BMW 5 Series IV (E39) — Wheel Fitment & Specs
Overview
The BMW E39 is the fourth generation of the BMW 5 Series range, manufactured from 1996 to 2004. It was launched as a saloon and later introduced as a Touring (station wagon) model in 1996. The car was produced at Dingolfing in Germany, Jakarta in Indonesia via CKD assembly, and Kaliningrad in Russia by Avtotor. Compared to its predecessor, the E34, the E39 featured increased use of aluminium in chassis components, a four-cylinder diesel engine option for the first time, and rack-and-pinion steering on four- and six-cylinder models. It was positioned as an executive car, replacing the E34 and succeeded by the E60 5 Series.
Wheel fitment
| Bolt pattern (PCD) | 5x120 |
| Centre bore | 74.1 mm |
| Bolt / thread | M12 x 1.5 (bolts) |
| Wheel-bolt torque | 115 Nm |
| Seat type | tapered |
| Factory setup | square |
| TPMS | direct |
Aftermarket wheel sizes — read per position:
| Position | Width | Offset |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 6J–7.5J | ET13–ET31 |
As a rule, each extra 1J of width wants roughly +8–10 ET to keep the wheel tucked. The exact offset and any spacer are confirmed by the fit-check.
UK popularity & demand
Based on DfT VEH0124 vehicle-parc data (2025), there are approximately 196,854 BMW 5 Series on UK roads, placing it in the top 2% of car models by volume across our fitment database. That makes its wheel fitment a high-demand size to keep in stock — one reason we track its exact spec here.
Source: DfT/DVLA licensed-vehicle statistics (VEH0124), matched to the AIWheelTech fitment database.
Engines & drivetrain
| Variant | Engine | Fuel | Power | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M5 | 4.9L S62B50 V8 | petrol | 294 hp | RWD |
| 540i | 4.4L M62B44 V8 | petrol | 210 hp | RWD |
| 540i (M62TÜB44) | 4.4L M62TÜB44 V8 | petrol | 210 hp | RWD |
| 535i (M62TÜB35) | 3.5L M62TÜB35 V8 | petrol | 180 hp | RWD |
| 535i | 3.5L M62B35 V8 | petrol | 173 hp | RWD |
| 530i | 3.0L M54B30 I6 | petrol | 170 hp | RWD |
| 528i | 2.8L M52B28 I6 | petrol | 142 hp | RWD |
| 528i (M52TUB28) | 2.8L M52TÜB28 I6 | petrol | 142 hp | RWD |
| 525i | 2.5L M54B25 I6 | petrol | 141 hp | RWD |
| 520i (M54B22) | 2.2L M54B22 I6 | petrol | 125 hp | RWD |
| 523i | 2.5L M52B25 I6 | petrol | 125 hp | RWD |
| 523i (M52TUB25) | 2.5L M52TÜB25 I6 | petrol | 125 hp | RWD |
| 525d | 2.5L M57D25 I6 | diesel | 120 hp | RWD |
| 520i (M52TUB20) | 2.0L M52TÜB20 I6 | petrol | 110 hp | RWD |
| 520i | 2.0L M52B20 I6 | petrol | 110 hp | RWD |
| 525tds | 2.5L M51D25TÜ OL I6 | diesel | 105 hp | RWD |
| 520d | 2.0L M47D20 I4 | diesel | 100 hp | RWD |
| 525td | 2.5L M51D25TÜ UL I6 | diesel | 85 hp | RWD |
Performance
| Variant | Power | 0–62 mph | Top speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5 | 294 hp | 155 mph | |
| 520d | 100 hp | 8.9 s | 130 mph |
| 525d | 120 hp | 8.4 s | 139 mph |
| 525td | 85 hp | 10.7 s | 134 mph |
| 525tds | 105 hp | 9.7 s | 134 mph |
Dimensions
| Length | 4775 mm |
| Width | 1800 mm |
| Height | 1435 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2830 mm |
| Kerb weight | 1500 kg |
Body styles & production
| Body styles | Saloon, Touring |
| Produced | 1996–2004 |
Trim levels
Factory colours
History & notable variants
Development began in 1993 with Joji Nagashima's design selected in June 1992. The model premiered at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1995 and was available for sale from December of that year. A high-performance variant, the E39 M5 saloon, debuted in 1998 featuring a V8 engine, marking a shift from previous inline-six engines. Alpina also produced several variants including the B10 series with various petrol and diesel options.
Reliability & owner notes
- Pros: Increased use of aluminium in chassis components; First BMW 5 Series with a four-cylinder diesel engine option; Rack-and-pinion steering on four- and six-cylinder models
- Cons: Not available with all-wheel drive