The BMW 5 Series That Divided Fans Has Aged Surprisingly Well

The Days of Flame Surfacing


BMW was riding on a high in the ’90s with record sales, raving reviews, and further strengthened its brand’s equity. It was an era that produced some of the most iconic models such as the E31 8 Series, E36 3 Series, E38 7 Series, E39 5 Series, and the E46 3 Series. Entering the new millennium, however, things took a very different turn.

2001 saw the introduction of the E65 7 Series, a car whose launch was met with so much hate from the brand’s fanbase, there were calls for chief designer Chris Bangle to step down immediately. But what scared people more is that the upcoming models were going to get the same styling treatment, including the 5 Series.

Following up from the wonderfully-proportioned E39 5 Series designed by Joji Nagashima was always going to be a monumental task. But instead of backing down, BMW forged ahead with what eventually became the E60 model.



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Drama Behind the Scenes


The design story of the E60 5 Series is actually one of rising from tragedy. While Chris Bangle was on the receiving end of the hate and death threats (no exaggeration), the car was penned by someone else. Like the E65 7 Series, the E60 was designed by a young, promising designer. His name was Davide Arcangeli, and in his 20s, drew up such cars as the Peugeot 406 Coupe and the Honda Argento Vivo concept that would later inspire the S2000.

Arcangeli started work on the car in the late ’90s, but a devastating blow hit the design team. The young Italian designer was diagnosed with leukemia, and passed away on December 16, 2000, just before he was to start treatment. In an interview with BMWBlog, Chris Bangle said his passing deeply affected the team. From there, it was decided that Arcangeli’s design was to remain mostly unaltered in order to honor their fallen friend.



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The Reveal


The E60 5 Series made its world premiere in 2003, and the reaction of many of the press and public was harsh. While the reception was not as brutal as the 7 Series, there was no escaping the scathing remarks about the way it looked. From the elegant and smooth lines of its predecessor, the E60 was sharp, angular, aggressive, and bold. It was almost like the model line skipped one or even two generations, much to the shock of pretty much anyone who laid eyes upon it.

Evolutionary was not a word that described the E60. Park it beside an E39, and it was a stark contrast in design language. It almost seemed that BMW wanted to provoke a reaction from everyone, including people who aren’t into cars. For fans of the brand, it was an act of treason. Comments were divisive to say the least, much like what everyone has to say about the current design language.

It was the same story inside, too. The integration of iDrive drew flack from consumers and reviewers alike. While it wasn’t as fussy as the one in the 7 Series from the same vintage, it totally changed the classic BMW layout.



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Under the Skin


While fury was being dished out on its design, the tech and engineering behind it was great. It featured aluminum construction to keep weight down, all while boasting a stiffer chassis. It then threw in tech that felt reserved for flagship models at the time including active steering, steering responsive headlights, active anti-roll bars, and more.

The E60 broke many BMW traditions, but one thing it kept true was its ability to deliver driving joy. By the time more people started driving and reviewing it, it was undeniable that it was still a hugely dynamic car that made its predecessors proud. It also helped that the initial engines were carried over from the E39, so it was either the trusty M54 inline-sixes or the robust M57 turbodiesels.

The car impressed with its capabilities, and over time, comments about its design started to soften, and even started to gain more fans. British motoring journalist James May gave it a glowing review, and was also one of the few folks who actually liked the design from the get go. The design was controversial, but there was no questioning the car’s abilities.



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“The V10 One”


But perhaps the ultimate move to make amends has to be this generation’s take on the M5. Much has been said about the E60 M5, especially its V10 engine, and while there’s not much one can do about the styling, its ten-cylinder wail silenced the haters in no time.

But the E60 M5 was defined more than just its spectacular engine. It also set the blueprint for future M models in terms of technologies and real-time settings adjustment. You can change the ferocity of the gear shifts, the pliance of the suspension, and go from 400 hp to 507 with a press of a button, among other things.

You’d have to be jaded to not appreciate the madness of this car. No one had stuck a V10 in a sport sedan before, and just to dial up the absurdity, BMW shoved that engine into the wagon as well. Sure, Audi responded with the V10-powered RS6 sedan and Avant not long after, but it was BMW that planted the flag first.



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Defining a Decade


As time went on, the E60 5 Series would eventually be instrumental in defining the design language of the decade. We eventually started seeing more cars that applied some of the elements seen in the E60. The once-derided ‘Bangle Butt’ was making its way to more sedans, as well as swept-back headlights, more complex and intricate panels, and more advanced infotainment systems.

Because the E60 was so forward-looking, it barely aged throughout its production. Indeed, it still surprises some people that it’s been over 20 years since it first came out, and 16 years since the last one rolled off the production line. The car had managed to prove the naysayers wrong by first proving it was a BMW in the way it drove, then eventually showing that there was cohesion and substance in its design.

It still looks modern and contemporary, and the only thing that really dates it is the on-board technologies. Still, if you give it a more modern infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, one could still mistake it for a car from this decade. On second thought, an E60 with a CarPlay or Android Auto adaptor doesn’t sound like a bad idea at all.



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