I have what may seem to be an odd question. How good is/was the E39 M5? You see, I have been smitten by the performance reviews of the E60 M5. I have read the reviews and heard the sounds and I know I would love to drive that powerplant! I even like the idea of SMG, even though there would be times I would enjoy a manual shift, there are a lot more times I would not (stop and go traffic). The SMG would seem like the perfect compromise. Herein lies my dilemna:
1) Not in love with styling of E60 or E63 ( I like E63 M6 styling somewhat more).
2) I really am conerned about the 1st couple of years production issues (ie downtime for repairs)
3) Every test I've read about the new V10's potential indicates though the car pulls strongly throughout it's power range, it doesn't really hit it's stride until around 5k rpm and does not hit the "sweet spot" and make the F1 sounds until around 6k rpm!! To stay in the sweet spot and enjoy the power and F1 sounds, I'd have to drive everywhere in 1st or 2nd gear! You do that in 4th and 5th gears here in the USA you will not have a license for long!
So as enamored as I am with the new ///M V-10 and it's SMG, the very nature of it's design means I would very very rarely be able to drive it as it is meant (high RPM).
So the E39 M5 is looking like a more sensible choice. Great low and midrange (as I understand it) punch, which means I can "pick my spots" to enjoy the performance more often. Is that a correct assesment? Also there is no controversy over the styling of the E39 M5 whatsoever! It's gorgeous!! My main trepidation is the clutch. Even though I though do not live in a large bustling metropolis, we have a lot of bridges and tunnels along with endless road construction, and traffic, especially in the summer is nightmarish! I am in sales and constantly on the road, the stop and go traffic would kill my left leg.
So E39 M5 owners, please recount some of your treasured experiences with your cars, tell me, how good is the E39 M5?
Wow, talk about a loaded question! I'm sure most of us here are in love with our cars...I certainly am! As a long-time BMW enthusiast, I finally feel like I drive an ultimate BMW! When you look at the E39 vs. the E60 M5, I think it splits people into two groups...much like the 993 vs. 996 transition. And there will be people fiercely loyal in both camps! I personally feel that the E39 is already a legend and a classic in its own time. During its reign, the E39 M5 pretty much owned the super-Euro sedan space.
So if you're not a Bangle-fan...then you should start hunting for a clean 2003 M5. The money you save over the E60 (I figure around $20k savings!) can go towards some basic mods that will enhance performance...
The E39 M5 is probably a better all around luxury sports sedan. I believe it is the most balanced car BMW has ever built in terms of balancing various needs and wants. For sure the E34 is a more mechanical experience, but the E39 gives you good modern technology with what many, including myself, consider a real BMW.
The E60 will be a better sports sedan and it even looks like its entering the realm of sports cars in terms of performance. But I think you hit it on the head- will it pull off that balance trick? My take from just reading about the car is: probably not. the engine is a screamer and I think you would be always wanting to get into the upper revs, but traffic, speed limits, local conditions, make it difficult. The SMG is superior in many ways, but it also makes the experience of driving in those less demanding, every day conditions, less engaging. Then you come to the styling and control systems, which are highly debatable (some love, some hate).
I think in the end, with the E60, you will have a car that some people will find as a revelation from the E39: it will be sharper and will be superior to the E39 in many areas, yet I have a feeling the E60 will lack the balance and therefore a sense of endearing that the E39 really provided so well for many of us. Ultimately, it comes down to your own subjective criteria. The above is basically mine.
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All the best,
Jerry 00 Z8 Jet Black/Red Sport / some others
Your rhetorical question is really quite a simple one to answer. If you seek absolute horsepower and cutting edge performance, and can learn to accept and perhaps even grow to like the current BMW design language, the e60 M5 is your car. Time and technology are ever on the march forward, wait for no one, and every car is eventually superceded.
What stirs my soul and fuels my passion for driving is not the number of ponies under the hood, nor performance statistics quoted in magazine articles. Beyond certain parameters the numbers no longer matter as much. What matters more to me is the synthesis of aesthetic appeal, tactile and visceral feedback from my machine and the sublime feeling of connection...with my car, and with the road. When I execute a perfectly rev-matched heel/toe downshift into a difficult corner and place my M5 on the correct line it brings intense satisfaction and evokes, if only momentarily, a connection to what the past heroes of motorsport must have felt. Fangio and his Maserati 250F at the Nurburgring; Gurney and Foyt with their GT40 at LeMans...That, to me, is priceless.
