2000 BMW M5
Welcome to our latest series of Retro Reviews that take us back in time through the BMW M performance division’s history. This review of a 1999 BMW M5 is the second of several classic BMW M car reviews to hit our little slice of the internet in the coming weeks. We started with the old, and are making our way to the new. Enjoy the photos and the nostalgia. We hope you stick with us on this journey through time and a reexamination of some of BMW M’s most iconic performance vehicles. SAVANNAH, Ga. — When the collective car world speaks nostalgically about BMW, there are a few key benchmark cars that rise to the top. One of those cars is the 1999-2003 BMW M5, also known as the E39. It wasn’t the first M5, but it’s perhaps the one that best defines what an M5 is. The E39 generation lives in that little period of time when the sheer performance of cars was growing at a rapid pace, but before electronics became king. It had a naturally aspirated 4.9-liter V8 engine, was only available with a six-speed manual and hit 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds. That’s a highlight reel all on its own, but in the M5 way, you wouldn’t assume this car to be a rip-roaring enthusiast darling just by looking at it from the outside. BMW crafted a timeless look, and the E39 deserves a spot in the running for any "best-of" BMW design lists. You wouldn’t know this 5 Series is an M5 from the front via an “M” badge. No, you need to look for the wider kidney grille frames, the subtle spoilers, unique M aero mirrors, small quad exhaust, rear M logo, M5-specific wheels, and in some cases, unique-to-M colors. It’s all just enough to tip off a would-be admirer, but not boy-racer enough to attract extra attention. Sometimes, there’s beauty in simplicity, and the E39 M5 is one of the best examples of such a phenomenon. I’m a little less enthused at what BMW thought interior beauty looked like in the late 1990s and early 2000s, though. Step inside the E39 M5, and the mahogany-look wood trim paneling tries for luxury and quality, but looks dated and tired today. The same goes for some other interior niceties. BMW got adventurous with technology, so it’s no surprise to see that said technology is more of a hindrance than a helper in 2022. The “infotainment” system pre-dates iDrive (not to mention an intermediate system available on 2001 and later E39s), and it essentially serves as a reminder that using a computer from over two decades ago is not fun. The other big annoyance is the in-car cell phone-accommodating center console. A big hole smack dab in the middle of the armrest is dug out to hold BMW-supplied phones for the business people who bought this car back in the day. Unfortunately, that turns the armrest into a very annoying place to rest your …
Full Review
Welcome to our latest series of Retro Reviews that take us back in time through the BMW M performance division’s history. This review of a 1999 BMW M5 is the second of several classic BMW M car reviews to hit our little slice of the internet in the coming weeks. We started with the old, and are making our way to the new. Enjoy the photos and the nostalgia. We hope you stick with us on this journey through time and a reexamination of some of BMW M’s most iconic performance vehicles. SAVANNAH, Ga. — When the collective car world speaks nostalgically about BMW, there are a few key benchmark cars that rise to the top. One of those cars is the 1999-2003 BMW M5, also known as the E39. It wasn’t the first M5, but it’s perhaps the one that best defines what an M5 is. The E39 generation lives in that little period of time when the sheer performance of cars was growing at a rapid pace, but before electronics became king. It had a naturally aspirated 4.9-liter V8 engine, was only available with a six-speed manual and hit 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds. That’s a highlight reel all on its own, but in the M5 way, you wouldn’t assume this car to be a rip-roaring enthusiast darling just by looking at it from the outside. BMW crafted a timeless look, and the E39 deserves a spot in the running for any "best-of" BMW design lists. You wouldn’t know this 5 Series is an M5 from the front via an “M” badge. No, you need to look for the wider kidney grille frames, the subtle spoilers, unique M aero mirrors, small quad exhaust, rear M logo, M5-specific wheels, and in some cases, unique-to-M colors. It’s all just enough to tip off a would-be admirer, but not boy-racer enough to attract extra attention. Sometimes, there’s beauty in simplicity, and the E39 M5 is one of the best examples of such a phenomenon. I’m a little less enthused at what BMW thought interior beauty looked like in the late 1990s and early 2000s, though. Step inside the E39 M5, and the mahogany-look wood trim paneling tries for luxury and quality, but looks dated and tired today. The same goes for some other interior niceties. BMW got adventurous with technology, so it’s no surprise to see that said technology is more of a hindrance than a helper in 2022. The “infotainment” system pre-dates iDrive (not to mention an intermediate system available on 2001 and later E39s), and it essentially serves as a reminder that using a computer from over two decades ago is not fun. The other big annoyance is the in-car cell phone-accommodating center console. A big hole smack dab in the middle of the armrest is dug out to hold BMW-supplied phones for the business people who bought this car back in the day. Unfortunately, that turns the armrest into a very annoying place to rest your …
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Retail Price
$69,400 - $69,400
MSRP / Window Sticker Price
| Engine | 4.9L V-8 |
| MPG | Up to 13 city / 21 highway |
| Seating | 5 Passengers |
| Transmission | 6-spd man w/OD |
| Power | 400 @ 6600 rpm |
| Drivetrain | rear-wheel |
| Curb Weight | 3,792 lbs |
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