CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Following its launch in 1972, the BMW 5 Series became pretty much the definition of a premium executive saloon, blending top-notch quality with entertaining driving dynamics. It was hugely popular as a result, but the car we have here represents the third generation that was unveiled at the end of 1987 and went on sale shortly after.

Boasting similar styling to the ‘E32’ 7 Series, initial design work was carried out by Ercole Spada and finalised by J Mays (also responsible for the 8 Series), with the familiar shark-nosed look giving way to something more contemporary. It was a major step forward over its predecessor, boasting a stiffer body, an impressive 0.32 drag coefficient and greater refinement; the latter had been a real focus for BMW, and a hefty chunk of sound deadening was employed to help keep noise levels down.

Launched as a saloon initially, the newcomer was longer, wider and featured a five-inch lengthier wheelbase than the outgoing model. In 1991 came the addition of the Touring estate, which added some useful practicality to the mix. And the E34 also marked several firsts for the 5 Series range, among them the availability of a V8 engine, a four-wheel drive variant in the form of the 525iX, and increased