The 2018 Bmw 5 Series Sedan marked a redesign year for this popular luxury vehicle, bringing with it updated safety features and structural improvements. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) put the 2017-2023 models of the BMW 5 Series through rigorous testing to evaluate its crashworthiness in various scenarios. This report delves into the IIHS safety ratings for the 2018 BMW 5 Series sedan, providing a comprehensive overview of its performance in small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint tests. Understanding these ratings is crucial for anyone considering the safety of this vehicle for themselves and their families.
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 in this case, impacts a barrier. This is a particularly challenging test as it bypasses the main energy-absorbing structures of the car. The 2018 BMW 5 Series sedan earned a “Good” rating in this demanding evaluation.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
The results indicate robust structural integrity, with the safety cage holding up well under the force of the impact. All driver injury measures were rated as “Good,” meaning a low risk of significant injuries to the head, neck, chest, hip, thigh, lower leg, and foot in a real-world crash of similar severity. The driver restraints and dummy kinematics also received a “Good” rating, signifying that the seatbelts and airbags functioned effectively to control the occupant’s movement during the crash.
Measurements taken after the test confirmed minimal intrusion into the driver’s compartment. Key metrics like steering column movement (0 cm) and upper hinge pillar intrusion (3 cm) demonstrate that the structural design effectively maintained the driver’s survival space.
The frontal and side curtain airbags played a crucial role in protecting the driver. They worked in coordination to prevent the dummy’s head from making dangerous contact with жесткие structures or external objects, contributing to the “Good” head/neck injury rating.
Technical measurements further support the “Good” ratings. For instance, chest maximum compression was a low 23 mm, and femur forces were also minimal (Left: 0.5 kN, Right: 1.1 kN). Tibia index and axial forces were also well within safe limits, indicating a low risk of lower leg injuries.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side Evaluation
The passenger-side small overlap test mirrors the driver-side test but assesses the protection offered to the front passenger. Like the driver-side, the 2018 BMW 5 Series sedan achieved an overall “Good” rating in this evaluation.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | A |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
While passenger injury measures for head/neck, chest, and hip/thigh were “Good,” the lower leg/foot protection for the passenger was rated “Acceptable.” However, passenger restraints and dummy kinematics remained “Good,” and importantly, driver injury measures (collected for reference) were all rated “Good” in this passenger-side test.
Technical data reveals slightly higher intrusion measurements on the passenger side compared to the driver side, but still within acceptable limits. For example, footrest intrusion was 19 cm on the passenger side versus 12 cm on the driver side. Passenger lower leg/foot injury measures showed slightly higher tibia index and axial force values compared to the driver side in the driver-side test, which likely contributed to the “Acceptable” rating in this category.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
In the moderate overlap front crash test, a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a deformable barrier. This test is more representative of common frontal collisions. The 2018 BMW 5 Series sedan again earned a “Good” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/foot, left | G |
| Leg/foot, right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
All aspects of this test, including structure and safety cage, driver injury measures for head/neck, chest, and legs/feet, and driver restraints and dummy kinematics, were rated “Good.”
Occupant compartment intrusion measurements were minimal, with footwell intrusion ranging from 1 to 2 cm across various points. Steering column and A-pillar movements were also minimal, indicating excellent structural performance in this type of frontal impact. Driver injury measures were consistently low, further solidifying the “Good” ratings across all categories.
Side Crash Test: Original Test
The side crash test evaluates the protection offered in side-impact collisions. The 2018 BMW 5 Series sedan received a “Good” overall rating in the side crash test, demonstrating strong side-impact protection for both driver and rear passengers.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
Both driver and rear passenger injury measures for head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg were rated “Good.” Driver and rear passenger head protection also received “Good” ratings, indicating effective protection from head injuries in a side impact.
Intrusion measurements showed a B-pillar movement of -22.5 cm relative to the driver’s seat centerline, indicating that the side structure effectively resisted intrusion into the occupant compartment. Driver and passenger injury measures were low across the board, confirming the effectiveness of the side airbags and structural design in mitigating injury risk in side collisions.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test assesses the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash. The 2018 BMW 5 Series sedan achieved a “Good” rating in roof strength.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 3,822 lbs |
| Peak force | 20,991 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.49 |
With a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.49, the roof of the 2018 BMW 5 Series sedan demonstrated its ability to withstand over five times the vehicle’s weight before significant crush, earning the highest rating of “Good.”
