The E39 5 Series was the last car that should have had the modern BMW kidney grille
- Unici Design grafted the M4 grille onto a 1999 BMW E39 Touring.
- This prototype features a widebody modification and is set to be launched soon.
- The internet is divided over the radical transformation of the classic station wagon.
The BMW E39 is widely considered one of the most iconic 5 Series cars, but one American tuner apparently thought it needed a bit of a modern twist. Unici Design took the radical step of transplanting the G81 M4’s infamous oversized kidney grille onto an E39 Touring and outfitting it with a full widebody kit.
The project started with a few viral renderings showing off the bold transformation. After hours of work, the digital model has become a realistic prototype, albeit one that is still under development. It is worth noting that Unici Design does not intend to build this radical E39 as a one-off; their goal is to bring the kit to market.
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The donor car for the prototype is a 1999 BMW 528i Touring. The kit includes a custom front bumper, M4-style kidney grille and air intakes, and a matching hood. The original E39 headlights are retained but partially obscured by the new hood. Unici Design plans to upgrade the halogen light clusters with LED graphics, aiming to make the car look less like a heavily modified Dodge Charger LD.
The tuner also intends to install wide fender extensions, a double spoiler on the tailgate, and some fake vents on the rear glass. Air suspension or KW coilovers will fine-tune the stance of the car, and it will be paired with a set of aftermarket alloy wheels.
The final model (right) is a BMW E39 5 Series with styling elements from the G81 M4 (left).
Prototypes will be completed in the coming months. Handcrafting the entire body kit is a labor-intensive process. Once completed, Unici Design will announce pricing and availability for the conversion kit.
We’ll be keeping an eye on Unici Design’s Instagram to see if this controversial creation is well received. The internet has been divided over it, with some adoring it and others hating it. All we can say is that while the result is undoubtedly unique, it’s definitely not an improvement on the timeless looks of the E39 5 Series.
The giant grilles on the G80 M3 and G81 M4 caused an uproar among BMW enthusiasts in 2020. Oddly, BMW resisted the urge to use the same ugly design on the G90 M5 or any other M car, only doubling down on the controversial design on the facelifted M3 and M4.
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