Technology review: BMW 530i

With the release of the latest 5 Series range, BMW is introducing a wide suite of connected and integrated technology. Combining new touches and some aspects which are familiar from the larger 7 Series line-up, the result is certainly impressive.

Using a series of cameras and radar based systems, the 2017 range of BMWs will be reading the road in an advanced fashion.

Live speed limit information is a highlight of the all-new 5 Series and is available in every BMW model on sale in Australia. The camera based system can read street signs, including work and school zones, and combines this with map and GPS information to present drivers with timely warnings. In 5 Series and 7 Series models, this updated speed limit detail can be automatically sent to the cruise control system.

BMW’s active cruise control and other autonomous systems such as ‘Lane Keeping Assist’ – capable of steering you back from a drowsy drift – will “allow you to take your hands from the steering wheel to take the top off a bottle of drink or put on your sunglasses,” Ticehurst revealed.

However, according to Ticehurst, despite the self-drive technology packed into the 5 Series, the hallmark ‘Sheer Driving Pleasure’ tag is not lost on BMW.

“You can turn off all the driving assistance, turn off the nav display if you want, and focus on the steering wheel, the accelerator and the road ahead of you, and this car will put a smile on your face,” he said.

In practice, we found this is a very well implemented system. Out on the open highway, the BMW 5 Series can essentially drive itself with the suite of cameras, radar and ultrasonic sensors confidently following road markings, and keeping a wary eye on traffic. The system will insist you grab the steering wheel reasonably often (every 15 seconds), but even having both hands lightly on the wheel will not divert the automation from its job.

It’s almost too good, as the cameras read the actual signs so the system doesn’t rely on GPS or map information. We encountered roadworks which altered the normally posted speed from 110km/h to 70km/h and the display on the dashboard, main touch-screen and head-up display changed accordingly.

At this point in development, the system does not understand context and, in our urban environment with its ever-changing array of speed restrictions, at some locations the BMW decided it was more prudent if we travelled at 40km/h instead of the sign-posted 60km/h. We travelled down one street where the car read the illuminated 60km/h signs and also the 40kmh/h signs for school hours and interpreted the latter as the current speed limit.

Currently the system reads numbers in red circles well, but that’s just about it. Combine that aspect and the current lack of communication with traffic lights and it’s apparent we’re not yet in a world where we can let the car simply drive us home.

The new BMW 5 Series does boast some impressive technology, for example active air-flaps in the front grille will, under normal driving conditions, remain closed which aids aerodynamic flow and helps cut the drag coefficient down to a very low 0.22. The standard 18-inch tyres fitted to models sold in Australia bumps the figure up marginally to 0.24. Naturally, if cooling is required, the flaps open to allow air into the engine bay.

Normally used to ease manoeuvring into tight parking locations, the 5 Series’ rear sensors can also detect if a vehicle is approaching from behind at a speed sufficient to cause a collision. The message is conveyed to the tail lights which automatically start flashing to hopefully warn the oncoming driver in time for braking/avoidance tactics.

If an impact is detected, within milliseconds BMW’s system will decide to brace for impact, putting reclined seats to a normal position, closing the windows and sunroof and pre-tensioning the seat-belts.

In the event of a major impact, the BMW 5 Series has an inbuilt SIM connected to the telephone LTE network (4G where available). The system will make an assessment and place an emergency call to the ‘BMW Connected Drive’ service centre to automatically get emergency services directed to the crash-site. This is clearly a phenomenal advance for any drivers or passengers who may have been incapacitated as a result of the crash – those few seconds or minutes saved may be life-saving.

External cameras can be controlled to ensure the best view of the best angle for tight parking spots is shown. Control via simple hand gestures optimises the ease of fine tuning the line-of-sight.

If you are parked in a tight spot, BMW’s remote-control parking (standard on the 7 Series, optional on the new 5 Series) can allow a driver to start the engine and move the car backwards or forwards remotely, whilst standing outside the vehicle.

Feedback from 7 Series owners suggests this feature sees little action, but to be honest, most 7 Series owners probably have ample garage space at home and wouldn’t likely frequent areas with miniscule car parks. But BMW asserts remote control parking represents only the initial step towards a future more extensive automatic valet service.

Cross traffic sensors are available both front and rear. So not only will the 5 Series alert to oncoming traffic when reversing from a parking spot, but also when nosing into a T-Junction where sight is obscured by trees or by those annoying people who park cars too close to intersections.

The camera/sensor technology is also constantly on the lookout for wayward pedestrians or animals and can automatically summon emergency brakes if necessary.

You’re cosy and entertained inside
Inside the new 5 Series, BMW has fitted a new 10.25-inch screen, controlled by touch, voice or the traditional rotary iDrive dial but touch pad data entry is the core of the new ‘iDrive 6’ connected infotainment system. We like the layout of the screen, which is so easily navigable via the rotary iDrive dial that we do question the need for the touch feature which sadly results in grubby finger-marks spoiling the screen’s aesthetics

The gesture control lifted from the 7 Series will also allow some fancy finger waggles which quite responsively add commands such as volume changes or phone-call dismissing.

