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BMW M5 and its predecessors - super sports cars for the family

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Created on December 18, 2015

Reading time 11min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

BMW AG

Bruno von Rotz

Archiv

BMW AG

Bruno von Rotz

Archiv

BMW M5 (1985) - von der ersten Baureihe E28S bis zum E60 von 2005

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BMW M 535i (1980) - die schnellste 5-er-Variante bis anhin (Baureihe E12)

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BMW M535i (1980) - schnelle Variante der Baureihe E12

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BMW M 535i (1981) - die schnellste BMW-Limousine jener Zeit

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BMW M 535i (1981) - durch den Frontspoiler zu erkennen

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BMW M535i (1980) - Heckansicht der spoilerbewehrten E12-Variante

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BMW M535i (1984) - Cockpit der vorerst schnellsten Variante des E28

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BMW M535i (1980) - Schalensitze und das Lenkrad aus dem M1 im E12

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BMW M535i (1984) - auch der E28 trug einen Heckspoiler

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BMW M535i (1984) - Blick in den Motorraum des E28

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BMW M535i (1984) - Seitenansicht des schnellen E28

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BMW M535i (1984) - sportliche Variante der Baureihe E28

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BMW M535i (1985) - bis zum M5 war dies das Topmodell der Baureihe E28

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BMW M5 (1984) - der schnellste 5-er jener Zeit (E28)

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BMW M5 (1984) - E28 im harten Kurveneinsatz

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BMW M5 (1985) - Cockpit der M5-Variante der E28-Baureihe

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BMW M5 (1986) - der E28-M5 wurde auch als Renntaxi eingesetzt, hier unterschreibt Niki Lauda auf der Motorhaube

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BMW M5 E28 (1985) - die erste Generation

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BMW M5 E28 (1985) - unterwegs im M5 der ersten Generation

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BMW M5 E28 (1985) - äusserlich kaum von den schwächeren Serienbrüder unterscheidbar

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BMW M5 (1986) - Heckansicht des schnellsten Exponenten de Baureihe E28

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BMW M5 (1987) - der eintausendste M5 wird von Wolfgang Peter Flohr (rechts) an das Ehepaar Krampertz ausgeliefert

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BMW M5 E28 (1985) - appetitlich aufgemachter Reihensechszylinder

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BMW M5 (1985) - Hochleistungslimousine mt 286 PS starkem 4-Ventil-Sechszylinder-Aggregat - Genfer Automobilsalon 1985

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BMW M5 E28 (1985) - das klassische Cockpit der ersten Generation

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BMW M5 E28 (1985) - klassiche H-Schaltung mit dem ersten Gang links vorne

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BMW M5 (1987) - mit Voll-Lederausstattung, die es speziellen Wunsch gab (E28)

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BMW M5 E28 (1985) - mit Einzelsitzen hinten

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BMW M5 - der erste BMW M5 E28) - Retro Classics Stuttgart 2015

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BMW M5 E34 (1988) - die zweite Generation des M5

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BMW M5 E34 (1988) - auch die zweite Generation übte sich in optischer Zurückhaltung

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BMW M5 E34 (1988) - dynamisch, wie man es von einem BMW erwartet

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BMW M5 (1992) - E34-Limousine zwischen den Pilonen

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BMW M5 E34 (1988) - ideal auch für Piloten

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BMW M5 E34 (1988) - mit den charakteristischen Felgen

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BMW M5 E34 (1988) - schnelle Reiselimousine

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BMW M5 E34 (1988) - unterwegs im Verkehr - kein Problem

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BMW M5 E34 (1988) - zusammen mit dem M-Urvater, dem BMW M1

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BMW M5 E34 (1988) - zusammen mit der ersten Generation, dem E28, und dem Urvater BMW M1

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BMW M5 (1988) - Cockpit des M5 der Baureihe E34

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BMW M5 (1989) - Interieur des E34-Topmodells

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BMW M5 - bis heute Inbegriff für schnellsten Reisekomfort - Retro Classics Stuttgart 2015

