2007 BMW 5 Series 520i 6MT RWD (170 HP)

Vehicle Overview

BMW refreshed the 5 Series (E60) in 2007, and customers hoped that the facelifted version would fix the unusual lines adopted by the original version, but that didn’t happen.

Chris Bangle was still at the helm of BMW’s styling department in 2007, and he had to follow strict procedures regarding the look of the E60. As a result, the LCI version looked almost identical to the 2003 model year of the 5 Series. However, the engineering department burned the midnight oil to provide customers with more features and amenities to attract them. In the end, it was a better vehicle from the inside, with just minor exterior styling updates. But there was one little secret about the car’s appearance. Even though Chris Bangle led the design department, he wasn’t the person who penned it. The original sketches were drawn by the Italian stylist Davide Arcangeli, who unfortunately passed away before the car’s original launch.

At the front, the automaker introduced new headlights with clear lenses and Xenon brights. Furthermore, the lenses for the turn signal lamps were white instead of light-amber as on the previous model, which gave the vehicle a nicer front stance. Another improvement was for the lower part of the bumper, which received a chicken-wire-styled mesh for the air intake, and the center-mounted upside-down trapezoidal shape that adorned the 2003 model year was removed.

From its profile, there were no changes apart from new alloy wheel options and colors. Even the clear-lens turn signals from the front fenders were left in place with the same shape. It looked like the styling department was paid with lunch money.

Inside, the automaker improved the materials and introduced new upholsteries. But still, the double-bubble dashboard design was kept in place. A significant upgrade was made for the iDrive infotainment unit, which received new functions and a new styling. The most significant update was for the six-speed automatic gearbox lever. It looked like the one installed on the 2005 X5, with a shape that resembled the one of a golf club. That design idea was carried over the following two generations of the 5 Series. It was that good. Regarding interior technology, the color head-up display and the adaptive steering were part of the package that helped the vehicle sell in good enough numbers, although not as good as its predecessor, the E39.

Under the hood, BMW refreshed almost the entire engine lineup. It introduced new powerplants with intake and exhaust variable valve timing that improved fuel efficiency. Moreover, the automaker had to prepare the car for the upcoming 2009 Euro 5 emission standards. For that, it replaced the former M-family engines with the N-family ones, and that included both the gasoline and the turbodiesel powerplants.