I hear ya. I’m burned out on screens. I considered this and had to pass. I went the Lexus route instead. Thankfully (and I’m not joking) some of their newest vehicles are outdated and have a more traditional feel of a car as opposed to BMW and others who now pride themselves on selling rolling iPads.
.. Your GF reference is a bullseye! .. What happened BMW styling department? .. Yo BMW AG! .. Where is the wagon, estate or Kombi version? .. We get craps here in N. America. .. Okay, we'll keep our '23 MB E450 wagon. .. Cheers, Vail, Colorado P.S., Not every N. American got infected with the SUV flu. .. Hot Rod wagons rule!
As someone who grew up loving cars in the 90s and 2000s, I lusted over BMWs. My parents bought me subscriptions to C and D and R&T and I went to a school with a level of wealth high enough that I got to ride in a lot of my friends’ parents’ BMWs so I read a lot about them. I can’t believe how far this company has fallen. They just don’t make lust worthy vehicles anymore. The formula is so simple but they seem to be pandering to the marketing department over the people who actually would buy these.
So true..I used to drive the 1995 840ci back in 1997 and I would of never guessed in a million years that they would produce such a tamed car like this..they're straying away from the ultimate driving machine that they once were to a computer on wheels 😅..
"It's like I'm picking up my phone and driving it around." Brilliant comparison, this is how I feel about most EVs and I'm not even 30 and very used to tech.
regardless of whether you're used to tech or not, the human brain craves stimulation and engagement. Flat screens with no tactile feedback do not support this.
For all the crap BMW got for the i3's exterior styling, it doesn't drive like a smartphone. It helps that the curb weight was very light for an EV and lighter than a current Golf. New management came in and threw that all away in favor of 4000-5000lbs boats.
@@echodelta2172 I just don't feel anything driving or being driven in an EV. No emotions. The tech is cool, but I don't get into the car to play angry birds with it's steering wheel.
@@maxmustermann194I don't even find the tech to be "cool". Nothing about it is really innovative. It's a "sidegrade" at best and downgrade at worst. Electric motors were used to power carts in the 1800's.
Manufacturers implement “tech” and “futuristic” design trying to appeal to younger people but it only applies to old people trying to feel young. Young people like the e46 and e92. Because they are naturally aspirated and simple.
More difficult to read though, giant digital numbers is where it's at. Even my 2013 Civic has a nice digital speedometer, not some ancient looking sun dial.
@@s4nder86 Not really though, most modern analogue gauges have a digital screen in the middle of both gauges... so you get best of both worlds, would prefer that over some amazon fire looking tablet on my dashboard.
Losing physical HVAC controls is such a crime. I don't understand why companies do it. There are some controls (HVAC, radio controls, seat controls, etc.) that should absolutely remain as physical switches. I shouldn't have to take my eyes off the road to choose where the air is blowing from, or sit through menu lag to do what could have been done instantly before.
This car has capacitive touch to change the air volume, a physical air direction "wheel" if you will, and you can always have the BMW assistant raise or lower the temperature. I'm as much of a luddite as many in the comments (hell I bought a 2020 Tundra) but I think of the ways this has been done, this was done pretty well.
Automotive interior designers are heading towards the day when a 35,000 and a 150,000 dollar car literally have the same dashboards, and it’s embarrassing to watch.
@japanwatchconnection Then they should lower the price to a Mazda or VW territory this interior looks as cheap and insipid as a Levis blue jeans under a Suit, it is not just about the screen..., long way to downgrade this cannot be called luxury anymore.
Car designer opinion on the exterior styling- It is very obvious the designers had a challenge to make the styling work for both ICE and EV powertrains. The proportions (namely the very tall side profile) are a direct result of having to package for a battery pack. They tried to break it up with the black lower trim to hide a bit of the height.
It's bizarre seeing BMW make the same interior and UI design mistakes in 2024 that 25-35K plebian cars used to make 5 years ago. There's a sea of gloss-black plastic and a newfound reliance on touchscreens for most interior functions. I'm sure it's something any driver could get used to, but this over reliance on screens and overuse of gloss black is going to date this thing very quickly.
I agree with the goss black and plastic but i have an A8L 2019 and the touch screen for climate controls literally is just as fast as buttons just will take 1-2 days after you get it to get used to it its like getting a new galaxy
Because of economies of scale it becomes cheaper to install these mass produced screens while analog parts become rarer supply thus more expensive for them to put in their cars and less profit for them.
@@norwegianblue2017 Plastics of today aren't the same as plastics of 30 years ago or cheap electronics, you can make plastics do pretty much anything you want them to
@laszlopanaflex5613damn very succinct 😂 so true. Nobody able to buy these new cars get angry about them for no reason at all I feel like this happens in every generation
I like that Marc is quick to acknowledge that while the engineering tech is good it can't escape the fact that it's an imitation of what automotive engineering really is.
Thank you BMW for putting art on a display in a car that is to be driven. That definitely won't be a distraction for anyone whatsoever, especially when driving.
Car reviews have always been slow growth. This is a passion project that you can make a living off of. There's only so many ways to review a car and LOTS of other people are doing it. These guys do great work. They'll get to where they deserve to be. But bear in mind that they so far haven't been afraid to deliver huge criticism and commentary on the flaws of vehicles. That hurts who will give cars to you. Other channels have more access because they don't talk down on the cars. Carwow comes to mind. Never any real negatives. And as a result, Mat Watson gets a lot of cars and a lot of eyes.
Appreciate the Clive Owen reference. If I were head of BMW, my first edict would be "remember how to make a proper sports sedan, never abandon physical controls, piano black is fireable offense, and to you designers: enough of the weird sh*t!!"
@albertogonzalez1746 who is we? The c9mment sections are filled with condemnation, not praise. Beyond the subjective issues, which still see most people disapproving, their are a myriad of objective issues where they are regressing creating a product that is frustrating to use. Its crap, stop coping
AdminAbuse.. That's a cold, bold statement. .. Agreed. .. The 3 German manufacturers sure have succumbed to the practice of culling their cars into rolling iPads ...
Interesting that you think this. I just watched CarWow new video comparing the 5, E, and A6. Matt mentioned that the 5 Series interior had the highest quality.
