BMW, through its official Classic division, has published the story of a unique car - the 5-Series E39 model, which belongs to a resident of Finland, Juhi Beckmand. This sedan, manufactured on June 10, 1996, is still in the hands of the first owner and has an impressive mileage of 940,503 kilometers. Despite this figure, the car has not only retained its original engine, gearbox and most interior elements, but also impresses with the condition of the body, which has largely preserved the factory paintwork. According to BMW representatives, only consumables have been replaced throughout its service life, i.e. components subject to scheduled maintenance.
Considering that the car was operated in Finland - a country with a harsh climate and sharp winter temperatures - its technical condition takes on even greater importance. It is known that the engine was started repeatedly at a temperature of -37 °C, and in one of the published photos the thermometer shows -34.5°C. Despite these conditions, the car demonstrates exceptional reliability, which testifies to both the quality of assembly and the diligence of the owner's care.
This is an early modification of the BMW 523i E39, equipped with a 2.5-liter inline six-cylinder gasoline engine from the M52 series. This unit develops 170 horsepower and 245 Nm of torque, working in tandem with a 5-speed manual gearbox that transmits traction to the rear axle. This configuration at the time of launch was considered the golden mean between dynamics and comfort in the business sedan class.
The BMW press service notes that the figure of almost a million kilometers for 29 years of operation corresponds to approximately 35 thousand kilometers per year. This may indicate regular long trips, which, combined with qualified maintenance in official workshops, allowed the car to avoid serious technical problems. Added to this is the factor that in those years BMW still adhered to the high assembly standards characteristic of products from the 1990s, which are today recognized as an example of reliability.
The photos accompanying the BMW Classic publication were taken at different times, but show the car in consistently good external condition. It is noteworthy that the author of the photos avoids close-ups, which may be a conscious decision - but in general, no signs of serious wear are visually registered. Representatives of the brand also report that the story of Juha Beckmand and his car does not end there: he continues to use his BMW daily, and during the year the company plans to publish more details about this exceptional "five".
Thus, this case becomes not only an example of the personal dedication of one owner to his car, but also a confirmation that the durability, technical reliability and quality of cars can indeed be the result of both factory engineering and a responsible attitude towards the car. The story of Juha Beckmand's BMW 523i is a living proof that even in the age of digitalization and electric cars, classic petrol sedans from the 1990s remain relevant examples of what real cars should be.