BMW vs. Infiniti – 2011 528i BMW vs. 2011 Infiniti M37

What the 2011 528i  BMW offers…
• BMW’s Twin Powered Turbo 3.0 Liter Inline 6 produces 230 horse power and 270 lb-ft of torque.
• The 5 Series 8-speed automatic also provides a wider range of gear ratios, which will likely give the BMW better response in daily driving.
• The 528i achieves a 0-60 time of 6.6 seconds.
• BMW includes larger, ventilated front and rear brakes: 14.7-inch front with 14.6-inch rear. The 5 Series also uses composite aluminum/cast iron rotors, which are much lighter than conventional cast-iron.
• The 5 Series includes standard Dynamic Stability Control, which provides many driving functions that the Lexus GS 350 does not. (Brake Stand By, Brake Drying, Brake Fade Compensation, Brake Energy Regeneration)
• The 528i’s Logic7 premium sound system includes 600-watts channeled through 16 speakers.
• BMW’s latest-generation iDrive offers a completely revised, highly intuitive interface, 7-inch color monitor, Programmable Memory Keys and quick-access buttons.
• BMW’s optional navigation adds an 80 GB hard disc with 12 GB music memory, 10.2-inch display, Real Time Traffic Info, CD-ripping capability, MyInfo and BMW Search.
• The BMW features an exhaustive list of luxury options that are unavailable on the GS including New Full Color Head-Up Display, Night Vision with Pedestrian Detection, 4-zone climate control, Side & Top View Cameras, Driving Dynamics Control, Active Blind Spot Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Automatic High Beams, Parking Assistant, and heated rear seats and steering wheel.
• The 528i offers standard Run-flat tires, adaptive headlights and rain-sensing wipers.
• The Driver Assistance Package includes Lane Departure and Blind Spot Warning plus High Beam Assistant.
• The optional Side View Camera provides an accurate, wide-angle view of approaching traffic on busy cross streets.
• BMW’s Head-up Display places a customized, virtual instrument panel directly in the driver’s line of sight.
• BMW’s 4 year/50,000-mile warranty includes Full Maintenance and Roadside Assistance
• BMW includes a 12 year/unlimited miles corrosion warranty
Developed under the codename “F10,” the new 5-Series softens the harder lines of the previous E60 with more conventional-looking headlights and a cleaner front-end design. Despite new European pedestrian safety standards that are expected to drastically alter the design of many European cars for the worse, BMW has managed to maintain its classic twin-kidney grille design with the new 5-Series while simultaneously reducing the length of the front overhang.
BMW 5-Series offers high-performance driving capabilities in a sedan that can carry five adults in comfort and luxury.
The latest 5-Series will offer one eight-cylinder and three six-cylinder gas engine options. Two diesel six-cylinder models will also be available in certain Europe, with the most fuel efficient version being the 47 mpg (U.S.) 520d.
The 258 horsepower 528i will be the entry-level model in the U.S. The range-topping 550i model comes packing a 407 hp version of BMW’s turbocharged V8. As expected, BMW’s 306 hp turbocharged inline-six will be available in the 535i model. A 530d model is also available — featuring a 245 hp diesel engine.
Fuel economy figures vary greatly to match the level of horsepower for each distinct trim level, but numbers begin at 28 mpg highway on the 528i, and drop to 22 mpg highway for the 400 hp 550i model.
The next-generation 5-Series features an eight-speed automatic transmission with an all-wheel drive optional — denoted by an “x” followed the numeric model name. The new 5 will also have Park Distance Control and an around view monitor system, similar to Infiniti’s Around View Monitor.
As is typical of most recent BMW redesigns, this 5-Series adds some space between the wheels by extending the wheelbase nearly 10 centimeters and widening the track. The car’s overall length has grown by less than 2 centimeters, while its height is slightly reduced and its width increased by a fraction. A set of 17-inch wheels are the smallest available with 18 and 19-inch wheels optional.
All 5-series sedans feature Active Roll Stabilization, which replaces anti-sway bars with electronically controlled pumps to maintain a level ride under nearly all conditions. To complement the Active Roll Stabilization system comes Active Steering, which uses electronic steering to supplement the stability controls acting on the wheel brakes and power.
Across this whole range, the sedan body is the same. With a length of just over 192 inches, the car is long enough to provide luxury-level seating and legroom in the rear and a reasonable amount of luggage space, but is short enough to be easy to drive and park.
On the interior, trim is a tasteful combination of wood and leather (optional on the 528i and 528 xi), with a variety of choices available. The dash is elegant, with few buttons, but dominated by a center screen that monitors all functions and provides vision for the optional navigation and new night vision systems. All of this is controlled with BMW’s iDrive, which offers a one-knob interface that is loved by computer jocks and hated by many other reviewers.
Other optional technical gadgets include Lane Departure Warning, Heads-up display Active Cruise Control with Stop and Go-which does exactly what it says, managing the car’s speed in stop-and-go traffic-and Sirius satellite radio, HD radio and an iPod connection.
Of course, the 5-Series offers a full range of passive safety features, including extended crumple zones, six air bags, anti-lock brakes, traction and dynamic stability control, BMW Assist with collision notification, and optional rear passenger airbags.

The 2011 Infiniti M37 Overview

• The Infiniti M37 is powered by a 3.7-liter V-6 that produces 330 horsepower and 270 lb-ft. of torque.
• Peak torque in the M37 is available at 5200 rpm, double the 528i’s 2600 rpm threshold.
• The brake rotors on the 528i are more than an inch larger at every corner, with braking performance being further enhanced by the standard Brake Drying and Brake Fade Compensation systems – neither of which is available on the M. The 528i also includes standard Brake Stand-by, which is only included in the M’ Technology package. A BMW Assist-type feature is not available on the M37.
• The standard central controller is positioned high on the dash panel rather than where the hand naturally rests when driving.
• The trunk capacity is larger in the 528i (18.4 vs. 14.9).
• The Technology Package adds Intelligent Cruise Control with Stop & go functionality, adaptive headlights, Land Departure Warning, and Blind Spot Warning, among other items. Both the Lane Departure Warning and the Blind Spot Warning systems are innovative in that they lightly apply the brakes on the outer two wheels to “pull” the car back into its respective lane and away from danger.
• Infiniti offers neither complimentary maintenance, nor a pre-paid maintenance of any kind. As such, Edmunds.com stipulates it costs $22.58 / month (x36 months) to maintain the car. And while BMW recommends maintenance at roughly 15,000 miles or 12-month intervals, Infiniti recommends nearly double the number of service visits (every 7,500 miles or 6-months).
The M37 is powered by a 3.7-liter V-6 that produces 330 horsepower and 270 lb-ft. of torque, and is mated exclusively to a 7-speed automatic. Infiniti does not publish a 0 – 60 mph time, but Road & Track estimates a six-second sprint, placing it a half-second ahead of the 528i. However, peak torque in the M37 is available at 5200 rpm, double the 528i’s 2600 rpm threshold.
The M has also been historically plagued by criticism for its harsh ride quality. Early reports suggested Infiniti has done a good job in designing a sharper and smoother suspension for 2011. Equal strides were not made, however, with respect to weight balance, with the M37 suffering from a 54-percent front bias. The extra 308 lbs. on the front axle leads to “dive” under heavy braking, coupled with a greater propensity for understeer.
Performance and safety buyers will also note that brake rotors on the 528i are more than an inch larger at every corner, with braking performance being further enhanced by the standard Brake Drying and Brake Fade Compensation systems – neither of which is available on the M.