2024 BMW 5 Series LWB Review – First Impression: Bigger, Better, But?

2024 BMW 5 SERIES LWB	DIMENSIONS	INCREASE
LENGTH	5175 mm	+ 212 mm
WIDTH	1900 mm	+ 32 mm
HEIGHT	1520 mm	+ 41 mm
WHEELBASE	3105 mm	+ 130 mm

Over the design, where the new BMW 5 Series scores well again is in the dimension department. It has really grown bigger and it reflects in its appearance. As you can see above (refer table), the length of the new BMW 5 Series is 212 mm more than the outgoing model and 130 mm of that length has gone in the wheelbase alone. The height has increased by 41 mm while the width has gone up by 32 mm.

It’s the first time, BMW is launching the 5 Series in the long wheelbase avatar in the Indian market and the entire purpose to do that is to take on the segment leader strongly – the Mercedes-Benz E-Class LWB. Mercedes has been selling the E-Class Long Wheelbase since the last 8 years in India and luxury car buyers have lapped it up, being their top-most preference in our market.

2024 BMW 5 SERIES Wheels

What also helps its case in India are the 18-inch wheels shod in generously thick profile Pirelli tyres for a sedan. It works wonders in bettering its ride quality and you don’t have to fear much of damaging the side walls on bad roads or when encountering sharp bumps. More on that later.

2024 BMW 5 SERIES INTERIOR

It’s not just the exterior which has been updated, but a significant effort has gone in upgrading the cabin as well, and it shows. The new BMW 5 Series LWB has one of the swankiest cabins in the segment. Modern, loaded with tech & features, and very luxurious. To begin with, interior design has been given a thorough attention. Be it the floating dashboard design featuring the single curved display and fused air-con vents, or the sporty flat-bottom steering wheel, or the slightly towering central console, everything feels ergonomically better.

The dual-tone grey & brown colour combination looks very appealing to the eye while the piano black and brushed chrome inserts along with crystal touch knobs have been integrated very neatly. The ambient lighting system too does a good job at jazzing up the cabin vibe and I love how seamlessly it’s executed on the doors, floor and specially on the thick pour wood slat that runs the width of the dash.

2024 BMW 5 Series LWB Sunroof

What deserves a special mention here is the all-new full-length glass roof the new BMW 5 Series LWB gets. I appreciate the fact that it’s a glass roof and not a sunroof since it meets the exact purpose of letting the light in when required and allowing a good gaze at the stars. BMW says that its 90 per cent bigger than the single-pane sunroof its predecessor had. I don't doubt that a bit. Honestly, not a big fan of sunroofs or glass roofs, but this one goes really well with the overall charm and has just the right kind of tint to block the harsh sunlight. Having said that, what’s missing here are sun shades for the rear windows or rear windscreen which in my opinion is a must-have in a luxury saloon.

2024 BMW 5 Series LWB Comfort

Well! Comfort has been the salient point in the 2024 BMW 5 Series LWB and that’s for a reason. It took the Bavarian carmaker around 8 years to finally make peace with offering a comfort focused luxury-class executive sedan over something that feels sporty and agile. It’s the need of the hour and was of utmost prima to take on the market leader – the Mercedes-Benz E-Class LWB.

Now I have to say that the effort really shows the moment you get in the car. Beginning with the seats, all four passengers will be in supreme comfort. The seats are well bolstered offering ample shoulder and lumbar support. The under-thigh support is near perfect and the cushioning is right on point, neither firm, nor overly soft. That also means spending long hours in the new 5 Series LWB shouldn’t be bothersome at all.

The extended wheelbase too reflects well on the sense of space. There is ample knee room at the rear to stretch, even while a 6 ft. tall passenger is sitting comfortably on the front seat. The glass house area is generous enough to not let people feel hemmed in on the inside, despite the dark colour treatment on the interior, and obviously the massive glass roof helps immensely. The rear seat has a reclining feature as well but the rear seat armrest feels a bit upright. Though, it gives you a dedicated wireless charger for your phone and popping-out cup holders. There are Type-C ports at the back of the front seats that can be used to install and plug-in entertainment screens for rear passengers, or just to charge your smartphone or gadgets.

So yes! You can sense the well-thought-out execution here and the new BMW 5 Series LWB comes pretty close to the new BMW 7 Series in appeal, save for that massive 31-inch entertainment screen, more space and seating luxury at the rear and some of those gimmicky features.

2024 BMW 5 Series LWB Tech & Features

The new BMW 5 Series LWB is a modern-age luxury car so obviously you don’t expect any compromise in the tech & features department. I am happy to report that the new 5 Series won’t give you any chance to complain, especially how all the creature comforts have been integrated.

