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Like on the rear-wheel-drive 5 Series, the DSC control system comes
complete with DTC Dynamic Traction Control allowing a very sporting style of motoring with more wheel slip and larger drift angles as well as superior handling under extreme conditions. And like on all BMWs, the driver is also able to deactivate DSC altogether.
DSC with new, innovative safety and comfort functions.
The latest generation of Dynamic Stability Control in the BMW 5 Series with xDrive comes with five new, innovative assistance functions intervening
intelligently in the brakes for even greater safety and comfort in many everyday situations:
• Hill Start Assist.
Hill Start Assist enables the driver to set off comfortably and smoothly
on uphill gradients without using the parking brake.
• Brake Standby.
Brake Standby reduces the car's stopping distance when applying the brakes in an emergency.
• Rain Brake Support.
Rain Brake Support improves the response of the brakes under wet conditions.
• Fading Compensation.
Fading Compensation maintains the effect of the brakes even when they run extremely hot.
• Soft Stop.
Soft Stop reduces the final "jolt" of the car when coming to a stop under slight application of the brakes.
Hill Start Assist.
Hill Start Assist enables the driver to set off comfortably on uphill gradients without having to use the parking brake.
When setting off on an uphill gradient, Hill Start Assist holds the car in position briefly after the driver has taken his foot off the brake pedal, allowing him
to start off comfortably without using the parking brake. The brake pressure exerted by the driver to hold the car in position is maintained automatically within the brake system for approximately 1.5 seconds. Then, when starting off, brake pressure is reduced once engine power is sufficient to move the car forward. The level of pressure maintained within the brake system depends
on the gradient and whether the car is towing a trailer, the actual gradient being measured by means of a longitudinal accelerometer.
Brake Standby.
Brake Standby reduces the car's stopping distance when applying the brakes in an emergency: Whenever the driver lets go of the gas pedal quick-ly, the brake pads rest briefly (for 0.5 seconds) on the brake discs in order to shorten the time required for building up brake pressure in an emergency. This reduces the stopping distance required when applying the brakes all-out from 100 km/h by an average of 0.3 metres. Should the driver not apply the
brakes in such a situation, brake pressure is once again reduced, thus avoiding any deceleration the driver might otherwise notice.
Rain Brake Support.
The Rain Brake Support function improves the response of the brakes in the wet: In wet weather splashwater forms a film of water over the brake discs, retarding the actual response of the brakes. Precisely this is why drivers are advised in the case of conventional brake systems to operate the brakes
from time to time in the wet. Now, taking the activated screenwipers or the rain sensor as an indicator, Rain Brake Support serves to operate the brakes
from time to time. The brake pressure required for drying the brake discs is so low that the driver will not feel any deceleration.

Fading Compensation.
Even with the brakes running extremely hot, Fading Compensation ensures the same high brake forces as before: Conventional brakes may fade under extremely high brake temperatures and stopping power, requiring the driver to exert higher brake pressure or cover longer brake pedal travel in order to achieve the desired brake effect. In such a situation Fading Compensation supports the driver by actively building up additional brake pressure.
Soft Stop.
Soft Stop reduces the stopping "jolt" when coming to a standstill under slight application of the brakes: When applying the brakes all the way to a standstill, the transition from sliding to positive friction on the brake discs causes
a kind of final "jolt" the driver and his passengers will perceive as sudden deceleration. The experienced driver avoids this effect by reducing brake
pressure before reaching a standstill. Now Soft Stop reduces brake pressure automatically when applying the brakes slightly all the way to a standstill. Under medium to high deceleration forces this function remains inactive in order not to extend the car's stopping distance.

HDC for safe, controlled hill descent.
As on the X3 and X5, the DSC stability control system incorporates an additional program offering numerous benefits on difficult downhill gradients: HDC Hill Descent Control guides the car safely down steep hills. Especially on
loose or slippery ground, HDC ensures a safe process of driving down a hill. Without the driver having to intervene, the 5 Series equipped with xDrive moves downhill at a steady speed just above walking pace, as if the vehicle were equipped with a low-ratio gear.
This automatic speed control forms an integrated component of DSC Dynamic Stability Control with individual intervention of the brakes on all four wheels.
HDC may be activated and deactivated by means of one of the freely programmable buttons in the multifunction steering wheel. It serves its purpose of reducing speed throughout the speed range up to 35 km/h or 22 mph, automatically cutting back the speed of the 5 Series under linear deceleration to approximately 12 km/h or 7.5 mph then maintained consistently. Now, depending on the driver's preferences, he can adjust the speed of the vehicle within the HDC range to any level between 6 and 25 km/h simply by pressing the "+" and "-" buttons on the steering wheel lever. Should the driver accelerate beyond the 35 km/h limit, in turn, HDC will shift to the standby mode and is then automatically deactivated once the vehicle exceeds
a speed of 60 km/h or 37 mph.
BMW Trailer Stability Control.
BMW's innovative Trailer Stability Control makes the BMW 5 Series with xDrive an even more superior, safe and high-traction vehicle for towing a trailer. The system offers additional safety against dangerous instability resulting
from any uncontrolled swaying motion of the car and the trailer, which might potentially lead to an accident. As a result, both the 525xi and 530xi are
able to tow a trailer weighing up to 2,000 kg or 4,410 lb (525xi with manual gearbox: 1,800 kg/3,969 lb).
Seen in terms of driving dynamics, a vehicle towing a trailer is a vibration-prone system with swaying or pendulum motion increasing as a function of speed. Whenever carrying a heavy or poorly loaded trailer, such a vehicle/trailer system may tend to build up increasing pendulum action even at relatively low
speeds unless an appropriate control function intervenes in good time.

