RE: BMW M5 (E39): PH Heroes

[Bright Halo]

I owned one for a couple of years.
Really enjoyed it at the time but I have no desire to own another, too many other cars that I have not tried to lust after and waste my money on!

[Adam3441]

As ever on PH people getting their nickers in a twist.

These cars are still impressive today. The engine is a masterpiece and the whole car is full of character.

Let’s not forget it’s a 90’s car which brings with it certain outdated systems and ergonomics. The brakes are crap and they can suffer from the odd electrical gremlin but aside from this they’re a brilliant road car and allow you to just enjoy driving. It was definitely a high point for performance saloon cars before the world decided it wanted SMG gearboxes.

I’ve owned mine for around 5 years. It doesn’t get driven as much as I’d like these days. It’s drivetrain never fails make me smile and so far it’s never let me down mechanically.

[only1ian]

If it was me id have this alpina b10S over an M5 :

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[cerb4.5lee]

Always lusted after these and I like the way they look too, I'm guessing it wouldn't feel all that quick though now(torque/quick Auto's rule nowadays), loved the fact these were manual as well.

[Contigo]

For sure the E6x S85 engined V10 is for me the more soulful car and completely bonkers with that lump in it. Amazing power which still amazes me and surprises many supercars to this day. I want to love the E39 but it's just not the best M5 ever made at all imo.

[s m]

PowerslideSWE said:

williamp said:

yes but... but...Tiff sideways....

They have cooling issues, abs issues, pixel issues, random electrical gremlins. And the XJR has a whole lot more soul. And even the S type R has 420bhp and is half the price. And real wood...

Did you just compare one of these with an S-type R?

Looks are subjective and all that....

I remember Autocar doing the same comparison with an RS6 thrown in too

( amusing how nearly all the recent threads begin with 'RE: ' now )

Edited by s m on Sunday 22 October 10:19

[Adam3441]

cerb4.5lee said:

Always lusted after these and I like the way they look too, I'm guessing it wouldn't feel all that quick though now(torque/quick Auto's rule nowadays), loved the fact these were manual as well.

Not at all. They’re still genuinely fast these days. I’m the mid 90’s they must have been game changing.

[s m]

Adam3441 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Always lusted after these and I like the way they look too, I'm guessing it wouldn't feel all that quick though now(torque/quick Auto's rule nowadays), loved the fact these were manual as well.

Not at all. They’re still genuinely fast these days. I’m the mid 90’s they must have been game changing.

Certainly in the late 90s - Lotus Carlton performance - 60 in just 4 point something and a ton in 10 and a half

[plenty]

alorotom said:

Some cars age well; this one hasn’t

Oddly, everyone is allowed an opinion

The issue here is not your opinion, but how you've expressed it.

You've offered precisely zero substantive rationale to justify your position. Which is a bit like a playground schoolchild singing "I don't like it, nah nah nah nah nah..."

I don't like brussels sprouts, but I don't venture into food lovers' forums to proudly proclaim this insightful fact.

Share an argument, not just an opinion, otherwise expect to get ridiculed.

[ZX10R NIN]

They're quick go well but they're costly to maintain as long as you go in with your eyes open then yes they're an enjoyable car I'd rather have an E55 but that's why they make different cars.

[AJDMoss]

only1ian said:

If it was me id have this alpina b10S over an M5 :

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

I agree but would be cautious buying from Nick Johnson. He sold me an RS4 with illegal and dangerous tyres with a fresh Mot some years ago!

[Philv8s]

only1ian said:

If it was me id have this alpina b10S over an M5 :

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

That’s my old car. Happy memories in that beauty.

[Iceicebaby1980]

Thought Alpina b10s were going for about 10k with similar miles and full service history ?

Edited by Iceicebaby1980 on Sunday 22 October 11:34

[Leins]

Love these, and with a SuperSprint hooked up they sound even better!

There was a fettled Evolve one here in Ireland a few years ago. Can't remember exactly what was changed, but word was of 500+ hp

That V8 also found its way into a few other BMWs courtesy of Hartge

[Patrick Bateman]

Ignore the naysayers, buy one and just have a hefty slush fund on standby.

