pissedpuppy

all good data points - thank you

Modena 1

The existing, soon to be replaced, f30/80 3 series is the size of the e39.

chsu74

Not sure on reliability of newer BMW N63 motors/M5 variant made out of the same block. Mercedes M178 engines were more reliable out of the box.

Evolved Rs

M5 are S63. N63 are leaky garbage.

chsu74

Believe S63 and N63 share the same block. Manifolds are different. F10 M5s reporting same "drivetrain malfunction" messages in display.

Modena 1

My point in case it wasn't clear is an m5 in 1988 and 1991 and 2003 and 2018 are pretty different, sharing spirit (maybe) and nomenclature only. The engines (as has been Discussed) and the size dimensions and the transmissions are all different.

Unless you want a classic car, or new age classic (in which case you are looking at the wrong marque), generally newer is always better.

Get a farty f80 m3 that is the size of an e39 costs almost the same, is newer, safer, faster in some cases warranty and is the same size.

If big fat cat saloons are your thing, I think a e63 wagon tops the cake. Throw some bbs on it and I think you are cooler than the guy with the lambo at the light.

Cheers.

AudiOn19s

We looked at E60's back in the day and was even a long time BMW guy at the time but I ended up going with an E55 AMG at the time and don't regret that decision for one moment. Heck, I still own that car 9 years later and it's still a wonderful car.

I think you could buy the nicest E39 you can find, keep it in nice condition and never lose money on it...but if it's a driver for someone looking for something modern it will feel dated at this point.

Of the late model iterations I still take the E63 AMG over the M5.