Customer Reviews

BMW 5 Series (Car & Motorcycle Marque/Model)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This excellent book provides a very detailed history of BMW's 5 Series from its initial design to the current model - the E39. 192 pages and around 200 photos - most of them in colour. The text is very complete, yet the author's style makes it a delight to read through. Particular attention has been paid to BMW's turbo-diesel engines, including the latest generation of common-rail engines and the magnificent 530d.
The author displays exceptional technical knowledge and highlights the salient points. I was very disappointed by James Taylor's "BMW 5 Series - the complete story", but Mr Cranswick's latest work is well worth getting, in spite of the fairly high purchase price.

I have been a long time 3 series fan, right back to the days of the e21, but after buying a 2002 530i I have started taking more interest in 5 series models. It was this move that caused me to buy this title. Echoing the views of the person from Denver the book would be better if it adhered to model chronology more closely. However, I found the coverage of my 530i, and the various 5 series versions in general to be good.
The book doesn't favor one model generation over another. In some books they tend to be pro younger models, but this title seems to give each its fair due. In addition there are some very nice e39 color pictures, including exotic Alpina e39s.
In conclusion a nice book which confirmed my belief that these cars are indeed the ultimate driving machines.

Has the best coverage of the eta 528e, an e28 I happen to own. Unlike the James Taylor book which is mostly b/w, this one is almost full color. There's an X5 shown with Stars & Stripes paint scheme, nice work.

I recently purchased a "classic" 5 series BMW. I love the older style of the E-12 and the E-28 models to the all-too-common look of recent 5 series, which look way too much like Toyota Camry's. "Not that there is anything wrong with that"! (an homage to the millions of Camry owners). So, I had great interest in this book as a recent convert to the marquee.

Sadly, there was no mention of my particular model, the US 1987 535is. Despite this disappointment, the book is excellent and the photos of rare and European models not often seen here in the States are wonderful. The text is also quite interesting as were the unexpected photos of US cars like the Camero and the Pacer, shown as examples of what was "also" being produced in those years.

My only complaint about the book is that it is not laid out quite right. While loosely chronological, the book does skip around a bit, and would be improved greatly by back-to-back photos of all 5 series models to show the change and development of the series over the last 30 years. Also rarely mentioned was the precursor to the 5 series model - the Bavaria. Like all things BMW, the book is more expensive than it needs to be. Nonetheless, a good book for the enthusiast.

A well researched and written book on the history of the e12, e28, e34 & e39 5 series generations. Some interesting new facts revealed by this title. The good coverage of US spec 5 series models made a refreshing change from the usual UK publications. Pricey, but worth a look.

...good book for overall history on the 5-series...so so pictures...

...if you like bmw 'm' cars, bmw itself published a lavish 30-year anniversary book detailing all aspects of its 'm' cars...

...cranswick's book, combined with bmw's 'm' book, should complete an enthusiast's library, imho...

this book was quite a disappointment. the information is all here, but the photo selection and quality are decidedly 'low-budget.' and, if you are a fan of the current 'king of the mountain' in terms of the bmw 5-series line (and, i dare say, even amongst the so-called 'super-exotic' cars in general) - the e39 m5 - then this book is downright atrocious. many of the photos were take-offs of pdf photos found on many of the more popular bmw enthusiasts websites.

when you have hobbyists as fanatical as bmw 5-series owners are, and, in particular, bmw m5 owners (e28, e34 or e39), then you had better well treat them to a lavish, extravagant photo montage.

other books do this better, in my humble opinion.

Whilst this book is a must have for any BMW fünf-er enthusiast, I cannot recommended it for anyone else. The author seems very knowledgeable about the mechanics of these cars, but he drones on endlessly about pollution control and the oil crisis. Granted, important topics to understand the history of these cars, but it would have been a better use of print to cover the high performace versions instead.

Also as others mention, the photography is aweful. Not only are the often grainy and out of focus but the subject car is often dirty, under poor lighting, or are heavily customized (the author says 'tastefully', I disagree.) Not the type of thing you should see in a fine book. Also, do we need really need to see a full color spread of the Pontiac Firebird (pg 29) or the AMC Pacer (pg 20)?

I summary, knowledgeable author, decent writing, but horrible packaging.