BMW 518i (E34)

Although the third generation of the BMW 5 Series (E34) was launched as a thoroughbred six-cylinder model series in January 1988, the first four-cylinder model was also supplied as the entry-level vehicle into the model series from August 1989. The BMW 518i Sedan was initially reserved for export and it was only available for supply in the German market from 1993. During the period of construction, the sedan was delivered with power supplied by two different engines (M40B18 to March 1994, and afterwards the M43B18). The standard equipment was rather more economical than was the case in the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models, but the basic price was in turn favourable to entry-level would-be owners. By the close of 1995, approximately 46,600 units had been built.