1972 BMW 5 Series 518 4MT RWD (90 HP)

Vehicle Overview

BMW unveiled the first generation of the 5 Series in 1972, and it was one of the most significant steps made by the German automaker to regain its status as a premium automaker.

After it ditched the bankruptcy bullet in the ’50s, the German automaker started creating a new product line. As a result, in 1970, the automaker unveiled the Garmisch concept at the Geneva Motor Show, a two-door sedan that envisioned the first generation of the 5 Series, also known as the E12. In the same year, the company hired Paul Bracq as the Chief of Design. Marcello Gandini of Bertone helped him draw the exterior lines of the vehicle’s production version. Furthermore, BMW used computers to simulate safety systems and create crumple zones. It was an advanced vehicle that used a new platform, and the result was a highly successful model that lasted until 1981 when BMW replaced it with the E28, the moniker’s second generation.

The new model shook the audience when it was unveiled. It sported a four-headlights front fascia with a broad grille between them. In the middle, the automaker placed its well-known kidney grille with two vertical elements adorned by chromed trims. BMW also created a slim metallic bumper adorned by a black rubber trim. Below it, on the vehicle’s apron, the automaker added an additional broad air intake that helped to cool the engine.

From its profile, the boxy-looking sedan sported a set of lines that stretched from the headlights to the taillights and between the front and rear wheel arches. Its raked windshield and tall cabin were designed to create an airy interior and provide excellent visibility for the driver. To make it look upscale, BMW installed chromed details on the flush door handles and around the windows. At the back, the raked-forward rear window and the sloped-down deck made the vehicle look sporty.

Inside, the German automaker installed a pair of bucket seats at the front and a bench seat for three in the back. The dashboard looked modern thanks to its center stack, while the rectangular-shaped instrument cluster in front of the driver. BMW placed large dials for the speedometer and tachometer in the middle, flanked by the fuel level and the temperature gauges. In the back, there was enough room for three passengers, albeit the tall transmission tunnel limited legroom for the middle-seated one.

Under the hood, BMW installed a choice of four or six-cylinder engines ranging between 90 PS (89 hp) and 184 PS (181 hp) until 1980. Then, in 1980, the German car manufacturer introduced the M535i, which featured a 3.5-liter powerplant with double-overhead camshafts and 24 valves that produced 218 PS (215 hp). All versions sent their power to the rear wheels via either a four- or five-speed manual gearbox or a three-speed automatic, depending on the engine.