2008 BMW 5Series: Worst In New Side Impact Crash Tests!

How on earth did this luxury ride have a failing grade in side impact crash tests?! I can’t believe it! And I think everyone can’t believe it either. The 2008 BMW 5 Series is one of the most admired vehicles in the planet and we are very shocked to know that it is the worst performer inthe new side-impact crash tests of luxury sedans by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

I read this shocking news on motortrend.com yesterday when I was searching for some information about the Saturn engine online. According to the news, the Volvo S80, Kia Amanti and the Acura RL got the highest safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. On the other hand, the Cadillac STS and the Mercedes E-Class grabbed the second-highest rating. IIHS side-impact crash tests were intended to reveal what would happen if a sport utility vehicle or a truck hit the side of the sedan at a speed of 31 miles per hour. According to the Isurance Institute for Highway Safety, around 9,000 people on U.S. roadways were killed due to common side-impact crashes after a frontal crash.

“Growing sales of SUVs and pickups have exacerbated height mismatches among passenger vehicles, thereby increasing the risks to occupants of many vehicles struck in the side,” Insurance Institute President Adrian Lund said in a news release.

“All six sedans were equipped with standard side air bags. The air bags in the BMW 5 Series protected the head, but separate air bags designed to protect the chest and abdomen performed poorly,” the institute said.

“The institute’s test indicated the 5 Series has a strong body structure but the dummy was injured when it was hit by the arm rest. BMW does up to 12 crash tests on all its cars as well as computer simulations of crashes,” said BMW spokesman Thomas Plucinsky on the results.

“The issue is that depending on the location of seat, the location of dummy, the location of the sled, the results could change. This was one test on one day on one car,” added Plucinsky.

One of the lowest priced sedans in the group was the Kia Amanti with a starting price of around $25,500. But with fair price for a luxury sedan, the Amanti offered a far better protection than more expensive sedans. According to automotive research site Edmunds.com, the BMW 5 Series price starts at $43,500, while the Mercedes E-Class starts at $50,550.

“The Amanti shows that you don’t have to buy an expensive car to get good protection in crashes with SUVs and pickups,” Lund said.

Since the Volvo S80 earned the highest ratings in front, side and rear crash tests with electronic stability control as standard equipment, it went home with the IIHS top safety award! The S40 also won the institute’s top safety award for overall crash protection as well. The 2007 Volvo S80 starts at $47,350, according to Edmunds.com.