Conclusion. While considering M’s of new and old, the E39 M5 really checks all the boxes. Out of the M’s that are out there, it tends to be one of the most reliable, and one you can drive without feeling guilty of putting miles on like you may with an E30 M3, or 1 series M.

E39 M5 (1998–2003) Introduced in 1998 at the Geneva Motor Show, the E39 generation of the M5 was the first M5 to use a V8 engine, resulting in an increase in power output to 294 kW (400 PS).

Registered. E39 is fast, but compaired to todays offerings ($70K – $100K) it is pretty slow.

Currently, it is still moderately affordable, and overall very reliable. Cast aside your rod bearing, and crank shaft bearing failures. Rear sub-frame breaks, and issues with the first gen dual clutches. The E39 offered an amazingly responsive V8 with three pedals and six gears. This was the last M to be offered standard with a manual transmission.

The E39 offered an amazingly responsive V8 with three pedals and six gears. This was the last M to be offered standard with a manual transmission. Common mileage you will find while looking for these are over 100k miles, some even hitting the 200k mark and more.

Back in 1988, BMW really started to show us what they were capable of. The first M5 was released and set the bar for a proper sport sedan. A sedan for everyday tasks, yet capable enough to be taken to the track.

There are 3 solid resonators available: Rogue Diablo, Superesprint, and Jed’s X-pipe (s). The Rogue Diablo is a resonated x-pipe (two 10″ resonators) that allows the volume of the existing exhaust to increase by ~25%. It’s the perfect setup for my M5 and my tastes.