40 years after the release of the first generation of the BMW M5, the high-performance sedan has long since achieved iconic status. Models of all generations are coveted collector's items. To celebrate this, BMW Group Classic invited participants from various international communities to a BMW M5 community meeting. Four proud owners and M enthusiasts who were there talk here about their passion for the brand and their personal BMW M5.
Driving a 20-year-old car at 145 mph on the Autobahn with a passenger sleeping in the backseat showcases the BMW M5 E39’s impressive engineering.
Name: Justin Kuruvilla
Place of residence: London, Great Britain
Profession: Entrepreneur
Car: BMW M5 E39
Hello, Justin. It's a pleasure to meet you. You're a dedicated BMW M5 aficionado. Of all the nice cars in the world, what made you choose a BMW M5 E39?
I think I was around 17 or 18 when the E39 got released in that Avus Blue, and I just fell in love. I had already been a big fan of the E39, trying to convince my parents to buy one, or a 525. And the M5 came out, and I just thought it was perfection because of the formula: rear-wheel drive, 6 speed, V8, and it looked the way that no one had any idea what it is. Most people wouldn't know. Car enthusiasts would. The car wouldn't draw any attention. It just was perfect. And that's when I knew I needed it. But I just thought, it was a dream car and that I would never be able to own one. And thankfully, several years later, I managed to get one.
Could you describe your fascination with the BMW M brand?
I think for me, there's the rich motorsport heritage, and I know it's not a homologation special, these cars, but there's some passion and excitement you get when you drive it. It's real petrol heads who designed the car. A lot of people buy these cars for the badges. But for those who really appreciate driving, the sensation, the dynamics, it's extremely rewarding. You don't get that feeling in other cars.
What makes the BMW M community special for you? What is so special about meetings like this one?
I think the special thing is, it's extremely inclusive. And everybody is willing to extend open arms and bend over backwards with sharing information, sharing knowledge, sharing tips, willing to help, willing to drive hundreds of miles to help a broken-down member. It's the shared love of passion of cars. I think outside of the car community, you hear the stories of negative stereotypes, of disruptive people and loud people, and whatever. But what I found, especially moving out to London, just joining a WhatsApp group of like-minded guys and girls, everybody's very down to earth, everybody's relaxed. It doesn't matter where you are on the socioeconomic spectrum. If you have a shared passion for cars, you have instant everyone's respect and help and gratitude and just friendship.
Let's hear the details of your BMW M5 E39, like manufacturing year, mileage, color, options, accessories, and tell us why you like those about your car.
My car, actually, was the last car I wanted to get. I have a jet black M5, build date, October 2001, 2002, production year. Jet black, it's essentially bone stock, no options, no sport leather, no M audio, none of the other bells and whistles. I wanted sterling gray, I wanted carbon black, I wanted Le Mans Blue. Jet black was the last thing I wanted because in the US, jet black is everywhere. Everyone's car is a jet black. But it was the best-sorted car. It was four years old. Previous owner put 15,000 miles on it, never sat in the back seat, and I just thought, “this was mint, I have to buy it”. What's interesting is moving to the UK, nobody has jet black. I think there's like maybe one right-hand drive jet black in the country. Everyone has carbon black. So, what I thought was a boring colour tends to attract fascination from all the carbon black folks. Yeah, to me, it's perfect. Obviously, I wish I could do a few mods. It's pretty stock, honestly. Slight muffler modifications, but then you see the guys with the twin turbos of the supercharge and you start thinking, “oh, maybe I'll tinker down that path just a little bit”.
What's your favorite E39 story and/or memory?
It’s just the fact that I'm really privileged to be an American, never thinking I'd drive on the greatest roads in the world, but being able to bring my car over here, driving the Stelvio Pass, Furka Pass, all the passes through the Dolomites, through the English B roads, Black Mountains (Wales). It's been amazing. Being able to meet all these guys and have a good time.
Name: Thordur Magnusson
Place of residence: Reykjavik, Iceland
Profession: Engineer
Car: BMW M5 E39
Thordur, nice to meet you. You're a dedicated BMW M5 E39 aficionado. Of all the nice cars in the world, what are the reasons to go with the M5 E39?
