When it comes to BMW's car, the vast majority of people first think of the 3 Series, because the "3 Series is the soul of BMW" seems to have reached a consensus now. But I'm afraid what many people don't know is that in fact, the 5 Series is the oldest BMW car on sale today, it was born as early as 1972, and the 3 Series sought after by countless fans was born 3 years later than the 5 Series.
Since its birth, the BMW 5 Series has been positioned as an all-round model that takes into account both administrative needs and personal driving, and in the following 50 years, the BMW 5 Series has also taken into account the two characteristics of administration and driving. Even in today's era of lengthening, the 5 Series is still the most sporty of the BBA competitors. However, the identity of luxury brands, as well as the positioning of medium and large cars, has led to many people who like the 5 series, unable to bear its price of 400,000 or 500,000. At this time, we may as well set our sights on the used car market, where the 5 Series is not so high and unattainable!
For most people, in fact, do not want others to see at a glance that they are buying a second-hand car, so let's first take a look at the latest used G38 generation 5 series. The current 5 series is a model officially launched in June 2017, with the overseas standard shaft version code G30 and the domestic long shaft version code name G38.
The G38 uses BMW's latest CLAR rear-drive platform to create, whether it is the appearance or interior, it can take into account the personal driving and administrative needs very well, it can be said to be a very all-round generation of models.
At the Beijing Auto Show in September 2020, BMW Brilliance launched the G38 with a mid-term redesign, and the front face canceled the rounded design style and became more angular, but the overall design style was not much different from before the redesign. However, due to BMW's reputation in China in recent years, the terminal price is very strong, whether it is a 3 series or a 5 series.
In contrast, the G38 of the second-hand car market, the current overall market is between 300,000 and 500,000. Among them, the first models of the new 5 Series were launched in 2017, and the price was basically in the range of 300,000-350,000. If you are lucky, you can also buy the first version of the 528Li equipped with a 211-horsepower 2.0T engine for about 340,000 yuan, which is also the most cost-effective version of the second-hand domestic 5 series. After all, the 525Li with 184 horsepower is not cheaper than the 528Li, but the power is much weaker. The 530Li with 252 horsepower, the current price of used cars is about 400,000, and the cost performance is still not high.
If your budget is above 450,000, and there is a strong demand for power, in fact, you do not necessarily have to buy a new 530Li with a landing price of close to 500,000, because the second-hand 540Li administrative version before the change, the current second-hand car price has fallen to between 450,000-500,000, equipped with 340 horsepower 3.0T straight six engine, 0-100km/h acceleration only takes 5 seconds, the performance is quite violent.
And because the 540Li executive version is the top model of the domestic 5 series, it can also beat the 530Li in terms of configuration. More importantly, driving a 540Li out will make fans think that you are very "car-aware", both low-key and stylish!
If you think the G38, which is over 300,000, is a bit more expensive, take a look at its predecessor, the F18. Today's generation of 5 series market is very cheap, and because the year is not particularly old, plus BMW's design generally has a certain forward-looking, so even if you see F18 today, there will be no particularly obvious "old car feeling". The shape of the F18 clearly uses the design style of the new century BMW, the front of the car is long, and there is a feeling of forward swooping. And the F18 has another small highlight for the sentiment party, that is, it is the last generation of models with angel eye headlights in the history of BMW's 5 Series.
As for the power part, the domestic F18 offers a variety of power specifications. In the early 2011 and 2012 models, the F18 was available in 520Li, 523Li, 528/530Li and 535Li. And at that time, the 5 series was also all in-line six-cylinder engines!
In the later 2013-2017 models, the F18 added a 2.0T N20 engine with different powers to the start-up version of the power. The high-end will still retain the 3.0L straight-six self-priming (N52) and the 3.0T straight-six engine (N55). I have to say that 7 or 8 years ago, BMW was able to use an N20 2.0T engine to divide various power specifications, and this accurate knife method is comparable to NVIDIA!
At present, the F18 market in the market is relatively close to the people. If it is the 520Li/523Li model in the early 2010 model, the current price is basically around 120,000-150,000. That is to say, at the price of a Corolla, you can experience the most classic BMW Straight Six naturally aspirated engine of the year. However, it should be noted that this N52 engine still has some common problems, such as oil leakage, Vanos variable valve solenoid valve failure, etc., and it still needs to be cleaned up after getting it.
If it is a model with a 2.0T engine after 2013, the current price is generally above 200,000, and if it is a 535Li model of the later 3.0T, the price is close to 300,000. But despite this, isn't it tempting to buy a 5 Series with a 3.0T straight-six engine for 300,000?
When it comes to the BMW E60 5 Series, it is definitely the most classic generation in the hearts of countless Bimmers, because it has a milestone significance for the entire 5 Series series. What's more, it's a classic by chris Bangor, the most famous designer in BMW history!
