5 Series fights back in technology arms race

Gesture control, a touchscreen interface and Apple CarPlay bring BMW’s saloon up to date

THE BMW 5 SERIES HAD some serious catching up to do in terms of technology. No surprise, then, that after being overshadowed by the new Audi A5 and Mercedes E-Class models released in 2016, BMW’s latest 5 Series, which arrives in showrooms in February, borrows heavily from the interior gadgetry of the 7 Series to level the playing field.

Amongst the armoury is a new optional gesture-control system that enables you to interact with the infotainment system by making hand movements in front of the central display. In some ways this is total tech overkill, but being able to turn the stereo volume up using nothing other than your little finger is certainly a slick touch.

The car’s head-up display has a higher resolution than that of the outgoing model, allowing for more detail in its graphics, but the biggest update is a move to the latest version of iDrive, which comes with a 10.25-inch high-resolution screen that is touch-sensitive. This touchscreen makes the iDrive system much quicker to use than it is with the traditional clickwheel and finally brings smartphone-like control to the car’s infotainment system. Speaking of which, a new ‘message centre’ within the iDrive acts as a one-stop shop for text messages, emails and other information.

Music lovers will appreciate the extensive hi-fi options. As standard you get a six-speaker setup, but you can move all the way up to a full-fat Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound arrangement. This features a tenchannel amplifier, 16 speakers and diamond tweeters (made from industrially manufactured diamond, the rigidity of which is said to improve sound reproduction). If the B&W system sounds anything like the one in the 7 Series, it should be utterly fantastic. Rear-seat passengers can also enjoy an ‘entertainment Experience system’, which adds twin HD screens and the ability to connect a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One console.

The 5 Series is very much laden with tech, then, but like the 7 Series before it, there does seem to be a few unnecessary features. Take, for example, the Ambient Air Package, which will ionise the air inside the car (improving its quality by removing particles from it) and, should you so desire, add some fragrance into the mix.

But the best feature in the latest 5 Series? Easily the new wireless Apple CarPlay, which allows you to interact with an iPhone through iDrive without a cable. It’s currently the best in-car infotainment system out there.