After the big advances made by the 1991, 3 series and the highly regarded 5 series before it, much was riding on the all new 5 series which was launched in 1995 BMW’s inherent devotion to leading edge technology was amply demonstrated in the model. The new 5 series shared only gear boxes and its differential with the out going model. It’s rare for replacement models to be completely new. Engineering a large executive car to a high standard is an incredibly complex task an also an incredibly costly one, even to a company and large as the mighty BMW. BMW’s dedication to making the 5 series as sporting as possible and its willingness to invest serious money was not obvious when looking at the 5 series. In fact, at the time of launch the overly smooth styling was badly received after the chiseled edges of the 3 Series. However, under the skin was a suspension system expensively constructed from aluminum not just the suspension arms, but the front stunts, sub frames and brake calipers, a complex and costly move. Unsurprisingly, the BMW 5 Series proved to be an absolute impeccable road car. It offered a remarkable combination of a very compliant ride and strong, sporting handling.
The car’s build quality was unmatched by few cars available at any price. Ironically, the 5 Series lofty talents were so evenly spread, it was sometimes marked down as lacking in character, however, the 5 Series was so brilliantly conceived, it was not changed or updated during its lifespan.
