[Jason]

Our F10 owners can drive with the ultimate peace of mind as the 2011 5-series has received the top score on new, more stringent crash tests by the NHTSA. Although this comes as no surprise given the F10's full 5-star crash test results on the european EURO NCAP crash tests.

BMW's 5 Series and Hyundai's Sonata received the highest scores for passenger cars and trucks under a new, more stringenet U.S. crash safety rating system. The two cars were the only ones (out of 34 different models) to receive the top safety score of 5 stars. Both vehicles scored four stars in frontal crashes and five stars in side-crashes and rollovers. For the first time, female crash test dummies were used as well as male (females tend to be smaller than the male figures used exclusively in the past and may be harmed differently in an accident). The new dummies also collect data about injuries to the chest, head, neck and legs while the old ones measured only chest damage.

The NHTSA has also begun compiling an overall rating for each model for the first time rather than reporting only the front, side and rollover collision results.

Here are the F10's results:





Frontal Crash Results:







Side Crash Results:



Barrier:


Poll:




Rollover:





BMW's PRESS RELEASE:

BMW 5 Series Receives Five Stars in New More Stringent Crash Test

* 05.10.2010
* Press Release

First results of new NCAP tests announced by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - October 5, 2010 … The all-new BMW 5 Series was one of only two vehicles to receive an overall five-star rating in the first crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under the new, more stringent New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

New criteria for the NCAP rating system include: more stringent side-impact tests, use of crash-test dummies of varying size (now also simulating a small adult female as well as a medium-size adult male), collection of more data, introduction of a single overall rating score and the highlighting of high-tech crash avoidance systems like electronic stability control, lane departure warning and forward collision warning.

“The performance of the new 5 Series in these tough new tests reflects BMW’s long-held belief in a holistic approach to vehicle safety that places equal emphasis on active and passive safety,” said Jim O’Donnell, President of BMW of North America. “That’s why we were the first to introduce the Head Protection System in 1997 and why we made Dynamic Stability Control, our electronic stability control system, standard on every BMW sold in the US beginning with the 2000 model year.”

The all-new 2011 BMW 5 Series is available with Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Detection, and Active Cruise Control with a Stop & Go feature. It is also available with Night Vision with Pedestrian Detection, a BMW first.

Every 2011 BMW 5 Series is equipped with BMW Assist which includes an enhanced Automatic Collision Notification system. This system, developed jointly with the William Lehman Trauma Center, not only contacts the emergency call center automatically in the event of a collision, but will also transmit data that will alert emergency responders to the probability of severe injury in order to help them better prepare.

Another important safety feature for drivers in colder climates is the availability of BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive, which is now available for the 535i and 550i Sedans as well as the 535i and 550i Gran Turismo.

[Bols]

that's awesome! It looks really strong in the frontal crash video!

What other vehicles were tested and did not make 5 stars?

[TonyMeister]

Originally Posted by Bols

that's awesome! It looks really strong in the frontal crash video!

What other vehicles were tested and did not make 5 stars?

[Bols]

^thx! Was mainly interested in the german brands on there

go 5er!

[Lastcombo]

no Mercedes Benz that's strange!!

[Jason]

Originally Posted by Lastcombo

no Mercedes Benz that's strange!!

Just hasn't been tested yet. That chart lists the cars from the first group of cars tested only.

[stickypaws]

They had to make improvements over the E60 which has dismal ratings especially in side impact tests.

I think those past ratings had some effect on E60 sales. This new data for the F10 means one less thing to be concerned about. Good news for consumers.

Lastcombo: NHTSA hasn't tested Mercs yet. But in other testing (NCAP, IIHS, etc.) they have 5 stars, etc..

[Lastcombo]

Originally Posted by Jason

Just hasn't been tested yet. That chart lists the cars from the first group of cars tested only.

ok i couldn't imagine mercedes benz not being safe

[BimmerGuyFL]

Vehicle test Weight: 2,067 pounds!? That's got to be a typo. Must be 4,067 pounds.

[LuvMyE92]

The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) ranks the F10 as a top safety pick, which is their highest rating. Review here.

Theoretically this will marginally lower our insurance costs for this car in the USA. Theoretically.

[pharding]

I am impressed that BMW tied with Hyundai.

[stickypaws]

Originally Posted by LuvMyE92

Theoretically this will marginally lower our insurance costs for this car in the USA. Theoretically.

Wish it did, but it doesn't. The cost to insurance companies is in the cost of accident repair. Bodywork and parts replacement costs and the statistics of a given model/brand in respect to car theft are the main cost factors in respect to insurance premiums.

Medical costs and related liabilities are capped by the coverage amount. Those costs can be subjective depending on litigation (a car's safety withstanding.) A civil suit is then brought on against the owner/party responsible when those caps are reached (that's why a high liability amount is more important than anything else in having an insurance policy, imho.)

[tadtaggert]

Originally Posted by stickypaws

The cost to insurance companies is in the cost of accident repair. Bodywork and parts replacement costs and the statistics of a given model/brand in respect to car theft are the main cost factors in respect to insurance premiums.

Then there should be some decrease over time as accident repair costs go down. This is a specific intent with the new stiffer chassis on the F10, and as history showed the most significant impact to E60 repair costs was a 'bent frame'.