{"id":1621,"date":"2015-04-27T14:00:21","date_gmt":"2015-04-27T12:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.car-shooters.com\/?p=1621"},"modified":"2016-09-26T15:29:39","modified_gmt":"2016-09-26T13:29:39","slug":"oldcarshooters-bmw-5206-e12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.car-shooters.com\/en\/2015\/04\/27\/oldcarshooters-bmw-5206-e12\/","title":{"rendered":"#OLDCARSHOOTERS: BMW 520\/6 E12"},"content":{"rendered":"

With this photo shoot, Car-Shooters will start a new photo project in the classic cars world!\u00a0 A world made of stories, people, smells and passion that car enthusiasts search for like a breath of fresh air.\u00a0 The cars we observe in the streets<\/span> today<\/span>, we drive<\/span> every day<\/span>, all come from<\/span> very far away<\/span>, from a long process<\/span> of improvement<\/span>, from adaptations<\/span> to <\/span><\/span>society changes<\/span> over time<\/span>. Even today<\/span> we go to buy<\/span> the<\/span> 500<\/span>, we go to buy<\/span> the<\/span> Mini<\/span>,<\/span> the<\/span> Beetle<\/span>. Names<\/span> that have shaped automotive’s<\/span> history.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>\"dettaglio<\/p>\n

To<\/span> understand the present<\/span> we can not ignore<\/span> the<\/span> past.<\/span> So many times<\/span> we judge<\/span> cars<\/span> with<\/span> twenty or<\/span> thirty years<\/span> as<\/span> old pieces of junk<\/span>, to be allocated<\/span> to the<\/span> scrapyard<\/span>.<\/span> But no<\/span>. They still have<\/span> a lot to<\/span> say and to<\/span> teach,<\/span> as<\/span> people of<\/span> “<\/span>a certain age<\/span>“. In<\/span> these articles<\/span> we want to<\/span> tell and<\/span> show<\/span> a world<\/span> that<\/span> smells<\/span> of petrol and<\/span> iron<\/span>, speaking of<\/span> anecdotes<\/span>, people<\/span> and,<\/span> of course,<\/span> places and itineraries<\/span>. How to start<\/span> this series of<\/span> historical experiences<\/span>?<\/span><\/p>\n

\"dettaglio<\/p>\n

We searched<\/span> for something that can be<\/span>\u00a0categorized<\/span> by many as<\/span> “<\/span>old peace of junk<\/span>“<\/span> but that<\/span> in our opinion<\/span>, it is not at all<\/span>.<\/span> Something<\/span> not impossible<\/span> to find<\/span> for<\/span> our<\/span> photo shoot<\/span> and a<\/span> modest investment<\/span> for<\/span> those who want to<\/span> have<\/span> an experience with<\/span> a<\/span> classic <\/span>car<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"dettaglio<\/p>\n

The<\/span> choice felt on<\/span> the Leonardo’s<\/span> <\/span>1980 <\/span><\/span>BMW<\/span> 5 Series<\/span> E12<\/span>,<\/span> that will get its pictures taken<\/span> in the<\/span> Torre<\/span> del Lago<\/span> scenary.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\"il \"veduta<\/p>\n

This is also a<\/span> wonderful place<\/span>: with its<\/span> open-air theater<\/span> overlooking<\/span> the <\/span><\/span> Massacciuccoli<\/span> <\/span>lakeside, <\/span>dedicated to the<\/span> great opera composer<\/span> Giacomo<\/span> Puccini<\/span> who lived and<\/span> composed here his most<\/span> famous arias<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"il \"esterno<\/p>\n

Arias<\/span> that<\/span> continue to echo<\/span> <\/span>in his honor<\/span> <\/span>every year<\/span> in the Opera Lyric<\/span> Festival.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>\"cartelli<\/p>\n

But<\/span> there is also a<\/span> clear sea<\/span> as backdrop for our today shooting session<\/span>. And <\/span>this atmosphere<\/span> a bit <\/span>retr\u00f2<\/span><\/em> is well suited<\/span> to our theme<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"bmw<\/p>\n

Amazing day<\/span> to take pictures<\/span>. We meet<\/span> in the early morning<\/span> at the<\/span> charming B<\/a><\/span> &<\/span> B<\/span> Vittoria<\/span><\/a>, near<\/span> both to the Massaciuccoli lake and<\/span> the sea<\/span>. We<\/span> had a good sleep and<\/span> a<\/span> delicious\u00a0<\/span>breakfast<\/span> on the terrace<\/span>. It’s time to<\/span> start<\/span>!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"BMW<\/p>\n

