BMW 5 Series 530d SE

The 5 Series that BMW launched in 1988 was something of a revolution for the Munich-based company. The Bavarian firm had always lived in the shadow of its rival, Mercedes-Benz, even though BMWs had often been better drivers' cars than those offered by the Stuttgart firm. In mid-1988, the company launched a car that rode, steered and gripped better than all its rivals in its class. The '5' really could now be called an 'Ultimate Driving Machine' - one instance where the advertising copy almost justified the reality. The post-1988 5 Series was a huge success for BMW and there were many versions over the long lifetime of the model. Engines ranged from a 1.8-litre four-cylinder through to a four-litre V8 for the last of the top-models. The Touring estates gave the company a competitor to the hitherto unchallenged Mercedes-Benz E-Class, as well as establishing the '5' as full model range, not just a series of sporty luxury saloons. The fourth generation 5 Series, launched as a saloon in 1996 and as a Touring estate in 1997, was an even better car. Not only was it sharper to drive than an equivalent Mercedes E-class but, crucially, it was also more comfortable to ride in. The tide had turned Bavaria's way.