2000 BMW E39 M5 Review - Even Better Than The V10? 

"I think I just gave a thumb-up to a hearse"

Better? Yes, the E39 in general is quite possibly one of the greatest cars of all time.

Who remembers the Clive Owen and madonna advert 😂😂

Never forget when i got over taken by one of these in a tunnel in Austria about 20 years ago in my Delta HF Turbo.Didnt even tried to race it just enjoyed the v8 sound.My favorite M5 for sure

That brings back a lot of memories my father owned a Silverstone Blue M5 back when they were new. It was also the 1st BMW I was a passenger in as a kid

Back when I was in the army in 2000 based in Germany my mate bought an E39 M5 brand new. He used to go on the autobahn flashing arrogant Porsche’s out of the way! One hell of a car, loved being a passenger in it.

I sadly sold my 2003 E39 M5 a year ago. I loved the thing. Brimming with character, useable and very much suited to UK roads. They're a brilliant thing. Don't give too much attention to the internet doom mongers who preach mechanical issues with these cars. Like you said buy on condition from a loving enthusiast. Suspension bushings, the odd spot of rust and keep it well oiled with the correct Castrol oil and you'll not go far wrong. Other than the engine and brakes the car is pretty much a normal E39 and parts are reasonable. Just find a nice one and buy it :-)

I had many BMW'S in my life,and repaired even more. From my experience and life with them,I can say that E34/E39 are one of the easiest to work on. And even many can argue,I believe the E38/E39 models were at the peak of BMW engineering. They had their fair share of faults,like the cooling system, rust,and jerky electronics,but in general very solid car,which gives you joy like no other. Also many will argue about E60 M5 being better because of its V10. Well,at that time no family saloon had V10 F1 related engine under the hood,so in that sense yes,it was impressive achievement. The sound astonishing. Rest was crap. Very jerky in city, highly unreliable, expensive like hell to maintain,and interior..horrible. So yes,E60 was definitely more advanced and faster,but in no way better.

Had my 2001 m5 for 14 years. Couldn't bring myself to part. I think the kids will have to fight over it once I'm gone lol. Just an incredible car, that puts a massive smile on your face every time.

When that shape BMW 5 series was released it was rumoured to be the all round best car in the world. I’ve driven that shape M5 it’s fantastic 👍 My father owned one it was amazing

I own a silver metallic 2002 M5. I've had it since 2013 . My dream car. Still puts a smile on my face every time I start the engine. Best all around car ever in my opinion.

I've always wanted one of these, I will forever love the NA engine over a fartbox sounding turbo.

Probably one of the best m cars ever made !

“Last one with a manual gearbox” Actually, if you lived in the U.S., the E60 and F10 M5s were offered manual transmissions. With the current M5 however, no manual is offered in any region.

I still have my e39 M5. Albeit off the road at the moment. The prices just keep going up too. If you're liking the gearbox and shifter... I bet its had the shifter replaced with a Z3 item. Direct swap, very cheap to do and gives you a much sharper shorter shift. The OEM shifter has a comically long throw, even for its day, in the e39 M5. I did poly bushes throughout as well as a suspension arm and steering overhaul. What was already a good handling car became a car that really defied its weight and size. Best exhaust mod - simply cut the 4 small mufflers off the rear and get an exhaust fabricator to make up nice straight pipes. Not too loud but also means you don't need to be high up the rev range o hear the best of the engine. These cars were over muffled as the idea was subtle performance. A few weak points... and there are many - the thermostat fails often and is a costly job to replace. Clutch can get toasted easily if you're abusing it. The plastic trim on the lower corners of the front bumper shatter easily if cold. Crankshaft bearings can be an issue and should he inspected at some point. Oil consumption is pot luck... always carry a litre or two of the correct oil in the boot. I've heard 1l for every 500 miles wasn't unheard of. Mine gets 1l for every 3500 miles when I drove it daily and I drove it hard. Nowadays... when I see an e39 on the road you realise how bloated cars have become. The e39 almost looks svelte and compact now.

