster Dakota Leather / Anthracite Wood Trim / Steptronic transmission / M Sport Package / Premium Package / Technology Package / Rear-view camera / Park Distance Control

06-01-2010, 09:56 PM	#4
MBrown1003 Seven Bimmers and counting Drives: 2011 F10 550i (RWD, 6-speed) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 719 iTrader: (0)	Is the auto parking assist available with the manual transmission? __________________ 2011F10 550i (ED Aug 1; US redelivery Sep 12) Previously... Threes: '08 E90 M3, '07 E92 335i, Fives: '02 E39 M5, '00 E39 540i/6, '97 E39 528i, '92 E34 525i Others: VW, MBz, Peugeot, Toyota, Olds

06-03-2010, 09:02 AM	#9
Imola.ZHP 100% PAID FOR! Drives: 2003 BMW 330i ZHP Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mud Island, TN Posts: 1,789 iTrader: (0)	Uh... #1 should be sport or M-Sport package, duh... __________________ -- '03 330i ZHP -- Marcus

06-03-2010, 10:16 AM	#11
Imola.ZHP 100% PAID FOR! Drives: 2003 BMW 330i ZHP Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mud Island, TN Posts: 1,789 iTrader: (0)	^ yup, makes the car look MUCH better IMO, usually 1" larger diameter wheels, etc, etc... __________________ -- '03 330i ZHP -- Marcus

06-03-2010, 11:51 AM	#12
delvek Major Drives: F10 550i Msport Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Rhineland, Germany Posts: 1,130 iTrader: (0)	Hence the reason why I believe M-sport should be reserved for M's. __________________ 2011 550i M-sport:Mods: Hartge ECU (490hp/497ps@5500rp 531ft-lb/720Nm@2000rpm), ACSchnitzer suspension, ACSchnitzer sport exhaust, Msport Spoiler, Shadowline Grille, Color matched front reflectors, dvdinmotion. MyBavarianBeast: http://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=530637 Future: 2014 F82 M4

06-01-2010, 07:11 PM	#3
tim-atl N00B Drives: 2010 X5 35d + 2011 528i Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 76 iTrader: (0)	Automated parking assist with parking cameras surprised me. Except for major cities there isn't a lot of parallel parking in the US (not sure about Canada) whereas in Germany parallel parking is a way of life. The collision avoidance system will probably at some point save a life, kind of surprised it didn't get a mention. just my two cents, Tim

06-02-2010, 07:26 PM	#5
Oulixes Lieutenant Colonel Drives: 330xi, 335i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Terra Borealis Posts: 1,942 iTrader: (0)	The dynamic handling package is quite an attractive and useful feature of the car. The parallel parking may be also useful in cities.

06-02-2010, 09:21 PM	#6
raleedy Major Drives: E92 328i MY 2008 (ED 11/14/07) Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,428 iTrader: (0)	The only important question about Parking Assist: can you hide it from your friends?

06-03-2010, 04:50 AM	#7
vladberca Colonel Drives: '09 jetta tsi 6mt Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Craiova Posts: 2,809 iTrader: (0)	^ good point..

06-03-2010, 04:20 PM	#13
Saalih New Member Drives: 2011 535GT Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Riyadh Posts: 7 iTrader: (0)	Driver Assisst package is very important addition (specially lane change warrning)

06-03-2010, 06:08 PM	#14
GOLFFRR Architect Drives: Golf Cart Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Solvang, CA/Camarillo, CA Posts: 10,976 iTrader: (4)	^^^^ that will def save some accidents __________________ BEFORE YOU BUY YOUR NEXT BMW, PM ME FIRST I CAN HOOK YOU UP! We are Performance Center\|Euro Delivery\|BMW Individual Specialist Need a quote?..Ryan /Checa Email link \| T.805.482.8878 ask for Francesca www.stevethomasbmw.com \| OUR PARTS STORE \| Facebook-STBMW \| Twitter-STBMW

06-08-2010, 10:26 PM	#16
intheknow2 Registered Drives: 550i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Boston Posts: 1 iTrader: (0)	Dynamic handling (as part of the sport package)...no brainer. Better performance and handling + better, more aggressive looks. My 550i is on order- graphite on black nappa on aluminum. Trumps InfinitiM, JagXF, MercedesE, Audi6.

06-09-2010, 10:41 AM	#17
scottz5 Lieutenant Colonel Drives: 11 F10 535i & 11.75 E93 M3 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 1,633 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330 [0.00]	I think the Dynamic Handing Package is silly. If I wanted a numb ride I would not buy a BMW. I would get a plush Lexus. I would not consider this option for myself since I would always have it in sports setting anyway. I ordered the sports package and I may lower it a little later on. __________________ 11.75 E93 M3 MR/Black (wifey) 11 F10 535i AW/Cin Brown

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