Schomp BMW

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Safety
A passive infrared night vision system optional on the 5 Series Sedan helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The A6 doesn't offer a night vision system.

 

The 5 Series Sedan's optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The A6 doesn't offer a lane departure warning system.

 

The 5 Series Sedan offers an optional side-view and top-view cameras to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The A6 only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn't help with obstacles to the front or sides.

 

The 5 Series Sedan has standard BMW Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it's stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The A6 doesn't offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies.

 

Both the 5 Series Sedan and the A6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding and available all-wheel drive.

 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) performs roof strength tests. In that test the 5 Series Sedan earned the top rating of 'Good' because its roof supported over four times the 5 Series Sedan's weight before being crushed five inches. The A6 was rated lower at 'Acceptable.' 

	5 Series Sedan	A6
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Restraint Design	GOOD	GOOD
Distance from Back of Head	52 mm	62 mm
Distance Below Top of Head	4 mm	55 mm
Dynamic Test Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Seat Design	Pass	Pass
Torso Acceleration	12.8 g's	13.4 g's
Neck Force Rating	Low	Medium
Max Neck Shearing Force	0	172
Max Neck Tension	215	726

(Lower numerical results are better in all tests.)

Warranty

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 5 Series Sedan for 3 years and 45000 miles longer than Audi pays for maintenance for the A6 (4/50,000 vs. 1/5000).

 

There are over 33 percent more BMW dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier to get service under the 5 Series Sedan's warranty.

 

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the 5 Series Sedan has a standard 900-amp battery. The A6's 380-amp battery isn't as powerful.

 

Engine
The 5 Series Sedan has more powerful engines than the A6:

	Horsepower	Torque
535i Sedan 3.0 turbo 6 cyl.	300 HP	300 lbs.-ft.
550i Sedan 4.4 turbo V8	400 HP	450 lbs.-ft.
A6 3.2 Sedan 3.2 DOHC V6	265 HP	243 lbs.-ft.
A6 3.0T 3.0 supercharged V6	300 HP	310 lbs.-ft.
A6 4.2 DOHC V8	350 HP	325 lbs.-ft.

 

As tested in Car and Driver the 535i Sedan is faster than the A6 3.0T (automatics tested):

	5 Series Sedan	A6
Zero to 60 MPH	5.4 sec	5.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	14 sec	14.2 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	3.9 sec	4.2 sec
Quarter Mile	14 sec	14.2 sec
Top Speed	155 MPH	128 MPH

 

For more instantaneous acceleration and better engine flexibility in any gear, the 5 Series Sedan's engines produce their peak torque at lower RPM's than the A6:

	Torque
528i Sedan 3.0 DOHC 6 cyl.	2750 RPM
535i Sedan 3.0 turbo 6 cyl.	1200 RPM
550i Sedan 4.4 turbo V8	1750 RPM
A6 3.2 Sedan 3.2 DOHC V6	3250 RPM
A6 3.0T 3.0 supercharged V6	2500 RPM
A6 4.2 DOHC V8	3500 RPM

 

Fuel Economy and Range

 

On the EPA test cycle the 528i Sedan gets better fuel mileage than the A6 3.2 Sedan FWD (22 city/32 hwy vs. 21 city/30 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the BMW 5 Series Sedan uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The A6 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

 

Transmission

The 5 Series Sedan offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The A6 doesn?t offer a manual transmission.

 

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the BMW 5 Series Sedan, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the A6.

 

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the 5 Series Sedan's brake rotors are larger than those on the A6:

	528i Sedan	550i Sedan	A6 3.2/3.0 T	A6 4.2 Sedan
Front Rotors	12.8 inches	14.7 inches	12.6 inches	13.7 inches
Rear Rotors	12.6 inches	14.6 inches	11.9 inches	13 inches

 

The 528i Sedan's standard brakes have 6% more swept area (the area covered by the brake pads) than the A6 (590 vs. 554 square inches), so the 5 Series Sedan has more braking power available. The 535i Sedan's brakes have 27% more swept area (the area covered by the brake pads) than the A6 (701 vs. 554 square inches), so the 535i Sedan has more braking power available.

 

The 5 Series Sedan's standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the A6 3.2/3.0 T are solid, not vented.

 

The 5 Series Sedan stops much shorter than the A6:

	5 Series Sedan	A6
70 to 0 MPH	163 feet	185 feet	Car and Driver

 

Tires and Wheels

 

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 5 Series Sedan can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The A6 doesn't offer run-flat tires.

 

Suspension and Handling

 

The 5 Series Sedan offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The A6 doesn't offer an active sway bar system.

 

The 5 Series Sedan offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn't offer an active suspension on the A6.

 

The 5 Series Sedan offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The A6's suspension doesn't offer adjustable shock absorbers.

 

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 5 Series Sedan's wheelbase is 5 inches longer than on the A6 (116.9 inches vs. 111.9 inches).

 

The 5 Series Sedan's front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.8% to 49.2%) than the A6's (54.2% to 45.8%). This gives the 5 Series Sedan more stable handling and braking.

 

The 535i Sedan handles at .86 G's, while the A6 4.2 Sedan Quattro pulls only .82 G's of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

 

Chassis

 

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the 535i Sedan is quieter than the A6 3.0T Sedan Quattro (69 vs. 72 dB).

 

Passenger Space

 

The 5 Series Sedan has 2.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A6 Sedan (100.5 vs. 97.9).

 

The 5 Series Sedan has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the A6 Sedan.

 

Cargo Capacity

 

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the 5 Series Sedan easier. The 5 Series Sedan's trunk lift-over height is 26.5 inches, while the A6 Sedan's liftover is 28.2 inches.

 

Ergonomics

The 5 Series Sedan's standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the A6.

 

The 5 Series Sedan offers an optional heads-up display which projects speed and other key instrumentation readouts onto the windshield, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The A6 doesn't offer a heads-up display.

 

If the windows are left down on the 5 Series Sedan the driver can raise them all using the key in the outside lock cylinder. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from outside the vehicle using the key in the outside lock cylinder or the keyless remote. The driver of the A6 can't use the remote to operate the windows.

 

While driving with high-beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the 5 Series Sedan detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low-beams. The A6 doesn't offer automatic dimming high-beams.

 

The 5 Series Sedan's optional air conditioned front seats cool the driver and front passenger and help take the sting out of hot leather in Summer. The A6 doesn't offer air conditioned front seats.

 

The 5 Series Sedan's optional Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The A6 doesn't offer an automated parking system.

 

Recommendations

The BMW 5 Series outsold the Audi A6 by over four to one during the 2010 model year.