Add the rear seat ‘Professional’ entertainment package and occupants score a 10-inch screen with a Blu-Ray Disk player and remote control.

Also morphed from 7 Series, the ultra-high-end Bowers & Wilkens ‘Diamond’ surround sound system is a noticeable step up from the standard audio. Diamond dome tweeters and, in particular, the sub-woofers underneath the front seats, pump out some robust beats. In the 5 Series’ well insulated cabin, at times the ‘whump’ of the bass actually needs to be tempered via the sound settings.

Seat heating/cooling is available, as wells as a heated steering wheel which can be automatically set to activate at certain inside temperatures.

Wireless phone charging (requiring a special case for iPhones, but standard on most Android based phones) is a neat feature. Throwing your phone on the charging pad is a simple thing to do, and the car will also give you a little warning should you leave your phone in the car after exiting.

We don’t need Apple CarPlay
“CarPlay is a great feature for entry-level vehicles, however, the navigation, Bluetooth and telephony systems are not at a level of a premium car,” Ticehurst explained.

“The fact is, we have all of those features built into the cars and they are at a very high level. Our Navigation system is the benchmark of the industry, you can use Siri in our cars simply by holding down the phone button for three seconds, and send a text to a friend.

“To be really blunt, you don’t need CarPlay, and we took that decision that it was a superfluous feature and we actually felt was one that went backwards in some ways.

“As we drove more cars with CarPlay fitted to them we weren’t enjoying the experience of using the nav, it didn’t have the technology of the voice control that we have now with our natural language voice [system]. We were losing functionality, and we thought, why should we offer that to our customers?

“We do recognise that CarPlay does have a certain buzz to it, and people are Apple fans and want that technology, so we do offer it as an option ($479). And I am really pleased to say we are the first manufacturer to offer it wirelessly as well, jump in your car and it connects automatically, you don’t need to connect to a cable.

“Furthermore, we offer it through our online store as well, so a customer does not need to think about ordering it when they order their car. They can say we really want CarPlay, for whatever reason, and go and buy it at our store and have it installed in a matter of minutes.”

Where fitted, CarPlay is integrated well and, once linked to a phone, will operate seamlessly. It can be a bit disconcerting that Apple Maps starts in the background of the iPhone when connected to the vehicle, but otherwise fans of CarPlay, its interface and the associated apps will be comfortable with the BMW version included in ‘iDrive 6’.

The BMW App-store
The BMW ConnectedDrive app store is certainly a step forward for those wishing to customise the services available on their car’s ‘iDrive 6’ system. Here you can update the feature set with flashy options such as ‘Concierge Services’, ‘Real Time Traffic Information’ or, as mentioned earlier, for back-to-basics types with a spare $479, Apple CarPlay. No mention for those looking for Android Auto features.

Brendan Michel, BMW Australia’s Future Mobility Manager, gave a rundown on just how new BMW owners can use their smart-phones with a new vehicle: “BMW ‘Remote’ and BMW ‘iRemote’ have been merged into ‘BMW Connected’, a new, free application to download from the Apple App Store and available from Google Play -- for Android based devices,“ he told motoring.com.au.

Some of the extra features of ‘BMW Connected’ include checking how many litres of fuel remain for your conventional engine BMW, or what level of battery charge is available in your i3 or i8. If the electric BMWs are being charged, the system will show the charging status.

The app can help plan servicing by showing upcoming servicing requirements, and, a nice feature, integrates with your calendar, to set a reminder.

Calendar integration goes further however. The app and car will work together, using GPS locations and traffic condition information, to inform you of the best time to depart in order to punctually arrive at the meeting scheduled in your calendar – and once you’re on-board, the meeting’s destination is automatically loaded into the satellite navigation.

Using ‘BMW Connected’, you can remotely lock and unlock the car from anywhere in the world, or remotely start the ventilation system to, for example, exhaust hot air car out and suck-in fresh air. In the electrical based “i” cars, with a high-performance battery, it can also start the air-conditioning system.

And BMW Group Australia will cover (for the first three years at least) the data cost for the SIM installed in the car. Network connectivity is via Vodaphone and Telstra infrastructure on the 4G network (where available). Don’t get too excited however, this SIM is purely for ‘BMW Connected’ services, so don’t be thinking of downloading Game Of Thrones episodes.

We tested the app in with a 530i and found it to be very well implemented. We were able to remotely unlock the vehicle to allow a family member to retrieve some clothing from the vehicle, and then relock the car a short time later.

Another feature of the ‘BMW Connected’ app is to activate the 360-degree camera system -- handy for those paranoid owners desperate to ensure their new luxury car is where they left it and free from danger.

BMW has been in the connected vehicle sphere longer than any other automotive brand, and that head-start is evident in the refined way these features have been elegantly implemented into the new range. Clearly ‘iDrive 6’ is a very nicely presented system (almost too feature rich at times) and there are a lot of connected services on offer. In fact, one wonders how many will practically be utilised by new-owners.

But the very fact they have been developed and installed will without doubt drive innovation in the industry forward.