BMW Crashes Into Row

A fuss has broken out following the latest Euro NCAP crash test results, which we published last week (issue 835). BMW's new 5-Series got four stars, but only after the German firm learned of the outcome, modified the car and had it retested. Now it's annoyed that details of the revamp have been made public. Work was done on the steering column, door trim and airbag. A spokesman said: "BMW takes Euro NCAP tests very seriously, but is concerned the specific changes appear to have been released." However, a Euro NCAP told us: "We normally say where improvements have been made."

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08th December 2004

The situation has made 5-Series owners angry. Up to 12,000 of the unmodified cars have been sold in the UK, and several owners demanded BMW issue a recall. They want their cars changed in the same way the crash test models were.

But the BMW spokesman said that isn't going to happen. "We want to reassure customers that changes were made for Euro NCAP, not to improve safety," he explained.