A<\/span> tap<\/span> on <\/span>the horn<\/span> and here<\/span> the old lady<\/span> showing up<\/span> on time<\/span> at the gate<\/span>. We start seeing the <\/span>double<\/span> headlights and<\/span> 520<\/span> written<\/span> on the grille under the bonnet<\/span>, accompanied by<\/span> the t<\/span>ypical<\/span> sound of engines with carburetor<\/span>, now<\/span> long<\/span> forgotten<\/span>. First<\/span> we ask<\/span> Leonardo<\/span> why he<\/span> chose<\/span> this car<\/span> and he<\/span> jokingly<\/span> replied:<\/span> “<\/span>I wanted to do robberies<\/span>.” Hahaha<\/span>!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"camera<\/p>\n

It’s true!<\/span> It seems<\/span> to look<\/span> good<\/span> to do robberies<\/span>, one of the few<\/span> at that time<\/span> that<\/span> could<\/span> deal with<\/span> to<\/span> the “alfetta<\/span>” of the police<\/span>. It also appeared<\/span> in some<\/span> detective films<\/span>, to name one<\/span> “Vallanzasca – Angels<\/span> of Evil<\/span>“, in which<\/span> a<\/span> 520<\/span> gray<\/span> and gold<\/span> was used<\/span> by the band of<\/span> Vallanzasca<\/span> for<\/span> a spectacular<\/span> chase<\/span> between bandits<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"leonardo<\/p>\n

The<\/span> real<\/span> reason<\/span> explains<\/span> was the need to find<\/span> a car<\/span> “multipurpose<\/span>” at an affordable price<\/span>, to alternate it at <\/span>a sport car<\/span> with two seats.<\/span> As petrolhead, he not<\/span> even remotely<\/span> thought<\/span> to consider modern city car<\/span>,<\/span> but<\/span> he started<\/span> looking for a<\/span> classic vehicle<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"leonardo<\/p>\n

He reveals us<\/span> having starting from the<\/span> idea to buy an Alfa<\/span> Romeo<\/span>,<\/span> then<\/span> he changed his mind<\/span> for<\/span> rust problems<\/span> that <\/span>the <\/span>Italian<\/span> of the 70s and<\/span> 80s<\/span> usually have, especially if<\/span> left<\/span> outside. Needed<\/span> something more reliable<\/span> then<\/span>, in<\/span> a word, more<\/span> German<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"dettaglio<\/p>\n

After a month of<\/span> searching<\/span>\u00a0around<\/span> Italy, he finally found what he was<\/span> looking for and<\/span> maybe even more<\/span>. The car<\/span> that we present<\/span> in this article<\/span> has never<\/span> been subjected to any<\/span> process of restoration<\/span>, has been<\/span> perfectly <\/span>preserved<\/span> by the three<\/span> previous owners<\/span> in impeccable conditions<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"dettaglio<\/p>\n

We come then<\/span> to her,<\/span> presented<\/span> in 1972<\/span> to replace the old<\/span> BMW New Class<\/span> and signed<\/span> by designer<\/span> Paul<\/span> Bracq,<\/span> the 5 series<\/span> was offered<\/span> to<\/span> a medium-high customer segment<\/span>. An interesting fact<\/span> is that<\/span> it’s the first<\/span> BMW<\/span> to inaugurate the<\/span> wel known<\/span> naming system<\/span> of the house<\/span>, where the first number<\/span> of the code<\/span> indicates the<\/span> car <\/span>model<\/span> and the two<\/span> following<\/span> the engine displacement<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"dettaglio<\/p>\n

Owning<\/span> in the ’70 a<\/span> BMW<\/span> 5<\/span> series<\/span> was<\/span> definitely<\/span> a great satisfaction<\/span>, many<\/span> still<\/span> say<\/span> proudly: <\/span>“m<\/span>y dad<\/span> had one<\/span>“! Certainly,<\/span> your were very lucky to afford<\/span> a<\/span> car like that<\/span>. At our times this car has became more popular and it is sold in prompt delivery.\u00a0 In the ’70 they were ordered by customers who had to wait<\/span> for<\/span> extremely long time<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"dettaglio<\/p>\n

