E39 M5 or E60 M5

[silver surfer]

Both great cars, clearly the technology and power is better in the newer car...both does it mean it really is the better car for the money.
You can grab an E39 M5 for under £10k and you can get a E60 M5 for £25K.

Is the newer car 2.5 x the earlier car.
Is 400bhp E39 M5 feel markedly slower than the 507 bhp E60 M5? or is the handling and ride of the older car compensates enough for it not to lose out?

Look forward to hearing Phers opinion.

SS

Edited by silver surfer on Thursday 12th August 21:50

[Eviltad]

I think its E60 you mean.

[silver surfer]

Yes E60 M5....sorry also had M3 on my mind.

[Matt UK]

Newer car will have the legs on the older car http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD_igxA7F0k

Is it 2.5x the car? Subjective.

[useyourdellusion]

Never driven an E60 M5 (god, I'd love to though!). I'd imagine it's a totally different beast to the E39 though.

That said, I prefer the looks of the e39. Slightly stealthier and that gorgeous V8 rumble...

[v8will]

I don't feel qualified to comment as I've driven neither version but it'd be the E60 for me, simply for the performance, although I don't think an e39 could be called slow

[Fordo]

it'll be a very subjective thing.

no doubt it'll be a lot faster, but its not just about performance. To some, a more modern car, with more modern style and features is worth a lot.



Personally, id prefer a good condition E39. Test drove one a while ago and it fitted like a glove. Wish id bought it! To me, the 15k id save from the more up to date model, would pay for a lot of road trips!

[CraigyMc]

Like most others here I've sadly never had the chance to drive either car.

The thing that I found a little surprising looking at the specs of each was the torque.

The E60 will clearly be the quicker car when really pressing on - but you would presumably have to use the revs & gears available in order to keep up with the E39 because of the torque curves involved.

I do like the idea of a 200mph saloon car though, there's something hilarious about that.

C

[useyourdellusion]

CraigyMc said:

I do like the idea of a 200mph saloon car though, there's something hilarious about that.

C

I think the e39 is capable of 186mph derestricted. If true, I find that slightly bonkers when you look at the relatively sober looks of the thing.

[ex vtskid]

silver surfer said:

Is the newer car 2.5 x the earlier car.

But if you look at it that way is an E39 M5 2.5x (or whatever it is) better than a spanish box 540i?

[MDahmen]

never drove the new one, but the E39 is lovely - effortless progress, lovely sound and in my opinion much nicer looking - the E60 somehow looks narrow and tall compared to the 39

also consider running costs etc, I'd be a bit worried about all that fancy tech breaking and costing an arm and a leg to fix

all that being said, would love to drive one, the performance must be amazing, esp on the autobahn

[carlgrz]

Not yet had the joy of driving the E60 version but have owned an E39 M5 since march. Performance wise the E39 is more than you can safely use on the public highway 99% of the time anyway. Despite some of the vanos scare mongering, if looked after they are very reliable. Personally I prefer the look of the E39 over the E60.
There seem to be a few issues with the E60 that mean I wouldn't dream of getting one that didn't have the BMW warranty attached.
At the end of the day its horses for courses. Have a drive of each and see what you think. All I can say is to be twice the car that the E39 is, the E60 would have to be utterly staggering and I don't think it is.

[CraigyMc]

useyourdellusion said:

CraigyMc said:

I do like the idea of a 200mph saloon car though, there's something hilarious about that.

C

I think the e39 is capable of 186mph derestricted. If true, I find that slightly bonkers when you look at the relatively sober looks of the thing.

The 200mph comment was actually more aimed at the E60 - the '39 apparently doesn't fare too well on max speed runs (habit of going pop). There are various videos on youtube of E60 dahsboards showing >200mph though. I don't know how accurate they are, but it's for sure the car is very fast in a straight line.

C

[CraigyMc]

ex vtskid said:

silver surfer said:

Is the newer car 2.5 x the earlier car.

But if you look at it that way is an E39 M5 2.5x (or whatever it is) better than a spanish box 540i?

I must be slipping. Took me a good 10 seconds to work out you were talking about a Manuel box.

[edo]

I've owned an E39 and driven an E60.

Flat out the E60 has the legs of course. Flat out wringing its neck out, an E60 sounds good - but no better to my ears than the V8.

The gearbox is to me the let down of the E60. Something you have to "learn" to use well almost like learning to drive a manual as a learner.

I just helped a mate buy a 55 plate top spec low mileage AUC E60 with 2 years warranty for around 28k - a lot of car for the money (especially when you consider it was close on 70k new).

£20k gets you the very best low mileage E39 - but that will be 8+ years old...

[useyourdellusion]

inkiboo said:

To add, the E39 is more power than you will ever need on a public road and the E60 is even more than that.

Couldn't agree more!