The Dan Fehlings Fantasy Garage, Volume I: BMW 5-Series

Welcome to the Dan Fehlings Fantasy Garage, where I extol the virtues of any car I love. To start us off, I shall introduce you to my favorite all-time car family: the BMW 5-Series.

From left: E12, E28, E34, E39, E60, F10

Serving as BMW's executive-class sedan since 1972, the 5-Series has always been regarded as one of the best sport sedans ever, no matter the generation. Blending contemporary luxury with modern style and peerless dynamics, the 5-Series has received commercial and critical acclaim, leading up to more than 5 million being sold worldwide.

Going to infinity and beyond in an E12

A 5-er is best enjoyed with one of BMW's renowned inline-sixes and crisp-shifting manual gearboxes. If you find this powertain combination in the station-wagon body of a touring series, then you very well may have the best car ever in your driveway; one that can carry 5 people and a bunch of their shit for an amazing drive in comfort and style.

The E34 M5 Touring, which I believe to be the best 5er, and therefore the best car, ever.

Everyone has a favorite 5-Series, and mine is the E34 M5 Touring. The last M5 powered by a proper inline-six, the E34 M5 produced 340 horsepower and rocketed to 60 mph in under six seconds, which is still pretty impressive today. It is also worth noting that this naturally aspirated engine, derived from that of the M1 supercar of the early 1980s, produces more power than the 20 years newer, turbocharged, direct-injected mill in the new 535i. It does all that while being the best-looking BMW ever. Plus, you can get it as a wagon; although the standard sedan is so handsome, even I would be okay with not getting the estate.

The last great 5-Series

The E34 was succeeded by the E39, which received the nameplate's highest sales and greatest critical acclaim. It is also desireable for being one of the last BMWs made before Chris Bangle became head of design for BMW, and ugly-ing the place up. The E39 M5 is particularly beloved for its 394 hp V8 and 6-speed manual transmission, making it one of the greatest stealth supercars of all time. It was succeeded by the E60 in 2004, which was laden with more tech than any 5-Series before, but was unloved by many BMW enthusiasts and journalists for its diluted dynamics and contreversial styling. The E60 M5, however, featured a screaming, F1-like 5.0 liter V10 producing 507 horsepower through a standard manual transmission, or the clunky SMG sequential gearbox which was soon dropped.

 

But the future looks bright for BMW. Despite a poor introduction with the GT hatchback, the new-generation of 5-Series looks poised to be the driver's choice in the crowded midsize-luxury class. Still offering a sweet inline-six or powerful twin-turbo V8 (with 400 hp!) with a proper manual gearbox, the 5-Series looks to once again be one of the best cars on the market today. If it truly is the culmination of the past 40 years, then it should have no problem achieving that goal.