BMW 5 Series

The BMW 5 Series is a mid-size luxury car / executive car manufactured by BMW since 1972. The car, now in its fifth generation, is sold in sedan and touring body styles. On January 29, 2008, the 5 millionth 5 series, a 530d sedan in Carbon Black Metallic, was manufactured.

Competitors to the BMW 5 Series include the Infiniti G, Audi A6, Lexus GS, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and Cadillac STS.[citation needed]

History

The 5 Series got its name by being the fifth of the "new series" cars after the V-8 and Isetta era. The preceding models were the 700, the "New Class", the "New Six" 2500/2800/Bavaria and the CS. The 5 Series was intended to replace the older New Six sedans.

The body was styled by Marcello Gandini, based on the Bertone 1970 BMW Garmisch 2002ti Geneva show car. Gandini also did the Fiat 132 and Alfa Romeo Alfetta, two other cars that have a similar design.

There have been five generations of the 5 Series to date. To differentiate between them, they are referred to by their unique chassis numbers (EXX).

The 5 Series began the BMW tradition of being named with a three-digit number. The first digit (5 in this case) represents the model, and the following two digits (usually) represent the size of the engine in decilitres, which is the main distinguishing difference. Additional letters or words may be added to the end of the three-digit number to define the fuel type (petrol or diesel), engine or transmission details, and the body style. The 'i' originally stood for (fuel) 'injection'.

E12 (1972-1981)

See also BMW E12 for more information

The BMW E12 was the first 5 Series BMW made. The following models were produced in this series:

• Non-US
  • 1974 518 - 1.8L M118 I4
  • 1976 518 - 1.8L M42 I4
  • 1980 518 - 1.8L M10B18 I4
  • 1972 520 - 2.0L M17 I4, 115hp (86kW; 117PS)
  • 1972 520i - 2.0L M64 fuel injected I4, 125hp (93kW; 127PS)
  • 1973 525i - 2.5L I6
  • 1975 528i - 2.8L I6
  • 1975 530i - 3.0L I6, 176hp (131kW; 178PS)
  • 1976 530 Motorsport Limited Edition - 3.0L I6, 200hp (149kW; 203PS)
  • 1979 M535i - 3.5L I6, 218hp (163kW; 221PS)
• US
  • 1975-1978 530i - 3.0L I6, 176hp (131kW; 178PS)
  • 1979-1981 528i - 2.8L I6, 169hp (126kW; 171PS)

The 1.8 L engines and the 2.0 L fuel injected engines were exclusive to Germany until the 1980s. The South African models were 525i, 528i and 530i.