Features

• The complete story of the classic BMW 5 series
• Covers all models from 1972-2003
• Includes archive photos of collector’s models and German tuners
• The BMW 5 series - The King of sports sedans for over 40 years
• New edition features many new colour pictures, updated text and a new “Meet the Tuners” section
• Details collector BMWs and tuner information
• Detailed accounts of BMWs electronic and engineering achievements
• Special write-ups from BMW tuning legends
• Includes detailed specification tables
• A detailed look at BMW’s classic era

Description

A look at BMW’s 5 series in the classic era. Observes model changes and development from 1972, to the end of e39 5 series production. Complete descriptions and pictures of BMW Motorsport cars, plus the exotic tuner specials from Germany. BMW’s rise in business internationally is also examined.

Synopsis

This book tells the complete BMW 5 series story, in the pre Bangle classic era, covering e12, e28, e34 and e39 models, the enthusiast cars that invented the modern sports sedan and created BMW’s ultimate driving machine image.
Follow the evolution of BMW’s middle child through the decades in all major markets. Marvel at the mystique of BMW’s motorsport and exotic tuner cars reaching the 180mph milestone on V8 power.
Consider BMW’s phoenix-like rise from the ashes of WWII, regaining its sports, luxury reputation, and powering on to become the ultimate business machine under chairman Eberhard von Kuenheim.
This new edition features 150 new pictures, new specification tables, updated text, a new “Meet the Tuners” section, and a new “easy use” index. The book also contains a foreword by Allen Hardy (America’s first BMW tuner), and a contribution from Kevin Bird of Birds, the UK’s first BMW Hartge tuning agent.

Additional Information

Period covered:
1972-2003

Models covered:
All BMW 5 series 1972-2003, e12, e28, e34 and e39 including tuner and motorsport cars

Models not covered:
e60 or later 5 series models

Introduction
Foreword by Allen Hardy
1. Moving from 1945 to the e12 5 series
2. Exports ahoy! BMW attacks the US market
3. E12 High-tech – Ecology, Performance & Safety
4. Motorsport 5 series – the early years
5. The Evolutionary e28 5 series
6. Gizmos, gadgets & diesels
7 Atlantic crossing II
8. The end of the road
9. A clean slate – the all-new e34A series hits town
10. 4x4 Tourings, Tuners & V8s
11. Lower the Atlantic
12. Forging ahead – BMW unleasehs the new e39 5 series
13. The return of a legend and a 4x4?
14. BMW High Performance Digest - Tuners of M5 cars