new 5 series has more tech than 7 :(

[bruno787]

reading the new5 details, it seems the car has all the technologies/features of the 7 and more (parking assistant, dynamic xenon standard, 8spd tranny).....

mb always differentiates its S class from the C and E when it comes to features. in this case, it seems the only difference is body size and price. i feel ripped.

[TheGooch]

ill bet your passengers sitting in the rear don't feel like you got ripped

Enjoy it!

[xDrive50i]

Well, it's going on a year now since the F01/F02 was introduced, so I'm not surprised that some of the technology has already trickled down to the F10/F11 series.

Mind you the F10/F11 is still a smaller car and does not feature all of the technology available on the F01/F02. But at the same time, BMW did introduce some new technology with the F10/F11 which I hope and I'm sure it will in the future make it's way into the F01/F02 series.

[rgbyhkr]

I think this was foreshadowed with the design of the Gran Turismo. So many similarities to the 7, but in a smaller package. It does seem like the transition from top end model to middle happened pretty quickly though. It will be interesting to see what happens over the next 2 - 3 years until the 7 gets a mid-cycle refresh. You'd think that this would result in 5 series sales cannibalizing some 7 series sales, especially in a down economy, but you never know. Perhaps that was BMW's strategy - focus on a mid tier model seller to make it look like an attractive an option as possible. Buyers don't need to go up to the 7 to get all the best tech, like other auto makers are doing. Plus, you get consistency across models for interface which helps with service issues, training, etc.

Jeff

[Alchem]

Blame the economy. F01 sales have been terrible.And people who do have money are not going to buy 7er as they dont want to give a bad image.I think 7er shoppers will opt for a 5er instead but they want all the features of a 7er.
I think BMW might keep the prices on 5er at same level even though there is so much new tech.

[TheGooch]

Originally Posted by Alchem

F01 sales have been terrible.And people who do have money are not going to buy 7er as they dont want to give a bad image.

I want to meet the person that really wants a F01, but buys the 5 because they are worried about a bad image.

with all due respect

I don't buy it

[xDrive50i]

Originally Posted by TheGooch

I want to meet the person that really wants a F01, but buys the 5 because they are worried about a bad image.

with all due respect

I don't buy it

+1

My thoughts exactly!

[Alchem]

Originally Posted by TheGooch

I want to meet the person that really wants a F01, but buys the 5 because they are worried about a bad image.

with all due respect

I don't buy it

If you are a manager at a company who laid of a lot of employees then do you really want to buy a 7 series? What kind of message does that send?
But of course that's not every case. I recall reading somewhere that 7er buyers are buying 5ers and 5er buyers are buying 3ers. Although the major motivating factor for this is cost..

[vladberca]

If u have the money for a 7 series why should buy a 5 series instead?
If u are the manager of a company and u plan to buy a 7 series means that u are the manager of a smash hit company

[freshwhite335]

its not all totally false. my father still whips an E39 M5 because he loves it and because he likes the image is gives off in the company parking lot. He doesn't think #2 should be rollin up in a new flashy car. Didn't stop him from getting my mom the F01 though.

His boss did the same thing... sort of. Instead of trading his E350 DD in for the new E63 he got a good deal on a left over 09 in the same color as the 350 and no one at the company can tell the difference.

[EmPower]

Originally Posted by Alchem

If you are a manager at a company who laid of a lot of employees then do you really want to buy a 7 series? What kind of message does that send?
But of course that's not every case. I recall reading somewhere that 7er buyers are buying 5ers and 5er buyers are buying 3ers. Although the major motivating factor for this is cost..

You are bringing extenuating circumstances into the mix. In your hypothetical scenario, the laid off individual would in all probablity not buy an expensive car, and would opt for something a whole lot cheaper and Korean!

But your example aside, people who have the money dont care. Case in point, I was talking to my uncle whose lease on the W221 S class expires in sept of 2011 at which point he is unsure what he wants next. I asked him to lease the W212 E550, but he said flatly, he does not want an E. His choice is the F02 750Li or the 760Li, unless the W222 S class comes out.

[ronushi]

the only option that the new 5 series wont be getting is the side view cameras on the fenders. thats about it and the 7 series doesnt get the parking assist or does it?

[dxbf02]

Originally Posted by ronushi

the only option that the new 5 series wont be getting is the side view cameras on the fenders. thats about it and the 7 series doesnt get the parking assist or does it?

The new 5 does have side view cameras.

[xDrive50i]

Originally Posted by dxbf02

The new 5 does have side view cameras.

Not 100% sure if the new 5 series (F10/F11) will have the side view camera package, but I believe they have the top view cameras mounted in the bottom of your side view mirrors as found on the X5M/X6M cars...

[Fastbuck]

Originally Posted by xDrive50i

Not 100% sure if the new 5 series (F10/F11) will have the side view camera package, but I believe they have the top view cameras mounted in the bottom of your side view mirrors as found on the X5M/X6M cars...

It would appear from some of the launch photos that the fender cameras are there.

[ronushi]

Originally Posted by xDrive50i

Not 100% sure if the new 5 series (F10/F11) will have the side view camera package, but I believe they have the top view cameras mounted in the bottom of your side view mirrors as found on the X5M/X6M cars...

I didnt see them either and i think this is a replacement option instead of 5er getting the sideview cameras it only get the park assist as a replacement to that, the 7er doesnt get the park assists as it has the sideview cameras, bmw thought of this so they wont make all the high end options of a 7 available to a 5 series