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BMW M5 (1992) - die Baureihe E34 in der Werbung

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BMW M5 E34 (1988) - attraktiver Sportmotor

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BMW M5 E34 (1988) - die Werbung von damals zeigt seine Qualitäten

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BMW M5 E34 (1988) - sportlich aufgemachter Reihensechszylinder

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BMW M5 E34 (1988) - Motor der zweiten Generation

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BMW M5 (1990) - der Motor des stärksten 5-ers der Serie E34

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BMW M5 E34 (1988) - zweite Generation wiederum mit Reihensechszylinder

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BMW M5 E34 (1992) - ab 1992 auch als Kombi erhältlich

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BMW M5 (1995) - neben dem BMW 2500 der Siebzigerjahre

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BMW M5 E34 (1995) - gegen Ende der Bauzeit

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BMW M5 E34 (1992) - elegante Reiselimousine

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BMW M5 (1992) - für die Baureihe E34 gab es erstmals auch einen superschnellen Kombi

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BMW M5 E34 (1992) - die erstarkte Version in der Werbung - Formel M

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BMW M5 E34 (1992) - nach vier Jahren gab es 200 cm3 mehr Hubraum

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BMW M5 (1997) - Topmodell der Baureihe E39

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BMW M5 E39 (1998) - auch die dritte Generation verhielt sich dynamisch

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BMW M5 E39 (1998) - auch in der dritten Generation eine schnelle Reiselimousine

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BMW M5 (1998) - Baureihe E39S - im Windkanal

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BMW M5 E39 (1998) - den M5 gab es auch in Sonderfarben

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BMW M5 E39 (1998) - dezente Sportlichkeit

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BMW M5 (1998) - Baureihe E39S wird bewundert

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BMW M5 (1998) - Baureihe E39S - im Wintertest

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BMW M5 E34 (1992) - weiterhin dezentes Auftreten

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BMW M5 E39 (1998) - deutlicher von den schwächeren Varianten unterscheidbar als die Vorgänger

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BMW M5 E39 (1998) - mit den vier Auspuffrohren am Heck

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BMW M5 E39 (1998) - Cockpit mit an den Wärmezustand des Motors angepasstem roten Drehzahlbereich

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BMW M5 E39 (1998) - der V8-Motor der dritten Generation des M5

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BMW M5 (1998) - das 6-Gang-Getriebe der Baureihe E39S

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BMW M5 (2005) - der V10-Motor des E60 M5

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BMW M5 (2015) - zusammen mti seinen Vorgängern

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Summary

1984 marks the official start of the successful M5 series, which continues to this day across five model series. However, there were already M models based on the 5-series before that. This report looks back to the beginnings of the M 535i of the E12 series and describes all M5 variants, illustrated with many historical pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

The beginning - large engine in the compact E12 sedan
The sequel - improved aerodynamics with the E28
The improvement - M1 engine for the E28 - the first M5 generation
More power and estate rear end for the second generation
The third generation dispenses with the in-line six-cylinder engine
The fourth generation with high-revving V10
Return to the V8 engine for the fifth generation
Comparison of the M5 and predecessor versions
Further information

Estimated reading time: 11min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The BMW M5 celebrated its thirtieth birthday in 2014, but its roots go back much further, as the BMW M535i was the first BMW Motorsport GmbH saloon to enter the scene back in 1979. To this day, these fast four-door saloons from the five-series with the "M" in their name are considered the benchmark in their class. In September 1972, BMW introduced the first 5 Series E12 sedan. BMW Motorsport GmbH began to offer performance-enhanced versions with larger displacements in response to customer requests at an early stage, but in 1979 the first variant to be produced in large numbers, the M535i, appeared as a successful modular product. The engine (3453 cm3, 218 hp) and braking system came from the 635 CSI Coupé, the five-speed gearbox from the accessories range. Recaro bucket seats and a leather steering wheel like those fitted in the M1 were also included.

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