My dad bought a 2015 528i, he still has it with more than 215,000 miles. He doesn't beat on the car and doesn't drive it like he's Max Verstappen, so all of the components have held up rather well. He was in the dealership waiting to get his car back as they were changing the oil and some filters and transmission fluid and he sat in the new 5 series. When he came home he told me that it felt like he was sitting inside of a NASA computer or working on a terminal docking station at Bear Stern back in the 80s, where the computers took up an entire room.
I agree with Mark, I would want the prior gen 5 series with an attractive exterior, physical climate controls inside, and a V8. Focusing so heavy on the tech ensures this will age horribly. Not to mention an exterior that looks awkward at best
A couple days ago i walking on the pavement minding my own thing. Suddenly i saw am F10 parked next to it. And oh boy i stopped and looked at it. The lines the elegant design the design of the enterior. Pure class and presence. You're intimidated watching it. And what a better way to start your day than watching an E60 driving by at the same time admiring the F10. You start thinking what went wrong and BMW went from elegant and timeless designs to something that doesn't have cohesiveness. I cannot wrap my head around.
I have the same feelings. I have an F10 and I’m continually in love with the design and proportions. I get so sad when I park next to new BMWs. All the soul, class, and character has basically been wiped from then. I’m hanging on to my F10 until it explodes.
@@rickmartinez3781 It wasn't a bad design. It was super elegant and simple. The lines where clear and laid back. Chris Bangle made a statement. I admire the E60 since it came out. But everyone was saying that it was awful. And here we are more than a decade later and the Bangle era designs aged like fine wine. And everyone loves them. To me a design of a car must be pleasing to the eye. Clean lines that doesn't confuse your eyes. Watching a car more than 10 seconds without looking away.
@@chrisdimis91Not everyone loves Bangle's designs. I still hate his designs, and I think he was the worst thing to happen to car design over the last half-century.
Hey boyz! What happened at 16:33? Did you forget color grade your S-Log footage? Otherwise fantastic review and great footage! You are getting better and better. With love and support Ondro.
I drove BMW for 30 years. Two years ago my lease on a 440 I’m with a standard transmission ended, and the bmw dealer had no cars to sell or lease. I bouGHT an Acura TLX S, and gave up on BMW when I saw the pig nosed, auto only, new 4 series. I no longer get into my car for a short vacation , I drive to my destination,feeling empty. Thank bmw for abandoning the people who made you.
Yet another modern car that falls towards the giant screen trend where most physical controls get replaced with an iPad slapped to the dashboard.... EDIT: Please don't read the comments below, it's pure cancer
Still way better than the system in Mercedes, which forces you to operate the touchscreen or a touch sensor to change the radio station. In BMW, you can still use a scroll button on the steering wheel to do so.
I feel like in the past even the standard BMWs were something to aspire to own, not so much anymore. Of course the M cars were always something special, but I remember various versions of 3 series and 5 series still being something to aspire to. Now especially with those screens they just don't differentiate themselves enough.
This is so true. BMW was THE vehicle to aspire for that you ‘made it’. Many folks don’t even look at them as a made it vehicle these days and more of a normal, typical run of the mill commuter. Still an expensive vehicle, but that blemish on their image and market really hurts a lot. Being known as a luxury vehicle but more and more people aren’t seeing you as one. This leads to either BMW needs to adjust their market, which they won’t/cant, or they need to persuade consumers to see them as still being a luxury vehicle, which they’re losing ground with each day that passes. BMW is in a tight place with no way out it seems. I know for myself, I still see Mercedes as classy, upscale, etc and a ‘made it’ vehicle. But a BMW, in my eyes, is like an “oh…that’s cool. I guess” type of brand. I wouldn’t even consider one if I was out looking for my splurge purchase. Another thing I really think hurts their image is that so many vehicles these days are priced at crazy prices, easily pushing $60-70k. BMW blends right in with everyone else and it conveys cheapness when people start wondering why a Hyundai costs the same as a BMW, or a BMW is the same price as a Hyundai. A difficult spot I wouldn’t want to be in as a company!
Last time i drove a BMW 5 series was a 1991 witb a manual. Loved driving it. Well composed on the highway but could take turns if needed. Miss that thing.
Hey Mark, I see you blurred out the speed during the driving portion but I can see your 90+ mph speed in the heads up display. Thanks for driving it how it’s meant to be driven.
Surprisingly the 530i isn’t the volume seller for the 5 Series, it’s actually the 540i. Not the case with Mercedes or Audi. The E350 and A6 2.0T are the volume sellers.
@@leviathan5207 correction, in the US. I’m not familiar with other markets, but here in the states you’re most likely to spot a 540i on the road before any other engine.
Will never forget my old, e34 524 td, with leather interior, Victor steering wheel and Kenwood sound system. What a car it was. When I was young 😁 This? I would not even if I could.
You can still drive the old ones! What may surprise you is how flimsy and cheap they feel compared to these modern cars we mostly claim to hate. Still great fun though and I guess that’s the point.
😋 still loving and maintaining my F10 550ix. $12k with 90k miles. At 129k miles. Just did my first major work. Replaced the front lower ball joints, control arms, thrust arms, wheel bearings. Love this car. Underrated for those who can turn a wrench.
Likewise, I still have my E60 2010 535i 6-speed manual M-Sport with N54 power and a tune. Bought for half price in 2012 with 30k miles, now going on 150kiles and in amazing cosmetic shape. Interior still looks new. Not as good looking as the F10, but other than the rear, looks pretty good with M-sport treatment (think M5). It's just a tad bigger than the E39 I used to have and I still really enjoy the way it drives. Not numb like new 5 series cars. And yes, being able to turn a wrench is key.😮
It is a shame GM decided not to offer its Cadillac CT6 here in the states any longer. I saw a video on the version offered in China and it's just gorgeous. And the latest version offered in the U.S Caddys own turbocharged V8 (and all wheel steering!) for a short time, with other versions offering a twin turbo V6. If the luxury makes can offer new sedans in the U.S market, my can't GM and Ford?
Because it made little sense next to the CT5 EVEN excepting Blackwing, the current CT5V is a great sports sedan. Without a doubt more excited to drive than this.
Saw the writing on the walls for the 5 series last year. Ordered a ‘23 M550 before they took out the V8 out and turned to all screens. I decided to buy my ‘21 M340 lease out because of the same issue. The B58 is a phenomenal engine. These 2 sedans are the last of BMWs classic modern interior. I had a ‘24 7 series loaner for a week. I couldn’t stand the screens. Hopefully BMW finds their way when my 550 lease is up or I will be buying that one out too and take a hiatus from any new BMW.
