If you haven’t noticed, auto manufacturers are practically breaking their necks to release special edition models. It seems like there have already been a ton in the first four months of 2016. Last year BMW->ke178 released the 5 Series Maestro->ke317 as a Japan-only special edition,->ke2041 and now BMW is jumping on that wagon again with the BMW 5 Series Baron Edition, a model it claims is “for the real gentleman” and will only be available on the Japanese market.

The special edition is based on the BMW 523d sedan->ke142 and includes just a few goodies that make it stand out from the standard model. But, don’t get too excited, because just about everything included on the special edition can be optioned on the standard 523d, so there really isn’t anything new to discuss as far as offerings go. Of course, that shouldn’t surprise you much, considering terms like “special edition” and “limited edition” are thrown around pretty loosely these days.

With that said, BMW will start taking orders for the “real gentleman’s car” on April 23rd, and just 200 examples will be sold before the mold is broken. So, why don’t we take a closer look at it before it officially goes on sale and see if there is anything to be excited about.

Continue reading to learn more about the BMW 5 Series Baron Edition.

2016 BMW 5 Series Baron Edition

Specifications
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  • Model: 2016 BMW 5 Series Baron Edition
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What makes the BMW 5 Series Baron Edition special

To start, BMW takes a BMW 523d and throws the M Sport package on it. That means it gets larger air inlets up front, side skirts with additional contour lines, and exhaust pipe finishers in dark chrome with a Dark Shadow Metallic rear diffuser. It also includes the 19-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels. The exterior can be had in one of two exterior colors: Mediterranean Blue – as seen in the photos here – or Mineral Gray. The headlight units have been replaced with adaptive LED units.

On the inside, you’ll find Dakota leather upholstery finished in either Oyster or Veneto Beige. The M Sport package is also evident on the inside with the M door sill finisher with chrome inserts and the M sport multifunction steering wheel. Additionally, the interior is fitted with a dedicated coat hanger (for the gentleman) and a cabin aroma diffuser. Some of the trim inserts inside have been replaced with Ansorajitto Wood trim, plus the interior gets some sprucing up from the BMW Individual aluminum line as well.

Other features that make the special edition complete include a special leather-wrapped key case, soft-close doors, and electric trunk opening. Since it is based on the 523d, the Baron edition is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that generates 184 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Power is delivered to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

As I said before, most of the features included with “the gentleman’s car” are available on the standard 523d, so there isn’t much that’s all that special. This limited-run model is set to sell for ¥7,770,000, which computes to about $70,300 at current exchange rates. For those of you in the U.S. that might be interested in such a model, we have the 535d that starts out at $57, 350 and delivers 255 horsepower. You could add on most of the options included on the 523d Baron edition and probably be around the same price point with better performance. Just putting that out there.

BMW 5 Series

The BMW 5 series has been around since the E12 generation kicked off in 1972. Since then it has seen five generational updates, with the most recent F10 generation hitting showrooms for the 2011 model year. The 5 Series went through a refresh for the 2014 model year, and we should see the seventh-gen model hit showrooms for the 2017 model year.

In current form, the 5 Series is available in 5 different flavors here in the U.S., including the 528i, 525i, 535d, 550i, and the Active Hybrid 5. Pricing for the entry-level models of each level is $50,200, $55,850, $57,350, $66,300, and $62,100, respectively. Each model, except for the Active Hybrid 5, is available in xDrive form, which adds $2,300 to the starting price of each model.

Read our full review on the BMW 5 Series here.