Safety and security features:

comprehensive engineering and equipment
In terms of safety and security, the M5 – along with the 5 Series – is a state-of-the-art vehicle from a state-of-the-art vehicle maker. Key features include –
• Dual front-impact Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) with dual-threshold deployment of 2-stage Smart Airbags that are optimized for shape and deployment characteristics.
• Advanced seat-occupant detection on front passenger’s seat.
• Front safety belts with automatic tensioners and force limiters – standard.
• LATCH attachments for child restraint seats at outboard rear seating positions.
• Interlocking door anchoring system for side impacts.
• Front-seat side-impact airbags – standard.
• Rear-seat side-impact airbags – optional.
• Rear safety belts with automatic tensioners – included with the optional rear-seat side-impact airbags.
• Head Protection System – front-to-rear head protection via a tubular airbag that deploys from ceiling and is suspended on a “sail.”
• Active front head restraints – included with the optional M Multi-function front Comfort seats. Responding to impact sensors at the rear of the vehicle, the head restraints pivot forward into close proximity with the occupants’ heads. Thus occupants are able, if they prefer, to adjust the restraints away from direct contact with their heads, yet gain optimum protection against whiplash or more serious head/neck injuries.
• Energy-absorbing padding of body-pillar and roof areas – at the A-, B- and C-pillars as well as along the roof above the doors.
• Fuel-tank design and location. The fuel tank is designed to remain sealed in severe impacts; its location was chosen for optimum protection from impacts.
• Intelligent Safety and Information System (ISIS) – employing 14 sensors to achieve a precise “tailoring” of safety devices’ deployment to actual accident circumstances.
• Battery Safety Terminal – in case of a severe accident impact, breaks the high-current connection between the battery and starter cable. This helps prevent a possible short circuit in the electrical system.
• Automatic fuel-pump shutoff upon severe accident impact. The doors are automatically unlocked; interior lighting and 4-way hazard flashers are switched on. Thus even after an accident, BMW’s safety strategy is still at work.
• Coded Driveaway Protection – The multi-function remote is equipped with a tiny transponder which stores an electronic code transmitted by an antenna at the ignition slot. Each time the remote is removed, this code is changed; the next time, the engine can be started only if the remote matches the new code.
• Central locking system with double-lock feature. When the vehicle is locked from the outside, the double-lock feature prevents individual door-lock buttons from being pulled up; thus even if a thief has broken into the car, it isn’t possible to open the doors.
• Alarm system with interior motion detector – standard.
• BMW Assist – BMW’s comprehensive system of customer services and in-car telematics is standard. Includes a 1-year subscription to BMW Assist services, after which the customer pays an annual subscription fee.

Options: almost everything is standard
Because the M5’s standard equipment is so extensive, its options list is relatively short. Yet certain features are optional, most of them unique to the M5.

M Multi-function Comfort seats. Surely the ultimate in sport seats; In addition to the already extensive adjustments and features of the M5’s standard M sport seats, these add:
• Active Backrest Width. Responding to cornering forces, the lower backrest side bolsters “tighten” at the curve-outer side and thus provide extra lateral support to their occupants. That is, in a hard right corner, the driver’s and passenger’s left lower backrest bolsters move inward; in a hard left corner, the right bolsters tighten. Moreover, there are three programs for this function: Comfort, Normal and Sport in order of aggressivity, programmable within the MDrive menu.
• Adjustable upper-backrest width. Separately from the lower bolsters that incorporate Active Backrest Width, the upper side bolsters are power-adjustable to vary backrest width and support according to their occupants’ preferences. This adjustment is not affected by the Active function.
• Active head restraints – described earlier.

Active Seat Ventilation. Multiple fans inside each front seat gently blow air upward through an internal web and perforated leather to provide pleasant ventilation and help keep occupants’ clothes free of perspiration. Requires Full Perforated Leather and M Multi-function Comfort seats.

Comfort Access. Eliminates the need to activate a remote to unlock or lock the vehicle, or to insert it into the dash slot before starting the engine:
• Vehicle access – User enters vehicle merely by pulling a door handle, or opens the trunk by pressing the trunk release. Presence of the remote (say, as in the user’s pocket or purse) has already confirmed that the user is authorized.
• Starting – User authorization is confirmed by the presence of the remote inside the vehicle; the driver starts the engine by merely pressing the Start/Stop button.
• Engine switch-off and vehicle locking – Driver turns off engine via Start/Stop switch, and presses a door handle to lock the vehicle after exiting.