I owned one of these for about 6 years until 2008 - absolutely superb car that I wish I had never sold!

It IS the best M5 :D I agree, it is indeed a classic. I miss mine...

My God he has an M Coupe and the E39 M5? I need this guy to be my friend. It's hard to argue against the V10, but I think the E39 is the better platform and MUCH better looking. The late 90s and early 2000s brought us the best lookin Bimmers ever, the E36, the E39 and the E38 (I like the 740i).

I have used an E39 M5 (two of them) for 7 years, utterly brilliant, totally reliable, just tyres and brakes, no breakdowns or shock bills. Never had any "moments" despite "using it's full performance envelope". Brilliant!

Had a feeling this was going to happen 😀 I've commented for you to review one on a few occasions. I own exactly the same car...2000 in Silverstone. And I'm so protective of this model, as are most people and I was just happy that you really liked it too. Great review as always

Can't believe I just stumbled upon this cannel! You sir are one of the most (if not the most) underrated car youtuber out there. Judging by the quality of these videos you should have been huge by now!

that was my dream car in my college days... in many ways it still is. Thanks for the blast from the past and the enjoyable review

I have an E39 5 series 2.8i M sport auto registered September 1999. It is silver and in immaculate condition. Everything works and the suede interior is perfect. It is a such a great looking car with Angel lights and the orange front indicator lights changed to clear. I know it is not an M5 but for me at 74 gives me all the power I require now. My son found it for me 8 years ago and I paid £1150 from a private seller in London. I have never paid so little for a motor and had absolutely no trouble, except needing a battery! My son keeps all topped up and checks it over every fortnight on his visits to me. I really hope that it will see me to the end of my driving days as it gives me so much pleasure. Compared to the later shaped BMWs it is as stylish to me as my favourite car as a child the 2.4 Jaguar. Enjoyed your video and style of presenting. Thanks for posting. As it was great to see the motor moving around the lanes as it looks identical to mine. Except under the bonnet but who is looking.

See, BMW. No need for stupid popping, crackling and farting exhausts like you're doing with your new cars.

It's like you read my mind and heart and videos all my favorites. Love your channel!

Quickly becoming one of the best car reviewers.....IN THE WORLD. I know I'm late to the party with this video but the recent content has been pure gold. Keep it up!

"She pulls very well low down and in the mids".....lol sorry mate Very true of course and again ...great vid

It looks good, it sounds good, it is powerful, comfortable. It is old enough to give you this nice feeling that you have to drive the and not the opposite. It s reasonably priced, although t is going up. It is even fairly reliable for a 20+ year old BMW M car. The best M5 ever; possibly. Definitely, a treat to watch it in this nice review!

One of your most enjoyable vids. Keep it up!

As always a great review! Cheers.

Great review! Was a useful reference for me when looking to purchase my M5….. keep it up 👍🏻

Great video bud 👌🏻. I’m not the biggest German car lover but I have to say, that shape M5 is very special. Beautiful looking machine.

Nice balance of driving vs interior vs outside shots great job mate

Man Jay, you are really tempting me with these beautiful BMWs. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. This might be my first BMW.

I ran mine as a daily driver for 3 years, and absolutely loved it. Very enjoyable car in pretty much all situations. I even drove it through the winter, and with the LSD it did well in the snow. I've since sold it as I was attracted to smaller more nimble cars. Now I am dailying an e36 M3 and find it the absolute sweet spot of speed, agility, comfort, and looks.

Nice video mate, I'm starting to like these classic cars now , you appreciate them more now considering what modern electronics have done to cars

Mike Tyson reference 😂👍🏽

My "attainable dream car" of choice. Must be Imola red...

