http://www.autocarmagazine.co.uk/news_article.asp?na_id=212475
BMW’s 5-series has suffered a big upset in the latest Euro NCAP crash test results. The Five required numerous modifications and a re-test to record a four-star result.
Autocar revealed two months ago (21 September) that BMW was struggling to achieve a good rating for the Five, although at the time a spokesman claimed the testing was hampered by ‘inconsistencies’, and that it was expected to earn a five-star rating.
The modifications only affect cars built after the autumn 2004 test, so any built between the September 2003 UK launch and this summer would probably only score three stars. The pedestrian impact test threw up even more serious concerns. NCAP assessors slammed the company’s attitude, saying: ‘BMW needs to take the protection of pedestrians much more seriously.’
BMW’s 1-series followed its big brother Five’s lead in needing a re-test, although it eventually scored a full five stars after improvements to the airbags. BMW was again criticised over pedestrian protection, described as ‘dire’ by NCAP, scoring just one star out of four. The child protection rating was also poor, scoring three stars compared with the four scored by ten of the thirteen cars tested in this group.