The fourth generation of the BMW 5-series was unveiled in 2000 in Europe and in 2001 in the U.S. The car was so praised by all the media around the world, that it was hard to be improved.

The E39 5-Series was a successful sedan for the German car-maker. It was available with a wide engine choice, both gasoline, and diesel. It was available as a sedan or a station-wagon (named Sports Touring in the U.S. market). The M5 version was powered by a V8 engine and it stayed that way even after the facelift, or Life-Cycle Impulse (LCI) as BMW named the facelift.

On the outside, there was a slight improvement over its predecessor. The grille was a carryover from the M5, the clear-lens headlights were improved and a new lip was installed on the bottom of the front spoiler. The “angel-eyes” feature was enhanced, to clearly show rounded lightened circles inside the headlights. In the back, the taillights were revised and received LEDs.

Inside the car, there were minor changes to the dashboard and instrument cluster. A factory pre-wired for the telephone was available and, for higher trim-levels, a premium sound system was available. Richer equipment was fitted as standard for the 6-cylinders models, while the 4.4-liter V8 was standard-fit with a 5-speed automatic transmission on specific markets.

Most of the engine range was adjusted to new standards and new performances. The 5-speed manual was standard for most of the range. The M5 still had the 6-speed manual and no automatic option.