When you were purchasing one, you <\/span>were<\/span> in front of<\/span> a<\/span> list of options<\/span> rather different<\/span> from those<\/span> we are used to<\/span>, many things we<\/span> now<\/span> take for granted<\/span> and<\/span> “<\/span>standard” were not<\/span> at all.<\/span> To<\/span> name a few<\/span>, were considered<\/span> as optionals, the rev-counter<\/span>, the right rear-view mirror<\/span> and the fifth gear<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"dettaglio<\/p>\n

Today we can<\/span> choose between four<\/span> types of<\/span> screen<\/span> for the<\/span> navigation system<\/span>, at that time<\/span>, for this kind<\/span> of<\/span> car<\/span> you<\/span> could chose<\/span> between<\/span> four types of<\/span> gearbox<\/span>! It was<\/span> proposed<\/span>\u00a0a classic<\/span> four<\/span>-speed manual or<\/span> a standard five-speed<\/span>, a sporty five-speed<\/span>\u00a0or an<\/span> automatic<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"dettaglio<\/p>\n

Accessories<\/span> that<\/span> are now<\/span> offered<\/span> as standard<\/span> were<\/span> offered<\/span> at a high price<\/span>: air conditioning<\/span>, power steering<\/span>, central locking and<\/span> electric windows<\/span> were paid<\/span> separately.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"dettaglio<\/p>\n

The model<\/span> we are presenting today<\/span>, like most<\/span> at the time<\/span>, doesn’t have any of these options.\u00a0Note<\/span>, however, that<\/span> the<\/span> electrically regulation of the <\/span>external rear view mirrors<\/span> was standard, on the other hand the electric windows were optionals!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"gli<\/p>\n

In 1972<\/span>, at the time of<\/span> launch,<\/span> the<\/span> ‘<\/span>only engine available was<\/span> a<\/span> 2000 <\/span>four-cylinders<\/span>, with<\/span> carburetor\u00a0<\/span>(<\/span>520) and 115HP<\/span> and<\/span> another one with mechanical injection<\/span> (<\/span>520i) and<\/span> 130HP<\/span>, capable of reaching<\/span> 185 km<\/span> \/<\/span> h<\/span>. Not<\/span> a record<\/span> but<\/span> definitely<\/span> a ‘good<\/span> top speed<\/span>,<\/span> whereas the<\/span> 2.0<\/span> direct<\/span> competitor,<\/span> Mercedes<\/span> 200<\/span> W123<\/span> was providing<\/span> 109HP<\/span> pushing it<\/span> to 168<\/span> km \/<\/span> h<\/span>. A year later<\/span> in 1973<\/span> it was time for <\/span>the<\/span> 525<\/span>, with a<\/span> 2500cc<\/span> six-cylinder<\/span> engine<\/span> with<\/span> 145 HP<\/span> and<\/span> the smaller 518<\/span>, with a<\/span> 1800cc<\/span> four-cylinder engine<\/span> with<\/span> 90HP<\/span>, which had a great success in Italy due to high fees on cars with engine displacement equal or bigger than 2000.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"dettaglio<\/p>\n

In 1975<\/span> enters<\/span> in the<\/span> market the<\/span> 528,<\/span> a\u00a02800cc<\/span> with six cylinders and\u00a0165HP<\/span>, equipped with<\/span> power steering<\/span> and<\/span> four brake discs<\/span> as standard<\/span>. In 1976<\/span> the car<\/span> had a<\/span> soft face-lift<\/span>, focused<\/span> mainly<\/span> on the front<\/span> design.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"dettaglio<\/p>\n

In the back they introduced bigger l<\/span>ights<\/span> with <\/span>the fuel filler cup on<\/span> the right side.<\/span> In 1977<\/span> appears<\/span> the<\/span> 520,a<\/span> six cylinder<\/span> with carburetor<\/span> with<\/span> 122HP<\/span>, also known as 520\/6<\/span> that goes to<\/span> replace the<\/span> four-cylinder<\/span> 520i<\/span>. In 1979<\/span> BM presented the first<\/span> 5 series<\/span>\u00a0M<\/span> signed<\/span>, the<\/span> M535i<\/span> with a<\/span> 3500cc<\/span> six-cylinder engine<\/span> with<\/span> 218HP<\/span> able to<\/span> bring it<\/span> to 222<\/span> km \/<\/span> h<\/span>. In 1981<\/span> it was replaced by the second series<\/span> E28<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"dal<\/p>\n

How is owning a car like that these days? <\/span> The owner has to take care of this type of car in a way\u00a0<\/span>that<\/span> is not necessary for <\/span>modern cars<\/span>. For example<\/span> it is good to<\/span> travel with<\/span> a bottle<\/span> of oil<\/span> in the trunk<\/span>, it likes a liter<\/span> every<\/span> 1000km<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"manuale<\/p>\n