Without a doubt the best M5 ever. The E39 generally is the best 5 Series ever, and for sure one of the best cars ever. Never drove a car again that was so sporty bur also comfortable at the same time, the engines were phenomenal and the suspension(M-Suspension) the best ever when you wanted it sporty AND comfortable. No one again achieved a suspension that was able to it like the E39 M-Suspension. The interior was just so high-quality and amazingly looking - simply the best M5 ever and one of the best cars ever produced.

Love the ending;) Amazing bimmer btw, I always liked this one for no particular reason.

Ooh yes ... and uploaded just in time for tea time !! 🤣🤣 Cracking work on the recent uploads Jay 👍

My old car, definitely one I should never have let go of

A guy down my road had a straight piped one of these. Used to start it up as I was walking to school. It was glorious 😍

I have always wanted one of these.

Great video as always, cheers.

Had one for 8 years. 2 trips across Europe, Stelvio Pass on one trip. Put 100,000 very happy miles on it. Miss it terribly

Having owned both a 6speed e60 m5 and e39 m5 AT THE SAME TIME for years. The e39 m5 (s62) was more fun to drive lazy and the e60 m5 (s85) was the one to drive like an air-cooled 911/964/993. Loved them both, sold the e39 m5 at 180,000 miles and still have my e60 m5 at 165,000 miles.

Great review! Just confirms everything I love about this old lady. Have had mine for 3 years now.. spent some cash on small renovation, keeping the car in 100% shape, as a fun car for sunny weekends. Kinda expensive but the car deserves it. It's still the top of the game for me. We went to Italy/Austria mountains last year, visited Dingolfing factory on the way back home to make some pictures.. it's just - fun and very rewarding car. With a proper character. Just love it :).

Glad to see a review of a man who understand what he as talking and also appreciates this beautiful pieces of engineering.

Styling has aged on that car. I really like it's look.

Great review as per jay.. only a matter of time before big things happen 👍🏻

This car will never get old, the perfect super sedan.

Old video I know but I have a 2000 323i in titanium silver and I absolutely love it. It’s my first bmw it’s so comfortable to drive even more than my XC90 Volvo. It’s just an amazing car. The getrag shifter you mentioned in the video I think is the same in my car and it shifts flawlessly, a little stiff when it’s below freezing but once it warms up it’s a pleasure to shift. My opinion some of the best drivers cars ever made I like it so much I’m already looking for a 330ix awd with the 6 speed manual. I just recently subscribed great reviews I like your video style keep up the great work.

I’ve been fortunate to drive one of these a few times and they really are truly great cars to drive, as James says they don’t feel like a big car, at all - of course later cars are huge now by comparison!

Great taste in BMW's Lorenzo well done...

My favourite car of all time. Owned one for year. It was incredible! If you have been thinking of getting one -do it. As the man In the video says, buy on condition. Only thing that failed on mine a year was the viscous coupling and number plate light bulb. Saving up for another one as we speak.

The sweet spot of M5's

Excellent review. Cost of ownership estimates and more indepth analysis of the handling characteristics would be helpful. Really enjoyed this!

a fine car, Im looking for one at the minute. I had an E39 528i for a few years and loved that. I have an F10 530 at the minute, had it for a few years but cant compare to the e39 for pure driving enjoyment

Ha “roller blind” I love it. My favorite feature in my car is what we call here in the states the power rear sunshade lol

Quality content on this channel. Well done there

Such a cool car

Best sound,best feeling , full comfort

I think this is your best review to date. Well done; I enjoyed it. Would be even better if you could compare E92 M3 with this.

Omg the lust I have for one of these in that spec is unreal

My friends father has one of these tucked away along with a rather fantastic 930 911 Turbo. Talk about a hard decision to make on for Sunday morning blast.

I loved owning one of these.It is a magnificent car.All you would ever need.That engine is a peach😎

Truly the last great M5. Stick shift, great handling, and no fake sound!😣 I have a friend who owns one and I’ve rented it a few times, and it’s plenty fast enough for me.

