Overview

What's New
After getting new engines in 2006, BMW's midsize 5 Series now offers new comfort, convenience, and safety features for 2007. Among those new features is Night Vision, a technology that uses thermal imaging (FIR, or far infra-red) to provide a long-distance view of the road ahead, regardless of weather conditions, says BMW. Yet another new feature for 2007 is a revised Sport package that includes 20-way front seats. High-definition radio is also offered, as is real-time traffic information on vehicles equipped with navigation systems.

Overview
As in 2006, BMW's midsize luxury car, the 5 Series, comes in seven variations for 2007-six sedans and a sport wagon. As cars designed for enthusiast drivers, all offer manual transmissions as well as optional automatics, with either a traditional automatic or a racing-style sequential manual transmission that uses paddle shifters but has no clutch pedal.

The 525i rear-wheel-drive sedan and the 525xi all-wheel-drive sedan are powered by a 215-hp, 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine. The 530i and 530xi sedans receive a 255-hp version of the engine. The 530xi Sport Wagon has the same powertrain as the 530xi sedan. Also available is the 550i sedan with a 360-hp, 4.8-liter V-8. Then, there is the M5-a sports car disguised as a 4-door sedan-with its 500-hp, 5.0-liter V10 engine.

Standard equipment includes a full array of air bags, including side curtains. The 5 Series also features the latest generation in dynamic stability control (DSC) with newly-enhanced braking technologies. For 2007, the 5 Series (and other BMWs) come with the Ultimate Service package that includes four years (unlimited mileage) of roadside assistance, a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty, and a no-cost maintenance program.

The Competition
The BMW 5 Series competes in the Midsize Premium Conventional segment, which consists of 12 models. Buyers in this segment look for quality, performance, and reliability, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Avoider Study^SM and the Escaped Shopper Study.^SM

The top sellers in the segment during calendar year 2006, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report,^SM were the Lexus ES Series (75,987 units sold), BMW 5 Series (56,756), and Mercedes-Benz E-Class (50,195). The BMW 5 Series' 56,756 sales in 2006 represent an increase of 7.7 percent compared to the previous year. Other models offered in the Midsize Premium Conventional segment include the Lexus GS Series, Cadillac STS, Infiniti M-Series, Volvo V70, and Audi A6.