If the user has left the remote in the interior, the vehicle will not lock. If the remote has been left in the trunk and the trunklid is closed, it will open again as a reminder to retrieve the remote.

Soft-close doors. The user closes the door gently; an electric mechanism draws it fully in. Available spring ’06.

Full Leather upholstery and wood interior trim. Described earlier.

M Head-up Display. A virtual image in color is projected from the top of the instrument panel onto a 6 x 3-in. field in the windshield; the driver can observe the information with essentially no diversion from the road ahead. Via the iDrive control display’s I-menu, the driver decides which information is to be displayed here and the brightness of the display.

The M5’s Head-up Display is a special M version, in which either the standard selection of information or a special M set can be displayed:
• For the standard set, the user selects any or all of Navigation instructions, cruise-control set speed and current vehicle speed.
• The M set includes –
• Dynamic engine-speed band in green, yellow and red
• Upshift indicator (engine-speed band flashes as the rpm limit is reached)
• The gear currently engaged
• As with the standard 5 Series Head-up Display, the vehicle speed.

Sirius Satellite Radio. Provides 60 original channels of commercial-free music of virtually every genre; over 40 sports, news and entertainment channels; and other features. The option includes a 1-year subscription to the Sirius service.

Split folding rear seats and ski bag. The seats are split 60% left/40% right. The pass-through for the ski bag is in the center, as part of the 60% side; as with the standard rear seat, there are three head restraints.

Heated rear seats. Like the heated front seats that are standard, they offer 3-stage/2-zone heating of the outer seating positions.

Power rear sunshade and manual rear door-window sunshades. The rear-window shade is controlled from a console switch. The door-window shades are manual and easily positioned by rear-seat passengers.

Rear-seat side-impact airbags and rear safety-belt tensioners. The airbags are offered as optional equipment so that customers can decide on the basis of their own priorities whether or not to have them.

Rear-spoiler delete. At no extra cost, the standard M rear spoiler can be deleted.

Included with every new M5:
the M5 Driving Experience
Every customer who purchases or leases a new M5 will be BMW’s guest for a course in advanced driving techniques at the wheels of M5s and other M models at the BMW Performance Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Details of this exciting program are not yet finalized.





BMW Assist: extra security and convenience for the BMW owner
This comprehensive program of safety- and convenience-oriented customer services is standard with every new M5.

The in-vehicle equipment for BMW Assist includes GPS technology and SOS/Assist functions in the front overhead console and iDrive control display. Vehicle occupants may request emergency or other services simply by pressing or clicking on a button; the BMW Assist system then transmits the location and vehicle information to the BMW Assist Response Center. A response specialist will speak with the occupants to coordinate dispatch, notify emergency contacts on file, and link BMW Roadside Assistance or emergency services as needed and requested. Deployment of an airbag automatically activates BMW Assist as well.

A year’s subscription to BMW Assist Safety Services is included with the new vehicle; after the initial year there is an annual fee. In addition, customers may subscribe to BMW Assist Convenience Services and can then call a toll-free 800 number to avail themselves of many BMW Assist Concierge services, from travel planning to dining reservations, weather reports, shopping assistance and event tickets.

The BMW Warranty and Full Maintenance Program
Like all current models, each new M5 is covered by BMW’s excellent Limited Warranty, which includes:
• New-vehicle warranty – 4-year/50,000-mile coverage of the vehicle.
• 24-hour Roadside Assistance – 4-year/50,000-mile benefits.
• Rust-perforation warranty – 12-year/unlimited-mileage coverage.

Additionally, for the convenience, peace of mind and economic benefit of BMW’s customers, all current models also include BMW’s Full Maintenance Program for 4 years/50,000 miles.

Performance with a conscience
BMW strives to produce its motor vehicles and other products with the utmost attention to environmental compatibility and protection. Integrated into the design and development of BMW automobiles are such criteria as resource efficiency and emission control in production; environmentally responsible selection of materials; recyclability during production and within the vehicle; elimination of CFCs and hazardous materials in production; and continuing research into environmentally friendly automotive power sources. Tangible results of these efforts include the recycling of bumper cladding into other vehicle components; water-based paint color coats and powder clear coats; near-future availability of hydrogen-powered models; and various design and engineering elements that help make BMWs easier to dismantle at the end of their service life.