2024 BMW 5 Series Entertainment and Driver Assistance Tech

BMW just pulled the wraps off the 2024 5 Series, and there’s a lot to digest. We took a dive into the hardware in our first look story, but the new 5 Series’ list of features is extensive—and, in some cases, eye-opening. We wanted to take a closer look at some of the interesting tech and active safety features in the new hybrid and electric sedans, including BMW’s Active Lane Change Assist, which will change lanes automatically at a literal glance, and in-car gaming.

How does it work? An optional part of the Highway Assistant Level 2 driver assistance suite, Active Lane Change Assist will automatically change lanes (including altering speed and steering). First, it prompts the driver that a lane change is suggested, perhaps to pass a slower car or when a lane ends and the vehicle needs to merge. In some systems offered by competitors, the driver would be required to physically accept the prompt, generally using the turn signal stalk. Active Lane Change Assist can take commands from the stalk, or the driver can simply look at the side view mirror. The act of looking at the mirror confirms the lane change, and the car then conducts the maneuver, traffic conditions permitting.

BMW describes this as a “comfort feature” but we’d be lying if we weren’t slightly concerned about inadvertent confirmation (and also about the perceived benefit of the eye-based confirmation). Sure, cue up the jokes about BMW drivers not knowing where the turn signal stalk is … the reality is that it’s not an arduous process to move your hand a few inches and touch the stalk, and there’s a lot less potential for the car to misinterpret the action. We’ll have to try this system out once the car is available for review to see for ourselves.

Ultimate Gaming Machine? BMW’s partnership with AirConsole has finally realized the age-old dream of owners of driver-oriented, sporty vehicles: the ability to park and play games on a giant screen. The 2024 5 Series is the debut of this tech, and we do see one good use case for it (that BMW recognizes): giving drivers of the EV versions of the 5 Series, the i5, something to do while charging. The system uses the Curved Display, and utilizes the occupants’ smartphones as controllers. There’s a QR code that appears in case the phone hasn’t been used for gaming before, quickly allowing a download of the relevant app. The system supports more than two phones, so everyone in the vehicle could get in on the action.

AirConsole offers a variety of titles, 20 at the moment, including some racing, strategy, and puzzle/quiz games, including a game called GoKartGo! that seems a lot like a Mario Kart “clone.” Don’t expect name-brand titles here. It’s worth noting that AirConsole isn’t a system that’s exclusive to in-vehicle entertainment; it’s an internet-based, smartphone-controlled system that can be played across multiple platforms—Xbox, Steam, PC, etc. So you don’t need to buy a BMW 5 Series to check it out.

If games aren’t your thing, the 5 Series also offers a number of streaming video apps for the Control Display, including YouTube and (eventually) TiVo. There’s also a Bundesliga (German soccer league) app, which inexplicably is available from now until the end of March next year. No word on what happens to it when it goes away. TiVo, and perhaps other services, will be made available via an over-the-air update by the end of the year.