Which BMW M5 Generation Is Best? [Part 3/3 - E34 M5] 

I’m an E34 and E36 guy. Early 90s BMWs have such smooth and rich sounding straight-6s that are absolute music.

E34 because last hand built one. Best build quality - solid doors. Made in Germany and love the classic 80s styling :)

Back in the day, not many cars could touch this... Including some exotics... This was more powerful than a 911 Carrera of the same era..

E60 for me, it's a pity you forgot to put it in P500 mode.....d'oh! There hasn't ever been a bad M5, although I found the F10 a little dull in terms of character. I have an E90 M3 saloon, which I consider that as a mix between all E34, E39 and E60 in terms of size similar to E34/E39, performance between the E39 and E60 but also the most modern. Definitely more sporty and less barge-like though - win some, lose some!

The jump from the e30 to the e36 was absolutely massive. Not so much for e36 to e46. Yall smoking some good stuff. E34 and E36 are the real sweet spot.

My favorite M5

RIP Giorgi Tevzadze, definitely the first person I think of the moment I see an E34 M5

Really enjoyed this series as well! An E39 with a Dinan tune (probably 560 crank hp) is still the fastest I've ever been in a car: 180mph. A rock solid autobahn cruiser, and still the best saloon silhouette on the road today.

Great review guys!

Very informative thanks for making another M series

My favorite is the E39 M5 although I have an E60 M5 manual (because of rarity)

Rip Giorgi Tevzadze- The legend of E34 🇬🇪

It's difficult to compare cars across eras. If you were to drive other cars from the era of the e34 M5, you would realize how much sharper the driving experience was compared to the rest of the field. The newer cars are obviously a lot safer and larger but they are also heavier and more constrained by all the electronics. Personally, e28 M5 is my favourite but the e34 holds a special place in my heart. The entire line went dead to me after the e39. The e60 was maniacal but I couldn't get over the Bangle design and the size of it.

I really enjoyed these M5 and M3 generations comparison videos! If you ever visit the Netherlands you are welcome to test my ‘CSL’ style E34 M5 on a back road, it makes a world of difference compared to a semi stock example.

E34 is the best. I had an E34 525i and an E39 M5 and I miss the E34 much more.

Drove a new M5 Comp last summer. So fast, and handled well for such a big heavy car, but engine is nothing like as characterful as the NA sixes and eights and tens of old.

I think it depends on what you expect from the car. If you want it to be "pure" //M like they used to make, the e34 m5 is definitely the best //M from the 5 series. If you want something unique - e60, if you want a fast, new and luxurious car that doesn't stand out from other brands, this is something from the newer ones. I think that the e28, e34, e39 still kept the spirit of //M or just old sport bimmers, but then they just made good cars, without "that something"

Awesome M5

The shift knob is press fit on. Common for them to pop off regardless kf generation .

I got the same Costco jacket the passenger has in the same color. Bruh.

the on center play can be adjusted to be tighter, curious the owner has it a bit loose

Is the windscreen wiper on all e34 models make the friction sound upon retracting back (mine as well)?

Looking forward to a 911 or Merc (C or E class) comparo!

Are you sure that things like the steering is not age rather than how it came from the factory?

Seems our opinions (left a comment on Part 1) are similar except maybe switching our feelings on the E28 and E60 haha. Cheers!

S39 Vanos engines has too many issues with that first gen tech as well as stretching chains and broken plastic chain guides. Get this stop trying to be a racer. No old car is fast compared to new ones. Get something like this pre computer bullshit age and get a new M4 to go nuts in. Perfect balance.

E34 M5 is the best

So he thinks the E60 is pretty good, but didn't even drive in 500 hp mode, let alone P500S not just P500. There is 2 500 hp mode, P500S sharpens the throttle and opens up the throttle body 100%. P400 only opens it partially that is how it limits the engine. As an owner of an E60 M5 I can tell you P400 and P500S is very different. I do have to admit on public roads 500hp is too much. What would have been nice if there was a P400S. Also the SMG in my personally opinion has more character than a manual, and you also don't have those very long gear shifts. SMG has shorter gear ratios so 1, 2, 3 are really quick shifts. SMG is poor on slow drives, but if drive it like a manual where you let off the gas on gear shift it is good enough. When driven fast the gear shift on setting 5 is pretty brutal and I doubt a human smashing the clutch can do similar shifts.

This whole series is irrelevant, null and void. The guy drove the e60 in 400 bhp mode not in m mode 500 bhp so how can this be taken seriously