Press Release
xDrive in the BMW 5 Series
Equipped with xDrive, the BMW 5 Series enhances its leadership in technol????????????????????ogy to an even higher standard: In the 525xi, the 530xi, and the 530xd, BMW??????????????????????????????????????s intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive system not only ensures excellent traction, but also provides a new dimension in driving dynamics, motoring safety and agility never experienced before in the all-wheel-drive segment. All three of these xDrive models come in both Saloon and Touring guise.
xDrive adds the superior ??????????????????????????????????????? if not to say, supreme ??????????????????????????????????????? traction of all-wheel drive to the sporting performance, superior comfort, extra spaciousness and superior function so typical of the BMW 5 Series. And thanks to the inherent intelligence of BMW xDrive, the driver uses the advantages of four drive wheels only when he really needs them ??????????????????????????????????????? while not suffering the disadvan????????????????????tages of many four-wheel-drive concepts the rest of the time. For under every????????????????????day driving conditions the BMW 5 Series with xDrive is virtually just as agile and dynamic as a car with rear-wheel drive, thus setting the standard in the all-wheel-drive segment.
With the exception of specific modifications tailored to all-wheel drive, the chassis and suspension is in principle the same as on the rear-wheel-drive 5 Series. As a feature specific to all-wheel drive, the new models come as standard with 17-inch 225/50 wheels instead of the usual 16-inch light-alloy rims.
With xDrive in the 5 Series being the same as in the 3 Series, the principal features of the concept are the same as in the X3 and X5. The hardware and software, in turn, as been adapted to the specific requirements of the 5 Series with its individual features.
BMW xDrive for extra driving pleasure.
BMW xDrive allows infinite and variable division of drive forces between the front and rear axle. Immediately recognising any need to change the distri????????????????????bu????????????????????tion of power, the system responds extremely quickly, generally even be????????????????????fore one of the wheels is able to spin. Hence, xDrive is able at all times to feed exactly the right level of drive power to the respective axle when taking a bend at speed, significantly reducing under- or oversteer in the process.
On the road, therefore, xDrive ensures a significant improvement in terms of agility, driving pleasure and motoring safety compared with conventional all-wheel drive.????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Safe and secure even on the most slippery surfaces.
BMW xDrive guarantees even better and smoother motoring on loose or slippery surfaces, power being diverted instantaneously to the wheels with grip as soon as one of the wheels threatens to spin and thus interrupt the flow of traction. The driver benefits from these advantages consistently and under all conditions, with the flow of power being adjusted infinitely to driving conditions and individual requirements.
The ???????????????????????????????????heart???????????????????????????????? of BMW xDrive: The electronically controlled multiple-plate clutch.
The electronically controlled multiple-plate clutch within the power divider forms the very ???????????????????????????????????heart???????????????????????????????? of xDrive responsible for its particular features: De????????????????????pending on current driving conditions, the multiple-plate clutch controls and masterminds the flow of power to the front axle within fractions of a second. In extreme cases the front and rear axles may even be totally disconnected or linked firmly and rigidly to one another, such a rigid connection acting in the same way as a 100 per cent longitudinal lock on conventional all-wheel drive.
The perfect team: BMW xDrive and DSC.
To a certain extent the outstanding performance of BMW xDrive is attribut????????????????????able to the fact that the system uses all the information and data supplied by the DSC dynamic control system. The yaw rate sensor, for example, deter????????????????????mines rotational movement of the car while a steering angle sensor detects the current position of the steering wheel. Together with information on the road speed of the car delivered by the wheel sensors, and covering both the car??????????????????????????????????????s lateral acceleration and engine data, xDrive is able to determine cur????????????????????rent driving conditions very early on, thus ensuring optimum distribution of drive power between the front and rear axles.
Intervening electronically in the brakes, DSC Dynamic Stability Control of????????????????????fers the function of a transverse wheel lock with forced distribution of engine power and torque to the two front or rear wheels: Once a wheel starts to spin without conveying power to the road, the brakes automatically slow down the wheel, with the differential in the final drive automatically feeding more power to the wheel on the opposite side in the interest of optimum traction.
DTC for sports motoring and snowbound roads, HDC for driving down????????????????????hill in a steady, controlled process.
Like on the rear-wheel-drive 5 Series, BMW??????????????????????????????????????s DSC Dynamic Stability Con????????????????????trol comes as standard with DTC Dynamic Traction Control allowing more slip and larger drift angles for extreme requirements or a very sporting style of motoring. And like on all BMWs, the driver may deactivate DSC com????????????????????plete????????????????????ly whenever he wishes.
HDC Hill Descent Control, in turn, provides important assistance when driv????????????????????ing downhill under difficult conditions: Without the driver having to intervene, the BMW 5 Series equipped with xDrive applies the brakes on all four wheels, allowing the car to proceed at a steady, consistent walking pace. And on the BMW 3 Series with xDrive, the driver is able to activate and de????????????????????activate the HDC function simply by pressing a button on the multifunction steering wheel.
