BMW 540

As its name indicates, the BMW 540 has a large engine. Following the traditional BMW practice of naming its vehicles after their series number and engine size (which holds true for the most part, although there have been variations through the years), the 540 is a 5 Series vehicle with a 4.0-liter engine. That's a sizable engine, so it makes sense that the 540 didn't make its first appearance in the 5 Series lineup until 1994, long after other smaller-engined vehicles, such as the 520, 525, 528, 530, and 535, had made their debuts.

The 4.0-liter engine that was dropped under the hood of the first 540 in 1994 was a V8 that produced 282 horsepower, making the 540 the new high-end vehicle in the 5 Series. A five-speed automatic was the only transmission available with the first 540, and standard features included leather seats, a power sunroof, and anti-lock brakes.

A standard six-speed manual transmission was added in 1995, along with a sport suspension and larger 17-inch wheels.

As part of a redesign of the 5 Series in 1997, the 540 received a larger 4.4-liter engine. Side curtain airbags were added to the list of standard equipment in 1998, and in 2002 the 540 received a bump in power to 290 horsepower. A CD player was also added to the list of standard equipment that year.

With the introduction of the fifth generation of the 5 Series in 2004, the 540 was dropped from the lineup in favor of the 545 and has yet to return. But like many of the 5 Series models, which have cycled into and out of the lineup over the past three decades, it's only a matter of time before the 540 makes a reappearance in showrooms.