New BMW 5 Series Successfully Uses Brake Intervention in Crash Test

The world premiere of a BMW 5 Series passing a crash test using preventive protection systems recently took place at the facility of DEKRA near Hamburg. German manufacturer BMW equipped the BMW 530d with anticipatory assistance systems that help reduce the risk of rear-end collisions.

According to BMW, rear-end collisions are the cause of around 40 percent of all motorway accidents involving injured persons.

Based on a conventional EuroNCAP test with the car approaching an offset obstacle at 64 km/h, the vehicle used in the DEKRA test incorporating advanced brake intervention likewise initially accelerated to 64 km/h.

However, immediately before impact the BMW 530d braked hard – as stipulated by the system – and collided with the offset block at a reduced speed of just 40 km/h.

"Due to full brake application immediately prior to impact and the car’s pitching movement resulting from this, the vehicle changes its position, particularly when the front bumper hits the block. The vehicle collides with the obstacle in a slightly “lower” position than in the case of a crash occurring without prior application of the brakes," a company statement reads.  

“Concerning the deceleration, occupants also assume a position further forward. More important, however: In the event of a crash incorporating prior brake application, the severity of impact is reduced considerably, thereby significantly lessening the strain on all occupants,” the statement continues.

Another world premiere was marked by the fact that previous testing facilities have not permitted verification of the effect of anticipatory occupant protection systems in crash tests. The demonstrative test implemented by BMW in collaboration with DEKRA is the first step in testing future pre-crash scenarios.