Doug Demuro Reviews the Quirks and Features of the E39 M5

[stein_325i]

Like some others have said, not the biggest fan of the color, doesn't fit the car in my opinion. My favorite would have to be Oxford Green over the Caramel Interior. There was one at my local dealer 20-years ago, and to this day it was one of the most beautiful M5's I've seen, especially in the sunlight where it really shines. The green over tan combo is just such an elegant choice for an elegant and timeless car like this. Of the M5's, the E28, E39 and E60 really just have a special place in my heart when it comes to M cars and BMW as a whole, they just have the special feeling that no other M5 afterwards could match. I loved the rawness and analog feel of the E28, the E60 (in manual) is full of character and emotion, especially that screaming V10, and the E39 is subtle but a an incredible mix of analog feel and precision as well as comfort and everyday use, a car that is almost ever so slightly perfect. There will never ever be another car like the E39 again, and I'm really glad to have had plenty of time behind not only regular variants like my father's 40i, but also the M5 on track and on backroads, I'm jealous of all you owners out their who still have yours, enjoy them

[ntg44]

I think shmee takes the cake for most annoying. Doug's reviews have a lot of substance so I like them. I just hate his delivery. The way he over exaggerates the word "THOUUUSAND" whenever he's negatively covering how much an expensive option costs drives me crazy. It's the same in every single review that he does it.

[KevinM]

I'm on year 16 with mine, and it is STILL my favorite car...

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by KevinM

I'm on year 16 with mine, and it is STILL my favorite car...

Awesome stable. You got the best from the golden age, bangle era, and modern era all in one garage.

[CT335xi]

Want one bad!

[KevinM]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

But sometimes he says stuff that's inaccurate/highly opinionated. He claimed BMWs of today have a lesser focus on interior material and build quality which is absolutely false. BMW interiors from the E46/E39 era were great for their time but are notorious for falling apart over time. Today's interiors are more posh.

There are some minor inaccuracies in the video, but nothing major. Since the car in the video was apparently a MY 2000, it did come with a smaller screen in the head unit. However, the one installed in the car is the same one used in MY 2001 - 2003 (the gray instrument cluster and steering wheel are also from MY 2001 - 2003). None had Bluetooth, of course. The Bluetooth module has to be purchased separately. The tool kit supplied with NA E39 M5s did not have all of the components (e.g., no warning triangle, no tools to change a spare tire); they could of course be purchased later.

In terms of the interior, the heritage leather in the E39 M5 is the highest grade available and does need upkeep to keep in good shape, but it can be done. The leather in the video is the "Ostrich" leather which is not as supple but more durable than heritage, which was only available in caramel and black. Here's mine at age 18 years:

[KoenG]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

But sometimes he says stuff that's inaccurate/highly opinionated. He claimed BMWs of today have a lesser focus on interior material and build quality which is absolutely false. BMW interiors from the E46/E39 era were great for their time but are notorious for falling apart over time. Today's interiors are more posh.

I never had a BMW with better quality materials than my e39. They seem to have over engineered this aspect in this car. Certainly the haptics of the dash is much better than on all my later BMWs or any other car I ever sat in.

[CT335xi]

Originally Posted by jstein55

Awesome stable. You got the best from the golden age, bangle era, and modern era all in one garage.

Nice rides man love the m5! How many miles on the e39?

[KevinM]

Originally Posted by CT335xi

Nice rides man love the m5! How many miles on the e39?

92K miles. It was my daily driver from 2004 to 2016.

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by SabineBimmer

Such a great review! I agree with him when he describes BMW these days as volume-driven and tech-driven. This is why I like Doug, he gets straight to the point.

I can only watch Doug if I've had a bunch of espresso

[PYE46M3]

the things I would do for a mint 03 Le Mans with sub 50k. Easily the best and most iconic color on that car. I'd trade my E92 for it on the spot without hesitation

[SabineBimmer]

Originally Posted by ///M TOWN

I can only watch Doug if I've had a bunch of espresso

Lol. There are days when his reviews are just too much and I need to take a break. He definitely has a style all his own.

[Law]

It's a shame that even though he had his hands on a very clean example with the facelift headlights and taillights that he didn't dedicate a few minutes to talk about them.

