Yannis

BMW 5-series losing control

A Swedish test-centre has found that a driver may lose control of the new 5-series in the famous 'elk test', because there may be a problem with the stability control system in a loaded car.

The test is named after the Elk - the Northern european moose which can grow to the size of a large horse - and is a standard test in Sweden. During the test, the driver drives toward a target which is roughly the same size as an elk, and has to swerve to avoid it. This puts the car's steering and electronic stability programme on a tough test.

The Swedish magazine Teknikens Vard (The World of Technology) found that the new BMW 5-series failed the test when the car is loaded. According to the magazine, the test was passed without incident when the car is empty, but that the driver is liable to lose control when the car is filled with people and goods.
Not dangerous during normal driving

The problem is evident across the board in the 5-series, but worst in the versions with the smallest variants: The electronic stability control doesn't kick in fast enough, and doesn't do enough to allow the driver to keep control of the car, which means that the ESP system may not be doing its job. The result is that the car is liable to spin, which could cause accidents.

Teknikens Vard speculates that the problem may be with the stiffer side-walls found in the BMW's run-flat tyres. The vehicles have been taken to Germany for further testing, to see what the problem may be.

It is worth pointing out that the problem - if there is a problem - poses no danger during normal driving: The issue cannot cause accidents, but may fail to prevent accidents.

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Alx

I see the importance of this, but i dont feel it will deter buyers....

But if you live in Suburban areas where there are deer and such animals, perhaps this may be an issue.

Yannis

The 'elk test' is done in Sweden. Perhaps just-me can tell us more.

klier

That test is done everywhere in Europe standard now, after the 'baby-Benz' debacle....

The Artist

The elk test is a gr8 thing.. its more or less a slalom at high speed.. with or without fully loaded car... this is a very good test imo.. and it should be passed by every car on the market today.. especially by a expensive BMW

Matt

If the BMW did the best on this test, you would say it was a bad test. Your so anti BMW it gets in the way of you making useful comments about anything car related. If mercedes didnt pass the test then you would say its a bad test. Your unbelievable. Your so biased its sad.

The Artist

LOL.. man you really got it wrong..this was the kind of test the A class flipped in.. and i wasent saying that it was a bad test then.. and aint saying it now.. so it has nothing to do with who fails it or passes it.. its a damn good test.. and is used all over europe as a standard..

Yannis

I still can't believe this! How it's possible for such a well balanced car like 5 series to fail this test? Since in the test they load the car according to the manufacturer's standards perhaps BMW should reduce the proposed maximum weight of the vehicle.

Just_me

Its the run-flat tires. This magazine has testet several new 5ers before without any problems. Other carmags has done the same.
So its tires and maybe this particular car had calibrated the ESP wrong but I say the mainproblem are the tires cause this hasnt happen before when they tested the 5ers.
However its good its a carmag that found the problem so hoefully the maker of this tires are getting homework and deliever us better tires.

I also know many owner changes their run-flats to "real" tires cause they wasnt satisifed with the run-flats.

Im happy the car didnt flip over like A-class

BMW_Dude

So the M5 is excluded from this then!