BMW’s prominent curved screen setup integrating the 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment and the 12.3-inch digital instrument panel looks and feels properly affluent. The graphics are sharp, texts & fonts are easy to read and the interface is engaging without being complex. A common complaint with this new screen has been the lack of once touch access for a few critical features, but BMW has managed to sort it out to an extent, if not completely. There is once touch quick access for navigation, media and telephony and of course you have wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto for the most seamless operation. The climate menu slug too is permanently live on the screen and comes with a one-touch pull-up functionality. It doesn’t solve the issue of “not taking your eyes off the road” completely, but still, you won’t need to do that for a longer duration.

The Level 2 ADAS feature is on offer as well and I like the way it behaves. First you will be strongly warned and alerted of the danger the car senses and panic braking happen only if you fail to respond completely. I quite like the lane change assist feature as it intervenes strongly only when it detects an approaching vehicle in the adjacent lane. If you’re trying to change the lane deliberately, it does allow you to do so without bothering much.

We already spoke about the vibrant ambient lighting, but what takes the whole experience up a notch is the 18-speaker, 655-watt Bowers & Wilkins sound system. It’s one of the best in the business delivering a crisp and strong sound quality with a good mix of bass and mids. Moreover, the four-zone climate control through its fused vents doesn’t blast the air at you and still keeps the cabin cool and serene.

• 14.9-inch TOUCHSCREEN
• 12.3-inch DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
• WIRELESS APPLE CARPLAY & ANDROID AUTO
• QUICKLY ACCESSIBLE CLIMATE MENU
• QUICK ACCESS FOR NAVIGATION, MEDIA, TELEPHONY
• LEVEL 2 ADAS FEATURES
• WIRELESS CHARGING
• REAR WIRELESS CHARGING
• 12-SPEAKER 655-WATT BOWERS & WILKINS SOUND SYSTEM
• FULL PANEL MOONROOF: 841 mm X 818 mm

2024 BMW 5 Series LWB Engine Performance

So the deal is that BMW is yet to share the engine specifications with us and that will be out on July 24, when the new BMW 5 Series LWB will be launched in India and prices will be announced. For now, we got to feel it but without knowing the numbers. That said, going by the progression in its acceleration and the 530i or 520d badges, I am safely expecting the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder twin-turbo petrol and diesel engines to be on offer coupled with the 48-volt mild hybrid powertrain and mated to the 8-Speed automatic transmission.

I along with a fellow auto journalist was driving the new BMW 5 Series 530i LWB and it was a prima facia where both of us individually got 3 rounds of a 1 Km stretch behind the wheel and at the rear seat. So just take this as my initial experience as a detailed drive review will follow once the BMW 5 Series LWB hits the road.

Well, power delivery and progression as it builds up the revv is not an issue by any stretch of the imagination. The pull is strong, the progression is linear right up to 6200 rpm and the mid-range has enough grunt. That means, the engine performs on demand and a quick overtake will come easy without giving the passenger an uncomfortable jolt while doing so. But the problem comes to surface, the moment you start changing directions.

2024 BMW 5 Series LWB Handling & Dynamics

BMW purists, who have also perceived Beemers as the “ultimate driving machine”, will not be very happy with this new BMW 5 Series LWB. The suspension is biased towards the softer side to enhance comfort and that takes a good toll on its body dynamics when you are changing lanes or cornering. The body rolls are inevitable and you’ll be compelled to have a lighter foot while steering. 

Even the steering has lost the feel we typically relate to beemers with. It feels a bit too light for my liking even while pottering around. However, most drivers will like it since it doesn’t exercise your muscles at all when steering. But, the main concern is that it doesn’t weigh up accurately even while pushing harder and isn’t communicative enough. In a nutshell, this BMW is not as agile and that doesn’t go well with a Bavarian.

2024 BMW 5 Series LWB Ride Quality

This department is sorted. It feels like you’re moving on a bean bag courtesy its softer suspension tuning, tall tyre profile and perfectly cushioned seats. So yes! BMW has achieved what it intended to. On the flip side, passengers do slide a bit when there is a sudden maneuver but it’s not unnerving. What I need to see still is that whether it will be able to contain vertical movements inside the cabin on a bad section of road, since I can sense the suspension has more than required vertical play, meaning it would tend to bounce on undulations and rough tarmac. That’s something to look out for in our detailed review.

2024 BMW 5 Series LWB Verdict

Well! It’s too early to give a proper verdict since we have a very limited and short encounter with the new BMW 5 Series LWB. Based on this first impression, I can say that it can do a good job in drawing the attention of Mercedes-Benz E-Class buyers, who actually form the biggest pie in the luxury car market share. But that comes at the cost of upsetting BMW lovers. It can give the E-Class a tough fight, but doesn’t stand out for what a BMW used to.