Thought I'd add my 2 pence owing to the recent threads ans having just been an E39 M5 and then jumped straight back into mine.
The bottom line is that IMHO the E39 would not be an upgrade, in fact hopping back into my car you reliase how much feel you lose. Yes the E39 has a bit more neck yanking punch on the 0-70 dash but this is only marginal. The big difference is corners, the E39 felt incredibly lardy and disjointed and feels a hell of a boat in standard setup. The E34 however is much more composed / balanced and lets you know exactly what is going on.
Yes nice to have a car with a TV and lots toys and I wouldnt say no to owning the E39, but ultimately the driving experience is better in the E34.
Best
M5 Powered
__________________
1995 M5 Limited Edition (02/50)Rosso Red
Pilot Sport 2 Rubber
Valentine One With Conceal
Twin Head LRC100 IR Jammer System
Origin Blue B2 GPS
I had go fast somewhere recently, in the middle of the night, a proper emergency.
It`s so easy to get complacent, to get so used to the car in everyday use and the odd straight line blast, that you forget what a fearsome weapon the E34 M5 is in a point to point when really necessary.
I had a passenger who definately held the grab bar, and was shocked at just how efficient and powerfully an M5 gets from road, corner, road to corner and back.
BMW certainly did a job and a half on the suspension and balance of these cars.
Ivan.
__________________
"Never enter Karussell when on the brakes! I have gone round there on the roof, I know what I'm talking about." ~ Sabine Schmitz
Thought I'd add my 2 pence owing to the recent threads ans having just been an E39 M5 and then jumped straight back into mine.
The bottom line is that IMHO the E39 would not be an upgrade, in fact hopping back into my car you reliase how much feel you lose. Yes the E39 has a bit more neck yanking punch on the 0-70 dash but this is only marginal. The big difference is corners, the E39 felt incredibly lardy and disjointed and feels a hell of a boat in standard setup. The E34 however is much more composed / balanced and lets you know exactly what is going on.
Yes nice to have a car with a TV and lots toys and I wouldnt say no to owning the E39, but ultimately the driving experience is better in the E34.
Best
M5 Powered
i couldnt have said this better myself..kudos to you sir
BMW certainly did a job and a half on the suspension and balance of these cars.
Ivan.
I totally agree, the handling of the E34 M5s is superb!! I took my car for a spin some nights ago (have not driven it in one month) and it feels really sporty for being a large and heavy car, the steering is precission made, just absolutely great fun to drive!
And the sound is lovely too, in fact I like it better than the E39 M5 which gives me more "NASCAR" feeling, that is nice too but it does not say BMW Motorsport, not in my eyes.
When driving the E39 you get a more comfortable car and better performance (especially at high speeds) but some of the sport feeling is gone which can be found in the E34, and in the E28 M5 of course, would be nice to go in one of those beasts some day.
__________________
E34 M5 international information-portal - www.e34m5.se
I was lucky enough to get a ride in an E39 M5 last night and was very impressed. The owner hasn't had it for long but he sure showed me what it can do. Tons of power from any rpm, my 3.6L M5 needs much more reving to shine. I've never driven a 3.8L but the E39 sure felt a lot more powerful than my 3.6L. I also got to test drive a bit and it felt great, I couldn't see any problem with the suspension, it had lots of grip and good feel to it.
It's a very different beast though, much more refined. You can hardly hear the engine inside the car and I understand when people say the E34 has a more race feeling to it. It was kinda funny when our cars were idling next to each other, my old I6 totally drowned out the sound from his big V8
Well, I have one of each. I have a E34 1991 which I bought in 1996 and have drive it for 120.000 Km. I bought an E39 M5 (2001) last autumn and I have driven it 20.000 km so far. I decided to try to trade in my E34 M5. BMW almost asked me to pay them if I wanted them to take it , so I decided to keep it. I try to drive it every now and then (when my daughter does not use it) and there are some distinct differences.
I feel as if I strap the E34 on like the leater suite I use when driving my motorbike. It really gives me a "tight" feeling and the way it acts on the road and in corners is stunning. The E39 is more sophisticated and I find it a bit boring driving it under Swedish speed regulations. I'll try it in Germany next year
However, we drove 1000 Km in one day during the vacation. Half of it in Norway (max 80 Km/h) so the trip took 14 hours and we were net even tired . Now, that is amazing.
