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2004 BMW 545i 6-Speed Road Test

Slicing Through Thin Air in BMWs Time Machine

I hate to admit it, but not too long ago I actually drove faster than the posted speed. OK, I know what youre thinking. That irresponsible sod disregarding the very laws that make our country a safer place for man, woman and child, how deplorable! I know, Im bad, but I had a good excuse. I was late for an international flight. Of course, this just happened to be due to the fact that I slept past my alarm, ahem.

But then again, it was early in the morning and the streets were almost barren. And I was tempted! Yes, I was tempted by one of the most viperous sirens an import car enthusiast could ever hope to resist, BMWs new 6-speed manual, V8 powered 545i.

OK, now you understand. Am I forgiven? Thank you. The road from my home to the airport starts with a long, straight four-lane

Late for an international flight, good thing I had a 6-speed manual, V8 powered 545i at my disposal. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

boulevard that stretches horizontally across a plateau for a handful of miles, mountains on one side and ocean down the hill a few minutes on the other. Normally the left lane would be occupied by horribly thoughtless daydreamers, moseying along at the speed limit no less, without a care for impatient motorists coming from behind. This morning, however, the roadway was free of such clutter and therefore my pace, commensurate with a need to turn a 45 minute drive into 15, was more brisk.

The lights were in my favor,

In order to make my flight I had to turn the usual 45 minute drive to the airport into a brisk 15 minute trip. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

keeping my nerves less frazzled and velocity constant, the houses and trees whirring by at a decent clip. Passing another green light the road ahead bends to the left and downward as it reaches the end of the plateau, winding circuitously through lush greenery before arriving at a super-sized shopping center - the earmark of suburbia.

Another green light and a sharp turn to the left greet an overpass that spans the highway out of town, a welcome sight after the many stoplights that threatened to thwart my intended purpose. The circular onramp that spirals downward to the right before

The 545i handled the tight circular onramp like no other car I have tested on it has ever done before. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

blending into traffic is one of my favorite high-speed testing facilities, and the 545i eats it up and spits it out like no other car I have tested on it has ever done before - and that number of vehicles my friends is well into the hundreds.

The car has an uncanny balance that belies its rather hefty 3,803 lb curb weight, a miracle of modern engineering really. While BMWs are renowned for their high-speed agility, the modern day 5-Series is in a class of one, annihilating any rival through the curves. This is partially due to the conventional methods of a rigid bodyshell, well-engineered aluminum chassis and suspension, plus large diameter, sticky performance tires, but BMW has

While BMWs are renowned for their high-speed agility, the modern day 5-Series is in a class of one, annihilating any rival through the curves. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

taken the new 5 a great leap forward with a full assortment of top-tier technology. The driver aids include the usual BMW fare, including DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) with DTC (Dynamic Traction Control), both among the most revered in their categories, plus runflat tires that come standard with a tire defect indicator. BMW sets the 5 apart with the advent of Active Front Steering, Dynamic Drive and Active Roll Stabilization (ARS). Each is tomorrows technology in todays 5-Series, and their cooperative ability to iron out wrinkled roadways is well beyond an understanding of high school level physics.

Just the same Ill attempt to explain. Essentially active steering adapts the steering ratio to vehicle speed, but its electric-motor-assisted,

Dynamic Drive effectually flattens out curves, adjusting to road surface imperfections before the actual heaves and undulations occur. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

planetary-gear-motivated rack-and-pinion system is much more sophisticated than conventional speed sensitive steering counterparts, common to luxury cars of all stripes. Steering response to input is much quicker than any other car, at about 1.7 turns lock to lock, making maneuvering into, around and out of tight spaces such as parking lots incredibly easy. To put this in perspective, most cars need about twice that amount to turn the wheel from full left to full right, or about 3.5 turns lock to lock. The reason for this is so steering input isnt too direct at high speeds. At 1.7 turns a car traveling at highway speeds would simply dart off the road with minimal input, not a good thing. Active Steering, however, electronically and mechanically adjusts the ratio to about 4 turns lock to lock when velocities demand, meaning that it is even more stable at

The 6-speed transmission of the BMW 545i is buttery smooth to say the least. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

high speed than the previous 545i was, and more so than any competitor as well.

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