Sep 17th, 2010
GQ columnist (and one of this authors favorite authors) Jamie Kitman recently wrote a piece on what he has termed the ‘slow-car movement’. It’s an idea that takes some of the principles of the slow food movement and translates them into what many of us have been doing for years; driving our asses off in well worn (barely) vintage cars. It’s a simple concept and one I can articulate very well within my own garage.
Compare my ’88 535is to the new 535i for instance. Even with a manual and sports package the modern 5er doesn’t stand a chance in getting my attention if I want to actually drive. But if I simply want to be transported in effortless style with technology catering to my every whim I’d choose the 2011 5 Series. The difference comes down to involvement in the car and in the process of driving. There is little question that the new 5 Series is faster in every way imaginable. It’s safer, it stops better (way better) and will carry four in a level of comfort not even imagined in 1988. It is a better car in all the modern ways of measuring success.
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Apr 13th, 2010
The 5 Series has sold 5.5 million units. Seems time to celebrate. So with that said BMW has rolled out some of our favorite 5er photos from the years and presented them with a thorough run through of the 5 Series history. (Full gallery after the jump)
Official Release: Sales of the BMW 5 Series already amount to more than 5.5 million units in five model generations – and now a new chapter is starting in the highly successful story of the BMW 5 Series Sedan.
While the sixth generation naturally follows the great heritage of its predecessors, its roots go back much further. As early as in the 1960s, BMW developed a strong and distinctive profile as a manufacturer of sporting but elegant, powerful and technically innovative midrange four-door sedans. Introducing a four-door notchback body, engines fitted lengthwise at the front, rear-wheel drive and an elaborate suspension, BMW established a classical principle at the time which remains highly attractive and fully endorsed to this very day.
It was at that time that the BMW 1500, the BMW 1800 and the BMW 2000 entered the market as the “New Range”, establishing the most successful model series BMW had ever seen up to that point. The competence in the development and production of saloons demonstrated by BMW with these models gave the Company a worldwide breakthrough as a manufacturer of modern and highly desirable automobiles with very individual characteristics.
Switching from the New Range to the BMW 5 Series in 1972, BMW introduced not only new nomenclature, but also a new era in design.
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Feb 17th, 2010
With the spectacular success of the New Class and the 02 Series, BMW had come off the ropes to reach new heights of prosperity. In the early seventies, a new plant was set up in Dingolfing to help spur sales. BMW wanted to produce 1000 cars a day. In 1972, it introduced the replacement to the 1800/2000. This new offering was a traditional mid-size model designed by Marcello Gandini and reintroduced the now-familiar nomenclature. It was called the 520 (E12).
BMW chairman Eberhard von Kuenheim described the company’s product plans through the 1980s as a program of “refinement in all areas.” He had expressed his concern over not being able to economically produce cars smaller than the 1502. The 5 Series was the first step towards the intended market. It featured a refined body design and great interior comfort. Due to its extra weight over the New Class sedans, it however was not a particularly brilliant performer.
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Oct 27th, 2009
It’s 5 Series week on the BimmerCast. Along with the normal news of the week we spend some time walking through the range from the E12 to the upcoming F10. Does the E34 look better than the E39? Are the seat controls as ridiculous in the E28 as we remember? We cover it all in our longest show to date.
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Apr 12th, 2009
Our friends at Jalopnik are featuring the venerable M10 4 cylinder as their Engine of the Day. As you may or may not know the M10 was designed by noted engineer and race driver Baron Alex von Falkenhausen. Yes (as Jalopnik mentions) that is a helluva a name. In between designing engines you’d expect someone named Baron Alex von Falkenhausen to fly zeppelins and slay large game. What he did do was to go against BMW bosses and design a 1.5L (instead of the asked for 1.3L that was eventually expanded to 2.0L. Here’s more from Wikipedia:
As BMW M12, the engine is also one of the most successful engines in racing. Starting with the European Touring Car Championship, it was also used in Formula 2 and in the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft, where it was turbocharged by Paul Rosche according to FIA Group 5 rules.
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