BMW 5 Series (E34)

• 5-speed Getrag 260
• 5-speed Getrag 280 — 3.6 L M5 model only[12]
• 5-speed ZF S5D 310 — 91-92 US, and European M50 engines[13]
• 5-speed Getrag 250G - 93-95 US M50 engines.
• 6-speed Getrag 420G — 540i and 1994-1996 M5 only

• 4-speed ZF 4HP22 - M20 and M30 engines
• 4-speed GM 4L30-E (A4S 310R) - M50 engines (US only)[14]
• 5-speed ZF 5HP18 - M50 and M51[15] (except US) and 1992-1995 530i (M60B30).
• 5-speed ZF 5HP30 - 540i

The base model, available only in Europe,[11] was the petrol-powered four-cylinder 518i. Only available with a 5-speed manual transmission, with a total of 53,248 cars were produced.[20]

The next petrol model up was the six-cylinder 520i, which began production in January 1988. It was initially powered by the BMW M20 single overhead camshaft engine, which was replaced by the BMW M50 double overhead camshaft engine in 1990. The 520i was the second most popular E34 model globally, with 426,971 units produced.[21] The 525i was the most popular E34 model globally with 434,549 units produced.[21] As per the 520i, the 525i initially used the M20 engine, which was replaced by the M50 engine in 1990.

A rare E34 model is the petrol-powered six-cylinder 525iX, of which only 9,366 cars were produced.[21] The 525iX was the first all-wheel drive 5 Series, and the only all-wheel drive model in the E34 range. It was powered by the BMW M50 engine and was the first 5 Series to use a rack and pinion steering system.

There are two versions of the E34 530i: an inline-six model produced from 1988 to 1990, and a V8 model produced from 1993 to 1995. The earlier model was one of the last applications of the BMW M30 inline-six engine. The V8 version, which replaced the six-cylinder 535i in the lineup, was powered by the new BMW M60 V8 engine and was available with a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission.[11] Initially, the V8 models were differentiated from other models by the wide grill; in 1994 the wide grill became available on other models. Between the two versions of the 530i, a total of 57,570 cars were produced.

The highest six-cylinder model (except for the M5) was the 535i. Despite the '535i' model designation and '3.5' casting on the intake manifold, the BMW M30 engine found in the E34 535i actually has a displacement of 3.4 litres (207 cu in). A total of 97,679 cars were produced,[21] including the Alpina B10 (BiTurbo, 3.5) models. The 535i was replaced by the V8-engined 530i and 540i models in 1993.

In 1993, the 540i model was added to the top of the 5 Series lineup, powered by the BMW M60 V8 engine and available in both sedan and wagon body styles (the latter not in US). Transmission options were a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic. A total of 26,485 units were produced.[21] Initially, the V8 models were differentiated from other models by the wider grilles. In 1994 the wide grilles became available on other models as well.

The first diesel model was the 524td, which was introduced in 1988. This model was replaced by the 525tds in 1991, and a lower-specification 525td was introduced in 1993. All diesel models were powered by turbocharged inline-six engines.

In the United States, the E34 model range was launched in October 1988 with the 525i and 535i 6-cylinder models (for the 1989 model year).[22] Over the course of the E34 generation, the 525i Touring, 530i, 530i Touring, 540i and M5 models were sold in the United States. The 3.6 L (220 cu in) version of the M5 remained in production until 1993,[23] by which time the 3.8 L (232 cu in) version was being produced for other countries.

