Manufacturer BMW | Production 2003–2009 | |
 | ||
Assembly Dingolfing, Germany
Chennai, India
Rayong, Thailand
Toluca, Mexico
6th of October City, Egypt
Shenyang, China (BMW Brilliance)
Kaliningrad, Russia (Avtotor)
Jakarta, Indonesia (Gaya Motor) Designer Davide Arcangeli (2000, saloon)
Chris Bangle, Davide Arcangeli (2001, estate) Class Mid-size luxury / Executive car (E) Body style 4-door saloon
5-door estate | ||
The BMW E60/E61 series is the fifth generation of the BMW 5 Series, which was sold from 2003 to 2010. The body styles of the range are:
Contents
- Development
- Comparison with predecessor
- Aftermarket parts
- Platform derivates
- Technology
- Equipment
- Performance
- Safety
- M5
- BMW 5 Series Security
- BMW 5 Series Authority Vehicle
- 2007 update
- Production
- References
The range was launched in 2003 in the sedan body style. In 2004, the estate body style was introduced. The E60/E61 was replaced by the F10/F11 5 Series in 2010.
The E60/E61 introduced various new electronic features to the 5 Series, including iDrive, head-up display, active cruise control, active steering and voice control. The E60/61 also was the first 5 Series to be available with a turbocharged petrol engine, a 6-speed automatic transmission and regenerative braking. New safety features for the E60/E61 included adaptive headlights, night vision, active headrests, Lane Departure Warning and high intensity emergency brake lights.
The M5 variant was released in 2005 and is powered by the S85 V10 engine. It was sold in the sedan and wagon body styles, with most cars using a 7-speed automated manual transmission ("SMG III").
Development
The development programme for the E60 began in 1997, concluding in 2003. The final design, penned by Davide Arcangeli under the directorship of Chris Bangle, was approved in 2000 and German design patents filed on April 16, 2002.
Comparison with predecessor
While its predecessor, the E39, shared many features with the 7 series, the E60 was different to other BMWs in production at the time. The E60 is longer, wider, heavier and higher than the previous model, which translates into more interior and trunk space. The E60 also introduced a different style to the 5-series line including a much rounder body, and an interior, unlike the driver-oriented E39, that is flat like the E65 7-series with an LCD display, basic buttons and iDrive system.
Aftermarket parts
The E60 received much acclaim from the automotive community, prompting specialist companies to produce aftermarket parts for it, including copies of M-Sport parts. For example, Hamann, AC Schnitzer, Hartge, and Dinan flooded the market with parts for the E60 which were cheaper than the originals. Furthermore, many after market performance parts were produced for the already swift E60.
Platform derivates
A derivative of the E60 is the E63/E64 which forms the iteration of the 6 Series coupe. A factory-stretched long-wheelbase version of the E60 5-Series was offered in China, as a response to the Audi A6 L. It offered much of the rear legroom of a large executive saloon (e.g. BMW 7-Series or Mercedes-Benz S-Class), but in a cheaper, simpler model. As of 2009, trim levels included the 520Li, 523Li, 525Li, and 530Li.
Technology
The E60 body was made using aluminium for the front of the car, and steel for the passenger cabin and rear thus making 50:50 weight balance. E60 was available with BMW's xDrive system in 525xi, 528xi, 530xi, 535xi, 525xd and 530xd models.
Equipment
The iDrive system has been simplified from the system in the BMW 7 Series (E65). It can be ordered with a full array of options such as active cruise control, head-up display, active steering, and the Harman Kardon Logic7 stereo system. Other available equipment in E60 was Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Voice Control, Adaptive Headlights, BMW Night Vision, Active Headrests, Bi-Xenon headlights, Run-flat tyres and other equipment typical for luxury cars. Equipment in E60 was always upgrading, Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Adaptive Headlights, LED rear lights, Lane Departure Warning, Brake Force Display was available few years after the introduction.
Performance
BMW's official 0–100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration for the pre-facelift base sedan 525i is 8.4 seconds. Acceleration for the 530i is 6.9 seconds. Acceleration for the 545i V8 is 5.4 seconds.
Post-facelift (2006-2007 models) acceleration times decreased to 7.6 seconds for the 525i, 6.4 seconds for the 530i, and 5.2 seconds for the new 550i trim.
Safety
Initially the 5-series received a three-star rating for adult occupants. However changes were made to the steering column, footrest, door trims, door latch, airbags and electronic software and the car was retested achieving its four-star rating. BMW claims the modifications improved the car's EuroNCAP score, not the vehicle's safety; consequently BMW chose not to recall the earlier-built cars.
The American Insurance Institute of Highways Safety (IIHS) gives the 5-series a "Good" overall rating in frontal collisions but a "Marginal" overall rating for side impact collisions. The IIHS reported their side impact test would likely cause driver related rib fractures and/or internal organ injuries. The IIHS tests were conducted on models built after May 2007; these models had modifications to improve side impact safety.
M5
The BMW M5 is powered by a 5-litre V10 engine. Revving to 8250 rpm, the engine produced 507 hp (378 kW) at 7750 rpm and 520Nm (383 lb-ft) at 6100 rpm. 0–100 km/h time is 4.7 seconds (although this has proven to be a conservative number. Tests have shown it to be capable of 4.1 seconds with the 6-speed manual and possibly faster with SMG's launch control program) while top speed is limited to 250 km/h (155 mph).
BMW 5 Series Security
The 5 Series Security is an armoured version of the BMW 5 Series sedan with ballistic protection level B4. It included a choice of 367 PS (270 kW; 362 hp) V8 (from BMW 550i) and 258 PS (190 kW; 254 hp) I6 (from BMW 530i) engines, high-performance fibre composites (aramid, polyethylene) and special-purpose steel reinforced chassis, 21 millimetres thick glass with a polycarbonate layer for the windows.
The vehicle was unveiled in 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show. BMW 5 Series Security was manufactured alongside the series model at BMW's Dingolfing plant, with armouring prepared before being shipped to a specialist facility in Toluca, Mexico, where the vehicles complete the final assembly stage.
BMW 5 Series Authority Vehicle
The 5 Series Authority Vehicle is designed for police forces, fire services, and emergency rescue services. It has a firearm bracket in the rear center armrest.
2007 update
The LCI (Life Cycle improvement) model was released in 2007. This LCI model included a facelift of the front and rear end of the vehicle. This update included a new front bumper, fog lights, headlights, tail lights and trunk. The interior was also slightly remodelled as well and included changes to door handles, position of power window buttons, updated iDrive with shortcut buttons(for late 2008 models), sleeker gear change lever for the auto transmission. Besides these changes, the 5 Series gained new engines, transmission and an updated iDrive from the BMW X5.
Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Adaptive Headlights, LED rear lights, Lane Departure Warning, Brake Force Display became available.
BMW 5-Series Security
The 5-Series Security is an armored version of the 5-Series sedan with a VR4 ballistic protection level. It included rust-proof chrome-nickel steel at the gaps and borders of the synthetic fibre mats, optional shatter protection element at underbody, aramid mats at roof, body columns, and front wall to the footwell and back wall, polyethylene protective mats in the areas of the doors, 22mm thick polycarbonate coating and multi-layered glass compound window, an electronics box in the engine compartment protected by aramid, optional xenon headlamps and Adaptive Headlight, optional Night Vision with 300 metres range, optional rear view camera, an intercom system and an attack alarm.
Earlier models include the BMW 530i Security and BMW 550i Security.
Production
Units sold according to BMW's annual reports.
BMW had produced 20,548 M5 with V10 engines, with 19,523 M5 Saloon and 1025 M5 Touring.