2008 BMW 5 Series First Drive

Written By: MyRide.com
Reprinted under license.

Upgraded where it counts most - under the hood

Introduction

BMW 5 Series -- 2008 First Drive: If the 2008 BMW 5 Series was a woman, she'd be ticked.

Admittedly a male perspective, but an accurate one. For any of the men out there who have bumped into a mother, sister, girlfriend, or pretty much any close female acquaintance after her trip to the salon, the importance of attention to detail is well understood. A quarter-inch cut off the back? A darker shade of chestnut brown? The unwise gent allows such monumental changes to go unnoticed at his own peril.

Thankfully, missing the subtle changes exhibited by the refreshed 5 Series risks no such consequences, which is good since the keenest observers may need some time to flush out updates such as revised fascias, reworked headlights, and the placement of little LED bulbs in the sides of the taillights. The subtlety theme carries into the interior, as well.

The engines have undergone more drastic changes, ones that make this story worth telling. There are now four choices, including a 230-horsepower base six-cylinder, a twin-turbocharged grin-inducer borrowed from the 335i, a muscular V-8, and a 500-horse V-10 reserved for use in the almighty M5.

New headlights and interior materials are nice, but an expanded powerplant lineup that ranges from the competent to the brutal, that's the stuff that's sure to grab a whole lot of attention every time - no matter who you are.

Model Mix

BMW offers the 2008 5 Series in a variety of trim configurations, with different powertrains and drivetrains, not to mention varying levels of equipment. The so-called base model is dubbed the 528i, though it hardly represents what most folks consider entry-level. Standard features include 17-inch alloy wheels, power heated mirrors, a power tilt and telescoping steering wheel with secondary controls, 10-way power front seats with driver's memory, a dual-zone climate control system, Poplar wood trim, and a power sunroof. The 528i also comes with leatherette upholstery, which feels better than the real leather many less expensive offerings wear, an auxiliary MP3 jack, and BMW's iDrive interface system. An all-wheel-drive 528xi version is similarly equipped. Options for both 528 models include a heated steering wheel, intelligent cruise control, 20-way power front seats, a lane departure warning system, a heads-up display, night vision technology, leather upholstery, an upgraded Logic7 audio system, and much more.

Next up are the twin-turbocharged 535i and 535xi sedans which, in addition to an extra 70 horses and 100 lb.-ft. of torque, feature standard front power lumbar support, different 17-inch wheels, and high-intensity discharge headlights. A 535xi Wagon is also offered.

That's it for the six-cylinder variants. The mainstream V-8 model, wearing the 550i badge, packs in even more power as well as yet another take on the 17-inch alloy wheel, automatic dimming mirrors, a universal transceiver, enhanced interior lighting, and Dakota leather upholstery. The 550i is the only model available with optional 19-inch alloys.

At the top of the heap is the 500-horsepower M5. Besides visual enhancements, this brute Bimmer an includes an MDrive feature within the iDrive system, four years of complimentary real-time traffic information, unique seats and upholstery, beefier suspension and steering setups, and options such as ventilated front buckets with power shoulder support.

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