Yes, the e39M5 has been replaced by the Messianic e60M5, and its once eye-popping performance figures overshadowed, but if you value timeless design, still relevant and prodigious performance, and have some fiber of nostalgia in you, then the e39M5 is your one and only choice
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Al
2003 M5 CB/Silverstone (all options except spoiler deletion), HOME AT LAST!
2008 X5 4.8i Sport Space Gray/Tobacco/Bamboo
2002 540ia Sapphire Black
2004 FX35
1999 MB ML430 (3rd row seats)
1992 Jeep Grand Cherokee
1981 320i 5-speed Henna Red
Last edited by schnelleM5; 5th October 2004 at 07:01.
It's so good that I really question whether I want the new E60 M5. For the slight gain in performance, I lose a lot of the raw and pure sensation that I get from a a manual-box E39 M5.
So the E39 M5 is looking like a more sensible choice. Great low and midrange (as I understand it) punch, which means I can "pick my spots" to enjoy the performance more often. Is that a correct assesment? Also there is no controversy over the styling of the E39 M5 whatsoever! It's gorgeous!! My main trepidation is the clutch. Even though I though do not live in a large bustling metropolis, we have a lot of bridges and tunnels along with endless road construction, and traffic, especially in the summer is nightmarish! I am in sales and constantly on the road, the stop and go traffic would kill my left leg.
So E39 M5 owners, please recount some of your treasured experiences with your cars, tell me, how good is the E39 M5?
simmikie
First of all, I have 30k miles and not a hint of any clutch issues. Remember you only hear from the people who have had problems. I believe the vast majority that don't abuse their cars won't have issues. I live in L.A and with traffic as bad as it is I wouldn't trade the stick for anything and I have driven the SMG.
Everyone agrees that the styling hit it's mark after all these years. It's destined to be a classic years from now, like the 63' Corvette, the XKE Jag to name a couple.
It has already been described by others here elequently but let me try to add some additional comments. Yes, gobs of power at a touch of your right foot. I honestly can't see how you would want more. The 0-60 times in the E60 are very close to the E39.
I think the difference is closer to 30k between the two, heck you could buy a Mini and a motorcycle with the difference. I may be in the minority, but save the money on mods, It doesn't need it.
I feel am in that "groove" with this car more than any other car I have owned. It is intuitive, like knowing someone so well you can finish their sentences. BTW, this daily driver will suck the grill off of almost any car out their including the exotics.
The E60 may be to homoginized for my taste. It's starting to look more Japanese to me. No one ever mistakes the E39 for something else.
In the end it will be an emotional decision.
Enjoy!
__________________
"Have a Great M5 Day, You deserve it "!!
Johnny D
M5: Divine Miss "M" (Mistress)
'02 Sterling Grey/black/Luxury/Burl Walnut, M Audio & PDC NO Mods!
04 3.0 Z4 Black
'77 Mustang (Horse NOT the car)
"No Eating, No Drinking & No Advice,
Just get in, shut up and hold on tight"
Everything is relative of course - I remember how people were so taken by the performance of the 533i when it came out, so there's always the point in time aspect.
I've had my 2002 for three years, and like many here, I am a huge fan. The car pulls brilliantly in all gears, has a comfortable and (imho) elegant yet not over the top cabin and can take my family of four plus a reasonable amount of gear on road trips.
The E60 certainly takes the performance to another level, but I personally find the lack of a manual transmission to be a huge drawback. Yes, I'm on the "list", so stay tuned ..... My local dealer commented that there will be very limited distribution of the E60 - not sure what that translates into in terms of allocations....
One of the E60 reviews began by commenting that the E39 M5 was best in its class from the day it was introduced until the day it ceased production....
Time will tell, but I would view the E39 M5 as a "significant" automobile
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'02 Carbon Black / Caramel
New York City
What stirs my soul and fuels my passion for driving is not the number of ponies under the hood, nor performance statistics quoted in magazine articles. Beyond certain parameters the numbers no longer matter as much. What matters more to me is the synthesis of aesthetic appeal, tactile and visceral feedback from my machine and the sublime feeling of connection...with my car, and with the road. When I execute a perfectly rev-matched heel/toe downshift into a difficult corner and place my M5 on the correct line it brings intense satisfaction and evokes, if only momentarily, a connection to what the past heroes of motorsport must have felt. Fangio and his Maserati 250F at the Nurburgring; Gurney and Foyt with their GT40 at LeMans...That, to me, is priceless.
Looks like the makings of "Ode to the E39 M5" - well done !
her.....
)
with this car more than any other car I have owned. It is intuitive, like knowing someone so well you can finish their sentences. BTW, this daily driver will suck the grill off of almost any car out their including the exotics.
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