BMW 5-series losing control
Author: Haje Jan Kamps
Published: 21 October 2005
A Swedish test-centre has found that a driver may lose control of the new 5-series in the famous ’elk test’, because there may be a problem with the stability control system in a loaded car. The test is named after the Elk - the Northern european moose which can grow to the size of a large horse - and is a standard test in Sweden. During the test, the driver drives toward a target which is roughly the same size as an elk, and has to swerve to avoid it. This puts the car’s steering and electronic stability programme on a tough test. The Swedish magazine Teknikens Vard (The World of Technology) found that the new BMW 5-series failed the test when the car is loaded. According to the magazine, the test was passed without incident when the car is empty, but that the driver is liable to lose control when the car is filled with people and goods.
Not dangerous during normal driving
The problem is evident across the board in the 5-series, but worst in the versions with the smallest variants: The electronic stability control doesn’t kick in fast enough, and doesn’t do enough to allow the driver to keep control of the car, which means that the ESP system may not be doing its job. The result is that the car is liable to spin, which could cause accidents. Teknikens Vard speculates that the problem may be with the stiffer side-walls found in the BMW’s run-flat tyres. The vehicles have been taken to Germany for further testing, to see what the problem may be. It is worth pointing out that the problem - if there is a problem - poses no danger during normal driving: The issue cannot cause accidents, but may fail to prevent accidents.
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