- 2010
2008 BMW 5-Series Wagon
Safety - What the Auto Press Says
The 2008 BMW 5-Series Wagon does fairly well in federal government crash tests. The 5-Series Wagon earns only three out of five stars for driver protection in front impact crashes, but five out of five stars for front passenger protection. In side impact crashes, the 5-Series Wagon earns five out of five stars for both front seat and backseat occupant protection.
"There is, as expected, a full complement of safety features," says the Orlando Sentinel, but the Chicago Tribune warns that the 5 Series "was the worst performer in new side-impact crash tests of luxury sedans by the insurance industry." Those tests, by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, give the 5-Series Wagon a top rating of "Good" in frontal crash tests, but the second-lowest rating of "Marginal" in side-impact tests.
Accident Avoidance
Accident avoidance features on the 5-Series Wagon include a complete dynamic stability control system that consists of brake fade compensation, brake drying (which wipes the brakes dry if the windshield wipers are on), and dynamic traction control. The BMW also features hill descent control, which limits the vehicle's speed on a downward slope, and park distance control, which senses unseen objects while the vehicle is being parked.
The optional Night Vision uses an infrared camera to display images of pedestrians and animals up to 328 yards ahead of the vehicle in complete darkness. AutoWeek is quite taken with the optional lane departure warning system: "When activated, the system alerts the driver when the car crosses into another lane without the turn signals activated."
Crash Protection
Crash protection features on the 5-Series Wagon include driver's and passenger's front air bags, front side-impact air bags, a front- and rear-seat head protection system, front safety belts with automatic pretensioners, and an impact sensor that disconnects the alternator, fuel pump and starter from the battery, and turns on the hazard lights, interior lights and unlocks the doors in the event of collision. BMW Assist with Bluetooth wireless technology can be used in case of emergency. "Primary among the new high-tech upgrades," says Forbes, "is an enhanced BMW Assist safety/communication system (similar to General Motors' OnStar) that offers services like collision assistance and stolen vehicle recovery."