Head Restraints & Seats Evaluation
The head restraints and seats are evaluated for their ability to protect against whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions. The 2018 BMW 5 Series sedan with power leather seats received a “Good” overall rating in this category.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
Both dynamic rating (based on simulated rear-impact tests) and seat/head restraint geometry were rated “Good.” Technical measurements showed favorable backset and distance below top of head, contributing to the “Good” geometric rating. Low neck forces recorded in dynamic testing further support the effectiveness of the head restraint and seat design in minimizing whiplash risk.
Headlights Performance
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime driving safety. The IIHS evaluated two different headlight variations available on the 2018 BMW 5 Series sedan.
LED Projector Headlights with Executive or Lighting Package
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | Yes |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | G |
The LED projector headlights, when equipped with the Executive or Lighting package, earned a “Good” overall rating. These headlights feature curve-adaptive functionality and high-beam assist. Low beams provided fair to good visibility on straightaways and curves, with no glare issues. High beams offered good visibility on straightaways and most curves. High-beam assist was noted to compensate for some low-beam limitations.
LED Projector Headlights (Standard)
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | Yes |
| High-beam assist? | No |
| Overall rating | M |
The standard LED projector headlights, without the Executive or Lighting package, received a “Marginal” overall rating. While also curve-adaptive, they lack high-beam assist. Low beams provided fair visibility on the straightaway right edge but inadequate visibility on the left edge and left curves. High beams offered fair to inadequate visibility in most scenarios.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems are crucial for mitigating or avoiding frontal collisions. The 2018 BMW 5 Series sedan offers two optional front crash prevention systems.
Frontal Collision Warning with City Collision Mitigation (Optional Driving Assistance Plus Package)
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
|---|---|
| Applies to 2017-18 models | Superior |
| Forward Collision Warning | Meets requirements |
| 12 mph test | Collision Avoided |
| 25 mph test | Collision Avoided |
This system, part of the optional Driving Assistance Plus Package, earned a “Superior” rating. It meets forward collision warning requirements and successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph vehicle-to-vehicle tests.
Frontal Collision Warning with Extended Collision Mitigation (Optional Driver Assistance Plus II)
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
|---|---|
| Applies to 2017-21 models | Superior |
| Forward Collision Warning | Meets requirements |
| 12 mph test | Collision Avoided |
| 25 mph test | Collision Avoided |
The Frontal Collision Warning with Extended Collision Mitigation, available with the optional Driver Assistance Plus II package, also achieved a “Superior” rating. It similarly meets forward collision warning criteria and avoided collisions in both low-speed and higher-speed tests.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchor ease of use is important for proper child restraint installation. The 2018 BMW 5 Series sedan received an “Acceptable” rating for its LATCH system.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | A |
| Vehicle trim | 540i |
| Seat type | leather |
The 2018 BMW 5 Series sedan has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor. While tether anchors were easy to locate and not easily confused, lower anchors were noted as being not too deep in the seat but difficult to maneuver around when attaching child seats.
Conclusion: The 2018 BMW 5 Series Sedan – A Safe Choice
The IIHS safety evaluations for the 2018 BMW 5 Series sedan demonstrate its commitment to safety. Earning “Good” ratings in most crash tests, including the challenging small overlap front tests, and offering superior front crash prevention systems, the 2018 BMW 5 Series Sedan stands out as a safe vehicle choice in the luxury sedan segment. While headlight ratings vary depending on the trim and package, opting for the Executive or Lighting package ensures the best possible headlight performance. For families, the “Acceptable” LATCH rating indicates that while child seat installation is possible, it may require a bit more effort. Overall, the 2018 BMW 5 Series sedan provides robust safety performance and advanced crash prevention technology, making it a strong contender for safety-conscious car buyers.
About the small overlap front test
About the original moderate overlap front test
About the original side crash test
About the roof strength test
About the head restraint & seat test
About the headlight evaluation
About the original front crash prevention test
About the child seat anchor evaluation