I know that they work on Volvos, courtesy of infrared (if memory serves me right) waves that detect your hand before you tap on the screen. I don't know if BMW has a variant of that.
I'm just glad there are some companies out there that still build sedans like this. All the American brands have basically given up and some of the Japanese have too. I'll never understand this love affair a lot of Americans have with crossovers and massive SUVs... which is ultimately why sedans and smaller cars are dying.
My wife just got one. Overall it's a pretty nice car. It's fast for a turbo 4 cylinder. My only complaint is the HVAC controls. Getting the vents to blow right takes a lot of figuring out. Their target market I believe is 50+ and as that market ages why would you make controls so difficult?
Looking at the refresh for the last gen, I knew the next generation was going to be ugly. BMW tend to go yo-yo with their designs. One gen they look nice, the next gen you're scratching your head wondering if they got rid of all their designers and used new hires that wanted to make something that looks nothing like the previous team came up with.
I love the new 5 series. Good looking, great quality and just overall my favorite car. Fair price as well. But thats my opinion. I just in love with this car :)
Why go to the screens and remove physical buttons? Easy. Start locking features behind a paywall. Much easier to do via a touchscreen instead of a physical button.
"Hey Tommy, this car is great. Wow! Just wow! No physical buttons, caked on screens, it's more iPhone than car. Hell, even the engine is partially plastic. This is wonderful! Tommy! Be careful with that coffee!" Coffee spills over the screens. Car short circuits on the railroad tracks while a train is approaching. Dale and Tommy... best friends... 1965 - 2024.
No joke. Yes, the 5 series is bigger inside and out. Especially the back seat. Yes, the 5 series gets better fuel economy. Yes, the 5 series has better drivetrains. But the TLX looks much better inside and out. The TLX has physical controls. Oh, yeah, and an A-Spec is $10-20k cheaper than a 530i. A Type-S is $10-15k cheaper than a 540i. Hard to see where that extra money goes, when the driving experience is synthetic, there are nauseating screens everywhere, and everything that made BMW great is gone.
I watched the whole thing at my breakfast earlier today. 2 boring dudes, they don’t talk how excited they are with the EV ranges, the screen features, etc But I wanted to know how it handles, the engine, the suspension, the ride quality. The 5 and the E series are the two of you!! Lost in the “marketing gimmicks” but still want to offer a quality ride. Love your boring car reviews! Keep it up.
The problem with that is, like cadillac claimed, where the CT5V is aiming at competing with A4's, 3 series and c-classes, it acts like one. Despite its exterior dimension, the interior dimension is much smaller than your A6's 5 series and e-classes and more aligned with a class below. While you might be able to get away with claiming backseats are for noobs for the CT4's, where it's not usable on a daily basis and much much smaller than an A3 or similar car, you can't do the same when someone is shopping a luxury sedan like the 5 series when backseat room is definitely something they need.
@@jkliao6486 The CT-5 is deliberately slotted in size to be in between the 3 and 5 series. People shopping a 3 series might appreciate the extra room. People who think the 5 series has gotten too big, might appreciate having something sized more like an older 5 series.
@@norwegianblue2017 Then like you said, the CT5-V is not a 5 series competitor. In fact, if you sit in one, you would realize the rear leg room and head room is barely any different from a 3 series. If anything, the head room is actually less than a 3 series because of the sloping roof. That is not an in-between product, that is a strict 3 series competitor, from price, to tech to options, except it's less practical than a 3 series because it's a bigger car from the outside, so more difficult to park, maneuver and less efficient daily-wise or performance-wise because of all the added weight.
I’ve had Audis, BMWs and Mercedes. BMW is always the best for the first 20,000 miles. Then the thrill is gone. The fit and finish on the Mercedes and Audis make them a more pleasurable car for the long term. At least as far as sedans go.
Good review. I've always liked BMW. Working for the Department of Agriculture, I can assure you we pay out a lot on that farmland you drive through on your reviews!
Sat in one of these at the Pittsburgh autoshow this last weekend, and I was disgusted with its interior/exterior design language, as well as its general complexity in controls. If I'm the target demographic for tech and I can't even figure out how to use it while sitting in an autoshow, I have no idea how people use it while driving.
whats funny is that the people who can afford these things new are probably like 45-65 yer old people who don't even know how to close apps on an iPhone
I just got one as a loaner with the m package and it’s super nice and feels like a tank, but I’m a bit shocked it has the same engine as my x1. I would personally buy the 540i with the v6 if I bought this car.
When I saw the profile in the thumbnail, I had to do a double take as I thought it was a new Accord yet the title said 5 Series (no disrespect to the Accord). BMW are doing their best to make the enthusiasts look back on the Bangle era with actual fondness at this point. Something I never thought I would say…
@@goncalo33 I owned an E90 M3 and loved it. Best car out of that era. 5 Series has grown on me, but I just don’t care for the 6 and 7 in their first Bangle iteration. Still find the E38 and E39 to be the best looking BMW designs.
Two different cars and markets but after driving a ‘cheap’ Tesla that does 0-60 in 3.5, when cars like this BMW try to push ‘blistering’ times at 4.5 seconds but cost twice the price, it really just doesn’t impress me at all. I think the biggest thing with BMW and other manufacturers like Harley Davidson, etc is people these days more than ever don’t want to be associated with stereotypes of certain brands. Every brand is going to have them, but some more than others, especially BMW. Plus, the price just doesn’t match for what you get. There’s many more options these days that have fantastic options, performance, styling etc for much cheaper. People are willing to get 90% of the same features for much lower prices than what that extra 10% offers for way more money.
@@Deetroiter apart from straight-line speed though, the BMW is better than the Tesla in every single respect - handling, braking, build quality etc. Wouldn't get either though personally.
I drive a BMW G20 from 2022, with physical buttons. The only buttons I use on a daily basis 90 percent time are the ones on the steering wheel. As long as they are not replaced by touch screen I am all good.
After a long day at work staring at a screen, I get into a car and stare at a screen, then I go home and stare at a screen
It's screens all the way down.
Though I hope you’re staring a bit less at the screen while driving 😅
@@JJ-wi2uw I see what you did there. Well done.
@@JJ-wi2uwNice pfp.
