BMW 5-Series Touring (2002)

BMW 5-Series Touring

The fourth generation of the BMW 5-Series celebrated its premiere at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt in 1995. The BMW 5-Series was the world's first volume-produced car to feature a chassis made almost entirely from light metal. The newly developed all-aluminium engines added further to the weight savings. The output spectrum of the four diesel and six petrol engines ranged from the 100 kW/136 hp of the BMW 520d to 294 kW/400 hp in the BMW M5. The fourth generation of the BMW 5-Series also posted a new sales record; by the time production came to an end at the start of 2004 more than 1.47 million units had been sold.

In 1997, two years after the launch of the new version of the sedan, the second generation of the BMW 5-Series Touring debuted, both body variants continuing the sportingly elegant style of the predecessor in an evolutionary manner. Interior space was increased further, with the luggage compartment through-loading width of the second BMW 5-Series Touring up by a remarkable 16 centimetres or 6.3 inches. The dual round headlights installed together behind a single glass cover were a striking front-end feature. In the year 2000, they were equipped for the first time with typical BMW corona rings for the position and daytime running lights. With features such as multifunction steering wheel, active seats and Dynamic Stability Control, the BMW 5-Series presented itself technically as a particularly high-class representative of its segment.

In order to enhance driving dynamics and safety, the body of the BMW 5-Series Touring featured a 50 percent higher torsional stiffness than the predecessor model. The suspension developed for the sedan and the touring was made almost entirely of aluminium, making it around 36 percent lighter than the conventional construction. The newly developed all-aluminium engines also contributed considerably towards weight optimisation.

The second generation of the BMW 5-Series Touring featured a choice of ten different engine variants with four, six and eight cylinders and a power output ranging between 100 kW/136 bhp and 210 kW/286 bhp, four of which were diesel power units. Thanks to a convincing combination of driving pleasure, elegance and variable passenger compartment space, this model established itself stronger than ever before as a premium Business Touring car. In the year 2001, the trade magazine for the fleet market, "FIRMEN AUTO", voted the BMW 530d Touring company car of the year in the category "Premium Estate Car". Accordingly, its market success also developed positively. Of the more than 1.48 BMW 5-Series units sold between 1995 and 2004, around 266,000 units were Touring models, meaning that the second generation of the BMW 5-Series Touring had more than doubled the sales figures achieved by the first version.