Launched in 1998, the BMW M5 E39 marks the return of the big M saloon with a very special formula: discreet looks, genuinely high cruising speed and a technical package that still reads as strongly analogue. Against a contemporary Mercedes C-Class AMG, it relies less on theatre than on balance, substance and the authority of a large naturally aspirated V8. That same blend is why the E39 remains so appealing today, but only if its maintenance history is serious.
Under the bonnet sits the `S62B50`, a naturally aspirated `4.9 V8` with `400 hp`, paired exclusively with a `6-speed` manual gearbox. On this early phase, `VANOS`, cooling, mass-air meters, ignition, clutch, differential and the front axle all need reading together. A good M5 E39 stays tight, clean in response and stable in temperature; a neglected one quickly feels heavy, vague and far more expensive than the purchase price suggests.