I hear ya. I’m burned out on screens. I considered this and had to pass. I went the Lexus route instead. Thankfully (and I’m not joking) some of their newest vehicles are outdated and have a more traditional feel of a car as opposed to BMW and others who now pride themselves on selling rolling iPads.
it's so thoughtful of bmw to keep the used market from collapsing
Their dedication to making sure vehicles depreciate as far from their MSRP as possible in a single year is admirable.
This will hold it's value better than the G30
@@ChrisPatrick-q6kPrices will drop at the same rate lol. It always has
Thank you bro, exactly!
Exactly..ill stick with my 2022 540i sport for now
Every time I see a modern BMW I scream "Look what they did to my boy! 😢"
You made my day with your comment ;-)
BMW is dead to me. We’re never going back to peak automobile.
.. Your GF reference is a bullseye! .. What happened BMW styling department? .. Yo BMW AG! .. Where is the wagon, estate or Kombi version? .. We get craps here in N. America. .. Okay, we'll keep our '23 MB E450 wagon. .. Cheers, Vail, Colorado
P.S., Not every N. American got infected with the SUV flu. .. Hot Rod wagons rule!
even worse than styling is actually driving one back to back with a classic. Almost completely soulless
I no longer look at it, problem solved.
Looking at the dashboard used to be a beautiful thing. This is like walking into a Best Buy.
Best comment 😂
It will age so poorly
Ok boomer
@@Rew123go play on your ipad kid
I think car makers have run out of ideas to really innovate and so have just come up with this
As someone who grew up loving cars in the 90s and 2000s, I lusted over BMWs. My parents bought me subscriptions to C and D and R&T and I went to a school with a level of wealth high enough that I got to ride in a lot of my friends’ parents’ BMWs so I read a lot about them. I can’t believe how far this company has fallen. They just don’t make lust worthy vehicles anymore. The formula is so simple but they seem to be pandering to the marketing department over the people who actually would buy these.
Exactly, I owned so many Bmw's of the early to mid 2000s and really enjoyed the car, the ride, the experience. These have zero substance
Agreed
So true..I used to drive the 1995 840ci back in 1997 and I would of never guessed in a million years that they would produce such a tamed car like this..they're straying away from the ultimate driving machine that they once were to a computer on wheels 😅..
Honda/Acura vehicles are the new ultimate driving machines. More soul than the new BMWs.
@@jonathang6522 so true
"It's like I'm picking up my phone and driving it around." Brilliant comparison, this is how I feel about most EVs and I'm not even 30 and very used to tech.
regardless of whether you're used to tech or not, the human brain craves stimulation and engagement. Flat screens with no tactile feedback do not support this.
For all the crap BMW got for the i3's exterior styling, it doesn't drive like a smartphone. It helps that the curb weight was very light for an EV and lighter than a current Golf. New management came in and threw that all away in favor of 4000-5000lbs boats.
@@echodelta2172 I just don't feel anything driving or being driven in an EV. No emotions. The tech is cool, but I don't get into the car to play angry birds with it's steering wheel.
@@maxmustermann194I don't even find the tech to be "cool". Nothing about it is really innovative. It's a "sidegrade" at best and downgrade at worst. Electric motors were used to power carts in the 1800's.
Manufacturers implement “tech” and “futuristic” design trying to appeal to younger people but it only applies to old people trying to feel young. Young people like the e46 and e92. Because they are naturally aspirated and simple.
"What do you think?" - "I don't know". Still the best review channel out there.
I really miss gauges that had dials. Seemed to give the interior more style.
More difficult to read though, giant digital numbers is where it's at. Even my 2013 Civic has a nice digital speedometer, not some ancient looking sun dial.
@@s4nder86 Not really though, most modern analogue gauges have a digital screen in the middle of both gauges... so you get best of both worlds, would prefer that over some amazon fire looking tablet on my dashboard.
@@s4nder86 Anyone driving a civic should not have an opinion on car design
@@andrettransformer Civics look better than BMWs nowadays, the one in the video included. I'd never buy a German money pit either way.
@@s4nder86absolute cope lmao
Losing physical HVAC controls is such a crime. I don't understand why companies do it. There are some controls (HVAC, radio controls, seat controls, etc.) that should absolutely remain as physical switches. I shouldn't have to take my eyes off the road to choose where the air is blowing from, or sit through menu lag to do what could have been done instantly before.
Cost cutting. It's cheaper to use a screen for everything than actual buttons and switches. The younger generation loves this garbage.
This car has capacitive touch to change the air volume, a physical air direction "wheel" if you will, and you can always have the BMW assistant raise or lower the temperature. I'm as much of a luddite as many in the comments (hell I bought a 2020 Tundra) but I think of the ways this has been done, this was done pretty well.
Automotive interior designers are heading towards the day when a 35,000 and a 150,000 dollar car literally have the same dashboards, and it’s embarrassing to watch.
@japanwatchconnection Then they should lower the price to a Mazda or VW territory this interior looks as cheap and insipid as a Levis blue jeans under a Suit, it is not just about the screen..., long way to downgrade this cannot be called luxury anymore.
Race to the bottom...
Yep...I totally agree
meanwhile genesis is slapping everybody around with their interior. Its wonderful in person
Car designer opinion on the exterior styling- It is very obvious the designers had a challenge to make the styling work for both ICE and EV powertrains. The proportions (namely the very tall side profile) are a direct result of having to package for a battery pack. They tried to break it up with the black lower trim to hide a bit of the height.
this bmw 5 series looks like it was designed for china to be a bmw knock off
It’s ugly
100% Worst part is they used black molding or paint at the bottom to make it seem less tall. No wonder also why they had to lengthen it
That's just a long way of saying it looks like a Honda Accord.
@@SilverScarletSpiderha, it’s true… it does look like a copy of a BMW
It's bizarre seeing BMW make the same interior and UI design mistakes in 2024 that 25-35K plebian cars used to make 5 years ago. There's a sea of gloss-black plastic and a newfound reliance on touchscreens for most interior functions. I'm sure it's something any driver could get used to, but this over reliance on screens and overuse of gloss black is going to date this thing very quickly.
BMW uses even more plastic under the hood.
that's what tends to happen when you decide to hire a design director that has barely any experience in the industry
I agree with the goss black and plastic but i have an A8L 2019 and the touch screen for climate controls literally is just as fast as buttons just will take 1-2 days after you get it to get used to it its like getting a new galaxy
Because of economies of scale it becomes cheaper to install these mass produced screens while analog parts become rarer supply thus more expensive for them to put in their cars and less profit for them.
