1989 BMW 5 Series Review

Specifications

The Best Sedan of its Era

My love affair with the Bavarian brand began way back when I was a kid. My dad and I stood crouching, staring through the side window of a silver-blue 1973 3.0 coupe that just happened to be parked on a local used car lot, a rare sight even back then. The dark blue leather bucket seats looked a lot more enticing than our 1966 VW Beetles black vinyl chairs, while the BMWs inviting interior design, incorporating real wood accents and power operated features, sent my mind astir. Its outward appearances still transmit an anticipatory tingle up my spine every time I see one.

Ive never been able to find the right 3.0 coupe when sufficient funds just happened to lay unspoken for in my bank account, thus my first BMW was the next best thing, a 4-speed manual 3.0 S sedan. The hopped up Bavaria was an awesome performer with relatively simple engineering by todays standards, allowing me to perform rudimentary maintenance myself despite my limited high school mechanical background.

A few years later I picked up a fabulous 5-speed equipped 1982 528e with a mere 197,000 miles on the odometer. It performed flawlessly to 255,000 miles and I sold it to my best friend, who drove it for years afterward. Forgetting a short stint in a very poorly maintained 1985 325e my 1989 525i, also a 5-speed manual, wasnt quite as reliable as the old 528e. But still, it was commendable for a first year example after 70,000 miles. Its reasonably good power, superb handling, wonderfully executed interior and gorgeous exterior styling made up for a few too many trips to the dealer.

Even by todays standards the third generation 5-series is a knockout. Borrowing much from the 7-Series that preceded it by a year, the 5 seems proportionally perfect. Its tidy front fascia incorporating quad halogen headlights was the first BMW to sport body-color accents within its trademark chrome adorned grille. Just aft of its wrap-around front turn signals, delicate shoulder creases cut through the top of the front fenders and then across each side profile, passing the bottom line of each door handle on their way rearward, and finally ending at the 5s distinctive tail lamps. The models sharply folded trunk lid creates a Kamm tail effect, benefiting aerodynamics. The greenhouse is open and airy while incorporating BMWs famed Hofmeister kink, the notched rear quarter window that has become an often imitated design cue. Overall, the 1989 to 1995 5-Series might just be the marques most beautifully executed modern day sedan.

Leather was optional but power windows, locks and mirrors werent, at least in North America. Actually in Europe, the base midsize model was a 518i, incorporating the 318is 1.8L 4-cylinder engine. Such a small displacement engine might be OK for an entry-level luxury compact car in North America, but not a midsize. The base 525i received a 168-hp 2.5L inline-6 with 164 lb-ft of torque available from 4,300 rpm. The car was hardly lightweight at 3,395 lbs but still delivered surprisingly quick acceleration. For those wanting more go, BMW offered the 535i, complete with a 208-hp 3.5L inline-6 with a rear-wheel spinning 225 lb-ft of torque available from only 4,000 rpm. The 535i is the car to have for performance enthusiasts, still competitive by todays standards. Its nominal weight gain to 3,530 lbs is completely overshadowed by its impressive power.

Model year 1990 saw the addition of standard ABS brakes while 1991 was a big year for the 525i. It received a 24-valve head pushing power up from 168-hp to 189 and torque from 164 lb-ft to 181. The 535i and all other features remained the same as the 1990 car.

Model year 1992 saw the 525i lose its leather wrapped steering wheel for a leatherette one, while the spare tires rim went from alloy to steel. On the positive, the 535i got a new on-board computer plus a power adjustable steering wheel with memory. Also, the security system was made standard.

For 1993 the 525i got that leather steering wheel back, plus it received standard wood trim and leather upholstery. Also, the engine was updated with a variable valve timing system to improve low-end torque. This was also the last year for the 535i.

Model year 1994 saw three models for the first time. To the base 525i, a new 215-hp 3.0L V8 powered 530i model with 214 lb-ft of torque bridged the wide gap created by the awesome new 4.0L V8-equipped 540i. Like the 525i, the 530i came standard with a slick shifting 5-speed manual with an optional 4-speed automatic. The 540i, on the other hand, offered the automatic as standard equipment. Finally the 525i got a decent sound system and a standard passenger airbag debuted on all models.

Model year 1996 brought with it the opportunity to experience M5-like acceleration by checking 6-speed manual on the 540is order form. While both the 525 and 530 are wonderfully balanced cars eagerly achieving sporty performance, the 540i with its 6-speed manual is a monster - 60 mph came in only 6.1 seconds. Thats pretty amazing considering its 3,693 pound curb weight.

I remember when a black on black example rolled off the transport truck onto my local dealers lot. Fortunately my friend just happened to be the sales manager, thus the keys were graciously handed over. I slid into the virgin leather drivers seat and tiptoed out of the driveway, protective coating still plastered over the paint and blocks still in the suspension. Once on the open road I opened it up, within reason being that it had zero miles on the odometer and needed a proper breaking in period, plus that suspension, well the entire car needed a proper pre-delivery inspection to say the least. Still, it didnt take long to realize that this was a very special car. The rest is history, as most 5-series currently sold in the U.S. are V8 equipped. Incidentally, the 6-speed 540i package also included 12-way power sport seats, a sport-tuned suspension and large diameter anti-roll bars.

A Touring or wagon version was introduced in 1992 and sold through to the end of this models cycle in 1995. Also, the crème de la crème of the series was the 310-hp 3.6L inline-6 powered M5, still the best of the best today albeit with four additional cylinders and much more power - 507 compared to 315 to be exact. I wont go into any details regarding this 1990 to 1993 model as it deserves a solely dedicated article. No 1996 model year BMW 5-Series was offered, but rather an all-new 5 appeared earlier in the year as a 1997 model. While an impressive performer, its design still doesnt move me the way the 3rd generation car does. The 5s current flamed surface design language gets as much hate mail as it does love letters, so at the very least the car isnt boring to look at anymore.

If you, like me, would like to park a third generation 5 in your garage, here are a few items to be wary of. First of all, even the last model year qualifies it as an old car, so you can expect to experience problems. Make sure you reserve some rainy day money for this purpose, as each trip to the dealer can thin your pockets, turning what was once a love affair into a feuding divorce. In my experience, the 5-Series is mechanically rock solid unless abused by a previous owner, so make sure and have it thoroughly inspected before purchasing.

Specific problems? Early BMW power window motors had a nasty habit of rusting out in wetter climes. Actually, being that I waited to find the rather expensive part at my local wrecking yard, I cant remember ever having all power windows working simultaneously - something entirely foreign to domestic owners who rarely experienced power window problems. Also, 5-speed manual shift levers can feel as if theyre worn out. This requires a simple fix but the part is expensive.

Speaking of expensive, pay more for a good example of this car with low miles and if possible, one that has a lot of rudimentary maintenance recently completed. Brake jobs and replacement of shocks and clutches can be a serious financial burden. Recalls? Unfortunately there are too many to list, mostly minor though. Still it would be a good idea to review them in the recall information section of this website.

Keep in mind that overall the 5-Series was an especially safe and reliable car, I know from firsthand experience. Ive spent many miles behind the wheel of every BMW 5-Series model made; some owned and others on loan from BMW. To me, the 1989 to 1992 model is the best sedan of its era, and an excellent used car buy.