It's a really beautifully designed car. The way everything is so simplistically integrated, from the grill to doors all blend into almost the car version of a strawberry milkshake. When you look at any part of the car it seems that BMW took care into designing and making the car. It seems very comfortable and overall just an amazingly simple yet great design.
Thoroughly enjoyable to listen to you describe this car especially towards the end and the room/laptop comparison. I hankered after an E39 M5 for years while owning almost every single other variant of the E39 from petrols to diesels..V8 to straight 6. Finally managed to save a bit of spare cash around 5-6 years ago and bought one for what was then considered a lot (£6.5k) Uk pounds. Boy am I glad I did considering where they are at now as there's no way I would have been able to afford one now and would have been sad to let that boat sail by!..I also did the same with the E46 M3 and bought one when they were cheap so now am fully content in having what I consider to be the best of the M car's period. My M5 is Carbon black with Caramel and a few nice upgrades like brakes and suspension which totally take the already great chassis dynamics to another level. I plan on keeping it indefinitely and handing it down to my 16 year old son in the future providing the world has not been taken over by electric cars. The throttle/induction sound thanks to the ITB's and exhaust note are what make this M5 so addictive to drive..Thanks for such a great evaluation of what is an iconic legend of a car!
I've got 2 E39's, both Titanium Silver with all black leather and silver interior trim. 2002 M5 (86000km) and 2000 528i Msport (173000km) with ESS supercharger. I drive the 528i daily and the M5 a couple of times a month. I'm 39, I've owned 37 cars, my E39's will be with me until the end.
Also I’d like to say your probably my favorite automotive RU-vidr despite your channel not being that big yet you provide great detail and history on every car. Also kinda the person that convinced me to buy two of my vehicles after watching your videos
Great video - I learned a lot about the e39 M5 specs and options between the years from watching. I have owned two e39 530s and I had the chance to drive a new e39 M5 when they first came out. While the 530s are great all around, the M5 was mind-blowing and unforgettable. So much so, that 21 years after that first experience I finally took the plunge to buy one. Super stoked!
It’s in transit from the seller at the moment so I can’t confirm what this specific one is like. That said, if it’s anything like the first one that I drive, it will be a blast. I have an e60 M5 which is great, but it’s pretty refined in most situations. I expect the e39 to be a bit more mental.
So good to see you back, man. As always, great video! This is definitely from back when BMWs were special; the sound of that engine is nothing short of magical. It's heartbreaking to see how things have changed and the visceral experience has become dumbed down since. After having four BMW in the past 12 years, the diluted experience drove me away from the brand....to Alfa Romeo, of all companies. The driving experience is what the "good old" BMWs used to be.
This video is awesome! I enjoyed the in-depth information about the cars mechanicals, options, driving experience, styling, and even mention of the owners. I own one and found this might be the best informational video about these cars.
The lack of servicing for the Getrag 420G (gearbox) currently is a real issue for long term ownership. It's amazing that the aftermarket hasn't reverse-engineered a rebuild solution, based on the number of 420Gs out there. Huge developing issue!!
Diffsonline currently is still rebuilding these. They have a very good reputation, but they're NOT cheap. I just had on shipped and will be getting it installed next week.
I’m a owner of a used E39 2001 530i and who ever owned this car babied it, this car is super quick and fast, the interior is impeccable with the all tan seats. The previous owner upgraded the steering wheel with the M5 hell he did a whole M5 upgrade even the suspension however it’s an automatic. It’s got some cosmetic flaws but that engine and transmission is bullet proof. Now I need to join a community because I need to find deals on the angel head lights, guys I love the way this car handles and drive. I had a Dodge Charger 5.7 Hemi and this car drives better it feels like a tight feeling sports car with mad traction so ok guys help me out and give me some tips she’s got a lot of miles but you wouldn’t be able to tell it
I have a 354 TiAg metallic exterior paint with Sport, full-leather Silverstone (O6SS) interior. I did not know they had separated the interior options after 2001. Mine is a 2000, so it makes sense to me now. Thanks for teaching me something about the e39 today!!!! Merry Christmas!
Glad you liked that--I spent a bunch of time trying to figure out all the interior variations on this car and then once I made the video that section seemed a little excessive to me, so I'm glad someone appreciated it! Merry Christmas to you too.
@@atomicautomobile8537 I did. Great video. I loved the computer analogy at the end. Feel the same way. Next time I watch the video I'll do it in my M5!
There was a 2000 M5 for sale in the Savannah/Charleston area a year ago with BBS wheels, I wonder if same car. I passed on it because original wheels missing.
Why thank you! Can't say I would choose silver over LeMans Blue or Imola Red, but silver is a very safe color and suits the E39 well. I also like that it's the same colour used in The Hire commercial with Madonna.
Very good review. I have a nearly identical M5. I enjoyed how you described it's sensory inputs. It has a very nice sound system, but I usually prefer to just listen to the incredibly beautiful mechanical music the car makes.
The best. most comprehensive nerd-out on e39 I've ever heard. Instant sub. One comment on the placement of buttons and switches from the e39 owner's perspective though ;) It's NOT ideal if you want to use the A/C panel and cupholders at the same time (and you do)... constant juggle, while the radio controls are sitting up there, untouched most of the time.
When this was filmed it had a muffler delete, the rest of the intake and exhaust was stock. The beauty shots featured in this review were taken after some upgrades, including Dinan exhaust and front strut tower brace. The car now also has Dinan intake and rear sway bar and the list of Dinan parts hopefully will grow in the near future.
Yeah man long year. Left Duke last December, sold my house up there, moved back to Atlanta for a job, bought a house down here that needed a ton of work and put all my free time into it, then got another job (still down here) in July, so yeah just busy. I filmed this car in like October 2020 I think lol.
Dang. If only they’d found a way to put the aluminum front sub frame and rack and pinion in there…..wonder if anyone has modified one of these to do it?
I own one and don't understand why everyone hates on the steering, in sport mode it's not bad at all. If you like the car and haven't driven one before I wouldn't write it off because of the steering.
i dont agree about the wheels.. the rears weigh 26lbs and the fronts weigh 24lbs. that leaves A LOT of room for improvement. i bought a set of APEX 18X9.5 ET22 that weigh 19lbs ea. beyond the weight savings, the front grip is noticeably increased by running 9.5" vs 8" wheels. you can now also rotate your tires and get more life out of them by running a square set-up.
Plot twist I supercharged my ls430 and made it handle even better much more power a lot faster wile still being extremely smooth and comfortable but if I want to go fast I put my foot down and hear a little supercharger wine and a bit of exhaust
I did my best to install the trunk badge as accurately as possible based on guidelines I found online. But there are a surprising number M5 badges where the 5 was accidentally installed upside down.
early 2000's BMW's are god, I am OCD with the e83 x3's, they still look better than the new x3's and all they did with the new one was copy the e83, many modern LED touches are garbage too, the new taillights on the new x3's look like a childs toy.
This was filmed last year in the middle of the pandemic well before COVID vaccines were available. He wore a mask out of respect for me because he knew my wife’s immunocompromised. I actually feel bad now that he did wear a mask for me, but I thought it was nice of him to take that it extra step of precaution even though it was probably not necessary. I don’t blame him for taking it off later in the video.
Better safe than sorry. I wear a mask now everywhere, partially because I forget that I’ve got it on, and when I realize that I’m alone in my car, keep it on anyway. Who’s it bothering, not me.
The Cup Holders these come with are terrible but we have fixed that with our retrofit E39 Cup Holder, available here>trickbits.com.au/products/bmw-e39-storage-box-cup-holder
