2003 BMW 5 Series (E60) 520i 6MT RWD (170 HP)

Vehicle Overview

BMW introduced the fifth generation of the 5 Series in the summer of 2003, and customers were shocked by the car’s look, but not in a good way.

In the early ‘90s, BMW hired the American designer Chris Bangle to reshape the entire automaker’s lineup design language. At first, there were a few products that were highly appreciated. But then, the automaker launched the 7 Series (E65) and the 5 Series (E60) products that were not on top of the carmaker’s fans list. The “flame surfacing” design idea imagined by the artist was not everybody’s cup of tea, and the fifth generation of the 5 Series was the one that triggered more negative reactions, especially since it came after the E39, which was praised for its look. All these led to slower sales for the E60, which made BMW’s shareholders angry. In its seven-year production run, the E60 (in both sedan and station wagon shapes) was outsold by its predecessor by over 100,000 units. But, thanks to its advanced technologies, the car was praised for its comfortable ride, butter-smooth engines, and high-quality interiors.

At the front, the swept-back headlights were far ahead of its times. They looked like wings that flanked the slanted BMW’s kidney grille with vertical slats. This was integrated into the bumper instead of being part of the hood, which was another unusual decision, even though it was correct. Lower, the bumper featured a broad grille that integrated the available fog lamps and an upside-down trapezoidal air intake.

From its profile, the smooth and curved lines of the bodywork were shockingly disrupted by the lines of the trunk. A diagonal cut emerged from the C-posts, visually connecting them to the rear bumper. In addition, the oversized rear overhang made the vehicle look too heavy, even though it was not. Furthermore, the triangular taillights flanked the rear fascia and limited the trunk opening. As a result, even though there was room for four golf bags in the luggage area, it took a lot of work to fit them there.

Inside, there were more controversies about the double-bubble dashboard design. BMW installed two clusters on the dash: one for the instrument panel fronting the driver and another one for the 6.5” infotainment screen atop the center stack. Between the front bucket seats, the automaker placed the rotary dial of the iDrive’s infotainment system, which was easy to control without having to look at it. That was a plus in terms of ergonomics but not in terms of aesthetics. In the back, there was plenty of room for three full-size adults. Furthermore, the center tunnel was slim enough to not significantly limit legroom for the middle-seated passenger.

Under its skin, the E60 5 Series opened a new chapter in the carmaker’s history. It was the first to be available with more versions of all-wheel drive versions. Thanks to the aluminum components used to build the vehicle, the 5 Series felt light on its feet. Furthermore, the car could be fitted with active steering and adaptive headlights, which greatly improved maneuverability.