BMW 5 Series E12 3.5 M535i Sedan
160 kW218 PS215 hp310 Nm1980–1981
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- Power
- 160 kW 218 PS · 215 hp
- Torque
- 310 Nm 229 lb-ft
- Length
- 4,620 mm
- Displacement
- 3,500 cm³
Built 1980–1981, the BMW 5 Series E12 3.5 M535i sedan develops 160 kW (218 PS) and 310 Nm of torque from a 3.5-litre six-cylinder petrol engine. A five-speed manual gearbox sends the 5 Series E12 3.5 M535i's drive to the rear wheels.
No other version of the 5 Series E12 matches its output among 3 versions - that is 67% more than the entry 2.0 520i (96 kW). On top of that, it is the strongest on torque (310 Nm).
5 Series E12 3.5 M535i: measurable strengths
- Most powerful version of the 5 Series E12: 160 kW (218 PS)
- Most torque in the range: 310 Nm
Dimensions drawing
To scale · width without mirrors
Zoom in to read the measurements - or see the table below.
grid 500 mm1 ft Side view: dashed lines mark the axles
Engine
| Engine code | M90 |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Petrol |
| Displacement | 3,500 cm³ 3.5 l · 214 cu in |
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Power | 160 kW 218 PS · 215 hp |
| Torque | 310 Nm 229 lb-ft |
Transmission
| Gearbox | Manual |
|---|---|
| Gears | 5 |
| Drive | Rear-wheel drive |
Dimensions and weight
| Length | 4,620 mm 181.9 in |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,690 mm 66.5 in |
| Height | 1,425 mm 56.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 2,636 mm 103.8 in |
Production
| Body type | Sedan |
|---|---|
| Years | 1980–1981 |
| Generation | 5 Series E12 (1972–1981) |
BMW M90 engine Compare size All 5 Series E12 versions All BMW spec sheets
Data sources
Data checked by an editor against the sources below.
Data: 15 of 25 fields · 1 source · data changed 14 Oct 2026