Really good looking these old Beemers...

classic! no question. when I sold my E39 530dA I cried. I loved the solid interior and the massive feel and sound of closing doors. I really wanted an E39 M5 but I think I made the wise and right decision and went for an E92 M3. I love the newish feeling, precision, racey character and - knock on wood - no issue life, but sometimes I feel sorry revving the shit out of that "6k above" engine. and still easily fading brakes. E39 M5s are pure magic.

What a machine. Don't worry about the herse used to sing the ghostbusters theme as a kid when i seen one.

My fav M5. What a fantastic noise

one of the best modern cars in the era … owned the same color 2001, had a black one & a white one, too.

Jay i have to agree with u the m5 was the best bmw ever built it was a rocket it went like stig u could go through a set of back tyers in no time but it was a sweet car monster of a car

Hi James .. that ws a wonderful review. I bought one 523i 2.5L (Y 2000) in May'19 .. no frills but I am loving the vroom vroom it gives me from the straight 6. Lining up to buy an e38 730i next. Wish me luck.

ABSOLUTLEY ITS A CLASSIC CAR! ITS AN AUTOMOTIVE LEGEND!

You said M cars this week and I'm overjoyed to say you've done the 2 I hoped to see, Lorenzo is a man IMO with impeccible taste in cars.

That road to Halstead is a bloody good driving road!

Nice work James, I have bought an E39 M5 in the past 6months and love it! James you need to buy one and join our E39 M5 WhatsApp group...planning a trip to Munich next year 🥰

My favorite sport sedan ever - thanks for the review

The E39 M5 and Alpina B10 are two of my favorite 5 series.

I love mine. It’s my daily driver. Just fun. Never stop smiling.

I have a 2002 e39 in imola red it’s only a 525i m sport but I absolutely love it, had it since 2012 an no plans to ever get rid of it

Nice one Jay! I had a FEELING you were going to review an E39 M5 soon :-) I owned a 2000 Le Mans Blue one, from 2009-2012, and I miss it very much. Standard car, apart from Hayward & Scott back boxes and a facelift satnav/screen/TV. Joint best sounding car I've ever owned. Long term average mpg was an indicated 17-18. Totally agree with your comments on the size of the car. I came from a B5 S4 Avant, and the E39 is a foot longer, with a much longer bonnet. Driving around in one though, and they shrink around you like a great big go kart. I lusted after that M5, and bought mine when they were cheaper,......and the C5 RS6 Avant was out of my price range at the time. Now I have the C5 RS6 Avant, and prices have pretty much gone the other way round! Wish I could afford to run both,.......and wish they made an E39 M5 Touring, so I could fit my drums in.

Makes me miss mine, expensive to keep running and driving as they should but totally worth it. Best all round car I've had. Such a wide range of abilities- great on the motorway, great to hustle down a favourite road, quick, comfortable, engaging, timelessly good looks from when BMW actually knew how to design a car and a soundtrack to die for. Just have the bank balance to keep it that way.

Excellent review, wonderful car👏👏👌🎵

His shirt makes him look like he works in a Zoo

Also Tiff's fav M series car.

Awesome car. Sounds ace 👌🏻

I'm with you on that steering wheel.

I've had my E39 525i sport over twelve years now so that says something.

Had a childhood lust after this thing would love to own one

8 throttle bodies and a manual gearbox wrapped up in a cossetting place to sit.. I would like some of that. Does it have cruise control for the boring bits?

Legendary car imho

This and the Gle 63 coupe/Suv Amg are my dream cars

You may want to try the e34 m5, They really are special last hand built very analogue cars with truly soulful engine notes. I know they are ultra rare. Would let you try mine a last year production Nurburgring spec car, but based in London. If possible give us a shout. :)

Jay, if you're ever in the North West you're welcome to a drive of my E39 530i Sport manual. See if you agree with me that it's the perfect daily driver package.

Very good and nice car.

INDEED it’s a classic. And what’s magical with these videos about older cars is that even in Y2K you would mostly read about those cars. That’s without this fantastic grunt, I mean.

without a doubt the last great m5