Introduced at the end of 2003, the new 5 series had a tough act to follow. The previous 1996-2003 5 series was one of the best cars ever made by BMW, combining great looks with great comfort and performance. Since the introduction of the 2002 7 series, new BMWs have been anything but conventionally styled. Under the direction of American design chief Chris Bangle BMWs have undergone a major change in styling, with more edges and creases, unusually shaped lights and a new interior look. The new style is not to everyone's taste, and I have to say I'm not a fan! But the new look for BMWs seems to be here to stay and it does seem BMWs are selling as well as ever, so somebody must like the look of them! Personally I loved the look of the '96-'03 5 series and I had a 1997 523i between 2001 and 2003 and in 2005 I bought a 2001 535i). The new look of the latest 5 is definitely going to take some time to grow on me! (And as of March 2007 it still looks ugly to me...)
BMWs continue to make great engines, and this new 5 is no exception. It has a 4.4 litre (the 545i tag is not quite accurate, it strictly speaking should be a 544i, but the marketing men felt 545i had a better ring to it) V8 engine driving the rear wheels, a range of great manual or electronically controlled automatic gearboxes, and a well designed chassis, including the option of electronically assisted active steering. With 333bhp, the 545i is a seriously rapid car. Inside can be found BMWs complex "iDrive" system, which is controlled by a mouse like knob between the front seats. It displays information about such functions as climate control, satellite navigation, and in car entertainment on a central dashboard screen.
From the 1:1s I've seen to date on the road, I feel it is a car which suits dark colours better, but this model does look good in silver grey.
Kyosho make this fine model of the 545i, which has good interior detail, superb looking brakes with a real metal finish (as found on many AUTOarts, and now on newer Kyosho releases) and an accurate bodyshape complete with realistic BMW badges. The engine bay is not that great looking, but it is accurate. The real car's V8 is covered by a large plastic moulding hiding much of it's detail.
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