BMW 520 (E12), four-cylinder

The BMW 520 was the first model in the first BMW 5 Series and it was launched on the market in 1972. This was the successor to the BMW 2000 in the New Class (Neue Klasse) and the engine originated from this, although the power plant had been revised. A lot of technical knowledge from the large model series (E3/E9) was incorporated into the development of the new four-cylinder model. From 1977, the BMW 520 powered by a four-cylinder engine was replaced by a model with a six-cylinder engine which retained the designation. Another confusing fact from today's perspective is that a sister model provided with an injection engine was marketed under virtually the identical designation of BMW 520i.