2008 BMW 5-Series

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Safety - What the Auto Press Says

The 2008 BMW 5-Series has an Achilles heel for an otherwise highly touted luxury vehicle, getting only mixed ratings in federal government and insurance industry crash tests. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the 5-Series earns three out of five stars for driver protection in front impact crashes; five out of five stars for front passenger protection; and five out of five stars for both front seat occupant and backseat occupant protection in side impact crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the 5-Series a rating of "Good" (highest possible) for frontal offset crash tests, but only a "Marginal" (second lowest) rating for side impact crash tests. Our analysis gives other luxury large cars, such as the Lexus GS and Acura RL, much higher safety rankings. If you're interested in learning how the 5 Series ranks in other categories, check out our overview.

• "The 2008 BMW 5 Series was the worst performer in new side-impact crash tests of luxury sedans by the insurance industry." - Associated Press

• "BMW's lane-departure-warning feature sends a vibration through the steering wheel to alert drivers if their vehicle veers from a lane of traffic when the turn signal isn't used. An interior-mounted camera on the windshield monitors lane markings." - Cars.com

• "Visibility is only average over the shoulder and to the rear." - Consumer Guide