After driving the E39 for a couple weeks and enjoying the torque, yesterday, I got the sudden erge to take out the E34. Just put a new battery in the car 2 months ago and it hasn't been turned on in 2 months because of the weather.
I put the key in the ignition and nothing.........jump the car but the battery is so low it doesn't jump properly. I'm taking the battery back and getting another one!
As a comparison to the E34, the E39 is really the power at all rpms and the technology advancements. Sometimes I say it has too much power, its exhausting. You can't even look at the rpms in first gear in the E39, it goes by to fast
However, the E34 is something else, I can't explain it. The old styling and the lack of traction control but just enough power is awesome.
Moral of the story: Don't ever sell the E34 even though it gives you hell sometimes!
Nice report ............. I think it underlines everything we all feel about the E34, it has that certain something which keeps making us comeback for more?
I love the E39 M5 but I know exactly what you mean about that "something else".
I think it is the "somethiing else" that is missing from a great deal of modern performance cars.
One of the things that has happened in modern times is that most cars have more grip than can be played with easily making the car less accessable to drivers which means that more power is needed to gurantee an entertaining drive. Then to counteract the need for more power that you can not use all the time means that traction control is needed another layer inbetween the driver and the car and here in lies the problem.
All the reposnses of the car have to be tailored and filtered to account for the new power and grip but this can mean more inbetween driver and car spoiling some of the fun but also protecting the driver and passengers but maybe reducing the feel and thus sometimes the fun.
This is why I think the E34 is the last of a breed. A car that has a sufet of power over grip but whose deliver and handling is tailored to allow the use of this power without any electronic intervention. Thus allowing more fun and charcter to shine through possibly some may argue more soul.
Also the car now hits a wider market compare the numbers built 20,000+ E34 around double for the E39......
I always remember when a magizine that I read drove the last of the old cars (E34) and loved it, and then they drove the E39 and could not get on with it until they drove it faster and then the full bredth of its talent was laid bare for all to see. Both fantastic but different.
I hasten to add that it is not only the M5 that has this issue as I see it many other perfornance cars have this issue. ( F430 has more power than the F40 but has traction control unlike the F40 - which incidentally also has an Air pump!) I do not think that this makes them less fun to drive just less accessable to the driver.
Off topic but I recently bought a battery tender, it was the best 25 dollars I've spent in a long time. I don't need to worry if I don't drive the car for 10 days. The batttery levels are managed and never overcharged. Everyone that doesn't daily drive their car should have one. Kicking my own azz for not getting one years ago.
Although I have never driven an E39 or an E60 M5, I agree!
I was at a track day recently attended by 2 E60 M5's. The owner of one of them also owns an E34 3.6 M5. He has driven the track many, many times over the years in the E34 but only a few times in the E60 - and he was having trouble doing better times in the E60.
The conclusion I drew was that as discussed below. The power and handling etc was there, but it is much harder for a driver to engage with it. The car was turning power off at the wrong time and doing all sorts of strange things.
In the end, he decided that the only way to do better times (until he had spent a lot more time learning the actual effect of the myriad of settings) was to turn off all the electronic driving aids.
Still, it was fun to see the 2 E60 M5's tearing around the track.
Although I have never driven an E39 or an E60 M5, I agree!
I was at a track day recently attended by 2 E60 M5's. The owner of one of them also owns an E34 3.6 M5. He has driven the track many, many times over the years in the E34 but only a few times in the E60 - and he was having trouble doing better times in the E60.
The conclusion I drew was that as discussed below. The power and handling etc was there, but it is much harder for a driver to engage with it. The car was turning power off at the wrong time and doing all sorts of strange things.
In the end, he decided that the only way to do better times (until he had spent a lot more time learning the actual effect of the myriad of settings) was to turn off all the electronic driving aids.
Still, it was fun to see the 2 E60 M5's tearing around the track.
Cheers
When / If you come to Melbourne gimme a buzz, you can take my E39 for a spin (figuratively not literally )
I've got an Eisenmann race exhaust coming for my E39
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1999 Imola Red M5. Extended Caramel Interior Mods on my pre-update beast:Eisenmann "Race" exhaust (76mm tips), 19" Hamann PG2's, AACAI, Clear Angel Eyes, MK4 Nav, GC's M5 Coilover kit w/front camber plates, Dinan Front and rear sway bars, D/A swaybar mounts, Dinan front and rear strut brace, Braided brake lines, Eibach 3mm wheel spacers, Rogue Engineering underdrive pulleys, IATS Relocation, Powerchip, Xenon foglights & Lower engine covers w/Brake duct cutout
2008 Volkswagen Golf GTI. The wifes new car
2005 Ford Territory Ghia. The wifes car. (Sold)
1986 Toyota Landcruiser HJ75. The farm ute.
I was talking to my wife last night while watching the Collingwood/Adelaide match about going over to Melbourne for a few days in the next couple of months - watch a few footy games, do a bit of shopping etc.
Off topic but I recently bought a battery tender, it was the best 25 dollars I've spent in a long time. I don't need to worry if I don't drive the car for 10 days. The batttery levels are managed and never overcharged. Everyone that doesn't daily drive their car should have one. Kicking my own azz for not getting one years ago.
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