A model which could run on natural gas (as well as petrol) and was only sold in Germany. The 518g was based on the 518i Touring model and the only transmission available was a 5-speed manual.[25] The engine, also used by the 1995-2000 3 Series Compact 316g model, was a re-tuned version of the BMW M43 four-cylinder engine.[26] When running on natural gas, the engine produced 73 kW (98 hp),[27] compared with 84 kW (113 hp) when running on petrol. It was only produced in 1995 and just 298 units were built.[21]

After unveiling the BMW E1 and E2 concept car electric vehicles in 1992, BMW began a project to show it was possible to make a full-sized electric car, despite the obstacle of the weight of the lead-acid battery technology at the time.[28] The batteries were a lead-acid type and the electric motors used a rotating-field AC electric drive. To assist the electric drivetrain, the 518iev also had a four-cylinder petrol engine and a continuously variable transmission, a configuration similar to the first production hybrid cars produced by other manufacturers several years later.[29] BMW built at least one fully functional E34 prototype, which was tested in the late 1990s by Deutsche Post and others.

540i model with "throwing star" wheels

Because the M5 was discontinued for non-European markets in 1993, the 540i M-Sport model was built in 1995 for the North American market.[30] On top of the regular 540i features, additional features included sports suspension equipped with EDC, bolstered sport seats, servotronic steering, and US-spec M5 brakes.[31] 205 "M-Sport" models were built, 139 of them with the 6-speed manual transmission.[30]

An M540i model was produced for in Canada. It includes the features of the North American 540i M-sport, plus upgraded Euro-spec M5 brakes, 18-inch M-parallel wheels, and various trim pieces.[32] Only 32 of these cars were built, all with a manual transmission.[30]

The 540i LE (i.e. Limited Edition) sedan was sold in Australia and the United Kingdom.[33][34] The 540i LE included the interior from the M5, "throwing star" M-System II wheels, EDC suspension with self leveling rear, Servotronic power steering, and front air dam. 70 of these 540i LE sedans were produced, all with a manual transmission, each individually numbered using an engraved metal plaque stuck onto the centre console beneath the handbrake lever.[30]

• M5 model introduced
• 524td diesel model introduced
• 518i four-cylinder model introduced
• Driver's side airbag introduced

• 520i engine updated to the BMW M50,[35] the first model to use the new twin-cam straight-six engine

• 525i engine updated to the BMW M50 in some markets, 1991 in others.
• 525iX all-wheel drive model introduced
• 525tds diesel model introduced

• 525i engine updated to the BMW M50 in the US market.
• Touring (station wagon/estate models) introduced: 520iT and 525iT.
• Leather seat stitching pattern changed from double to single.
• Steering columns and wheels changed from E30-compatible (22mm nut) to E36-compatible (16mm bolt).

• 520i and 525i engines updated to the BMW M50TU, which added variable valve timing (VANOS)
• V8 engines introduced in the 530i and 540i models. The V8 models adopted a wider grille than other models.[36]
• M5 engine enlarged from 3.6 litres to 3.8 litres
• Revised exterior mirrors and hubcaps
• Revised interior electrics, primarily with central locking. General Modules were black on early cars, green on later, and not interchangeable.
• 525i manual transmission changed from ZF 310Z to Getrag 250G, US market only.

• 525td diesel model introduced
• Last year for 535i six-cylinder model,[37][38] marking the end of the 24-year production run of the M30 engine
• 6-speed manual transmission available for 540i model (the first 6-speed manual available in a 5 Series), non-US markets.
• ASC became available

• 518i engine upgraded from BMW M40 to BMW M43
• M5 transmission upgraded from 5-speed manual to 6-speed manual
• Wider grille (previously used for V8 models only) became available for other models, non-US markets.
• US-market Touring models no longer equipped with self-leveling suspension as standard.
• EWS 1 drive-away protection used in some models.

• All models equipped with wider grill and body-color lower body trim (US market).
• Interior materials revised: steering wheel slightly different design with color emblem, door cards ruched/gathered leather and with different glue (more durable between panel and its vinyl/leather covering, less durable between panel and mounting clips).
• EWS drive-away protection updated to EWS 2.
• 540i available with 6-speed manual transmission for the US market, all with Sport seats and suspension.
• 540i automatic and manual models equipped with 2.93 final drive, previously 2.81 (US market, at least).