After being out of BMW's lineup since 2001, the 528 returned to showrooms as part of the 2008 model year, which debuted in May 2007. The 2008 BMW 528 is equipped with one of several new engines introduced for 2008. In this case, the 528 sedan is powered by a 3.0-liter, double-overhead-cam six-cylinder engine that produces 230 horsepower. The engine is borrowed from BMW's 3 Series vehicles.
The 2008 is available as either a rear-wheel-drive or an all-wheel-drive sedan, with the designation of the 528i or the 528iX, respectively,
The 2008 528 continues a long tradition as an integral part of BMW's lineup. The sport sedan dates back to the 1979 model year, when it made its debut as a replacement for the 530. The 528 would jump into and out of the BMW lineup several times over the next three decades.
The 5 Series vehicles, which were introduced in the U.S. in 1975, had proved to be an big hit with car buyers, and the 528 was introduced in 1979 with a new 2.8-liter four-cylinder engine in an effort to meet fuel-economy and emissions standards required of all cars sold in the U.S. The 1979 528 was equipped with a new five-speed manual transmission, which resulted in a fairly speedy vehicle for the era.
In 1982, with the introduction of the second generation of the 5 Series, the 528 received a smaller 2.7-liter engine, and its designation was changed from the 528i to the 528e. A four-speed automatic transmission was added as an option in 1983, and anti-lock brakes were added as standard equipment in 1986.
With the introduction of the 5 Series' third generation in 1989, the 528 was dropped from the lineup, in favor of the 525.
However, the 528 roared back into the BMW lineup as part of the new fourth-generation 5 Series, which debuted with the 1997 model year. The 1997 version of the 528 was powered by a new 2.8-liter six-cylinder engine that produced 190 horsepower.
But in the continuing duel between BMW's 5 Series models, the 528 was replaced in 2001 by a more powerful 530. The 528 would remain out of the lineup until the 2008 model year, when it returned with a new engine, new styling, and new luxury features.