@@norwegianblue2017 Plastics of today aren't the same as plastics of 30 years ago or cheap electronics, you can make plastics do pretty much anything you want them to
BMW: the only automaker that has worked harder than Honda has to piss off their old fans.
Why Honda?
Edit: Mitsubishi would've made sense.
@laszlopanaflex5613New Yorkers and NoHesi fans.
honda is gong BACK to its simplisitc designs after years of people saying they looked weird and yall mfs still complain about it@@goncalo33
@laszlopanaflex5613damn very succinct 😂 so true. Nobody able to buy these new cars get angry about them for no reason at all
I feel like this happens in every generation
And VW.
I like that Marc is quick to acknowledge that while the engineering tech is good it can't escape the fact that it's an imitation of what automotive engineering really is.
Thank you BMW for putting art on a display in a car that is to be driven. That definitely won't be a distraction for anyone whatsoever, especially when driving.
new bmw drivers dont care about driving
The art should be the car... Not an app or add on
SavageGeese is the only channel that can make a video about a modern BMW that is both watchable and interesting.
Well Done.
What's up with these comments just meat slobbering the channel? Has to be a bunch of AI generated bots
@@DB-sd3cw No, I'm very much alive. Although, I wonder about you.
@@dannoyes4493you’re glazing. There’s others channels that do the same or better
How this channel doesn't have over a million subs is beyond me. Top tier content.
They will eventually... But yeah, they should've been there already. Best automotive content on TH-cam.
Because they don’t scream at you and drag out a drag race to 60 for 10 minutes.
They’re not pretty enough. And normies don’t appreciate their honesty. Normies just want fluff.
Car reviews have always been slow growth. This is a passion project that you can make a living off of. There's only so many ways to review a car and LOTS of other people are doing it. These guys do great work. They'll get to where they deserve to be. But bear in mind that they so far haven't been afraid to deliver huge criticism and commentary on the flaws of vehicles. That hurts who will give cars to you. Other channels have more access because they don't talk down on the cars. Carwow comes to mind. Never any real negatives. And as a result, Mat Watson gets a lot of cars and a lot of eyes.
@@TheDad777 Doug is a weird looking goof
Appreciate the Clive Owen reference. If I were head of BMW, my first edict would be "remember how to make a proper sports sedan, never abandon physical controls, piano black is fireable offense, and to you designers: enough of the weird sh*t!!"
This wins
sounds like Audi. But they screwed up Quattro
Sport sedans are for the 90s. We’ve moved on
@albertogonzalez1746 who is we? The c9mment sections are filled with condemnation, not praise. Beyond the subjective issues, which still see most people disapproving, their are a myriad of objective issues where they are regressing creating a product that is frustrating to use. Its crap, stop coping
Well sure. But you would either make BMW go bankrupt with those decisions, or be removed as the head of BMW before it got there.
I love the fact that at 08:58 the speedometer is blurred out but the speed is still displayed on the HUD
my e39 touring wagon has just been elevated to god status.
Good to see that BMW fully commits to soulless husks of cars now
AdminAbuse.. That's a cold, bold statement. .. Agreed. .. The 3 German manufacturers sure have succumbed to the practice of culling their cars into rolling iPads ...
Lmao! Yep!
really needed a laugh today, thank you
With buck tooth grills like bugs bunny 🐰
Such BS
Feels like there was a lot of cost cutting going on with this car, particularly the interior materials
you sat in it?
And the design department
I’m sure if the interior felt cheap they would’ve mentioned it.
@@hotdog9262I have. There is definitely extensive cost cutting.
Interesting that you think this. I just watched CarWow new video comparing the 5, E, and A6. Matt mentioned that the 5 Series interior had the highest quality.
Man. . . .Mark's entire mood and demeanor at 9:40 perfectly encapsulates how I feel about the new 5 series.
Love the playlist Easter Eggs... Truly men of exceptional taste and comedic timing.
Will cling on to my F31 335d xDrive. Peak pre-big screen BMW. Normal dials. Buttons. Loving it. 100k miles on it, but will keep it forever.
This "glue lots of ipads to the dash" trend looks god fucking awful.
A shame really.
Has much to do with a destroyed German economy, self-destroyed really.
They figured out how to do it and save money compared to integrating things properly.
I don't mind it since most of it is set it and forget it but I can see why it's too much.
@henkondemand I mostly mean it looks tacky, I've never used a car like that so not sure how it is to live with or whatever.
Makes me want an older 5 series even more
Hard to find them these days.
You can't afford both, anyway
Same here. I bought one
2021 m550 for $45k is looking great right now
With a proper extended warranty of course
Now it looks like a Camry. Nothing like the old Beamers.
At least the Camry doesn't have a ridiculous and ugly front grill
I saw new Honda accord 😁
@@JasonFlorida It does.
@@JasonFloridaThe 2025 one does lol
The rear end definitely gives Camry vibes
My dad bought a 2015 528i, he still has it with more than 215,000 miles. He doesn't beat on the car and doesn't drive it like he's Max Verstappen, so all of the components have held up rather well. He was in the dealership waiting to get his car back as they were changing the oil and some filters and transmission fluid and he sat in the new 5 series. When he came home he told me that it felt like he was sitting inside of a NASA computer or working on a terminal docking station at Bear Stern back in the 80s, where the computers took up an entire room.
I agree with Mark, I would want the prior gen 5 series with an attractive exterior, physical climate controls inside, and a V8. Focusing so heavy on the tech ensures this will age horribly. Not to mention an exterior that looks awkward at best
I have G30, ever since F10 they have not really been Sports sedan of the olden days
Yay, a 2.0L Turbo, how inspiring. “We’ll just toss that in there and call it done”
The government is literally forcing them to leave 6 and 8 cars behind…and soon, they will force an EV on you.
Careful who you vote for.
2.0L Turbo in a 3 series E30/E36 = 🤤
2.0L Turbo in 5000 lbs Tank = 🤢
So gross 🤮🤢🤮🤮🤮
I used to get so excited about a new Bimmer. Now I’m just saddened. Great review, though.
A couple days ago i walking on the pavement minding my own thing. Suddenly i saw am F10 parked next to it. And oh boy i stopped and looked at it. The lines the elegant design the design of the enterior. Pure class and presence. You're intimidated watching it. And what a better way to start your day than watching an E60 driving by at the same time admiring the F10. You start thinking what went wrong and BMW went from elegant and timeless designs to something that doesn't have cohesiveness. I cannot wrap my head around.