Since it is from the hands of well-known designers, the shape design of the E60 is naturally the biggest highlight. Since the E60 was officially developed in 1997 and scheduled to be released in 2003, the design team led by Bangor at that time decided to give the E60 a sense of a new era in the 21st century. In terms of front face styling, the E60 continues BMW's classic double kidney mesh, but the mesh shape changes from the square outline of the previous generation of E39 to a very rhythmic design that is rounded and narrowed to the sides. In addition, Bangor also depicted the "eagle eyebrow" silhouette of the E60's angel eye headlights, and this combination also made the E60 generation 5 Series front styling finally jump out of the "rigid" industrial style of traditional German cars.
The design of the side and rear of the car is equally stunning and forward-looking. As we all know, Mercedes-Benz, Mazda, these brands that are quite accomplished in design, after experiencing complex lines of design ideas, have now been simplified and taken the extremely simple route, and the ideas coincide with this E60 from Bangor's pen 20 years ago. In the shape of the rear, the E60 is a perfect presentation of the original intention of the birth of the 5 Series - both sports and administration. The taillights are prominently shaped, but the volume is very restrained. The main line of the rear of the car is straight, but it is also integrated into the "ducktail" and double exhaust operation. The whole is like an athlete in a suit, even if you don't take off your clothes, you can feel his muscular flesh.
E39 Generation 5 Series
At this time, if you look back at the predecessor of E60 - E39, you will find that E39 has a strong sense of the old car era. The shape of the E60 from Bangor's pen, even if it is put today 20 years later, it still does not give people a feeling of old age. Even today's latest 5 Series, you can faintly see the style of the E60 in its body.
There is also an interesting cold knowledge, when Bangor, in pursuit of symmetrical beauty and to a certain extent abandoning tradition, also made the interior of the E60 into the only model in the 5 series so far in the 7th generation, the only generation of center consoles not tilted towards the driver's side. However, the above designs, which are popular with posterity, were criticized by countless bimmers at the time, and many people directly gave the conclusion that "the 5 series was destroyed by Bangor". Although in terms of global sales, the cumulative sales of the E60's 1.37 million units worldwide are not as good as the 1.49 million units of the previous generation E39. But the success of a model depends not only on the sales volume of its era, but also on its impact on the subsequent development of the entire brand and even the entire industry. This is the greatness of Bangor, who through the E60 generation helped the BMW 5 Series transform from an industrial machine image to an emotional all-round luxury car, and made a good start for the subsequent F10 and G30 models in the 21st century. So from today's point of view, the E60 should be the most successful generation in the BMW 5 Series in history.
For domestic consumers, the E60 is also of landmark significance, because it is the first generation of domestic localization of the 5 series. Shortly after the E60 was listed overseas in 2003, BMW Brilliance made the E60 domestically. The first batch of domestically produced 2004 E60s offered 170 hp 520i (2.2L straight six self-priming) and 192 hp 525i (2.5L straight six self-priming) models. In the subsequent 2005 model, the 525i model increased its horsepower from 192 to 218 horses, and a new 530i model with a 231 hp 3.0L straight six engine was added.
In 2006, BMW Brilliance also launched the 5 Series Li model with extended wheelbase for the first time in China, with a wheelbase increase of 140mm compared to the standard axle version, reaching 3028mm! As for why BMW wants to lengthen the wheelbase, it is mainly because Audi increased the wheelbase by 100mm for the first time at the end of 2005 when the domestic C6 generation A6 model was used to increase the rear space. In this way, the standard axis E60 of the same period had no advantage in space at all, so BMW followed close behind and launched a long-axis version of the E60 the following year.
E60 from 2003 domestic production, has been sold until 2009 generation, in the middle of the small modification and medium-term modification, the power specifications and tail standards will often be changed, so if you want to buy a second-hand E60, you must remember to see the specific engine model, the year model, and the output power on the body nameplate. For example, the same 2008 523Li model, the low-end version is a 163-horsepower 2.5L straight six engine, while the high-end version of the horsepower has increased to 177 horsepower.
As for the price, because the E60 has been discontinued for 12 years, coupled with the high sales volume and large ownership of this car that year, even if there is a feeling, the price of this generation of 5 series will not be too outrageous. For example, in 2006 and before the standard axle model, even the 530i version, the current price will not exceed 50,000 pieces.
If it is an extended version of the model launched after 2006, according to the different conditions such as year, displacement, and vehicle condition, the second-hand car market is basically between 50,000 and 130,000. However, it should be noted that no matter which version of E60, due to the age of the car is more than 11 years, so the old BMW model common burning oil, engine transmission oil pan oil leakage, oil seal leakage, tank pipe aging and cracking and other common diseases are inevitable, based on this situation, E60 is still more suitable for people who understand the car, have feelings and know the reliable repair shop.
As BMW's oldest sedan, the aura of the BMW 5 Series may not be as brilliant as the 3 Series, but it is still one of the most powerful heavyweights in the luxury executive market. So if you are not so rich at hand and appreciate the product characteristics of bmw 5 series, it is better to recharge your feelings, pick a pearl of the past, and re-bloom its brilliance!