2009 BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo 520d 8AT (184 HP)

Vehicle Overview

BMW tried a new approach on the market with a niche vehicle named the 5 Series GT, which shared its platform with the 7 Series (F01).

The German automaker made a mix between its flagship limousine, the 7 Series, and the X6 Sport Activity Coupe crossover. It ended up with a vehicle that tried to cover more ground and provide enough comfort for four passengers and a decent luggage compartment. Moreover, its features and amenities were in a way richer than those provided on the 7 Series while its price was lower. It should’ve been a commercial success, but the world financial crisis that started in late 2008 hindered the automaker’s plans. The 5 Series GT, on the other hand, was not built to win any design competition, and its potential buyers also noticed that.

At the front, the car featured big, swept-back headlights with clear turn signals mounted up on the outer sides. Between them, the broad kidney grille looked like it was carried over from an SUV. It tried to conceal the front’s fascia height, which was taller than on a regular sedan. On the lower side of the bumper, BMW installed a wide mesh grille flanked with optional fog lamps.

From its profile, the long wheelbase of the 5 Series Gran Turismo was just three millimeters (0.1-inch) shorter than the one provided by the 2008 7 Series. Its tall front area was followed by a raked windshield that resembled the one from the X6. The arched roofline was sloped down and ended with an abrupt vertical drop behind the rear window. There, BMW installed a tailgate with a dual-opening system. Press one button, and only the flat lower panel opened, or another, and the entire tailgate would lift. That idea wasn’t new since it was already shown on the Skoda Superb, but it proved practical, so BMW used it. This feature was unavailable on either the 7 Series or the on the X6. Another unique feature of the 5 Series GT was noticed on the door windows, which didn’t have a frame, like in a proper GT or a sports car.

Inside, the 5 Series GT provided a high level of comfort with high-mounted seats for the front occupants, while in the back, BMW offered reclining seats and even a two-seat option instead of a bench seat. Fronting the driver was a rounded instrument cluster filled with two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer, flanked by the fuel level and engine temperature gauges. Atop the center stack, the automaker installed the wide format display for the infotainment system, controlled via a rotary dial on the center console between the front occupants.

Under the hood, the automaker installed a wide choice of engines ranging from a two-liter turbodiesel to a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8. The former was provided exclusively with a rear-wheel drive. At the same time, all the other versions were available with BMW’s xDrive AWD system. Power went to the rear or in all corners via a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission.