A Homemade Unicorn
During the E60 generation of the mid-2000s, Europeans got access to an E61 M5 Touring. Here in America, the wagon was never sold, but we did get access to the sedan with a manual transmission rather than the single-clutch automated manual that most markets had to deal with. With the arrival of the G99 M5 Touring, American buyers now have access to a BMW M wagon for the first time, but it still doesn’t have a manual, and it certainly doesn’t have a naturally aspirated engine. Fortunately, someone has taken it upon themselves to make such a thing a reality, using the bones of a BMW 535Xi. Now for sale on Cars & Bids with one day to go, it’s currently bidding at just $50,000.
How This E61 M5 Wagon Was Made
The N54-powered, all-wheel-drive wagon was reportedly purchased by the current seller in September 2024, but the last service entry on its Carfax report was only in August 2020, when the car had 189,165 miles on it. There was also damage sustained in May 2022, though what is not listed. Clearly, this car was rough to begin with. To turn it into something special, the 3.0-liter twin-turbo straight-six engine was pulled, with the S85 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V10 taking its place. The automatic transmission was also ditched in favor of an E6X M5 six-speed manual transmission, and the AWD system was deleted to power the correct axle only, which is assisted by an M5-sourced limited-slip differential. Even the M5’s electronic damping control suspension system was fitted, and the car’s systems all appear to be in fine working order. That includes the retrofitted night vision system. 19-inch Style 166M wheels make the wagon look more authentic, but keen-eyed observers will recognize that the brakes come from an F87 BMW M2. Genuine M5 bodywork painted in the 535Xi’s original Deep Green Metallic completes the package.
Far From Perfect
Inside, the black leather and Carrara wood trim give the wagon a very classy, upmarket feel, and the M5 gauge cluster and steering wheel (also painted to match the car’s original color) give it a touch of sportiness. However, there are some issues to address or overlook. The odometer has been rolled back to 65,300 miles following the fitment of the M5 cluster, so there’s no telling how much mileage the car truly has on it. It’s also unclear if that mileage corresponds to the engine under the hood or if the S85 was sourced from another donor vehicle. Other small issues include stone chips, misaligned passenger-side exhaust tips, some curb rash and scratches on the wheels, and a few other signs of wear interior upholstery and switchgear. Still, the listing also says that the engine oil and filter, clutch, thermostat, spark plugs, wheel bearings, front and rear control arms, tires, rear shock absorbers, and driveshaft support have all been replaced, and the transmission and coolant systems have also been cleaned out and refilled with fresh fluids. Of course, buying a project such as this will always be risky, but with the G99 M5 Touring setting buyers back well over $120,000, owning an M5 wagon of any sort is never cheap.
About the author
Sebastian Cenizo
Senior Editor, Autoblog