Despite being the oldest car in its class, the current G30-generation BMW 5 Series is still highly competitive. Its performance, handling and luxury are still among the best in the segment, even though cars like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6 are much newer. The one area where it does need some updating is its styling, though. It’s still a handsome car but it looks older than the rest of its newer competition. So it needs a light facelift to stay fresh, one that it’s about to receive quite soon and one that’s recently been caught doing some testing. (We don’t own the spy photos but check them out here)
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In these new spy photos, the new 5 Series can be seen with some light camouflage and an M Sport package. It seems to look quite good, which maybe shouldn’t be shocking. Still, some of its updates seem to have worked well.
For instance, its new headlights look slick and more modern than those on the current, pre-facelift car. Also, maybe more importantly, its Kidney Grille seems to be the same as the one on the current car. Which means it won’t be getting the massive, gaping maw found on cars like the 7 Series and upcoming 4 Series.
On the inside, the new 5 Series really only gets two major updates and they’re both tech-related. The new iDrive found on all new models is now present on the the 5er. However, it still retains the old rotary controller, which is odd considering how good looking the new one is. It does get BMW’s new digital instrument panel, though, which makes it look and feel more modern than the sorta-digital gauges of the current car.
BMW doesn’t need to do much to the 5 Series to keep it competitive in the segment. These small improvements will do the job perfectly, as the 5er takes on its new competition from Audi and Mercedes-Benz.
[Source: Car Scoops]
The G30 LCI has been spared! It’s amazing how we rejoice over something that should be a non-issue.
It does look promising, I must say. Very close to the G20.
I still miss the “angel eyes”, though.
I agree. I prefer the two hexagonal “angel eyes” on my pre-LCI over the side-by-side “hockeysticks” underneath the new lights.
But it’s still a “design win” in the form of a relatively sane kidney design.
My condolences to those that have been anticipating the upcoming G80, G82 and 4/GC.
Thanks God they haven’t change the gear knob like the G20, the old one looks better and the P button is much more convenient.
Those Audi-esque DTRLs are pure cost cutting – in the *absolutely* wrong place. Straight LED elements are cheaper than angled ones. Small kidney – good. Digital gauges – unnecessary; hate those counter-rotating dials. Hockey stick doors still there – do M5 doors fit on the regular 5?? All in all: could have come much worse.
I believe the “hockey stick” is the fender vent trim that’s integrated into the front fender – as opposed to the front doors.
If one were so inclined, it is fathomable to replace the G30 front fenders with F90 panels to effectively get rid of the hockey sticks. Costly endeavor though.
G30 5 Series never had hockey stick doors. G11 7 Series has them.
God forbid BMW do anything you guys don’t like. They should just fire their designers and keep everything it was 10 years ago. At least all the moaners would be happy, even though BMW will cease to exist in the next 10 years. Emm….
BMW will always do things that each person nitpicks or gripes about, myself included. This is the nature of subjectivity.
But when their designers become obstinate with something that the overwhelming majority 1) never asked for, 2) has no functional value, 3) creates more cost and complexity for engineers to have to compensate for – it’s no longer subjective. It’s purely bad design and there is no justification whatsoever.
I have a couple of problems with your assessment: 1) Has anybody ever asked for mold breaking design? No. Visionaries breaks molds. 2) how much styling cues in any car, has any function? 10%? That’s why it’s called ‘styling’. 3) how do you get to this? What compensation? Last time I looked, form followed function. To save cost.
You’re on the money calling it subjectivity, your argument for calling it bad design doesn’t hold any water, I’m afraid.
This looks promising for me.