BMW 5 Series Sedan 1988
In 1988, the BMW 5 Series Sedan sits at a turning point in the model’s history. The 5 Series began in 1972, following the New Class, and 1988 marks the change from the E28 to the E34. For the sedan, that means the arrival of a new generation within a well-established lineage, with BMW continuing to position the car as a benchmark luxury sedan. Across its history, the 5 Series has been shaped by successive improvements in design, technology, and performance, and the 1988 sedan belongs exactly to that transition. It is therefore a model of change, placed between the end of the E28 and the introduction of the E34.

History
The BMW 5 Series was introduced in 1972 as the successor to the New Class, and it then evolved through successive generations. The E12 covered the 1972 to 1981 period, followed by the E28 from 1981 to 1988. The year 1988 is especially significant because it marks the arrival of the third generation, the E34, produced from 1988 to 1996. The 1988 sedan therefore sits at the handover point between two chapters of the model: the end of the E28 and the start of the E34. Over its history, the 5 Series has strengthened its standing as a benchmark luxury sedan through steady progress in design, technology, and performance. Later generations, from the E39 to the G60/G61 launched in 2023, continue that same line of development.
Latest scans
Photos added by the community for this page.
Technical data
8 powertrains recorded for the 5 Series Sedan. Some figures apply to the version as a whole rather than to each engine.
Compare powertrains
Pick a powertrain: the detailed sheet below follows your selection.
| Criterion | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 66 kW | 66 kW | 66 kW | 84 kW | 75 kW | 84 kW | 84 kW | 84 kW |
| Torque | 142 Nm | 140 Nm | 140 Nm | 165 Nm | 135 Nm | 165 Nm | 162 Nm | 162 Nm |
| Gearbox | Automatique, 3 rapports | Manuelle, 4 rapports | Manuelle, 5 rapports | Automatique, 4 rapports | Manuelle, 5 rapports | Manuelle, 5 rapports | Automatique, 3 rapports | Manuelle, 4 rapports |
| Drivetrain | Propulsion | Propulsion | Propulsion | Propulsion | Propulsion | Propulsion | Propulsion | Propulsion |
| Fuel | Essence | Essence | Essence | Essence | Essence | Essence | Essence | Essence |
Showing: 518i 4AT RWD
This powertrain
- Power
- 84 kW
- Torque
- 165 Nm
- Transmission
- Automatique, 4 rapports
- Drive type
- Propulsion
- Fuel
- Essence
Recorded across the whole version
- 0-100 km/h
- 6.3 - 16 s
- Top speed
- 154 - 249 km/h
- Displacement
- 1766 - 3982 cm3
- Consumption
- 7 - 14.7 L/100 km
- Dimensions
- 4618 x 1689 x 1420 mm
- Weight
- 1160 - 1605 kg
Source: cardatawiki
Production
Production of the 1988 BMW 5 Series sedan should be understood as part of the changeover between two generations. The E28 is said to have been produced until 1988, while the E34 begins in 1988 and continues through 1996. The dossier does not specify the exact production span within that year, nor assembly locations or output figures. It can only be stated that the car belongs to the transition period between the end of the E28 and the launch of the E34. For finer production details, the supplied dossier provides no verifiable information.
Evolution
Variants
References
- BMW 5 Series History5Series.net
Provides a comprehensive history of the BMW 5 Series.
- https://autostatistics.net/bmw/5-seriesautostatistics.net
Source found by OpenAI web search for this model page.
- https://www.carsdirect.com/bmw/5-series/generationscarsdirect.com
Source found by OpenAI web search for this model page.
- https://www.iseecars.com/car/bmw-5-series/generationsiseecars.com
Source found by OpenAI web search for this model page.
- https://www.auto-data.net/en/bmw-5-series-model-944auto-data.net
Source found by OpenAI web search for this model page.
- https://www.autodata1.com/en/car/bmw/5-seriesautodata1.com
Source found by OpenAI web search for this model page.
- https://cars-data.com/en/bmw-528i-touring-specs/7796/sizescars-data.com
Source found by OpenAI web search for this model page.









