The Lost Curves of Munich: The Futuristic E39 That Never Was
In the timeline of automotive design, the E39 5 Series stands as a monument to balance. It is the “quintessential” Bavarian sedan: sharp enough to be athletic, yet restrained enough to remain timeless. But history is often shaped by what we don’t see, and a new look into the archives reveals that the E39 almost took a detour into an entirely different, bubbly future.
The 1989 “Futurist” Vision
Recently unearthed by BMW Classic, original design sketches by Joji Nagashima—the man who would eventually pen the E39 we all know—reveal a vastly different starting point. Dated 1989, a full seven years before the car hit the assembly line, the initial vision was an exercise in 80s-era futurism.
The early sketches feature a “bubbly,” wraparound front end that shares more DNA with the radical Italdesign Nazca M12 supercar concept than the stately executive sedan that eventually arrived in 1996. With its streamlined profile and futuristic disc wheels, the design felt like a bold leap away from the boxy, wedgy aesthetic that defined the E34 5 Series. If this design had been greenlit, the 5 Series might have been the automotive equivalent of a science-fiction pioneer, though perhaps a polarizing one.
The Evolution of the Kidneys
As we track the progression of Nagashima’s sketches, we witness the “mechanical” refinement of an icon. The transition from the bubble-like white sedan to the burgundy study shows the emergence of the signature, squinty-eyed headlights and the integration of the iconic kidney grilles that would anchor the production model.
It is a masterclass in iteration. Nagashima wasn’t just drawing; he was slowly stripping away the “futurist” fluff until he arrived at the elegant, functional form that allowed the E39 to age like fine wine.
The “Bangle” Context
It is a common misconception that Chris Bangle—the man responsible for BMW’s drastic aesthetic departure in the early 2000s—was the only one pushing for change. These sketches show that BMW’s design department was exploring “swoopy” and “futuristic” silhouettes as early as 1989, three years before Bangle took the helm.
The E39 was the calm before the storm. It held onto the sharp, confident heritage of the brand while acknowledging that the world of automotive design was beginning to soften its edges.
The BeingsMag Verdict: The Power of Pruning
At BeingsMag, we often talk about the necessity of “pruning” in the creative process. Nagashima’s discarded sketches serve as a vital lesson for any builder or creator. Sometimes, the most important part of the design process is not what you add, but what you realize is unnecessary.
By pulling back from the “futurism” of his 1989 sketches, Nagashima arrived at a design that didn’t just meet the trends of the 90s—it outlasted them. The E39 didn’t need to look like a spaceship to be a classic; it just needed to look like a BMW.
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