The BMW 5 Series is a range of executive cars available since 1972. It has been released as a 4-door sedan, 5-door wagon, and 5-door fastback over it’s long production run, now in its seventh generation of design.
BMW 5 Series Design and Introduction
The first generation BMW 5 Series (E12) came in 1972. It was the successor to the saloon (4-door sedan) models in the BMW New Class offerings. The design incorporated years of research into the aerodynamics and safety features of the new model, including computer analysis of the front and rear crumple zones plus a rollover protection structure. A wide variety of engine options were available, with anywhere from a 1.8L straight-4 with 90PS, up to a 3.5L straight-6 in the M535i with 218 PS and 229 lb ft of torque, incredible numbers for the time period and in the wake of the global energy crisis. A variety of 4- and 5-speed manual transmissions and 3-speed automatic transmissions were available. MacPherson struts were used up front, while the rear suspension featured semi-trailing arm. Coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers were used all around. Some models with more than 125 PS received an additional sway bar on the rear axle, while front disc brakes with rear drum brakes were fitted on most 5 Series from this era.
Second Generation Updates
The second generation 5 Series (E28) was released in 1981, designed under Claus Luthe’s leadership and still only available as a 4-door sedan. This generation began to see an increase in higher technology parts, including cruise control, a trip information display, and dashboard warning lights for various fluid levels and lighting faults. The engine options were somewhat similar to the past generation, with options available from 1.8L to 3.5L. The mid-range engines were mainly straight-6 designs ranging from 2.0L to 2.8L, with up to 184 PS in that range. The M5, released in 1985, used a 3.5L straight-6 engine with 286 PS and 251 lb ft of torque. This top-of-the-line variant used M-Technic suspension and distinct body panels aimed at more aggressive and aerodynamic look that were only used on the M5. It could get from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in 7.2 seconds. The suspension remained similar with MacPherson struts up front, but they were now supported with dual links at the bottom of the strut, allowing for improved handling and cornering capability. Anti-lock disc brakes were featured all around.
Third and Fourth Generation Style
In 1988, the third generation 4 Series (E34) was released, now featuring a 5-door wagon in addition to the 4-door sedan. It was also the first time that all-wheel drive became an option for this model lineup. This generation saw a massive nine different engine groups used, with everything from small inline-4 up to a 4.0L V8 with 282 horsepower and 295 lb ft of torque. The M5 used a 335 horsepower inline-6 engine. The fourth generation 5 Series (E39) came in 1996 model year for the first time, using more aluminum body work than in the past. It dropped all-wheel drive from the lineup but added new safety features like curtain airbags and traction control. As usual, a wide array of engines were used, this time bumping up to a straight-6 minimum with multiple 3.5L and 4.4L V8 options, producing up to 394 horsepower and 369 lb ft of torque in the M5.
Fifth and Sixth Generation Changes
In 2003, the fifth generation 5 Series (E60 & E61) was released as a 2004 model year. It introduced iDrive infotainment system, head-up display projected on the windshield, and lane departure warning. Straight-6 engines were used in most 5 Series from that generation, with around 215 horsepower and 199 lb ft of torque being the middle of the pack offering. The M5 now stepped up to a massive 5.0L V10 engine with 500 horsepower and 384 lb ft of torque.
The sixth generation 5 Series was released as 2011 model year, with a 4-door sedan (F10), 4-door LWB sedan (F18), 5-door wagon (F11) and a new 5-door fastback (F07). It was also the first generation to see a hybrid offering, a turbocharged V8, and active rear-wheel steering. 552 horsepower came from the M5’s turbocharged V8 engine.
Current Seventh Generation Design
The seventh and current generation of BMW 5 Series (G30 & G31), first released as 2017 model year, has dropped the fastback offering. It is built on BMW’s modular Cluster Architecture (CLAR) platform, made from a mixture of steel and aluminum. Double wishbone suspension is used up front, with 5-link rear suspension and self-level air suspension available in the Touring models. A plug-in hybrid variant is available, with the most powerful version being a 3.0L inline-6 turbocharged engine paired with an electric motor to produce 389 horsepower. The M5 uses a 4.4L twin-turbocharged V8 engine with a whopping 617 horsepower. Many 5 Series use inline-4 turbocharged engines with around 248 to 292 horsepower.