I have the same feelings. I have an F10 and I’m continually in love with the design and proportions. I get so sad when I park next to new BMWs. All the soul, class, and character has basically been wiped from then. I’m hanging on to my F10 until it explodes.
@@ahamsandwhich She's a keeper definitely. Hopefully i can buy an f10 in the near future.
I think the E60 has stood up well. It actually looks better now than when first released. It was just too ahead of its time.
@@rickmartinez3781 It wasn't a bad design. It was super elegant and simple. The lines where clear and laid back. Chris Bangle made a statement. I admire the E60 since it came out. But everyone was saying that it was awful. And here we are more than a decade later and the Bangle era designs aged like fine wine. And everyone loves them. To me a design of a car must be pleasing to the eye. Clean lines that doesn't confuse your eyes. Watching a car more than 10 seconds without looking away.
@@chrisdimis91Not everyone loves Bangle's designs. I still hate his designs, and I think he was the worst thing to happen to car design over the last half-century.
That four banger for 60k is nuts....
As nuts as a Toyota 4 banger for 55.
@@michaelv6870the 4 banger in the Camry is 55k??!!
@@bassandtrebleclef tacoma
Hey boyz! What happened at 16:33? Did you forget color grade your S-Log footage? Otherwise fantastic review and great footage! You are getting better and better. With love and support Ondro.
I have the same question. Was this intentional to make a point?
The E39 looking at this going…NEIN
A broke boomer said so
The more BMW ventures away from it, the more I yearn for an E39.
@@hassanger8128 "Anyone who doesn't like the stuff I do can't afford it" is such a gamma, gay-boy take.
Time to grab a cpo last gen 5 series. Excellent video as always.
The time to grab a cpo last gen 5 series is 2003.
Still an excellent video.
LOL that is exactly what I did
I’m looking at that also. B58 For The Win!@@georgeprotopapadakis4752
HVAC controls are so small how the hell does one use them while driving on a bumpy road?
@suspicionofdeceitthe heat from the car igniting on impact keeps you toasty
you have to buy a subscription service first.
I drove BMW for 30 years. Two years ago my lease on a 440 I’m with a standard transmission ended, and the bmw dealer had no cars to sell or lease. I bouGHT an Acura TLX S, and gave up on BMW when I saw the pig nosed, auto only, new 4 series. I no longer get into my car for a short vacation , I drive to my destination,feeling empty. Thank bmw for abandoning the people who made you.
They’ve really ‘jumped the shark’ with this one.
An orthopedic shoe interior wrapped in recycled Lego.
Comment of the day!
The exterior definitely looks like it was made with Legos. It's got no flow. Apparently they like this crap look in China so BMW uses it
recycled Mega Blocks.
Tonka toy
Love the description!
Yet another modern car that falls towards the giant screen trend where most physical controls get replaced with an iPad slapped to the dashboard....
EDIT: Please don't read the comments below, it's pure cancer
Yeah I hate that they got rid of the shifting lever too. To control the air rate you have to go into the menu. iDrive7 was definitely better
It's cheaper that's why
Still way better than the system in Mercedes, which forces you to operate the touchscreen or a touch sensor to change the radio station. In BMW, you can still use a scroll button on the steering wheel to do so.
Its a terrible trend, no doubt.
BMW did it right. I'm so tired of people complaining about every implementation of these when some are done great
FYI you guys blurred out the speedometer speed, but the HUD speed is visible still.
I feel like in the past even the standard BMWs were something to aspire to own, not so much anymore. Of course the M cars were always something special, but I remember various versions of 3 series and 5 series still being something to aspire to. Now especially with those screens they just don't differentiate themselves enough.
This is so true. BMW was THE vehicle to aspire for that you ‘made it’. Many folks don’t even look at them as a made it vehicle these days and more of a normal, typical run of the mill commuter. Still an expensive vehicle, but that blemish on their image and market really hurts a lot. Being known as a luxury vehicle but more and more people aren’t seeing you as one. This leads to either BMW needs to adjust their market, which they won’t/cant, or they need to persuade consumers to see them as still being a luxury vehicle, which they’re losing ground with each day that passes. BMW is in a tight place with no way out it seems. I know for myself, I still see Mercedes as classy, upscale, etc and a ‘made it’ vehicle. But a BMW, in my eyes, is like an “oh…that’s cool. I guess” type of brand. I wouldn’t even consider one if I was out looking for my splurge purchase. Another thing I really think hurts their image is that so many vehicles these days are priced at crazy prices, easily pushing $60-70k. BMW blends right in with everyone else and it conveys cheapness when people start wondering why a Hyundai costs the same as a BMW, or a BMW is the same price as a Hyundai. A difficult spot I wouldn’t want to be in as a company!
Last time i drove a BMW 5 series was a 1991 witb a manual. Loved driving it. Well composed on the highway but could take turns if needed. Miss that thing.
That sounds more like a BMW to me.. 90's with a manual, in touch with the road.
Looks like a fancy Honda Accord on the outside LOL
I was going to make the same comment.
Nailed it
because all new cars are exceedingly chinese.
This thing is HUGE now, wow
That's what my woman says, too.
It's even huger in person. They're starting to roll them out the leasees at the plant in spartanburg. I was like damn what is that?
Once i saw this new 5 series i bought myself a G30 5 series..... Imo that classic bmw interior is peak design.
Hey Mark, I see you blurred out the speed during the driving portion but I can see your 90+ mph speed in the heads up display. Thanks for driving it how it’s meant to be driven.
My fave M5 is from the late 90s to early 2000s. The E39 i believe. They look beautiful.
Surprisingly the 530i isn’t the volume seller for the 5 Series, it’s actually the 540i. Not the case with Mercedes or Audi. The E350 and A6 2.0T are the volume sellers.
Wellp, apparently not in Germany. We don't get the 40i.
@@leviathan5207same here in Romania. The only way to get the B58 engine is to buy the 550e.
But i guess that’s how it is now in the european market
@@leviathan5207 correction, in the US. I’m not familiar with other markets, but here in the states you’re most likely to spot a 540i on the road before any other engine.
BMW 5 Series drivers want at least 6 cylinders.
Will never forget my old, e34 524 td, with leather interior, Victor steering wheel and Kenwood sound system. What a car it was. When I was young 😁
This? I would not even if I could.
