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BMW M5 E39

The benchmark V81998–2003

The original super-sedan — V8, V10, and back to V8 hybrid.

27 reviewers · 77 videos · 13 hours watched · 7 press articles

Generations
E391998–2003E602005–2010F102011–2016F902018–2023G902025–present
// 00 the verdict

Reviewers strongly agree on its performance and handling, but split on value.

across 27 reviewers

// where reviewers split
Value
20 say · liveable

"We think that the BMW M5 is very fairly priced at $69,950"

MotorWeek · ▶ 7:19
2 say · critical

"don't go out thinking you're gonna buy one of these for like fourteen fifteen thousand dollars and think man I got a screaming deal Russ me it will find a way to get you into the 20s"

Tedward · ▶ 8:39
// the categories
// 01

Performance

4.5/527 of 27 reviewersstrong consensus

“The M5 is the first M car ever to feature more than six cylinders under its Hood... displacing 5 L good for 400 horsepower and 369 LBT of torque”

positive · MotorWeek · ▶ 0:52

“it developed 400 horsepower at 6,600 RPM but it would also rev all the way to 7,000 RPM and it was torky too 369 LBT of torque at 3,800 PM”

positive · PistonHeads · ▶ 8:35

“The throttle response is immediate.”

positive · azizdrives · ▶ 14:59
// 02

Handling

4.5/527 of 27 reviewersconsensus

“The new M5 out handles everything short of an Open Wheel racer... it's light on its feet and Sharp As a Razor”

positive · MotorWeek · ▶ 3:58

“such a lovely benign chassis so Progressive to the point that genuine I'm not just sitting there kind of saying this to look like a hero but I would always drive it everywhere with the ESP off”

positive · PistonHeads · ▶ 15:22

“it's agile baby incredibly agile”

positive · TheSmokingTire · ▶ 15:05
// 03

Fun to drive

5.0/527 of 27 reviewersstrong consensus

“the driving experience of this car is just great... very few modern cars drive quite as well as this one”

positive · Doug DeMuro · ▶ 20:01

“I am in full control of this car but I just love put your foot down you put it in a higher gear that torque and that Rumble I don't know if you can hear it it's insane it's so good”

positive · Driven+ · ▶ 5:46

“The only transmission offered is the kind of smoothest butter six-speed manual that we'd love in every Sports sedan”

positive · MotorWeek · ▶ 2:03
// 04

Daily drivability

4.5/527 of 27 reviewersstrong consensus

“it was my only car so it went to the supermarkets but also the south of France on holidays and every single thing in between and it did it all perfectly”

positive · PistonHeads · ▶ 20:06

“it's the ultimate highway Cruiser the naturally aspirated v8 is just it's just like butter”

positive · Savagegeese · ▶ 31:57

“Even without modern luxuries like adaptive suspension the E39 rides pliantly and the wind and road noise from outside is almost non-existent.”

positive · CAR magazine · ▶ 3:49
// 05

Value

4.0/527 of 27 reviewerssplit

“We think that the BMW M5 is very fairly priced at $69,950”

positive · MotorWeek · ▶ 7:19

“don't go out thinking you're gonna buy one of these for like fourteen fifteen thousand dollars and think man I got a screaming deal Russ me it will find a way to get you into the 20s”

critical · Tedward · ▶ 8:39

“the m5 is already shooting up and it's headed for even higher levels”

positive · Doug DeMuro · ▶ 14:42

Hear it in the reviewer’s words

TheTopher
Posted Oct 26, 2025Open on YouTube
Moments worth your time
KiwiCarLife
Posted May 12, 2025Open on YouTube
Moments worth your time
Driven+
Posted Mar 14, 2025Open on YouTube
Moments worth your time
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Head to head
From the press · 7 articles