BMW M5 Convertible (E34)

CrazyRussian540 · August 22nd, 2008, 1:11 AM

So apparently BMW made a M5 convertible concept in 1989. It actually doesn't look that bad. Although what I can't understand is, why use the E34 5er, when they had the E24 6er to work with. It had the right amount of doors and would've looked great with the top cut off.

Quote:

These days BMW's M division is pretty busy, cranking out all manner of sport-tuned models in every form. You can get an M3 as a coupe, convertible or sedan, the M5 in sedan or wagon form, and the M6 as either a coupe or a convertible, in addition to M versions of the Z4. But back in the late '80s, the selection of M cars was much more limited. Not that the engineers in the sporting division weren't trying, though. Case in point is this M5 cabrio prototype that almost made it into production, but was canceled at the last minute.

Starting with an E34-generation M5 sedan, engineers in Munich chopped off the roof, strengthened the chassis and replaced the four doors with two longer ones. (If you think the idea is entirely absurd, just look at the Audi A4 cabrio and its quattro GmbH-tuned versions.) The resulting M5 convertible prototype was actually scheduled to debut at the 1989 Geneva Motor Show and even priced at £50k for the British market, but fearing that its addition to the BMW line-up would create demand for a conventional 5-series convertible and subsequently harm sales of the existing 3-series cabrio, BMW executives decided to kill the project. Only one prototype of the M5 convertible was made bearing ZS license plates from the BMW Individual program, as you can see in the gallery below.

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/1989-...totype/991147/

Dsemaj · August 22nd, 2008, 1:22 AM

Yeah, I agree, a E24 convertible would have been drop dead sexy..

Although, old as sin, this. I'm surprised Autoblog only found out about it.

edkwon · August 22nd, 2008, 4:50 AM

that's quite handsome, oh well.

tedb43o2o3 · August 22nd, 2008, 5:00 AM

wow I never see this before....brilliant!

argatoga · August 22nd, 2008, 5:56 AM

Reminds me of the later 8 series convertible concept, stunning but never released.

Crazyjeeper · August 22nd, 2008, 6:17 AM

I was expecting some sawzall hack job, not a beautiful concept.

Vambeer · August 22nd, 2008, 6:18 AM

I like it too...makes me wonder what did they see at the last minute and cancelled it?

mazdaddy · August 22nd, 2008, 6:50 AM

Its quite tidy, and wasnt nearly as silly as I thought it could be. Steve Appelby or whatever his name is (golfer for Australia) turned his (model no eludes me now, the one before the current) M5 into a Ute.

Crazyjeeper · August 22nd, 2008, 7:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazdaddy

Its quite tidy, and wasnt nearly as silly as I thought it could be. Steve Appelby or whatever his name is (golfer for Australia) turned his (model no eludes me now, the one before the current) M5 into a Ute.

E39

jensked · August 22nd, 2008, 7:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazyjeeper

I was expecting some sawzall hack job, not a beautiful concept.

True!

Dang it looks stunning and contemporary.

Brother Michael · August 22nd, 2008, 8:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vambeer

I like it too...makes me wonder what did they see at the last minute and cancelled it?

That would be the accountants. "Oh shit, the man with big glasses and a briefcase is coming, hide the concept!!"

And I agree with everyone here, while I never liked "big" convertibles, this does looks very nice indeed.

NooDle · August 22nd, 2008, 8:51 AM

Do want!

luvcars · August 22nd, 2008, 9:47 AM

They should have made it...

fbc · August 22nd, 2008, 12:52 PM

Wow, that does look good - very nicely proportioned.

DTMracer · August 22nd, 2008, 1:47 PM

Now imagine that in coupe form!

smartpnoi · August 22nd, 2008, 8:27 PM

That doesn't look too bad, it probably would of sold a bunch back in the day. Not a big fan of big cars with the roofs off, but i can actually see myself buying this if it came out.

With those pictures though, is that an E34 with two doors? Did they ever come out with that for a normal E34?

inso · August 22nd, 2008, 8:53 PM

Actually there is at least one E24 convertible in Sweden.

And also:
E24 635 CSi Convertible Black Back to the future 2

The_Finn · August 22nd, 2008, 8:57 PM

thats pretty hot looking i still say the E34 M5 Touring is better but i just have a fetish for fast wagons

CrazyRussian540 · August 22nd, 2008, 9:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inso

Actually there is at least one E24 convertible in Sweden.

And also:
E24 635 CSi Convertible Black Back to the future 2

There a bunch of E24 convertibles out there, but I was talking about real quality stuff from the factory. Most of them aren't that great, although there are a few nice ones out there.

This one belongs in carbage. ^

Brother Michael · August 22nd, 2008, 11:38 PM

^The black and blue ones are pure sex !!!