You can still drive the old ones! What may surprise you is how flimsy and cheap they feel compared to these modern cars we mostly claim to hate. Still great fun though and I guess that’s the point.
Nice laptop, tho I’d prefer one without the steering wheel. Can I upgrade the ram?
It’s soldered on to the motherboard
$70k for a 4 cylinder is something I just cannot comprehend.
😋 still loving and maintaining my F10 550ix. $12k with 90k miles. At 129k miles. Just did my first major work. Replaced the front lower ball joints, control arms, thrust arms, wheel bearings. Love this car. Underrated for those who can turn a wrench.
Likewise, I still have my E60 2010 535i 6-speed manual M-Sport with N54 power and a tune. Bought for half price in 2012 with 30k miles, now going on 150kiles and in amazing cosmetic shape. Interior still looks new. Not as good looking as the F10, but other than the rear, looks pretty good with M-sport treatment (think M5). It's just a tad bigger than the E39 I used to have and I still really enjoy the way it drives. Not numb like new 5 series cars. And yes, being able to turn a wrench is key.😮
This car is dystopian. I do not want an iPad controlled car for babies.
It saves money or it extends profits…
You can thank papa Elon for this dumb trend.
Exactly the word I was looking for. Depressing, dystopian and other d words.
@@justkiddin1980if there was another badge, let’s say an Acura badge on this car, y’all will call it cost-cutting
@@Blank00you just said the same thing.. cost cutting saves money and extends profits for the manufacturer. Hopefully it ruins their reputation too!
It is a shame GM decided not to offer its Cadillac CT6 here in the states any longer. I saw a video on the version offered in China and it's just gorgeous. And the latest version offered in the U.S Caddys own turbocharged V8 (and all wheel steering!) for a short time, with other versions offering a twin turbo V6. If the luxury makes can offer new sedans in the U.S market, my can't GM and Ford?
Because people don't buy it.
I didn’t see that the CT6 got discontinued in the States, what an absolute shame. At least you can get a great deal on a used example.
Because it made little sense next to the CT5
EVEN excepting Blackwing, the current CT5V is a great sports sedan. Without a doubt more excited to drive than this.
@@papa_pt Agree - The Cadillac CT5-V would appeal to me a little more in this segment, particularly the refreshed 2025.
@@chynacash3138 The 2025 CT5-V is chef's kiss. There's few cars I've wanted to actually own more.
Don't know if is Mark's driving position put the lenght of the sterring column its insane, looks like if there is something or panel is off.
Saw the writing on the walls for the 5 series last year. Ordered a ‘23 M550 before they took out the V8 out and turned to all screens. I decided to buy my ‘21 M340 lease out because of the same issue. The B58 is a phenomenal engine. These 2 sedans are the last of BMWs classic modern interior. I had a ‘24 7 series loaner for a week. I couldn’t stand the screens. Hopefully BMW finds their way when my 550 lease is up or I will be buying that one out too and take a hiatus from any new BMW.
Also…you know what’s lacking.. genuine excitement from either of you guys… that’s very telling! Great revirw
How well do the touch controls work while wearing a pair of winter gloves, I wonder?
That’s why there’s heating steering wheel - to warm your hands, jk….
I know that they work on Volvos, courtesy of infrared (if memory serves me right) waves that detect your hand before you tap on the screen. I don't know if BMW has a variant of that.
Appreciate you showing the weight of the vehicle!
I'm just glad there are some companies out there that still build sedans like this. All the American brands have basically given up and some of the Japanese have too. I'll never understand this love affair a lot of Americans have with crossovers and massive SUVs... which is ultimately why sedans and smaller cars are dying.
There is a significant corporate vehicle market in Europe, and sedans and wagons are the choice of body style for executives.
You’ve never seen a Lexus sedan?
@@THESLlCK I said "some" of the Japanese manufacturers.
@@beaulunawolf1198 the only japanese company not selling sedans is mitsubishi
@@gunesinan814 .. Yo BMW N.America, .. Where is the 5-Series wagon? .. N. America gets craps.
My wife just got one. Overall it's a pretty nice car. It's fast for a turbo 4 cylinder. My only complaint is the HVAC controls. Getting the vents to blow right takes a lot of figuring out. Their target market I believe is 50+ and as that market ages why would you make controls so difficult?
Agreed. The HVAC controls on the screen are too small and needlessly complicated for older drivers.
I like how you blurred out the speedo in the gauge cluster but left the one on the HUD
Wild that this can be optioned at 70k and still be stuck with the base 4 cylinder turbo engine.
Yeah, it's unbelievable
unfortunately this is what it's been since the both the F10 and G30 5er generations starting back in 2010, so 14 years at this point.
How does the Driving Assistant Professional package stack up to the competition? Is the Bowers and Wilkens sound system worth the premium?
The last generation 5 series was one of the last good looking BMWs.
It was so good looking, why did they do this😢😢😢
Looking at the refresh for the last gen, I knew the next generation was going to be ugly. BMW tend to go yo-yo with their designs. One gen they look nice, the next gen you're scratching your head wondering if they got rid of all their designers and used new hires that wanted to make something that looks nothing like the previous team came up with.
@@justinade81 I agree…the 2021 refresh made a good-looking car slightly uglier. With this new model, it’s just plain ugly.
I love the new 5 series. Good looking, great quality and just overall my favorite car. Fair price as well. But thats my opinion. I just in love with this car :)
Why go to the screens and remove physical buttons? Easy. Start locking features behind a paywall. Much easier to do via a touchscreen instead of a physical button.
"Hey Tommy, this car is great. Wow! Just wow! No physical buttons, caked on screens, it's more iPhone than car. Hell, even the engine is partially plastic. This is wonderful! Tommy! Be careful with that coffee!" Coffee spills over the screens. Car short circuits on the railroad tracks while a train is approaching. Dale and Tommy... best friends... 1965 - 2024.
The seats are only heated for $70k????
8:53
Forgot about the HUD huh
It makes the TLX look like the deal of the century
No joke.
Yes, the 5 series is bigger inside and out. Especially the back seat.
Yes, the 5 series gets better fuel economy.
Yes, the 5 series has better drivetrains.
But the TLX looks much better inside and out. The TLX has physical controls.
Oh, yeah, and an A-Spec is $10-20k cheaper than a 530i. A Type-S is $10-15k cheaper than a 540i.