[cerb4.5lee]

s m said:

Adam3441 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Always lusted after these and I like the way they look too, I'm guessing it wouldn't feel all that quick though now(torque/quick Auto's rule nowadays), loved the fact these were manual as well.

Not at all. They’re still genuinely fast these days. I’m the mid 90’s they must have been game changing.

Certainly in the late 90s - Lotus Carlton performance - 60 in just 4 point something and a ton in 10 and a half

Yes that is decent performance for the time for sure, my Manual E92 M3 did 4.8 to 60 and 10.5 to 100 in 2007, so the E39 M5 is impressive in terms of performance for it's time.

[anonymous-user]

alorotom said:

E39s in pretty much every guise are upheld on here and it’s ridiculous

Why is it ridiculous? In general, a majority opinion is a valid one.

The reason the E39 M5 is held in such high esteem is that it earnt that esteem. It's an old car now, but 20 years ago is was miles better than any competitor car. 400bhp now isn't special, in 1998 it sure was. It's also worth mentioning that M cars are not mean't to be track cars. They aren't the last word in handling precision, they aren't mean't to be. What they do is blend massive, real world performance with everyday useability and comfort, but critically, when they are driven hard they stay linear, and continue to reward up to, and over the limits. By comparison an Jag S type is a horribly blunt and unresolved instrument. A lame, wheasy engine, a gearbox that changes gear with the subtlety of a 3rd world dictatorship and the speed of a snail, and a chassis that can be charitably best described as " at least having reasonable ride quality".

And you know what, those facts are reflected in the relative prices. Funny that......

[selym]

Max_Torque said:

Why is it ridiculous? In general, a majority opinion is a valid one.

The reason the E39 M5 is held in such high esteem is that it earnt that esteem. It's an old car now, but 20 years ago is was miles better than any competitor car. 400bhp now isn't special, in 1998 it sure was. It's also worth mentioning that M cars are not mean't to be track cars. They aren't the last word in handling precision, they aren't mean't to be. What they do is blend massive, real world performance with everyday useability and comfort, but critically, when they are driven hard they stay linear, and continue to reward up to, and over the limits. By comparison an Jag S type is a horribly blunt and unresolved instrument. A lame, wheasy engine, a gearbox that changes gear with the subtlety of a 3rd world dictatorship and the speed of a snail, and a chassis that can be charitably best described as " at least having reasonable ride quality".

And you know what, those facts are reflected in the relative prices. Funny that......

In the current climate of crazy car speculation, rising prices mean nothing. The rest of your points are valid though.

[ds666]

fausTVR said:

The only criticism I could level at the E39 M5 is its image, that of the council estate, as with all fast Beemers, I can't help being reminded of purveyors of rare herbs bullying their way through the mean streets in the German whip.

Wonderful insight , thanks . It what way does an m5 scream council to you ? Weird .

Edited by fausTVR on Sunday 22 October 08:37

[anonymous-user]

selym said:

Max_Torque said:

Why is it ridiculous? In general, a majority opinion is a valid one.

The reason the E39 M5 is held in such high esteem is that it earnt that esteem. It's an old car now, but 20 years ago is was miles better than any competitor car. 400bhp now isn't special, in 1998 it sure was. It's also worth mentioning that M cars are not mean't to be track cars. They aren't the last word in handling precision, they aren't mean't to be. What they do is blend massive, real world performance with everyday useability and comfort, but critically, when they are driven hard they stay linear, and continue to reward up to, and over the limits. By comparison an Jag S type is a horribly blunt and unresolved instrument. A lame, wheasy engine, a gearbox that changes gear with the subtlety of a 3rd world dictatorship and the speed of a snail, and a chassis that can be charitably best described as " at least having reasonable ride quality".

And you know what, those facts are reflected in the relative prices. Funny that......

In the current climate of crazy car speculation, rising prices mean nothing.

Question: Why aren't the prices of S types rising then?

Answer: Because no one wants one


ie Supply and demand, Leading to:


Question: Why doesn't anyone want an S type?

Answer: Because they are rubbish!


Which leads us back to where we came in....... ;-)