August 22nd, 2008, 1:22 AM	#2
Dsemaj Previously Known As Jamesd Joined: May 3rd, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Adelaide, Australia. Age: 18 Posts: 2,671 Car: '95 BMW 530i, '85 Nissan Bluebird S3 GXE Rep Power: 40	Yeah, I agree, a E24 convertible would have been drop dead sexy.. Although, old as sin, this. I'm surprised Autoblog only found out about it. __________________ 1995 BMW E34 530i V8 M60B30 218HP/163kW 5sp Auto 1985 Nissan 910 Bluebird I4 CA20S 105HP/78kW 3sp Auto

August 22nd, 2008, 5:00 AM	#4
tedb43o2o3 Joined: Jun 6th, 2006 Last Online: 3:15 AM Location: Irvine, CA, USA Posts: 750 Car: 2005 Toyota 4Runner (Parents car...) Rep Power: 23	wow I never see this before....brilliant! __________________

August 22nd, 2008, 5:56 AM	#5
argatoga Can't Start His Wank Joined: Oct 4th, 2005 Last Online: 3:57 AM Location: Washington State, USA Age: 26 Posts: 4,793 Car: '78 MG Midget, '78 Honda CB400t Rep Power: 164	Reminds me of the later 8 series convertible concept, stunning but never released. __________________ "If you think about it breast implants aren't much different than braces. Their main purpose is to improve one's appearance, at least that's how it was in my case." - KaJun "Anyway, I'm off to eat my dick" - Austere

August 22nd, 2008, 6:17 AM	#6
Crazyjeeper Joined: Nov 29th, 2006 Last Online: 4:14 AM Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 20 Posts: 5,129 Car: 1985 Jeep CJ7, 1997 Ford F150 Rep Power: 164	I was expecting some sawzall hack job, not a beautiful concept. __________________

August 22nd, 2008, 6:18 AM	#7
Vambeer Joined: Mar 27th, 2006 Last Online: November 17th, 2009 Location: Greece Posts: 319 Car: FIAT Punto Sporting 95HP Rep Power: 17	I like it too...makes me wonder what did they see at the last minute and cancelled it? __________________ Revving matters...

August 22nd, 2008, 4:50 AM	#3
edkwon Joined: Nov 21st, 2006 Last Online: November 20th, 2009 Location: Chibi J-Town Posts: 2,989 Car: Korean family car Rep Power: 39	that's quite handsome, oh well.

August 22nd, 2008, 6:50 AM	#8
mazdaddy Joined: Jul 3rd, 2007 Last Online: December 16th, 2008 Posts: 125 Car: Mazda3 Rep Power: 10	Its quite tidy, and wasnt nearly as silly as I thought it could be. Steve Appelby or whatever his name is (golfer for Australia) turned his (model no eludes me now, the one before the current) M5 into a Ute.

August 22nd, 2008, 8:51 AM	#12
NooDle Ik ben niet alleen lekker met kaas! Joined: Jul 20th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Belgium Age: 28 Posts: 5,780 Car: Opel Astra 2.2 DTI Rep Power: 112	Do want!

August 22nd, 2008, 9:47 AM	#13
luvcars Joined: Mar 4th, 2008 Last Online: Yesterday Posts: 292 Rep Power: 8	They should have made it...

August 22nd, 2008, 12:52 PM	#14
fbc Moderator Joined: Jan 8th, 2005 Last Online: November 11th, 2009 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 34 Posts: 11,776 Car: 2006 MY07 Astra SRi Turbo Rep Power: 128	Wow, that does look good - very nicely proportioned. __________________ www.sniffpetrol.com

August 22nd, 2008, 1:47 PM	#15
DTMracer Joined: Oct 6th, 2007 Last Online: May 9th, 2009 Posts: 1,490 Car: 1988 Mini Cooper, 1998 MB E55 AMG Rep Power: 13	Now imagine that in coupe form!

August 22nd, 2008, 8:27 PM	#16
smartpnoi Joined: Nov 20th, 2006 Last Online: 3:56 AM Location: USA Posts: 63 Car: BMW E39 M5 Rep Power: 15	That doesn't look too bad, it probably would of sold a bunch back in the day. Not a big fan of big cars with the roofs off, but i can actually see myself buying this if it came out. With those pictures though, is that an E34 with two doors? Did they ever come out with that for a normal E34?

August 22nd, 2008, 8:53 PM	#17
inso Joined: Jan 22nd, 2004 Last Online: November 9th, 2009 Posts: 211 Rep Power: 24	Actually there is at least one E24 convertible in Sweden. And also: E24 635 CSi Convertible Black Back to the future 2

August 22nd, 2008, 8:57 PM	#18
The_Finn Joined: Feb 7th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Worcestersheshershire MA Age: 28 Posts: 3,415 Car: 1988 Mazda 323 GTX / 1997 Saab 900s Rep Power: 57	thats pretty hot looking i still say the E34 M5 Touring is better but i just have a fetish for fast wagons __________________ Proud owner of a 1988 mazda 323 GTX: The ~~poor~~ rich mans evo... "My laptop has a webcam; if I wanted to make money while making a mess, I'd be all over the internet. Hell, you'd probably have videos of me bookmarked." ~Klutch~ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” ~Ernest Hemingway~ It's all about having the right priorities. You can sleep in your car but you can't race your house -\|- Basically i go accurately and on special lines

August 22nd, 2008, 11:38 PM	#20
Brother Michael Joined: Jan 29th, 2007 Last Online: 1:08 AM Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 1,496 Car: Coming soon Rep Power: 143	^The black and blue ones are pure sex !!! __________________ -Every man dies, not every man really lives-

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