While it wasn’t a masterpiece of design, the E60 BMW 5 Series was the first 5 series to have the iDrive, the last to have a naturally aspirated M5 version and the generation with the biggest engines in the 5 Series history.
In 2003, the Flame-surfacing design theme created by Chris Bangle was the main theme for the BMW lineup. After the 7-Series, the 5-Series was touched by it, and the result was the E60.

The dragon-style headlights, the massive cabin, and tall profile were some of the features of the E60 BMW 5-Series. Curved surfaces were blending in to inspire movement and a fluid sculpture. But the overall design was not a pleasant surprise for the BMW fans around the world.

The controversial design was continued inside the cabin, with a center console that was not tilted toward the driver. On the center console, the rotary knob of the iDrive system was in place and changed the way the on-board computers looked for any BMW. A standard, 6.5” display was installed. Also, standard-fit was Bluetooth connectivity.

For better performance and balance of the car, the front side featured aluminum parts. The final result was a claimed 50:50 weight distribution.

The 5th 5-Series started with a wide range of engines, gasoline, and diesel, with displacements ranging from 2.0-liter up to a 4.5-liter unit. Later on, in 2005, a 4.8-liter V8 and the mighty M5 with a 5.0-liter V10 were added. While most of the 5-Series were offered with rear-wheel-drive, some versions were offered with the xDrive all-wheel-drive system.