2025 marks the anniversary of the 50th anniversary of the 3 Series E21, but it has also been 30 years since the debut of the 5 Series E39. BMW Classic has shared a Throwback contribution on social media and shows what the fourth generation 5 can look like. One of the proposed designs is 1989, six years before the start of series production in Dingolfing.
The sketches were created by Joji Nagashima, who ultimately designed what many saw as the most elegant 5 Series. While early design sketches often have a certain attraction, this is one of the rare cases in which we believe that the end product looks better. Beauty is of course subjective, but we prefer the sophisticated look that made it to be produced over the concepts that remained on the drawing board.
Nevertheless, it is fascinating to see what the E39 would have looked different if one of these alternative designs had been approved. The final design was shortly after Chris Bangle was appointed head of the design and was the first American to head the styling department. In June 1992, after three years of refining the concept, Nagashima’s design was selected as one of the first major decisions of the Bangle.
From this point on it took 39 months before the BMW started with the E39 production and finally built more than 1.3 million units. Joji Nagashima later designed the Z3 Roadster and the E90 3 Series. Before he came to BMW, the Japanese designer had in Opel and Renault in the 1980s.
The E39 -Hails of a time that many enthusiasts consider the highlight of the BMW design, although opinions can vary. The elegant, reserved lines of this time have largely disappeared and do not even let us begin how much better in interior quality compared to the status 2025 quo. The upcoming revival of the new class will shake things up and hopefully restore part of the lost mojo. The company’s new design language will spread over the entire line-up, including gas and electric cars from the smallest to the largest.
Source: BMW Classic
