Man's beloved E39 BMW 5 Series hits 1,000,000km so he decides to buy another BMW to celebrate

The E39 BMW 5 Series has joined a small group of high-mileage cars that have passed one million kilometers without a major mechanical failure.

This particular car, owned by Juha Bäckmand since 1996, still runs on the original engine and gearbox.

It’s been driven through Finnish winters for almost three decades.

Now, its owner has traded it in for a new electric 5 Series, opening up a very different kind of long-term test.

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E39 BMW 5 Series still running after a million kilometers

Bäckmand’s E39 BMW 5 Series is a 1996 523i, finished in Glacier Green and built during the first year of production.

He bought it new and kept it as his daily driver for nearly 30 years.

The car has been through extreme weather, including freezing temperatures as low as -35.5 degrees Celsius, and still retained its original drivetrain.

According to BMW, the car recently passed the one-million-kilometer milestone.

The digital odometer only goes up to 999,999 kilometers, so the number couldn’t be displayed, but the car kept running without issue.

The engine and transmission were never replaced.

Maintenance was always handled at official BMW service centers using genuine parts, and the body has only seen minor cosmetic work.

This makes the E39 BMW 5 Series a standout example of BMW reliability.

While most high-mileage cars that reach this kind of distance are Toyotas or Volvos, this BMW has proven it belongs in that conversation.

The consistency of its performance shows what long-term upkeep can accomplish.

Can the Electric 5 series keep up?

To mark the occasion, Bäckmand has now moved into a 2025 i5 xDrive40 Touring.

The new electric 5 Series uses dual motors and all-wheel drive, powered by an 81.2-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery.

It’s a very different machine from the inline-six E39 BMW 5 Series, but it continues his loyalty to the 5 Series badge.

Whether the electric 5 Series will last as long is uncertain.

While some electric vehicles have logged over a million miles, they often require multiple battery or motor replacements to get there.

The E39 BMW 5 Series reached its milestone with original hardware still in place.

The new car starts a fresh test of BMW reliability in a very different era of engineering.

After what the E39 achieved, it sets a clear benchmark for what counts as true durability.

This car now sits among the most impressive high-mileage cars ever documented.

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