Initially it was only in the BMW E12 Munich parent plant was built. After completion of the new production facility in Dingolfing in 1973, production was gradually there. BMW 1975, the production of the five in Munich fully On. By mid 1981, the E12 BMW in Germany.

The BMW Motorsport GmbH (M GmbH) in Munich, built initially on specific customer request the BMW 525 and BMW 528 order. The vehicles were given a performance boost by installing stronger Capacity engines. Since 1980 was the BMW M GmbH M535i in larger quantities. This 3.5-liter engine came from the 7 Series, but was constructively work closely with the three-liter engine is used, so that to improve performance, such a conversion offered.

Distance from Munich in 1973, began the assembly of the 5 Series sedan in South Africa. The master works from Germany delivered CKD vehicle records (CKD = Completely Knocked Down) to South Africa, who were assembled. So might the high import taxes to South Africa around. After the cessation of production in Germany took over the plant in the South Africa Press tools from Germany and now produced the successful BMW E12 - with the interior of the successor model E28 - until the year 1985, there were the 520 with a two-liter four-cylinder (85 kW/115 PS), the 528 with carburetor engine (125 kW/170 hp, standard ZF three-speed automatic) and 530 (130 kW/177 hp, standard four-speed gearbox). The BMW E28 then dissolved in South Africa the BMW E12 and was produced there until 1989.