Easily the most iconic exterior design "quirk" of the E39 facelift was that it introduced the iconic halo 'Corona Rings' (i.e., angel eyes) as a modern interpretation of the quad-headlamps of prior generation BMWs dating back to the Neue Klasse.
Of course, this was later adopted en masse corporate-wide during the so-called 'Bangle-era' BMWs before transitioning to LEDs and adopting boxy, angular shapes that we're familiar with today.



Secondly, almost as iconic were the horizontal LED light bars that inspired an entire decade (and some) of BMW taillight design after the end of production of the E39 until their gradual abandonment with advent of the current 3D design.

[Masander]

Doug is great and so are classic BMWs without hideous grille and tons of ///M badges

[swagon]

I would like to add an E39 M5 to the garage next to the F80 M3 in a few years' time. I grew up in that era of cars, playing Need for Speed at my mate's where there was a 2000 M5; I remember it being either Avus or Le Mans Blue. Early 2000's cars are just my jam... Another honourable mentions include the W211 & W220 55 AMG, B5 RS 4, 996 GT2, etc. I nearly twisted my neck seeing a super mint first-gen Audi Allroad the other day.

While they're both stick-shift sedans and I have not driven an E39, I'd say they would not feel the same at all. The M3 is the perfect track-able DD that I also like to take out for a Sunday morning backroad drive, and the M5 would just be my summer time private jet for cross-country travelling.

Preferred would be a 2001+ with M Texture seats, leather dashboard, Alcantara headliner AND trunk. I have yet to see such example for sale, but I have got my fingers crossed.

E61 M5 with a manual swap would be cool, too, but that's even less realistic than finding "my" E39.

[..Rush..]

found a gimmick. If you review his earlier videos, his delivery was more low key and normal. He only started to get popular when he put on this exaggerated and whiny voice.
He's a smart guy. He probably figured that this was the best way to differentiate himself from the rest of the thousands of other youtube personalities.

Originally Posted by ntg44

I think shmee takes the cake for most annoying. Doug's reviews have a lot of substance so I like them. I just hate his delivery. The way he over exaggerates the word "THOUUUSAND" whenever he's negatively covering how much an expensive option costs drives me crazy. It's the same in every single review that he does it.

[kevinlevrone]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Today's interiors are more posh.

You ended up proving Doug's point.

[cncmastr]

Obligatory pics of my S2

[KevinM]

Originally Posted by swagon

Preferred would be a 2001+ with M Texture seats, leather dashboard, Alcantara headliner AND trunk. I have yet to see such example for sale, but I have got my fingers crossed.

Depending on where you live, you might be waiting quite a while.. The M-Tech F2AT interior was not available in the US. Apparently, is was in Canada and I believe 29 or so made it to NA. However, cncmastr, who posted his S2 above, either sourced the covers or had them made, so you can hit him up.

The alcantara boot was only though BMW Individual, and as such has to be quite rare, especially in the US. Of course, this is something that a good upholstery shop can definitely retrofit.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by KevinM

Depending on where you live, you might be waiting quite a while.. The M-Tech F2AT interior was not available in the US. Apparently, is was in Canada and I believe 29 or so made it to NA. However, cncmastr, who posted his S2 above, either sourced the covers or had them made, so you can hit him up.

The alcantara boot was only though BMW Individual, and as such has to be quite rare, especially in the US. Of course, this is something that a good upholstery shop can definitely retrofit.

I'm in Europe; found a German price list from March 2003 and it lists Alcantara boot upholstery (SA777) as a regular option... although it is, like you say, very, very rare. Also very rare to find nowadays is a car with the full Nappa Heritage interior here in Europe - probably due to the 7k price tag. Standard was Extended Nappa Point leather, M Texture Alcantara/Nappa was a no-cost alternative.

Have a look at the attached PDF.

[DenHaag3er]

Originally Posted by jstein55

I think Schmee takes the crown on that one.

How have those two gained any traction at all? They seem like pleasant chaps but such bland characters and annoying voices.Not great car journalists either.

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by DenHaag3er

How have those two gained any traction at all? They seem like pleasant chaps but such bland characters and annoying voices.Not great car journalists either.

Doug has the quirks, that's his schtick, and that's what has built his channel, he's not a car reviewer but a car nerd that shares random but interesting tidbits, so I get his fame. Schmee on the other hand, could not care for, I assume he gets views because he owns/drives many expensive/exotic cars.