BMW 5 Series History

Executive car · 1972–present

History

Introduced in 1972, the 5 Series was the first BMW to use the modern 'Series' naming and became the definitive mid-size sport-luxury sedan.

Its chassis codes — E12, E28, E34, E39, E60, F10, and G30 — track decades of segment leadership, and the M5 (from the 1984 E28) created the high-performance super-sedan genre.

Generations

First generation · E12 (1972–1981)

The original 5 Series, establishing BMW's mid-size executive sedan.
Second generation · E28 (1981–1988)

Home of the first M5 (E28), launching the super-sedan idea.
Third generation · E34 (1988–1996)

Added the first 5 Series wagon (Touring), V8 engines, and all-wheel drive.
Fourth generation · E39 (1995–2004)

Photo: “2004 BMW 528i E39, front left, 05-24-2024” by Ethan Llamas / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.

Widely revered; the V8 S62-powered E39 M5 is an enthusiast benchmark.
- 1998
  Photo: “1998 BMW 540i Touring Automatic 4.4” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
- 1999
  Photo: “1999 BMW 523i (E39) sedan (2012-07-14) 01” by OSX / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain . Cropped to 16:9.
- 2001
  Photo: “2001 BMW 525i SE Automatic 2.5” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
- 2003
  Photo: “2003 BMW 520i ES SE Automatic 2.2 Front” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
Fifth generation · E60/E61 (2003–2010)

Controversial 'Bangle' styling; the E60 M5 used a high-revving V10.
Sixth generation · F10 (2010–2017)

The F10 M5 introduced the first turbocharged M5 (twin-turbo V8).
Seventh generation · G30 (2017–2024)

Added a plug-in-hybrid 530e; the F90 M5 brought all-wheel drive.