The presentation of the sports car M5 took place in 1988 and was held in the German city of Frankfurt. In the same year, the production of a sports sedan type took place. A new type of car was released only 4 years later. It became the BMW E34 M5 station wagon.
The peculiarity of the car was the manual assembly, carried out at the concern's plants located in the city of Garching. The total number of cars produced by the concern was 12,245, of which 891 had a cargo-passenger body.
Exterior of the BMW M5 E34
The appearance of the sedan or wagon of this model fully corresponds to the concept developed by the Bavarian manufacturer. The classic style of the fifth series car was preserved, with a lack of bright color palette, giving it a stern and somewhat aggressive look.
The features of the new model included increased aerodynamic body shape, modernization of the front and rear bumpers, and side skirts.
The main goal set by the manufacturer was to create practicality and maximum comfort for the owner of the car. However, the round-shaped external mirrors, providing excellent aerodynamics, do not allow for good visibility due to the presence of blind spots.
Visually, the car looks huge, but its weight is only 10% more than the M5 E28.
According to the available dimensions, the car can be classified into the premium segment of the E-class:
- length — 4.72 meters,
- width — 1.75 meters, height — 1.39 meters,
- wheelbase — 2.76 meters,
- the weight of the car in the sports sedan body — 1.67 tons.
When equipped with a wagon body type, the car becomes 100 kg heavier. The clearance of this car model is 120 mm.
Hood
A noticeable feature of the front of the car is the relief in its central part, aimed at improving aerodynamics.
The second feature of the BMW M5 E34 is the presence of ribs of rigidity under such unevenness, the task of which is to minimize the level of frontal resistance. This is a result of the company engineers' concern for the safety of the driver and passengers.
Trunk of the BMW M5 E34
The trunk lid of this car is also quite unique. It has a shape that forms a small spoiler, allowing for increased downforce without the need for additional equipment, making it easy to control the car even at high speeds. The steering wheel of this car model responds excellently.
Lighting Devices
The standard equipment of the car includes halogen lighting. It is provided by four round headlights, which are sufficient for illuminating the road comfortably even in conditions of limited visibility. The car does not have an automatic system.
Interior Design
The interior of the BMW M5 E34 is upholstered in alcantara or expensive leather, with decorative inserts made of aluminum or carbon fiber. The front panel console features controls for the navigation computer, audio system, and climate control.
The instrument panel has red-colored pointers for the tachometer and speedometer readings, with the M logo positioned between them. Below the tachometer is the oil temperature sensor. The backlighting of all instruments on the front panel is orange.
The ergonomics of the interior have almost no flaws. All devices for controlling this car are within the driver's reach. Near the handbrake lever, there is a console with buttons for controlling the suspension modes.
The driver's seat has a special profile and side support rollers. The variety of settings is quite extensive, allowing drivers of any build to feel comfortable behind the wheel. To enhance seating comfort, the car's creators decided to increase the distance between the seat and the front panel.
Special Edition Equipment
The BMW M5 E34 equipment included a large number of special editions.
Cecotto Edition
This model was released in 22 units, powered by the S38 engine. The body color was green and blue metallic. Regardless of the configuration, the car was equipped with velour mats, a sunroof, and a steering wheel amplifier.
Additionally, the special features of the car included climate control with air recirculation, heated seats, headlight washers, the Bavarian radio, and walnut trim in the interior.
Winkelhock Edition
If the creator of the first version of the sports car believed it should be luxurious, the second considered lightness as the most important parameter. Thanks to this, the car acquired a higher degree of performance but lost some comfort. Only 50 cars were produced for sale, painted in Jet Black, with the S38 engine.
Compared to the first version, the fuel tank volume was reduced to 80 liters, and the cabin sound insulation worsened. The rear windows and headrests, fog lights, headlight washers, and exterior mirrors were removed. This allowed reducing the car's weight by 88 kg and improving drift quality.
Technical Parameters of the BMW M5 E34
The initial models were equipped with an inline 6-cylinder engine with 315 hp. Its feature was the use of forged steel for production, which strengthened the engine itself. It operated with a mechanical five-speed gearbox.
In versions planned for the North American or Swiss markets, a catalytic converter was included in the power unit equipment. This reduced emissions but also decreased the engine power by 4 units.
Starting from 1992, the cars were equipped with a more powerful power unit, with 340 hp.
Acceleration to 100 km/h took 5.9 seconds, and the top speed was 250 km/h.
Difference between Facelift and Pre-facelift
The facelift process lasted for three years. To be more precise, from 1990 to 1992, changes were made annually. The first update concerned the car's interior. The standard equipment of the car received split seats, an automatic climate control system, and an updated steering wheel.
In 1991, central locking was first installed on the doors, and the gear ratio was changed to achieve fuel economy.
After the third facelift, customers were offered features such as Throwing Star wheels, Shadowline package, Mugello red and metallic green or Avus blue colors. A distinctive feature of the facelift was that it did not affect the technical side of the car.
Price of the BMW E34 M5
The car has not been in production for quite some time. Therefore, it is not possible to determine its exact cost. It will depend on how the buyer and seller can negotiate. Its production ceased in 1992, with the shift to the E39 model.