BMW's Trailer Stability Control recognises any such danger of the vehicle swaying and, applying the brakes on the car (and via the brake link also on the trailer), re-stabilises the car and the trailer for enhanced safety. The system "recognises" the attachment of a trailer as soon as the power supply coming from the car is connected to the trailer. This alerts Trailer Stability Control, enabling the system to intervene as of a speed of 65 km/h or 40 mph.
The function works by observing yaw speed and acceleration signals transmitted by the DSC control unit as an indication of any rotational movement and lateral dynamic behaviour of the car. These signals are monitored
permanently, on an ongoing basis.
A car/trailer combination starting to sway or already swinging like a pendulum will show typical signals duly recognised by the control unit: As soon as
these signals exceed a certain limit, brake pressure is built up on all four wheels without any intervention on the part of the driver, generating
2.5-4 metres/sec² deceleration. Asymmetric, one-sided brake intervention acts together with such synchronised brake pressure, acting alternatively on the right- and left-hand wheels of the car to make the vehicle counter any
rotational movements of the trailer without the slightest delay. Engine power is cut back briefly at the same time to a minimum, the rapid decrease in
speed serving to calm down the car and trailer very quickly and efficiently.
New and enhanced range of equipment for the BMW 5 Series:
Upgraded interior, Servotronic featured as standard, active
backrest width adjustment, preparation for a Bluetooth mobile
phone with telematics SIM, etc.
The interior of the BMW 5 Series is now even more sophisticated than before, featuring soft paint surfaces and ruthenium silver appliqués around the air conditioning control units. The handle on the handbrake lever now comes with a leather cover and the storage compartment to the left of the steering
wheel is larger than before, now also featuring a cover for added protection.
A new option particularly well-suited for the active and ambitious motorist is active backrest width adjustment on the comfort seats: In this case backrest width and, accordingly, side support adjust automatically to the driving
situation. This automatic adjustment is based inter alia, on the car's lateral acceleration and steering angle, the customer deciding by pressing the button in the centre console which of the three driving programs - Comfort, Normal,
or Sports - he wishes to activate.

As on the Touring, speed-related Servotronic steering is now also standard
on the Saloon. In combination with the M Sports Package, the Saloon may now be fitted with 19-inch wheels in attractive double-spoke design and with different-sized tyres measuring 245 at the front and 275 at the rear, instead of the usual 18-inch runflat tyres.
Optional automatic tailgate operation on the Touring may now be varied
for height, adjusting, for example, to a lower or higher garage. This is
done individually via the on-board monitor in five steps between 90 and
100 per cent of the maximum opening height.
The new six-cylinder power units come with an electronic engine oil sensor making the conventional dipstick superfluous and allowing the driver to
conveniently check the engine oil level via a graphic display in the Condition Based Service menu of the on-board monitor.
Navigation system Professional now also comes with birdview map display and incorporates short-cut software buttons allowing direct access from the map to the Traffic Info and Route Criteria, as well as the Destination Guidance On/Off, Voice Entry On/Off, Switchover of the Map View Mode, Points of Interest On/Off, and Destination Entry Map functions.
Traffic information reports on other roads than the Autobahn are now also shown on the map and listed accordingly in the Traffic Info list as a function of their distance. With the exception of the map-related functions, the features mentioned above are also offered by the Business navigation system together with an arrow display.
In conjunction with navigation system Professional, BMW now also offers a new Bluetooth-based mobile phone preparation kit together with telematics integrated into the car. Independently of the telephone, the driver is therefore able to set up a separate link to the BMW Assist and BMW Online telematics services. An additional advantage is that the BMW Emergency Call function is available independently of the telephone itself.
The BMW Assist and BMW Online telematics services are operated in
conjunction with the navigation system Professional and the telephone, depending on the specifications and the level of equipment in each market.
In Germany both services are provided free of charge to the purchaser of a new BMW in the first six months and are then available in both cases in return for an annual fee.