The 2018 BMW 5 Series marked a significant redesign for the model, bringing advanced technology and enhanced safety features to the forefront. For those considering a used luxury sedan, understanding its safety performance is crucial. This article provides a detailed analysis of the 2018 BMW 5 Series safety ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), offering insights into its crashworthiness and preventative safety technologies.
The BMW 5 Series, specifically the 2017-2023 models which share this design, has undergone rigorous testing by the IIHS. This report breaks down the performance of the 2018 5 Series in various crash scenarios and safety evaluations, giving potential buyers a clear picture of its safety capabilities.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side Evaluation
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end, on the driver’s side, impacts an object. This is a challenging test that assesses how well the car’s structure and safety systems protect the driver in such a severe frontal impact.
Rating: Good
The 2018 BMW 5 Series achieved a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front test, the highest possible rating from the IIHS.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/Thigh | Good |
| Lower Leg/Foot | Good |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | Good |
Action shot during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test, demonstrating the impact on the 2018 BMW 5 Series.
The structural performance of the 2018 5 Series in this test was excellent. The safety cage held up well, maintaining the survival space for the driver. Measurements of occupant compartment intrusion on the driver’s side indicate minimal deformation, further contributing to occupant safety.
Technical Measurements – Driver-Side Small Overlap Front Test
| Measures of Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side) | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| Lower Occupant Compartment | |
| Lower Hinge Pillar Max | 5 |
| Footrest | 12 |
| Left Toepan | 11 |
| Brake Pedal | 5 |
| Rocker Panel Lateral Average | 3 |
| Upper Occupant Compartment | |
| Steering Column | 0 |
| Upper Hinge Pillar Max | 3 |
| Upper Dash | 2 |
| Lower Instrument Panel | 2 |
Dummy position after the driver-side small overlap crash test in the 2018 BMW 5 Series, indicating a well-maintained driver survival space.
Driver injury measures were also positive across all body regions. The risk of significant injuries to the head, neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot was low, as indicated by the “Good” ratings. The restraint systems and airbags performed as intended, effectively controlling dummy kinematics and preventing excessive movement.
Driver Injury Measures – Driver-Side Small Overlap Front Test
| Driver Injury Measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 183 |
| Peak gs at Hard Contact | No Contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.6 |
| Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 23 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.26 |
| Chest | |
| Maximum Compression (mm) | 23 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.5 |
| Right | 1.1 |
| Knee Displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 1 |
| Right | 1 |
| Knee-Thigh-Hip Injury Risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum Tibia Index | |
| Left | 0.33 |
| Right | 0.49 |
| Tibia Axial Force (kN) | |
| Left | 3.0 |
| Right | 2.5 |
| Foot Acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 139 |
| Right | 80 |
Deployment of frontal and side curtain airbags during the small overlap crash test, effectively protecting the head of the occupant in the 2018 BMW 5 Series.
Driver’s space maintenance and low risk of leg and foot injuries in the 2018 BMW 5 Series small overlap crash test.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side Evaluation
The passenger-side small overlap test mirrors the driver-side test but evaluates the protection offered to the front passenger.
Rating: Good
Similar to the driver-side, the 2018 BMW 5 Series earned a “Good” rating for passenger-side small overlap protection. This rating is based on a test conducted by BMW and assessed by the IIHS.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/Thigh | Good |
| Lower Leg/Foot | Acceptable |
| Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | Good |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/Thigh | Good |
| Lower Leg/Foot | Good |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | Good |
Technical Measurements – Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front Test
| Measures of Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Passenger Side) | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| Lower Occupant Compartment | |
| Lower Hinge Pillar Max | 3 |
| Footrest | 19 |
| Right Toepan | 15 |
| Center Toepan | 7 |
| Rocker Panel Lateral Average | 1 |
| Upper Occupant Compartment | |
| Center Dash | 1 |
| Upper Hinge Pillar Max | 3 |
| Upper Dash | 4 |
| Right Lower Dash | 5 |
Passenger Injury Measures – Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front Test
| Passenger Injury Measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 180 |
| Peak gs at Hard Contact | No Contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.1 |
| Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 18 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.16 |
| Chest | |
| Maximum Compression (mm) | 26 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 1.9 |
| Right | 0.0 |
| Knee Displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 3 |
| Right | 5 |
| Knee-Thigh-Hip Injury Risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum Tibia Index | |
| Left | 0.54 |
| Right | 0.84 |
| Tibia Axial Force (kN) | |
| Left | 3.6 |
| Right | 4.8 |
| Foot Acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 104 |
| Right | 195 |
Driver Injury Measures – Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front Test
| Driver Injury Measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 76 |
| Peak gs at Hard Contact | No Contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 14 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.22 |
| Chest | |
| Maximum Compression (mm) | 23 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.4 |
| Right | 0.6 |
| Knee Displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 2 |
| Right | 2 |
| Knee-Thigh-Hip Injury Risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum Tibia Index | |
| Left | 0.42 |
| Right | 0.25 |
| Tibia Axial Force (kN) | |
| Left | 1.2 |
| Right | 1.8 |
| Foot Acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 43 |
| Right | 35 |
While most passenger injury measures were rated “Good”, the lower leg/foot protection for the passenger was rated as “Acceptable”. This indicates a slightly higher, but still relatively low, risk of injury to this region in a passenger-side small overlap crash.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
In the moderate overlap front test, a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a barrier. This test is designed to represent a more common type of frontal collision.
