The 500.000th BMW from BMW-Work in Dingolfing: BMW 520 (1979), © BMW AG

In the middle of 1972 the production started with the models BMW 520 and BMW 520i. In the year 1973 BMW added the BMW 525 to their model range. 1974 the BMW 518 was added and one year after in 1975 the BMW 528 became the top model of the range. In the following production years more than 80,000 BMW E12 were manufactured each year. In the 2nd half of 1981 the 2nd generation of BMW 5 Serie (BMW E28) was issued and the production of BMW E12 in Germany was discontinued.


Produktion sorted by year, © www.e12.de

Year	Vehicles	CKD's	Sum
1972	12,895	0	12,895
1973	47,653	754	48,407
1974	48,833	4,662	53,495
1975	76,636	4,140	80,776
1976	81,217	8,040	89,257
1977	79,692	6,612	86,304
1978	87,904	8,448	96,352
1979	97,837	8,484	106,321
1980	82,537	10,332	92,869
1981	24,967	7,692	32,659
	640,171	59,164	699,335

The BMW 520 was the by far most bought BMW 5 Series. It represents the basic model of BMW 5 Series range. The variants of 1.8 and 2.5 respctively were approxemately similar often ordered. Both types together are as often as the BMW 520. Every tenth buyed decided to buy a BMW 528i, the top of range model.


Distribution of enginevariants to total production, © www.e12.de

The most of the CKD's weremade for South Africa. Totally 53,248 made their way to the far south. Also for the following countries CKD's were delivered: Indonesia, Portugal, Thailand and Uruguay. Because South Africa continued the BMW E12 production on their own, 23,100 units must be added to the total of 699,335. This is a sum of 722,435 units worldwide. For further details of the South African production (E12/8) check the chapter BMW South Africa.

Model	Vehicle	CKD's	Sum D	E12/8 (SA)	Sum D + SA
518	120,377	11,904	132,281	0	132,281
518i	3,015	0	3,015	10,788	13,803
520	243,529	34,000	277,529	0	277,529
520i	25,156	0	25,156	6,216	31,472
525	122,272	6,084	128,356	0	128,356
528	30,565	2,556	33,121	0	33,121
528i	65,736	4,380	70,116	4,680	74,796
530i	28,111	0	28,111	0	28,111
M535i	1,410	240	1,650	1,416	3,066
	640,171	59,164	699,335	23,100	722,435