2008 BMW 5 Series Revealed

OK, we were just at one of the largest automotive shows in the world, and BMW was there, too. You’d think that would be a good opportunity to bring out a revised 5 Series, but nope. We get home and find the notice waiting for us, along with these photos. From the outside you won’t notice significant changes, but the front and rear have been altered to give it a more streamlined look, and the inside has gotten a slight update as well.

The engines have also gone through a change. Most significantly, the 535i gets the same twin-turbo six-cylinder we loved in the latest 335i coupe. It produces the same 300 hp and 300 pounds-feet of torque here. The 528i has a much lesser six-cylinder with 230 hp. Then there’s the 550i’s 4.8-liter V-8 pumping out 360 hp. All 5 Series come with a six-speed manual standard, but moving to the six-speed automatic is now a no-cost option.

BMW’s all-wheel-drive system, called xDrive, is available with the six-cylinder engines in the 528xi and 535xi sedans and the 535xi wagon. Prices and availability have not been released, but these alterations are a needed boost to the aging 5 Series.