BMW 320i Group 5: Performance, Heritage, and Modern Engineering
The BMW 320i Group 5 stands as a legend among compact executive sedans, merging precision handling with refined luxury in a timeless package that still captivates enthusiasts today.
The Legacy and Design Language of Group 5
Built between 1982 and 1991, the BMW 320i Group 5 emerged from the E30 platform, celebrated for its balanced chassis, mid-engine weight distribution, and aggressive yet elegant styling that defined the BMW driving experience of its era.
Engineering Excellence and Performance
Equipped with a 2.0-liter inline-six producing around 143 horsepower, the Group 5 delivered responsive acceleration and nimble handling. Its advanced suspension tuning, front-engine focus, and weight-optimized construction made it a benchmark in its class.
Cultural Impact and Collector Value
The 320i Group 5 earned a devoted following not only for its performance but also for its role in motorsport and pop culture. Today, original models are highly sought after, symbolizing an era of uncompromising German engineering and driving pleasure.
Whether you're restoring a piece of automotive history or enjoying its powerful drive, the BMW 320i Group 5 remains a timeless icon—proof that great design and performance endure across generations. For collectors and enthusiasts, owning a Group 5 is more than a car—it’s a legacy on wheels.
Yet the BMW Junior Team, who would rise to ever-higher challenges in this series, were mixing it with the front-runners right from the start. A total of 28 Group 5 BMW 320i units were built in 1977/78. BMW Motorsport GmbH delivered the touring cars as sport kits to racing teams around the world.
Extremely quick and wickedly orange - This BMW 320 Group 5 is a racer's dream With the Halloween season approaching, anything resembling the vibrant hues of a pumpkin has our attention. This sharp-nosed Jägermeister racer certainly caught our eye and is now available via RM Sotherby's Private Treaty Sales. Among these cars, the BMW 320 in Jägermeister colours becomes an icon.
In 1977, BMW comes up with the plan to enter Formula 1 with its own turbo engine as soon as possible. BMW's engine specialists initially opt for a 2-litre, 4. The BMW with Schimpf/Fischhaber/ Ketterer finished the 1000-km race in 10th place in the overall classification in 1980, and this BMW came home in overall 4th position in 1982 (and simultaneously second in Group 5).
This car's many first places include a series of wins in European hill. The frequently proven BMW-12/7 Formula-2 engine was used as the engine. E21 R1-08: One of the first In 1976, BMW produced one of the first series of BMW 320 Group 5 kits and delivered 15 of these to private teams.
A further five kits were developed as works cars by BMW. BMW E21 320I GROUP 5 Although in 3.5-litre Group 5 trim the E9-based CSL had still been winning races at World Championship level for BMW Motorsport right up until the end of the 1976 season, the Munich firm elected to switch focus to the under two. In just twelve weeks, BMW Motorsport developed a Group 5 version of the all new 'E21' 320 saloon.
The new GT racer was ready in time for the 1977 season and replaced the ageing 3.0 CSL, which had actually started life as a Touring Car earlier in the decade. The 4th Generation Group 5 E21 320 Turbo pictured here was campaigned by Team McLaren in the IMSA Camel GT series and piloted by the fabled David Hobbs. The less-than-one-ton chassis housed a 2.0-liter M12 making more than 650 horsepower, which rotated the ridiculously wide Goodyear slicks to unfathomable speeds.
1978 E21 BMW Ex works Group 5 320 driven by Hans Stuck, Ronnie Peterson, Jim Richards in the Worl Championship for Makes, IMSA GTX and finally in Australia. Description: BMW E21 320i Group 5 History: original BMW Motorsport - ex-HAT and ex-Ronnie Peterson Chassis number e21-R1-07 is one of the original BMW Motorsport cars built in 1977 for participation in the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft (DRM) in Group 5 (Division 2, up to 2000cc). The car was originally delivered to Hohmann Auto Technik (HAT), a team with close ties to BMW Motorsport.