Rating: Good
The 2018 BMW 5 Series again achieved a “Good” rating in the moderate overlap front test.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Leg/Foot, Left | Good |
| Leg/Foot, Right | Good |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | Good |
Technical Measurements – Moderate Overlap Front Test
| Measures of Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side) | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| Footwell Intrusion | |
| Footrest | 1 |
| Left | 1 |
| Center | 1 |
| Right | 1 |
| Brake Pedal | 2 |
| Instrument Panel Rearward Movement | |
| Left | 1 |
| Right | 1 |
| Steering Column Movement | |
| Upward | -2 |
| Rearward | -5 |
| A-Pillar Rearward Movement | 0 |
Driver Injury Measures – Moderate Overlap Front Test
| Driver Injury Measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 87 |
| Peak gs at Hard Contact | No Contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 9 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.26 |
| Chest | |
| Maximum Compression (mm) | 26 |
| Legs | |
| Femur Force – Left (kN) | 0.8 |
| Femur Force – Right (kN) | 0.7 |
| Knee Displacement – Left (mm) | 6 |
| Knee Displacement – Right (mm) | 3 |
| Maximum Tibia Index – Left | 0.32 |
| Maximum Tibia Index – Right | 0.37 |
| Tibia Axial Force – Left (kN) | 2.2 |
| Tibia Axial Force – Right (kN) | 1.9 |
| Foot Acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 46 |
| Right | 77 |
The structure of the 2018 5 Series showed minimal intrusion in this test. All driver injury measures were rated “Good,” indicating excellent protection in a moderate frontal collision.
Side Crash Test: Original Test
The side crash test evaluates occupant protection in a side impact scenario.
Rating: Good
The 2018 BMW 5 Series received a “Good” rating in the side crash test, demonstrating strong side impact protection.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Torso | Good |
| Pelvis/Leg | Good |
| Driver Head Protection | Good |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Torso | Good |
| Pelvis/Leg | Good |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | Good |
Technical Measurements – Side Crash Test
| Measures of Occupant Compartment Intrusion (Driver Side) | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| B-Pillar to Longitudinal Centerline of Driver’s Seat | -22.5 |
Driver Injury Measures – Side Crash Test
| Driver Injury Measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 95 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.7 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.4 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral Deflection (mm) | 28 |
| Lateral Force (kN) | 1.1 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum Deflection (mm) | 37 |
| Average Deflection (mm) | 33 |
| Maximum Deflection Rate (m/s) | 4.97 |
| Maximum Viscous Criterion (m/s) | 0.74 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac Force (kN) | 0.8 |
| Acetabulum Force (kN) | 1.0 |
| Combined Force (kN) | 1.7 |
| Left Femur | |
| L-M Force (kN) | 0.3 |
| L-M Moment (Nm) | 76 |
| A-P Moment (Nm) | -31 |
Passenger Injury Measures – Side Crash Test
| Passenger Injury Measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 132 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.2 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.2 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral Deflection (mm) | 22 |
| Lateral Force (kN) | 1.0 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum Deflection (mm) | 20 |
| Average Deflection (mm) | 19 |
| Maximum Deflection Rate (m/s) | 1.69 |
| Maximum Viscous Criterion (m/s) | 0.17 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac Force (kN) | 0.9 |
| Acetabulum Force (kN) | 0.9 |
| Combined Force (kN) | 1.8 |
| Left Femur | |
| L-M Force (kN) | 0.6 |
| L-M Moment (Nm) | 50 |
| A-P Moment (Nm) | 40 |
Both driver and rear passenger injury measures were “Good” across all categories, highlighting the 2018 BMW 5 Series’ ability to protect occupants in side-impact collisions.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test measures the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover accident.
