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Misleading ads on new 5rs



It's a little disturbing to see so much hype, including the stuff in the
official BMW NA glossy magazine, that pushes the aluminum and weight saving
in the new 5 series. The fact is that this is true of the 528i, but not of
the 540i, a matter of considerable significance because the extra weight of
the V8 already screws up the nice balance on the 528i, and then makes it
necessary to use steel frame members up front to cope with the engine's
weight, compounding the felony.

Anyone have any info that contradicts this? 

The latest AutoWeek has the first driving impressions of a U.S. 540i, and
picks up the heavy steering at low speeds; I expect full road tests will pick
up the understeer which the weidht distribution causes, and which isn't
present in the 528i.

Michael Scriven
Evaluation & Development Group