For me, I've always been a BMW guy, and I really like the 5 series. Before the E39 I had an E34. When I saw an E39 M5 for the first time here in Germany, like in '99, I just knew instantly I had to have one. So, I decided then I would get one. It took me five years and I it since.
It's a beautiful car. Could you describe what is your fascination with the BMW M brand?
It's just this mix of usability and performance and that bit of understatement, even though my car may not reflect that. But it's this solid performance I like.
What makes the BMW M community special for you? What is so special about meetings like this one?
It's just fun to meet like-minded people, have similar interests and cars. You get new friends in each country, which is nice.
I've always been a BMW guy, and I really like the 5 series. When I saw an E39 M5 for the first time I just knew instantly I had to have one.
Let's hear the details of your BMW M5 E39, like manufacturing year, mileage, colour, options, accessories, and tell us why you like those about your car.
This is a '99 model. It was one of only two sold new in Iceland. When I got it in 2005, it was bone stock. It had no sunroof, which I love, it was blue, just very basic stock. I remember when I got it, I was scared of it, of the power, because I'd never driven such a powerful car before. But within a few months, I was already like, Okay, how can I tune this and make it go faster? That resulted in Brembo brakes, KW suspension, Supersprint full exhaust. Then I sent the car to Sweden to have the supercharges installed. It's 600 horsepower and 700 newton metres. It's a lot of fun.
What's your favorite E39 M5 story and/or memory?
It's probably just these Euro tours I've taken it on. Going to the Nürburgring, where I was lucky enough to sit in the E60 ring taxi with Sabine Schmitz.
You mentioned that you were a BMW enthusiast early on and that you had owned one before your first encounter with an E39. How did that change you?
Actually, when I saw an E39 first, I thought it looked weird and not as good-looking as the E34. But as time went by, it grew on me. For me, t's just the perfect car, regarding looks, practicality and usability.
I'd struggle to find anything else that delivers the way the E61 M5 does.
Name: Rian MacGregor
Place of residence: Scotland
Profession: Senior engineer
Car: BMW M5 E61
Hello, Rian. It's a pleasure to meet you. You're a dedicated BMW M5 aficionado. Of all the nice cars in the world, why did you choose a BMW M5 E61?
Well, the E61 wins for me on many fronts. The splash of practicality without compromising any performance is just number one for me. I can take the family, I can take friends on a trip, all the luggage. I've got the roof box, too. I mean, that's how it wins for me. The revs, 5-litre V10, and yeah, it delivers on all those fronts. I don't think there's anything else that compares.
Living in the north of Scotland, you mentioned the beautiful roads. Could you tell us about your daily driving experience on those roads and how your E61 makes the experience especially delightful?
Yes, I live on the North Coast 500, a very famous route at the north of Scotland. And my daily commute to work, 10 miles back and forth, the M5 takes me there, 12 months of the year. In Snow and rain, you name it, the car gets used. Winter tyres in the winter. It never failed me. The roads and the way the car handles, I get the most out of that experience as a result of the car's dynamics. It's just fantastic.
You mentioned that you got your E61 after you started a family. How do you experience the blend of practicality and all-out sportiness?
It's the perfect balance for me because it's not as heavy as modern vehicles. You can rev the engine for performance, but it's got more than adequate torque to carry out daily duties, so it can almost fly under the radar. It can be a quiet, sedate, practical machine that you can fill up with five people and their luggage to travel the length of the country, as I've done on this trip to Munich. It really does perform on both of those fronts exceptionally well, and I'd struggle to find anything else that delivers the way the E61 M5 does.
Could you give us details on your BMW M5 E61, like year of manufacture, mileage, colour, options, accessories, etc, and tell us why you like those about your car?
