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2008 BMW 5-Series Review

July 8, 2008

STYLING | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Same carriage, fresh horses
New York Times

hard to distinguish a 2008 from a 2007
Road & Track

combines supreme style and presence
The Auto Channel

The 2008 BMW 5-Series sports a body with avant-garde details that meet with mixed reviews.

BMW designer Chris “Bangle has alienated some hardcore BMW-philes,” Automobile observes, with his new styling themes. The BMW 7-Series was the first example of his dramatically curved theme; this 5-Series plies the same lines and surfaces with a more subdued result. According to Cars.com, “The 5 Series' design was a radical departure for BMW when it debuted in 2003, but its dramatically raked hood and squared off rump are more widely used by many automakers today, meaning the 5 Series now blends fairly well into the flow of traffic.” Still, Car and Driver says, “Styling doesn't appeal to all,” and calls it “somewhat controversial.”

Edmunds deems it a “wolf in a flamboyant sheep's clothing,” but changes for the new model year are slight. Automedia reports, “Despite revised front and rear styling, for instance, the 2008 5 Series sedan doesn't look markedly different” from previous years. The slightly updated look for 2008 includes rear LED lights, a new headlight design, a new steering wheel, and revised door panels.

The interior strikes a more traditional path. Automobile says “the new cabin is handsome but not as elegantly turned out as that of the new E-class. Still, its colors, materials, and shapes will appeal to those who favor Barcelona chairs over Barcaloungers.” Automedia notes its “lack of fanciness extends into the interior, with down-to-business seats and familiar BMW gauges.” Motor Trend cuts down the 5-Series’s cabin, calling it “a dark and cold cockpit.”

Conclusion

Though it’s been retouched, the 2008 BMW 5-Series still has styling that wanders over the line of artfulness.

STYLING | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Same carriage, fresh horsesNew York Timeshard to distinguish a 2008 from a 2007Road & Trackcombines supreme style and presenceThe Auto Channel The 2008 BMW 5-Series sports a body with avant-garde details that meet with mixed reviews. BMW designer Chris “Bangle has alienated some hardcore BMW-philes,” Automobile observes, with his new styling themes. The BMW 7-Series was the first example of his dramatically curved theme; this 5-Series plies the same lines and surfaces with a more subdued result. According to Cars.com, “The 5 Series' design was a radical departure for BMW when it debuted in 2003, but its dramatically raked hood and squared off rump are more widely used by many automakers today, meaning the 5 Series now blends fairly well into the flow of traffic.” Still, Car and Driver says, “Styling doesn't appeal to all,” and calls it “somewhat controversial.” Edmunds deems it a “wolf in a flamboyant sheep's clothing,” but changes for the new model year are slight. Automedia reports, “Despite revised front and rear styling, for instance, the 2008 5 Series sedan doesn't look markedly different” from previous years. The slightly updated look for 2008 includes rear LED lights, a new headlight design, a new steering wheel, and revised door panels. The interior strikes a more traditional path. Automobile says “the new cabin is handsome but not as elegantly turned out as that of the new E-class. Still, its colors, materials, and shapes will appeal to those who favor Barcelona chairs over Barcaloungers.” Automedia notes its “lack of fanciness extends into the interior, with down-to-business seats and familiar BMW gauges.” Motor Trend cuts down the 5-Series’s cabin, calling it “a dark and cold cockpit.” ConclusionThough it’s been retouched, the 2008 BMW 5-Series still has styling that wanders over the line of artfulness.  2008 BMW 5-SERIES STYLING | [8 out of 10] New York Times: "Same carriage, fresh horses" Road & Track: "hard to distinguish a 2008 from a 2007" The Auto Channel: "combines supreme style and presence" The 2008 BMW 5-Series sports a body with avant-garde details that meet with ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Audi A6 Avant is the 2008 BMW 5-Series Sports Wagon's closest competitor, but the Avant only comes with the 255-horsepower, 3.2-liter V-6 engine, not the larger, 350-horsepower V-8 that's available on the sedan. As with the Sports Wagon, all-wheel drive is standard, though the Avant has a slightly softer ride, and its handling isn't as sharp as that of the 5-Series, nor does it offer such advanced technology features. The E-Class is offered only in 268-horsepower E350 trim, with standard 4Matic all-wheel drive, but there's also a wagon version of the exclusive, 507-horsepower E63 AMG performance model. Overall, the E-Class is a little roomier inside. The Saab 9-5 SportCombi is now a quite dated design. It comes with front-wheel drive and turbocharged four-cylinder power, and its powertrains aren't as refined as those of the other rivals, but it's packaged well, with excellent seats, plenty of headroom, and more useful cargo space.

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See the BMW 5-Series in Other Years:

2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

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