E39 M5 S62 — the greatest M car ever made? 5 year ownership review

2 months ago· 5 posts

Five years ago I bought a 2001 E39 M5 with 145k km. It now has 198k km and I have no intention of selling it. This is my honest ownership review. The S62 4.9L V8 makes 400hp and revs to 7000rpm. With individual throttle bodies and a flat plane crank-like character, it sounds and feels like nothing else BMW has made. The 6-speed manual gearbox is the only transmission option and it is perfect — precise, mechanical, and engaging. What makes the E39 M5 special is the balance. It is fast enough to be exciting (0-100 in 5.3 seconds) but not so fast that you cannot enjoy it on public roads. The chassis is beautifully balanced and the steering has real feedback. Maintenance over 5 years and 53k km: - VANOS seals replaced: 400 EUR - Cooling system overhaul (radiator, water pump, thermostat, hoses): 800 EUR - Rear subframe reinforcement: 600 EUR - Clutch replacement: 1500 EUR - Various sensors and gaskets: 1000 EUR - Regular servicing (oil, filters, brakes): 3000 EUR - Total: approximately 7300 EUR over 5 years Values have been climbing steadily. Clean manual E39 M5s are now 35-50k EUR depending on condition and mileage. I paid 22k EUR five years ago. Even as a daily driver, it has been a solid investment. The only downside is fuel consumption — 15-18L per 100km in mixed driving. But you do not buy a V8 M car for fuel economy.

6 2161

Replies (3)

ClutchCarl

2 months ago#1

The E39 M5 is the car that made me fall in love with BMW. I had one for 8 years before selling it (biggest regret of my life). The manual gearbox, the V8 sound, the understated looks — it is the complete package. One thing I want to emphasize about the clutch — the E39 M5 clutch is a dual-mass flywheel setup and replacement is expensive because the transmission has to come out from below. Budget 1500-2000 EUR for a quality clutch kit and labor. Some owners switch to a single-mass flywheel for a more direct feel, but it adds some vibration at idle. The VANOS seals are a must-do maintenance item. When they fail, you lose power and get rough idle. The Beisan Systems kit is the go-to solution — well documented with excellent instructions.

1 posts · 0 rep

Petras

about 2 months ago#2

Beautiful car and great review. The E39 M5 values are only going one direction. Manual V8 sedans from this era are becoming collectible across all brands. For anyone looking to buy one — check the rear subframe mounting points carefully. The E39 M5 puts a lot of torque through the rear end and the subframe mounts can crack, especially on cars that have been driven hard. Reinforcement plates are available and should be installed preventively. Also check the window regulators — they fail on every E39 eventually. Not expensive to fix but annoying.

2 posts · 0 rep

Vytautas

about 2 months ago#3

Thanks for the replies. To add one more thing — the E39 M5 throttle response is something you cannot replicate with modern turbocharged engines. The individual throttle bodies give instant response with zero lag. When you blip the throttle, the engine reacts immediately. It is addictive. For anyone on the fence — drive one before you decide. No amount of reading about it can prepare you for how it actually feels. The combination of the S62 engine, manual gearbox, and perfectly weighted steering is automotive perfection.

5 posts · 0 rep

You need to be logged in to reply.