Well, I'm very fortunate that my car is unique. I believe it was one of around 40 E61 estates in Monaco Blue metallic in right-hand drive. But I believe it was the only right-hand drive car to be optioned in Portland Brown interior. It's a one of one in a blue-over-tan configuration. You do get individual models that have special option paint, special option interior. But for me, the car is still unique because I believe it's a one of one. And that makes it even more special to me, if it could be, because frankly, it's my dream as it stands. So, yeah, it just makes it even more enjoyable and something to be even more proud of. With regards to specification, I'm not aware of any options it doesn’t have. It's got the individual audio system, television, both sets of alloys, the 167M and the 166M. DAB radio. I've even got CarPlay fitted now, it connects to my phone immediately as soon as I come in and it's still got all the functionality of the original BMW system, too. But I think it's otherwise relatively standard, the car, just to keep it OEM. Currently, I just clicked 80,000 miles on this road trip. This road trip is going to be 3,000 miles.
What's your favorite E61 story or memory?
It would be remiss not to talk of family trips in it because it's delivered with aplomb every time we went away together on the practicality front. But truly, this is my first European road trip, to come over to BMW and to see all these other cars today. It's just fantastic. Really, as for a driving experience, this trip has to be it. And it's been a fantastic experience seeing everybody else. Like-minded individuals, enthusiasts with the same sort of M blood in our veins. It is just a joy to speak to like-minded individuals.
Last but not least, what's your fascination with BMW M brand?
My fascination, first of all, came from the BMW E36 M3 when it broke 100 break horsepower per litre. The 3.2 produced 321 break horsepower, which was a breakthrough at the time. I'm also an avid fan of the McLaren F1, which also had a BMW engine in it, the 6.1 litre S70 BMW engine. It I remember the original advert had the McLaren and the BMW E36 in it, side by side. I remember being in art class, and they had magazines for you to get inspiration. I came across this advert, and I thought, Oh, wow, one day to have an E36, 100 break horse per litre, that would be amazing. To think some 25 years later, I'm here with an M5, it's just amazing, frankly. I've got to pinch myself, really, when I see the car parked out there with everybody.
The combination of a luxurious car that offers a very good driving experience and a powerful engine. So there is everything: it's like a wolf in sheep's clothing. That for me is my perfect combination.
Name: Brugt Douwes
Place of residence: Netherlands
Profession: Engineer
Car: BMW M5 E39
Hello, Brugt, good to see you. You're a dedicated BMW M E39 aficionado. Of all the nice cars in the world, what are the reasons to go with the BMW E39?
To be perfectly honest, the first time I drove an E39 was by chance. I was driving Volvos at the time, and I always had BMW on my mind. But I thought, well, I need a reliable car, so let me buy a Volvo. And I did, and I went on, and I went on. Then by accident, when searching for a new V70, I drove by the BMW garage, and I couldn't curb myself. I did a test drive with the E39 520i. And that was so good. I was so impressed with the car. I bought one. And ever since, I've kept with the E39. I've had four now, and so my M5 is the fourth now. And I'm still very happy with the concept, how it drives, the reliability, the way it's built, the reputation, the people around it. It's really a very nice car to have.
Could you describe your fascination with the BMW M brand?
Well, the combination of a luxurious car, which has a very good driving experience, but then to top that with more refined engines, more powerful and adapted. So, there’s everything, the suspension, the driving train. There are so many small and really functional improvements made to the car. It is like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. That for me is my perfect combination because if I want, I can drive just very easy on a highway or in a town. I have all the luxury around me. If I want, I can behave like a bad boy. It can do that for me. So, I like that very much.
What makes the BMW M community special for you? What is so special about meetings like this one?
It's only two years now that I'm involved with the community. I was watching a YouTube channel on M5 E39 restorations. And the host mentioned that there would be a gathering. So, I got here for the 50 Years of BMW M event. That was when I got in touch with the Dutch community. We had so much fun together. We’d talk about the cars; we’d talk about everything. We are so many different types of people, but we are all getting along, and we have fun with the cars. We help each other when we have problems or when we need to know something about the cars. Even outside these meetings, we stay in contact. It's a very friendly community. Yeah, absolutely.
What's your favorite E39 story or memory, Brugt?
The day I got my first E39 M5.
