BMW 5 Series LWB rear Theatre Screen under evaluation

BMW revolutionised rear-seat entertainment when it launched the 7 Series with a fold-down 31.3-inch screen. Known as the ‘Theatre Screen’, the system consists of a massive 8K screen that electrically folds down from the roof for an impressive viewing experience for rear-seat passengers. However, BMW hasn’t specified the Indian version of the long-wheelbase 5 Series with its Theatre Screen. So, why was such an important, owner-pleasing feature been left out?

1. Theatre Screen deemed additional hurdle for local assembly of 5 LWB initially
2. BMW will introduce it at a later stage
3. Theatre Screen is a 31.3-inch panoramic display with 8K resolution and 5G

“It was already a big struggle getting the 5 Series assembled in India,” explains Jean-Philippe Parain senior vice president BMW Group, “so the panoramic display is not on this car.” One less obstacle to overcome on the road to local assembly, we understand.

BMW, however, hasn’t ditched its latest attention-grabbing feature for India. “While it is not an option on the car for now, we are looking at how we could introduce it at a later stage,” Parain said emphatically. The screen is, of course, already available on the long wheelbase 5 Series in China; incidentally only the second car to get it globally.

BMW Theatre Screen explained

BMW’s Theatre Screen enables high-quality video streaming on the move. It has an extremely high resolution of 8000x2000 pixels. The screen itself is built around an Android system or AOSP (Android Open Source Project) and can be paired with either a Harman/Kardon audio system or an even higher-spec Bowers & Wilkins Surround Sound System.

The screen can be viewed in a 16:9, 21:9, or 32:9 aspect ratios, depending on your preference. Passengers can stream content in 4K Ultra HD on apps like Amazon Prime, Netflix or YouTube, and spec the car with two sets of headphones for a more immersive experience. Needless to say, you can even play games and watch pre-downloaded content for a seamless experience.

Once deployed, the screen can be moved forward or back to set an ideal viewing distance. The screen also automatically activates a set of dark blinds – another thing the India-spec 5 LWB misses – on the sides and at the rear. On the 7 Series, BMW has also left space so passengers in the rear can get a limited view of the road outside, even when viewing content on the screen, to prevent car sickness. 

While BMW hasn’t revealed a timeline yet for the launch of the big rear screen on the new long-wheelbase 5 Series, the addition of the screen will attract plenty of additional attention. It could even somewhat offset the fact that the 5 Series LWB doesn’t get adjustable rear backrests.