Rating: Good
The 2018 BMW 5 Series achieved a “Good” rating in roof strength.
| Overall Evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Curb Weight | 3,822 lbs |
| Peak Force | 20,991 lbs |
| Strength-to-Weight Ratio | 5.49 |
The strength-to-weight ratio of 5.49 indicates that the roof of the 2018 5 Series can withstand over five times the vehicle’s weight, providing strong protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints & Seats Evaluation
This evaluation assesses the effectiveness of the head restraints and seats in preventing whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions.
Rating: Good
The 2018 BMW 5 Series with power leather seats received a “Good” rating for head restraints and seats.
| Overall Evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Dynamic Rating | Good |
| Seat/Head Restraint Geometry | Good |
Technical Measurements – Head Restraints & Seats
| Seat Type | Power Leather Seat |
|---|---|
| Geometry | |
| Backset (mm) | 23 |
| Distance Below Top of Head (mm) | -13 |
| Seat Design Parameters | |
| Pass/Fail | Pass |
| Max T1 Acceleration (g) | 15.9 |
| Head Contact Time (ms) | 59 |
| Force Rating | 1 |
| Neck Forces | |
| Max Neck Shear Force (N) | 0 |
| Max Neck Tension (N) | 436 |
Headlights Evaluation
The headlight evaluation assesses the performance of vehicle headlights in providing adequate illumination while minimizing glare for oncoming drivers. The 2018 BMW 5 Series has two different headlight variations.
Headlight Variation 1: LED Projector Low Beams/LED Reflector High Beams (Executive & Lighting Packages)
Rating: Good
This headlight variation, available with the Executive and Lighting packages, received a “Good” overall rating.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam Headlight Type | LED Projector |
| High-beam Headlight Type | LED Reflector |
| Curve-Adaptive? | Yes |
| High-beam Assist? | Yes |
| Overall Rating | Good |
Headlight Variation 2: LED Projector Low Beams/LED Projector High Beams (Standard Trims)
Rating: Marginal
The standard headlight variation received a “Marginal” overall rating.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam Headlight Type | LED Projector |
| High-beam Headlight Type | LED Projector |
| Curve-Adaptive? | Yes |
| High-beam Assist? | No |
| Overall Rating | Marginal |
The “Good” rated headlights (with Executive and Lighting packages) offer significantly better visibility, especially on curves, and feature high-beam assist which compensates for low-beam limitations. Buyers should consider models equipped with these packages for enhanced nighttime driving safety.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
The front crash prevention evaluation tests the effectiveness of automatic emergency braking systems in preventing or mitigating vehicle-to-vehicle collisions. The 2018 BMW 5 Series offers two optional front crash prevention systems.
System 1: Frontal Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation (Driving Assistance Plus Package)
Rating: Superior
This system received a “Superior” rating.
- Forward Collision Warning: Meets requirements
- 12 mph Test: Collision Avoided
- 25 mph Test: Collision Avoided
System 2: Frontal Collision Warning with Extended Collision Mitigation (Driver Assistance Plus II)
Rating: Superior
This system also received a “Superior” rating.
- Forward Collision Warning: Meets requirements
- 12 mph Test: Collision Avoided
- 25 mph Test: Collision Avoided
Both optional systems demonstrated superior performance in preventing collisions in IIHS tests, highlighting the advanced preventative safety technology available in the 2018 BMW 5 Series.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
The child seat anchor evaluation assesses the ease of use of the LATCH system for installing child safety seats.
Rating: Acceptable
The 2018 BMW 5 Series received an “Acceptable” rating for its LATCH system.
| Overall Evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Acceptable |
| Vehicle Trim | 540i |
| Seat Type | Leather |
The vehicle has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware, and an additional position with only a tether anchor. While rated “Acceptable,” the system has some usability issues, such as lower anchors being difficult to maneuver around in certain seating positions.
Conclusion
The 2018 BMW 5 Series demonstrates strong safety performance across a range of IIHS crash tests and safety evaluations. It achieved “Good” ratings in all crashworthiness tests, except for passenger-side small overlap lower leg/foot which was “Acceptable.” Its front crash prevention systems earned “Superior” ratings, and headlight performance is “Good” with optional packages. The LATCH system is rated “Acceptable.”
Overall, the 2018 BMW 5 Series is a safe vehicle choice, offering robust occupant protection and advanced preventative safety features. Potential buyers, especially families, should consider the optional safety packages and headlight variations for the best possible safety performance. For more detailed information on each test, refer to the links provided within each section to the IIHS website.
