BMW 5 Series 2004 review

It's simply so safe with its intelligent driver aids like dynamic stability control and its secondary safety measures such as comprehensive crash protection and airbags.

Now, add 75kW of power and $43,000 to the price and you've got the BMW 545i, a V8 4398cc six-speed auto with a whopping 245kW of power.

But it is that strong and willing engine that makes all the difference.

Thanks to the dynamic stability control you can use all its awesome power without giving yourself or your passengers too many unexpected thrills. It is oh so quiet in the cabin, with only a gentle rumble from the V8 when under any duress.

Even winding the windows down doesn't feed in any more of its dulcet tones.

So you either enjoy the cabin quiet or turn up that 10-speaker sound system and rock the neighbourhood with duff-duff music.

After driving several BMWs with the iDrive system, I'm getting more and more capable.

iDrive uses one big all-purpose control like the mouse on a computer.

You can click it down, push it forward and back, move it side to side and then dial it around clockwise and anti-clockwise.

Each movement is mirrored on the screen display.

After a while, it kind of clicks in your brain and it becomes much easier – not really second-nature, but certainly logical.

However, you can't make more than one or two choices without having to avert your eyes from the driving task.

There is nothing you can really do by feel, without looking at the screen.

With separate controls, you can feel your way to the volume, tone controls and various other functions. You can't do that with iDrive.

You have to watch where you are in the on-screen menu and make your selections.

For example, changing the tone settings requires half a dozen clicks, dials and shoves before you even get to the settings, let alone adjusting them.

Consequently, it is vital that you take the time to program in your voice commands so that you can operate the system hands-free.

Dashboard-mounted TVs switch to a blank screen when you are moving and most will show the picture when you stop or are moving slowly.

It's actually against the law to watch the screen when you are not parked.

This TV screen only works when the parking brake is engaged.