Conclution: If I want to drive really really quick and scare the living daylight out of passengers and myself, I would go for the E39. Nobody expects anything of that sort from that car. The E34 would give itself away with its sound and raw idle. If I want to experience the sportscar-feeling, a bit tough and with that nice sound, I would absolutely take the E34.
I too own both a 95 and an 00. I concur with most of what has been said here. The only exception is the "only marginally faster from 0-70" statement. The E39 will blow my e34 away at any speed. It's not even close
However, I agree the E34 is lighter feeling and more neutral. It certainly sounds better. It's more involving and you feel more connected to the road.
I have suspension done on the e39. With these mods it's on a handling par with the e34 with the exception of the E39's weight. The E39 is a porky beast. I have tracked them both and they both understerr moderatly.
IMHO these are the two best M5/s built, including the new model. Although I have not driven the new beast I hate it's looks, V10 and all I'll keep the ones I have, They are both sexy works of art.
I too own both a 95 and an 00. I concur with most of what has been said here. The only exception is the "only marginally faster from 0-70" statement. The E39 will blow my e34 away at any speed. It's not even close
However, I agree the E34 is lighter feeling and more neutral. It certainly sounds better. It's more involving and you feel more connected to the road.
I have suspension done on the e39. With these mods it's on a handling par with the e34 with the exception of the E39's weight. The E39 is a porky beast. I have tracked them both and they both understerr moderatly.
IMHO these are the two best M5/s built, including the new model. Although I have not driven the new beast I hate it's looks, V10 and all I'll keep the ones I have, They are both sexy works of art.
you know what...i don't think its altogether about speed.
i have a similair thing with my lotus carlton.
you see..the thing is...the LC is miles quicker than my m5...and before i go on i have to say its intoxicating the power you feel when those twin turbos kick in with no lag....and the LC same as the e34 has NO driver aids to keep it on the straight and narrow so is very involving to drive aswell as being very forgiving which is a tribute to the ppl who sorted the chasis and the suspension.
however.... in pure enjoyment terms it is no better than my 3.6 m5....and knowing full well that i have to sell my lc doesnt dissapoint me that much because although it isnt as fast i get the same experience in my 3.6 as i do in the lc and its better made to boot.
as far as the e39 goes i'd say its the same..i wouldnt neccessarily want an e39 over my e34...theres alot to be said for older is better especially as modern electronics go....
you know what...i don't think its altogether about speed.
i have a similair thing with my lotus carlton.
you see..the thing is...the LC is miles quicker than my m5...and before i go on i have to say its intoxicating the power you feel when those twin turbos kick in with no lag....and the LC same as the e34 has NO driver aids to keep it on the straight and narrow so is very involving to drive aswell as being very forgiving which is a tribute to the ppl who sorted the chasis and the suspension.
however.... in pure enjoyment terms it is no better than my 3.6 m5....and knowing full well that i have to sell my lc doesnt dissapoint me that much because although it isnt as fast i get the same experience in my 3.6 as i do in the lc and its better made to boot.
as far as the e39 goes i'd say its the same..i wouldnt neccessarily want an e39 over my e34...theres alot to be said for older is better especially as modern electronics go....
just my 2 pennies worth
Yes we live in a world that designers are constantly trying to make safer, mostly out of the fear of litigation in my cynical opinion.
The problem with all this is weight and thus cars such as the new Golf GTI may look fast but in reality arn't. Of course the quickest Golf GTI is the original one as top gear proved in its feature on older is quicker!
Also with all the demands for quite cars, as mentioned, you can hardly hear the V8 - Like going to a Ridley Scott film wearing ear plugs. Car manufacturers forget that the noise / experience on the 0-60 dash is nearly as important as the time!
Best
M5 Powered
__________________
1995 M5 Limited Edition (02/50)Rosso Red
Pilot Sport 2 Rubber
Valentine One With Conceal
Twin Head LRC100 IR Jammer System
Origin Blue B2 GPS
, so I decided to keep it. I try to drive it every now and then (when my daughter does not use it) and there are some distinct differences.
. Now, that is amazing.
Linear Mode
