The BMW 520i was a variant of the E39 5 Series that was introduced for the 1997 model year. The 520i was offered in both sedan and station wagon (Touring) body styles and was built with a range of inline six engines. Initially, the 520i was equipped with BMW's M52B20 engine, which was a 2.0L inline six with 148hp. For the 1999 model year, this engine ws given a technical update which same output remain the same, but with an improved powerband and greater reliability. This engine was replaced by the new M54B22 2.0L inline six engine for 2001, which saw power increase to 168hp. These engines were paired with both manual and automatic transmissions to send drive to the rear wheels. Production of the E39 BMW 520i ended in 2003, although the model series would continue life in the next generation E60 BMW 5 Series.