The interweb is all aglow with these leaked images of the 2021 5 Series BMW sedan. What do you think? We think we’re looking at the 2016 5 Series BMW. Yeah, there are differences with the front end but honestly, this is just a bore-fest. Really BMW, why not do something to actually improve the styling of your mid-series sedan? Or at least do something that helps us distinguish between the previous model and this new-and-improved version. Splitting hairs and raving about the result is just so GM. You’re BMW. Now we know why BMW doesn’t care these 2021 5 Series images leaked. It is all just no big deal.

There was a time when BMW enthusiasts were excited about seeing the model changes

And that’s a shame. There was a time when BMW enthusiasts were excited about seeing the facelifted/revised/improved model changes. Now, it all sort of runs together. If you notice you’re looking at new models it is more from the color than anything else. And even then some of the colors continue to be offered each and every year. Like the dark blue metallic that flops almost to black. We don’t know what the color is called but we know you know what we’re referring to.

We know it is not the 1960s and you can’t justify major changes year-to-year. And we don’t really want a radical change. We like the “BMW look.” We just don’t like to have to hunt for the differences you say are differences. Not for what you charge for your cars. For the price, we expect to get something new when you say it’s new.

To be able to show off your latest BMW score is part of the package

If the consumer can’t tell it’s the latest model how do you expect his neighbor to? Don’t say he or she doesn’t count because that’s part of the BMW allure. To be able to show off your latest BMW score is part of the package. 

So what has changed? We have before you the leaked blue sedan images from BimmerToday and a promo shot for the 2017 5 Series sedan. If you look hard you’ll see that the side grille openings mimic just about everything on the road right now. Is it a Camry? How about an Avalon? 

The vent in the front fender and the indentation below the beltline looks the same. So does the rocker with the puddle in the middle. So it looks like the side grilles and the split grille are the extent of the facelift. Wait, the kidney bean grille looks identical. Maybe it’s the chrome vertical bars that are new? Who can tell?

We’ve squinted a bunch at it and are still not sure

It is obvious that the headlights are changed but you’ll have to see the car parked. On the street, it will almost be impossible to tell if these headlights are new or old. Is the lower grille different? We think so but we’ve squinted a bunch at it and are still not sure. 

What we can tell you for sure is that if BMW tells us it’s a new 5 Series then it’s new. The folks at BMW can tell you because we’re having a hard time seeing if it is or isn’t. And if we can’t tell then we will let BMW tell you so you’re not mad at Motorbiscuit for telling you something that you’ll have a hard time seeing. Get it?