Going<\/span> to<\/span> the shopping<\/span> center<\/span> in<\/span> the city<\/span> ‘s<\/span> summer is<\/span> not advisable<\/span>, the lack of<\/span> power steering and air<\/span> conditioning<\/span> imply that<\/span> after you have parked your car you will get out completely sweaty like after <\/span>a<\/span>n hour<\/span> of gym<\/span>. Driving<\/span> out of town<\/span> is very\u00a0<\/span>pleasant<\/span>, the gearshift\u00a0<\/span> is great,<\/span> better than many<\/span> manual gearbox today<\/span>, smooth and accurate.<\/span> The steering<\/span> wheel, even if without power steering, results not so heavy when<\/span> the car moves<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"leonardo<\/p>\n

Driving means rediscover a<\/span> close contact<\/span> with the car mechanics<\/span>, no electronic interference<\/span> between<\/span> the driver<\/span> and the car<\/span>. But forget about<\/span> the safe driving <\/span>of the<\/span> actual<\/span> BMWs<\/span>, road worthiness\u00a0<\/span>was not<\/span> its the strong point<\/span> at that time!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"la<\/p>\n

This is mainly caused by a bad weight distribution on the rear axle and it can be very fun if you get used to.<\/span> Often these<\/span> BMWs<\/span>, like the<\/span> 3<\/span> series<\/span> of the same period<\/span> were,<\/span> and in some<\/span> cases<\/span> are still, used<\/span> as<\/span> “training car<\/span>” to learn the drifting technique<\/span>s. Particular attention should<\/span> be<\/span> paid<\/span> in<\/span> the case of<\/span> wet roads<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"la<\/p>\n

So,<\/span> is it dangerous<\/span>?<\/span> No!<\/span> All happens<\/span> very slowly<\/span>, like for all the cars<\/span> of<\/span> 30 years ago<\/span>. The<\/span> narrow tires<\/span> and a soft suspension regulation<\/span> warn<\/span> you<\/span> in time of<\/span> any loss of grip\u00a0<\/span>and you have not to be a<\/span> Formula One driver<\/span> to retrieve it<\/span>, you have just to know what to do<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"la<\/p>\n

The<\/span> engine is also exciting when<\/span> runs very<\/span> high at<\/span> 6400 rpm<\/span>, a very good regime<\/span> for<\/span> car<\/span> of 1980 giv<\/span>ing you 122 HP. Talking about design? It’s a photogenic car for sure<\/span>, it has been a pleasure to shoot photos<\/span>, looking good from all<\/span> viewing angles and<\/span> the mix of<\/span> an elegant and aggressive design<\/span> is extremely<\/span> successful.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"dettaglio<\/p>\n

The<\/span> low front<\/span> makes her looking want to eat <\/span>the road.<\/span> When you are traveling<\/span> on the highway<\/span> at high speed,<\/span> if\u00a0<\/span>people<\/span> see you are coming<\/span> from behind,<\/span> they don’t hesitate to<\/span> give you the<\/span> way<\/span>. You really feel t<\/span>hat you are<\/span> dealing with<\/span> a<\/span> BMW<\/span>, witch by its nature is<\/span> not<\/span> very patient when<\/span> in<\/span> the fast lane<\/span>. <\/span><\/span>The<\/span> extensive use<\/span> of chrome<\/span> makes<\/span> everything looking rich and<\/span> and even the less expert does not hesitate to<\/span> catalog the 520<\/span> as<\/span> a<\/span> luxurious sport sedan<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"dettaglio<\/p>\n

It was fun to<\/span> discover and<\/span> photograph all the small details of this amazing car<\/span>, the knob that<\/span> operates the<\/span> lights<\/span>, the wooden shift gear, the toolbox<\/span> in the luggage compartment<\/span>, the various German <\/span>stickers <\/span> and more.<\/span><\/span> This fantastic day<\/span> passed<\/span> quickly<\/span> in the company of<\/span> this old<\/span> lady who turned<\/span> the heads<\/span> of<\/span> many<\/span> curious<\/span>\u00a0in the center of<\/span> Torre<\/span> Del<\/span> Lago Puccini<\/span>. At the end of<\/span> the day<\/span>, as “she” arrived<\/span> “she” leaves,<\/span> with a tap<\/span> of<\/span> the horn<\/span> and<\/span> the sound<\/span> of its<\/span> six-cylinders<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n