From September 1991, the BMW 5 Series (E34) was also supplied for the first time as an estate-car version ("Touring"). It ranked in the upper mid-range market segment and rapidly encountered great popularity with its combination of timeless elegance and sportiness. The design for the estate car was penned by Ercole Spada. The BMW 5 Series Touring (E34) was already fitted with the more advanced four-valve engines, except the four-cylinder and diesel models. Special features of the model series included the natural-gas version (BMW 518g) and the BMW M5 Touring. This was the first Touring from the stable of M GmbH.