best car i've had to date. E39 M5

best car i've had to date. E39 M5

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pneumothorax

Original Poster:

1,303 posts

230 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
quotequote all
i'm posting to update my opinions on my E39. previously i made a tongue in cheek post titled "my M5 is not fast enough". in this i mentioned that i no longer felt the need to own my F355. and well, it's now gone..as, apart from aesthetics (best looking car i have owned) i could not think of a rational reason for keeping it. initially i felt the need to have something "special" to run alongside the bm but, having tried a few "more focused" cars-including S1/S2 elise/E46 M3, and having always been a 2 car man i think i have found the holy grail-the car that does everything.
i've read a few of the E39 threads on here, and even the sotw one about the standard motor and really think that this iteration of M5 is a real world perfect car. having had it for almost a year i cant think of a single negative aspect of the car. my mum likes it-loves massaging seats and thinks i've got sensible. other half loves it-sleeps whilst being driven briskly and is able to drive it (dsc on almost impossible to come a cropper)and i adore it. makes me laugh almost every time i get in it. i am no expert in chassis/handling issues but i think what's telling is that i now hanker after a slightly damp road surface, so much easier to explore how well this car is set up..and that engine!!!!
i am afraid i have become an utter E39 M5 o'phile.wish i'd tried one out before.and to those who have'nt tried one out-these are THE performance bargain out there at the moment.imo.

nickrex

258 posts

172 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
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Yep, a car that does everything. For the money they go for, it's hard to think of anything better thumbup

neiljohnson

11,298 posts

206 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
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I totally agree as an all rounder they are very hard to beat & some basic mods to the brakes & removing the rear boxes make them epic!!

I am not a Bmw lover either but the e39 is a very special car & still oonsidered by many to be the finest Bmw have ever built.

_Neal_

2,658 posts

218 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
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Nice mini-review, and I agree - the best all-rounder I've had too, and it's met with nothing but positive comments from everyone who's been in and/or driven it.

Currently debating a (quiet) backbox delete on mine - is motorway noise an issue?

C350

3,029 posts

217 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
quotequote all
Really miss mine and watching the wheeler dealers show didnt help frown

The rear muffler delete is well worth it. Its over the top when cold on start up but never an issue on the motorway. It sounded amazing.

As with any £60K car they are expensive when they go wrong (which mine did all the time). Dont miss the 18mph though wink

chilistrucker

4,541 posts

150 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
quotequote all
any pics of said e39?
i've had the e34, m5, and felt the same, sold it last year and still regret it to this day.
will be looking for a new toy some time next year, and at the mo it will be between e34 and e39 m5s

pneumothorax

Original Poster:

1,303 posts

230 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
quotequote all

scarab green. individual champagne leather. lovely!

_Neal_

2,658 posts

218 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
quotequote all
Looks nice, that is an unusual colour combination. You mentioned massage seats too?

Thanks C350, I'll look into it some more smile

pneumothorax

Original Poster:

1,303 posts

230 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
quotequote all
yep. the car is individually specc'd. i havent seen one with this colour combination. i think massage/heated seats are fairly standard with the interior i have-not sports seats. it's a great place to be!

rassi

2,447 posts

250 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
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Only E39 M5 seat options were Sport (standard) or the Comfort seats (akin to those on an E38) in which the curvature of the back rest could be adjusted. No massage seat option.

Maybe the OP is thinking of the electrically adjustable lumbar support?

pneumothorax

Original Poster:

1,303 posts

230 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
quotequote all
negative. my seats are the comfort type.with backrest adjust/heat/lumbar adjust.and a nice little massage function. nice for long trips and my mum loves it!

_Neal_

2,658 posts

218 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
quotequote all
Excellent stuff, definitely the only M5 I've ever come across with massage seats - was it an individual scheme option then?

pneumothorax

Original Poster:

1,303 posts

230 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
quotequote all
i suppose it must be. little button next to heat one with a wavy symbol on. gives quite a strong squeeze to the buttocks...

cosworth330

1,299 posts

236 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
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I saw an E39 M5 that had massage seats fitted, it was an individual model for sale at GMS cars in Surrey.

rassi

2,447 posts

250 months

Tuesday 10th April 2012
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Thanks for teaching me a new thing about the M5, first time I heard about the Active seat option!

Can apparently even be retrofitted?

http://www.bmwetk.com/parts-catalog/prd/BMW/VT/P/E...

Cactussed

5,292 posts

212 months

Wednesday 11th April 2012
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Interesting post, this.
I've got for the slightly different option of B10 and F355. Both fabulous but I can't ever see one being a substitute for the other.

Just my 2p obviously.

Trellis

582 posts

238 months

Wednesday 11th April 2012
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I had comfort seats in my old one. Yes - massage. Very nice interior. None of it was 'Individual' it was just the standard options (albeit more expensive than sports seats) - the leather was very soft and it was a classy interior.

Will every one please stop talking about how good they are - you're making me want my old one back bigtime.

M5 SBE - where are you...................(sniff)....




Sideways Rich

1,110 posts

176 months

Wednesday 11th April 2012
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_Neal_ said:
Nice mini-review, and I agree - the best all-rounder I've had too, and it's met with nothing but positive comments from everyone who's been in and/or driven it.

Currently debating a (quiet) backbox delete on mine - is motorway noise an issue?
Definitely go for it, noisy on start up but no discernible noise on the motorway, sounds glorious when you give it the beans though! :-)

caraddict

1,092 posts

143 months

Wednesday 11th April 2012
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I honestly believe that the E39 M5 will go down as one of the truly great BMW's and that it is the best M5 to this date. E28 and E34 are cool as hell, but the SMG box in the E60 is not perfect and the F10M is without proper noise (and FAKE noise inside!)...

They are made in much bigger numbers than the E30 M3 and will probably never see a similar increase in value, but I'm pretty confident that E39 M5 some day will increase along with the M3 CSL.

Mermaid

21,492 posts

170 months

Wednesday 11th April 2012
quotequote all
caraddict said:
....but I'm pretty confident that E39 M5 some day will increase along with the M3 CSL.
scratchchin No smile