BMW e39 M5 V8, still the ultimate sports saloon
Discussion
For anyone that enjoyed that M5 and the pre Chris Bangle cars, this is a nice coffee table book. Those 3 to 5 liter V8s of the 1990s were sweet revving. Motorweek tested the e39 M5 and said it was the greatest sport sedan of all time. I think that statement still stands, even though faster cars have come since then.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOD--dFlUqo
https://www.amazon.de/BMW-CLASSIC-5-1972-2/dp/1787...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOD--dFlUqo
https://www.amazon.de/BMW-CLASSIC-5-1972-2/dp/1787...
axlon said:
Those 3 to 5 liter V8s of the 1990s were sweet revving.......
And which BMW 5 litre V8 was that then? 
The biggest V8 that BMW made was the 4,941cc S62B50 V8 fitted to the E39 M5,which was classified by BMW as being a 4.9 litre engine.
And that "sweet-revving" 4.9 V8 in the M5 also had a reputation for burning out it's big end bearings due to the crankshaft slipping in them! (due to spinning a bit too sweetly!
)
4rephill said:
And which BMW 5 litre V8 was that then?
The biggest V8 that BMW made was the 4,941cc S62B50 V8 fitted to the E39 M5,which was classified by BMW as being a 4.9 litre engine.
And that "sweet-revving" 4.9 V8 in the M5 also had a reputation for burning out it's big end bearings due to the crankshaft slipping in them! (due to spinning a bit too sweetly! )
Well, people always call the Ford 302 a 5.0, even though technically it's also 4.9 liters.The biggest V8 that BMW made was the 4,941cc S62B50 V8 fitted to the E39 M5,which was classified by BMW as being a 4.9 litre engine.
And that "sweet-revving" 4.9 V8 in the M5 also had a reputation for burning out it's big end bearings due to the crankshaft slipping in them! (due to spinning a bit too sweetly!
)I know for a fact one e39 M5 is still revving sweetly. You can see it and hear it lap the Streets of Willow here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbLweooe3aM&fe...
Enjoy!
4rephill said:
And which BMW 5 litre V8 was that then?
The biggest V8 that BMW made was the 4,941cc S62B50 V8 fitted to the E39 M5,which was classified by BMW as being a 4.9 litre engine.
And that "sweet-revving" 4.9 V8 in the M5 also had a reputation for burning out it's big end bearings due to the crankshaft slipping in them! (due to spinning a bit too sweetly! )
That's just a little bit pedantic isn't it.The biggest V8 that BMW made was the 4,941cc S62B50 V8 fitted to the E39 M5,which was classified by BMW as being a 4.9 litre engine.
And that "sweet-revving" 4.9 V8 in the M5 also had a reputation for burning out it's big end bearings due to the crankshaft slipping in them! (due to spinning a bit too sweetly!
)And there are more still spinning sweetly than aren't, people only tend to report the bad news rather than the good.
Oh, and would you rather call an AMG E55 an AMG E54, as the engine is only 5439cc?
S47 said:
What's sporty about a 2 tonne shopping trolley?
With all the dynamics of a boat??
I'm missing something here???
Granted its fast in a straight line - but does this single fact make it sporty????
I think you are missing something......With all the dynamics of a boat??
I'm missing something here???
Granted its fast in a straight line - but does this single fact make it sporty????
They are fast, but weren't the fastest back in the day.
However, being RWD, they can be fun with power oversteer, the do go round corners very well, comfortable etc.
What do you normally drive/have you driven in the past just so we can compare?
Some thoughts on mine
Ride - awful around town, truly dreadful. Feels like a 1800 kg shopping trolley. 45 mph – feels OK – but just OK, 60 mph feels much better, and 70+ feels great.
Handling - I can hustle it down the A-roads and lanes as well as any other car I've ever had – apart from my road rally specification Mk2 Escort.
Performance
Below 2500 rpm – nothing, it makes you wonder what all the fuss is about
3000 – it’s beginning to make its presence felt
3500 – Certainly getting going
4000 – Just above peak torque and you are really motoring
4500 - Onwards – you just seem to change change change with the 'box and “hello – its 100+ mph/goodbye license time again”. This is AWESOME.
Traction control is needed on it. I’ll switch it off in the dry sometimes, but never in the wet. Learnt my lesson the hard way on that one! It must have looked truly spectacular from the pavement…. From where I was sat – not so much….
Sounds great – not Big Block V8 great, but it puts a smile on my face.
Fantastic interior, very comfortable
No gimmicks fitted, apart from the photo chromatic mirrors that seem to cause more problems than they solve.
Brakes are great
Fuel economy – awful – around town is 14 mpg; a run is 19-21, 75 mph on the cruise control to Donington – 25. Get enthusiastic with it – single figures.
Eats rear tyres – the bloke I bought the car off gave me a great big file full of paperwork for all the servicing. It’s full of receipts for rear tyres!
Spares…. Hmmm….
If it’s just 5 series stuff –like a new rear light that was required – eBay! Prices are reasonable.
If its 5 series V8 - 540i/M5 –it costs about 30% more again. I have had perfectly good stuff sent from the USA a LOT cheaper than the dealer wanted.
If its M5 specific- 30% more again.
It will be a very sad day for me if and when it goes.
Ride - awful around town, truly dreadful. Feels like a 1800 kg shopping trolley. 45 mph – feels OK – but just OK, 60 mph feels much better, and 70+ feels great.
Handling - I can hustle it down the A-roads and lanes as well as any other car I've ever had – apart from my road rally specification Mk2 Escort.
Performance
Below 2500 rpm – nothing, it makes you wonder what all the fuss is about
3000 – it’s beginning to make its presence felt
3500 – Certainly getting going
4000 – Just above peak torque and you are really motoring
4500 - Onwards – you just seem to change change change with the 'box and “hello – its 100+ mph/goodbye license time again”. This is AWESOME.
Traction control is needed on it. I’ll switch it off in the dry sometimes, but never in the wet. Learnt my lesson the hard way on that one! It must have looked truly spectacular from the pavement…. From where I was sat – not so much….
Sounds great – not Big Block V8 great, but it puts a smile on my face.
Fantastic interior, very comfortable
No gimmicks fitted, apart from the photo chromatic mirrors that seem to cause more problems than they solve.
Brakes are great
Fuel economy – awful – around town is 14 mpg; a run is 19-21, 75 mph on the cruise control to Donington – 25. Get enthusiastic with it – single figures.
Eats rear tyres – the bloke I bought the car off gave me a great big file full of paperwork for all the servicing. It’s full of receipts for rear tyres!
Spares…. Hmmm….
If it’s just 5 series stuff –like a new rear light that was required – eBay! Prices are reasonable.
If its 5 series V8 - 540i/M5 –it costs about 30% more again. I have had perfectly good stuff sent from the USA a LOT cheaper than the dealer wanted.
If its M5 specific- 30% more again.
It will be a very sad day for me if and when it goes.
[quote=axlon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOD--dFlUqo
[/quote]
Love E39 M5's but Wow that is a spectacularly annoying video, I only managed to cope with several seconds of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOD--dFlUqo
[/quote]
Love E39 M5's but Wow that is a spectacularly annoying video, I only managed to cope with several seconds of it.
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