AC Schnitzer makes a 'bahn storming BMW 5 Series

Part of the appeal of a fast German four-door is its subtlety. Cars tuned to sit at 155mph all day on the Autobahn yet look little more aggressive than a Stuttgart taxi. So we’re not sure what to make of this, AC Schnitzer’s tuned BMW 5 Series.

The latest Five has been given a round of exterior and mechanical upgrades. Buy a diesel-powered 530d and the Aachen-based tuner will lift it from 261bhp to 311bhp, a nice 50bhp hike.

Stick with petrol power and you’ll get an even healthier hike, the 540i’s standard 335bhp swelling to 395bhp. Similar gains are being primed for other models, too, so don’t stress if you’ve stuck with a base-spec diesel. Or splashed out on an M550i petrol…

Now, power upgrades such as those strike us as no-brainers. What’s a bit more perplexing is the styling. On the one hand, Schnitzer’s smattering of splitters, spoilers and skirts are at the tasteful end of the modifying spectrum, spectacularly shiny quad tailpipes aside.

But on the other hand, isn’t there fun in having a saloon or estate that looks like a company car but out-drags most sports cars? Good as this kit looks, we wonder if it’s missing the point of a true ‘bahn stormer.

Over to you – would you throw your 5 Series AC Schnitzer’s way, or not?