BMW E12

BMW E12

Manufacturer	BMW
Production	1972–1981 699,094 built
Predecessor	BMW New Class
Successor	BMW E28
Class	Mid-size luxury / Executive car
Vehicles	BMW 5 Series

The BMW E12 is an automobile platform that was the basis for the 1972 through 1981 BMW 5 Series mid-size car, produced by the German automaker BMW. The E12 was the first platform to bear the 5 Series name: the '5' denoting BMW's fifth 'New Class' platform. Designed as a replacement for the popular BMW New Class mid-size sedan, the E12 5-Series models were smaller than the large BMW E3 sedan but larger than the two-door 2002 models. The E12 was replaced by the BMW E28 5 Series in 1981, although production continued until 1984 in South Africa.

Styling and features

The 1970 BMW 2200ti Garmisch show car designed by the Bertone Design Centre led by Marcello Gandini set the style for the E12 5-series. Designed to compete with the Mercedes-Benz W114 sedans, the E12 models were fitted with a variety of engines. 1.8 L and 2.0 L M10 I4 engines from the older Neue Klasse sedans were used in the 518 and 520, respectively. A six-cylinder version of the 520, built with a 2.0 L M20 belt-driven engine was also available from 1977 on (to coincide with the minor restyling). The 525i, 528i, 530i, and M535i, were fitted with M30 six-cylinder engines as used on the large E3 sedans and E9 coupes. With the exception of the 520i, four-cylinder and 2.0 L six-cylinder engines were fitted with Solex carburetors (although in the UK the four-cylinder 520 was fitted with twin Stromberg 175CDET carburettors). The 520i used the mechanical fuel injection system from the BMW 2000tii and BMW 2002tii. Six-cylinder versions were available with dual Zenith two-barrel carburetors or Bosch L-jetronic fuel injection. Fuel-injected models contain the i letter at the end of their model badge. Although BMW had always located turn signal stalks on the right hand side of its steering wheels, the E12 was their first model to have the stalk on the left side.

BMW E12 (1972-1976)

BMW E12 Facelift (1976-1981)

BMW E12 Facelift (1976-1981)

With the introduction of the BMW E23 large sedan in 1977, the E12 received a minor re-styling. The rear-mounted gasoline filler door was relocated to the side of the car and the taillights were widened. The hood, originally designed to clear the large air filter assembly for cars fitted with dual Zenith carburetors, was redesigned to a give a 'power bulge', and the dashboard ventilation was repositioned to improve air distribution.

Special models

Several low-production versions of the E12 were built. In 1978, the Motorsport 533i was produced for a short time in the German market featuring a 3.2L engine. The M535i, featuring a 3.5L engine with special styling such as Motorsport front and rear spoilers, Recaro-brand sport seats, a close-ratio transmission and limited-slip differential, larger brakes, and other styling cues such as Motorsport striping down the sides of the car and on the front airdam, was available between 1979 and 1981 with 1410 cars produced. In South Africa, the 530 MLE was produced as a light-weight homologation special for racing. These Motorsport E12's are often considered the first production models that the BMW Motorsport division ever produced.

Due to high import duties in South Africa, BMW sent E12 cars as complete knock down (CKD) kits to be assembled in South Africa for its own market. An E12/8 was built in the South Africa market just as the new E28 body replaced the E12 elsewhere. The E12/8 was essentially an E12 body fitted with the E28 suspension, electronics and interior.

On the Belgian market, there was a BMW 518 “deluxe” version. Only thousand of these cars have been sold. It was a BMW 518 equipped as the 528i top model plus other luxury items such as headrests on the back seats. It was rumored that this special version was produced for the Iranian government, as a car for top officials under the shah’s rule. Due to the Iranian revolution these cars were never delivered. Instead, they have been sold as a special version in Belgium.

American-market models

The American market E12 differed in several ways from the original German market versions. American-market E12s in the later years were generally sold as 'upscale' models and as such they were fitted with power windows, wood trim, and usually leather interiors and air conditioning as standard. The E12 5-series used a Behr air conditioner that was notorious for being too weak for American temperatures. A well-known legend is that, in an attempt to convince BMW that a better air conditioner was needed, two BMW engineers were treated to a long trip to Texas in the rear seat of a black BMW 530i with the power windows disabled.

BMW chose to sell only fuel-injected six-cylinder versions of the E12 in the American market: the 530i and later the 528i. The American market imposed several restrictions such as bumper regulations, sealed-beam headlights, and emissions requirements. As such, American-market E12s were fitted with lower compression pistons, special larger bumpers designed to withstand a 5 mph (8.0 km/h) collision with no body damage, and fender-mounted front turn signals. Emissions equipment such as EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) and an air pump were used on the 530i, along with modified exhaust manifolds called Thermal Reactors. The latter caused several engine problems including burned exhaust valves and overheating, often resulting in warped or cracked cylinder heads. A separate defect in the 530i cylinder head design prompted a lawsuit against BMW. As a result, in 1980 BMW offered replacement cylinder heads for owners whose cylinder heads had cracked, even if the warranty on the car had expired. In 1979 the 528i replaced the 530i. The new model featured several improvements for the American market: the Thermal Reactor and air pump system were replaced with a 3-way catalytic converter and the car's Bosch L-jetronic fuel injection system was now fitted with an Exhaust Gas Oxygen sensor. For the 1980 model year, a 5-speed manual transmission replaced the previous 4-speed.

Models

The following models were produced in this series:

Model	Engine	Power				Torque			Built
		PS	kW	hp	at rpm	N·m	lbf·ft	at rpm
518	1766 cc I-4	90	66	89	5500	142	105	3500	1974−1981
520	1990 cc I-4	115	85	113	5800	162	119	3700	1972−1977
520i	1990 cc I-4	130	96	130	5800	177	131	4500	1972−1975
		125	92	123	5700	171	126	4350	1975−1977
520/6	1990 cc I-6	122	90	120	6000	160	120	4000	1977−1981
525	2494 cc I-6	145	107	143	6000	208	153	4000	1973−1976
		150	110	150	5800	208	153	4000	1976−1981
528	2788 cc I-6	165	121	163	5800	253	187	4000	1975−1976
		170	130	170	5800	253	187	4000	1976−1978
528i	2788 cc I-6	176	129	174	5800	235	173	4300	1977−1978
		184	135	181	5800	235	173	4200	1978−1981
528i (NA)	2788 cc I-6		126	169	5500	230	170	4500	MY 1979−1981
530 (ZA)	2985 cc I-6	177	130	175	5800	250	180	3500	South Africa only 197?−198?
530i	2985 cc I-6		131	176	5500	251	185	4500	North America only MY 1975−1978
530 MLE
533i
M535i	3453 cc I-6	218	160	215	5200	310	230	4000	1979−1981