Hard to see where that extra money goes, when the driving experience is synthetic, there are nauseating screens everywhere, and everything that made BMW great is gone.
I test drove the TLX. Thought it was awful.
Why would i drive a Honda when I can drive a BMW?
@@michaelv6870 the style. The performance. The value. The reliability.
@@mattwilliams7454 Exactly.
I watched the whole thing at my breakfast earlier today.
2 boring dudes, they don’t talk how excited they are with the EV ranges, the screen features, etc
But I wanted to know how it handles, the engine, the suspension, the ride quality. The 5 and the E series are the two of you!! Lost in the “marketing gimmicks” but still want to offer a quality ride. Love your boring car reviews! Keep it up.
Don’t worry Jack I watched the whole video. The Ad revenue should allocate another colorway for the paragonia sweater for you.
I would much rather get the Cadillac CT5-V with the turbo 6 that starts at $51k.
The problem with that is, like cadillac claimed, where the CT5V is aiming at competing with A4's, 3 series and c-classes, it acts like one. Despite its exterior dimension, the interior dimension is much smaller than your A6's 5 series and e-classes and more aligned with a class below. While you might be able to get away with claiming backseats are for noobs for the CT4's, where it's not usable on a daily basis and much much smaller than an A3 or similar car, you can't do the same when someone is shopping a luxury sedan like the 5 series when backseat room is definitely something they need.
@@jkliao6486 The CT-5 is deliberately slotted in size to be in between the 3 and 5 series. People shopping a 3 series might appreciate the extra room. People who think the 5 series has gotten too big, might appreciate having something sized more like an older 5 series.
@@norwegianblue2017 Then like you said, the CT5-V is not a 5 series competitor. In fact, if you sit in one, you would realize the rear leg room and head room is barely any different from a 3 series. If anything, the head room is actually less than a 3 series because of the sloping roof. That is not an in-between product, that is a strict 3 series competitor, from price, to tech to options, except it's less practical than a 3 series because it's a bigger car from the outside, so more difficult to park, maneuver and less efficient daily-wise or performance-wise because of all the added weight.
Cadillac interior is awful though.
@@nateisright I disagree. The interior in the V and the V Blackwing is quite respectable.
Are the audio measurements in your reviews a thing of the past?
I’ve had Audis, BMWs and Mercedes. BMW is always the best for the first 20,000 miles. Then the thrill is gone. The fit and finish on the Mercedes and Audis make them a more pleasurable car for the long term. At least as far as sedans go.
It saddens me as a long time BMW owner. I may keep what I have until the wheels fall off, whether sooner or later.
$70k for a 4 popper 5 series… just wow
its optioned out, base I6 is 65k
@@hotdog9262what a scam
@@hotdog9262oh that smooths it all over then
How about a 90K C63 4 popper? lol
@@overcooked123 how about a 800hp hellcat for 80? Why the semantics??
LOL i lost it when it zoomed in at "B58" mentioned
And now the next m5 weighs a little under 1,000 pounds more than the last one
But the EV version will have nearly perfect weight distribution: 3250lbs on each corner 🤦
Just a heads up, blurring the speedometer is fine and all, but the heads up display still gives away your spirited driving ;) 8:59
Can you guys please review the M340i LCI xDrive.
Good review. I've always liked BMW. Working for the Department of Agriculture, I can assure you we pay out a lot on that farmland you drive through on your reviews!
We shouldn't have to get used to expensive cars. We should want them and aspire to them.
Exactly!
Sat in one of these at the Pittsburgh autoshow this last weekend, and I was disgusted with its interior/exterior design language, as well as its general complexity in controls.
If I'm the target demographic for tech and I can't even figure out how to use it while sitting in an autoshow, I have no idea how people use it while driving.
whats funny is that the people who can afford these things new are probably like 45-65 yer old people who don't even know how to close apps on an iPhone
Will there be a V8 options for this generation?
I just got one as a loaner with the m package and it’s super nice and feels like a tank, but I’m a bit shocked it has the same engine as my x1. I would personally buy the 540i with the v6 if I bought this car.
after living in NJ for so long, it feels so natural to see NJ tags on a BMW
About as special as a Honda here in N.J.
"MONTVALE NJ FO' LIFE...!!!" (ref: BMWNA HQ)
OLD IS GOLD
And at this rate with how cars are becoming, forever will be unfortunately. We will never see another golden era in cars ever again.
BMW has sold it's soul.
You guys are the best your content is always great.Thank you.
Magnificent thoughts baked right in. Great review!
When I saw the profile in the thumbnail, I had to do a double take as I thought it was a new Accord yet the title said 5 Series (no disrespect to the Accord). BMW are doing their best to make the enthusiasts look back on the Bangle era with actual fondness at this point. Something I never thought I would say…
I always found Bangle's cars to be gorgeous. I'm yet to understand why people hated them. As a bonus, they aged really well.
@@goncalo33 I owned an E90 M3 and loved it. Best car out of that era. 5 Series has grown on me, but I just don’t care for the 6 and 7 in their first Bangle iteration. Still find the E38 and E39 to be the best looking BMW designs.
Wow 5 series with 4 cylinder engine
Am I the only one that do not get excited with these Euro brands?
Euro brands are dead to me. Modern “luxury” cars aren’t worth it anymore imo with the exception of some Lexuses.
Two different cars and markets but after driving a ‘cheap’ Tesla that does 0-60 in 3.5, when cars like this BMW try to push ‘blistering’ times at 4.5 seconds but cost twice the price, it really just doesn’t impress me at all. I think the biggest thing with BMW and other manufacturers like Harley Davidson, etc is people these days more than ever don’t want to be associated with stereotypes of certain brands. Every brand is going to have them, but some more than others, especially BMW. Plus, the price just doesn’t match for what you get. There’s many more options these days that have fantastic options, performance, styling etc for much cheaper. People are willing to get 90% of the same features for much lower prices than what that extra 10% offers for way more money.
@@Deetroiter yes, that's why BMW sakes figures are skyrocketing
@@Deetroiter apart from straight-line speed though, the BMW is better than the Tesla in every single respect - handling, braking, build quality etc. Wouldn't get either though personally.
Great review. I would have opted for the B58 but would love a V8. I miss mainstream V8’s.
I drive a BMW G20 from 2022, with physical buttons. The only buttons I use on a daily basis 90 percent time are the ones on the steering wheel. As long as they are not replaced by touch screen I am all good.