Naming the greatest BMW M5 ever [The Intercooler]

[jwong77]

I find it absurd to compare an e28 to an F90. Both are great in their own ways. Why does one have to be the “best”? WTF does the “Best” even mean? The fuck out of here with these click bait video titles.

[m20e3087]

E39 period.

[Nexo]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

E39 6MT is the goat, and I’ll die on this hill

Completely the absolute best Normally Aspirated ITB’s and down right pure motor sports car “no Nanny controls”

[pizza240]

In terms of design, I rank them like this:
E28>E34>E39>G90>F90>F10>E60

[kmarei]

E39
E34
Whatever
Uber




Fat pig

[GuidoK]

E34 M5 Touring.
Extremely rare (less than 900 made) but supercool!
And it came out when it was still called 'BMW Motorsport GMBH' and not BMW M GMBH', and still made in Garching

[adc]

Give me a CS please.

This from a manual diehard. The most focused of them all.

[440i6MT]

Originally Posted by pizza240

In terms of design, I rank them like this:
E28>E34>E39>G90>F90>F10>E60

Lol oddest list I have ever read

[KevinM]

The "best M5" (if that is even a thing) depends what you are looking for. Anyone who is not impressed with an earlier generation M5 after a brief drive (or just stats) should reflect on what the standard was when the cars were released. From that standpoint, the E28, E34, and E39 were the most impactful as they were game-changers in the super-sedan segment. No car manufacturer tried to mimic the E60, but it is a masterpiece in its own way and is one of the most fun cars I've driven past 7-8K RPM. Below that not so much (due to the relatively low torque at lower RPMs) which is why I didn't buy one as DD.

My first drive in the E39 M5 in 2002 was absolutely game-changing for me. Nothing else with a MT could seat 5 adults and challenge most sports cars of the time. It took a few years before I upgraded my 2002 E39 530i (MT) to the to 2002 E39 M5, but that was an iconic moment for me. My entire family (3 children and spouse) in a 400 hp sedan with a MT. Seemed unbeilable at the time. Hell, now a hot hatch can beat an E39 M5 to 60 mph (not to mention all number of EVs), but the soul remains. I'll be coming up on 20 years of ownership in December with no thoughts of selling.

All of the M5 generations are near or at the top of their game. I'm sad that a MT is no longer available, but I certainly understand why. (The only reason I got into BMWs is that when I needed a sports sedan in 1999 that would fit my family. the E39 was the ONLY option with a MT. That led to a 1999 528i and the rest as noted above!)

[OrmondBMW]

E39 has one of the greatest engines I’ve ever owned, and I own Lambos and Ferraris. Rest of the car, couldn’t care less for.

[328dabi]

E34 will always be my favorite. Last of the hand built M’s. A euro 6MT 3.8 in Avus Blue would be perfect. analog driving experience, amazing sounding I-6, and one of the best looking 5er’s ever made.

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

The power to weight ratio of the F90 M5 CS is something the current gen "fat pig" cough... cough... G90 M5 WON'T EVER BE ABLE TO TOUCH -OR- EVEN COME CLOSE TO. The chassis dynamics & mass the new car has to compensate for just won't ever allow the newer M5 to ever be in that same (extremely dynamic & capable super sedan) class ever again. RIP M5...

[NotSharocks]

E39 M5 is the quintessential M5.

This is a fact and I don't make the rules.

[Mr. Jonathan]

I’ve only owned the the F90C so you can assume it’s my favorite. However, if I could get my hands on the E60 V10…

[BMWCCA1]

I've driven them all, sold them all as my job, too. Even wrote an article or two about them.

For me—and that comes with 53-years of BMW ownership—any M5 made after the E34 is just a big, powerful luxury sedan. They stopped being special enough to be called an M when the E39 came out. But then these days you can buy the "M" on nearly anything, can't you?

If it makes you feel special to own one, that's what it's about. And as long as you enjoy it, that is the point of any BMW purchase—or should be!

I used to laugh when BMW defined "M" cars as having four exhaust pipes with the battery in the trunk. My 1964 BMW 700S convertible with its Abarth exhaust qualified! And it's a mid-engine 2-cylinder, to boot!

[pizza240]

Originally Posted by 440i6MT

Lol oddest list I have ever read

Haha, well, I am odd... though I think many would agree with my top 3 and my bottom two.

The only two that I think are a bit ugly are the E60 and the F10. F90 is an awesome looking, but I think the G90's extra girth really makes it look special.

Congrats on the E60 manual though! I would still turn my head and give a thumbs up if I saw one.

[M2 Ziggy]

E39 and F90 CS

[JMD]

Originally Posted by 10"

E28 forever. The OG series production M car is untouchable.

But I loved all of them through the E39

After that things got detached and too focused on HP, IMO. Lost the plot!

I see an E28 in the metal about once every 10 years or so! It's the one I want to drive most,...especially after owning an E28 535is for many years. I want to experience the seat-of-the-pants different between the two.

Short story: I installed factory OEM E28 M5 Swaybars on my 535is,...and lowered it too,...the the "FLATNESS" in the corners was BALLISTIC! I did not care 2 pennies about it's straightline numbers, as the one thing I yearned for more than anything was the next Curve!

I slayed many folks on Clover-Leaf On and Off Ramps!

...in parting, just imagine an E28 with a B58 in it! Good Lord what a combination that would be!!

[JMD]

They should have 1) waited for a G90 to be included and 2) there should have been some performance parameters used in the comparison, as well as other metrics!

Acceleration
Brakes
Cornering
Track Time
Comfort
Cost (...how dare we compare cost!)
Cost to Maintain and Repair
Cost to Operate

Either way, the E28 M5 is the Grand Daddy of all M5s that came after it,...and not another M5 can make such claim ever - Full Stop!!!

Edit: Lets say the field was 7 model year M5s (E28 to G90). There would be 3 Top-Tier categories: Performance (...which includes: Acceleration, Braking, Slalom, Lateral Gs, and Track Timing), Styling and Comfort, which accounts for Impact on Automotive world,...What the "Eyes" see, and Costs. Although subjective, for measuring Comfort, each driver would drive the M5s on the same Highway and Urban routes. Points would be awarded based on the Lowest or Highest depending on the category measured. The scoring would be 7 points for the Lowest (best) score...such as 0-60, 1/4 miles,...1/2 mile,...and Tracking time and 1 point for the Highest (worse) score, i.e., Slowest trap speed, Lowest Lateral G, etc. Since there are 7 M5s, 1st place gets 7 points,...2nd place 6 points,...5 place 5 points, etc. Essentially, an M5 consistently scoring 4s, 5s, and 6s could win the title as being the Best M5 Ever based on measured and subjective metrics.

Oh! Since there would be 7 M5s, I think it's only fitting to have 7 drivers,...consisting of at least 3 to 4 current or former professional race car drivers, and at least 3-4 regular 'Joe-Blow' car enthusiasts. These non-pro drivers could be from the BMW YouTube community!

This is how I think the "Best M5 Ever Comparison" should have been determined!

[JMD]

Originally Posted by KevinM

The "best M5" (if that is even a thing) depends what you are looking for. Anyone who is not impressed with an earlier generation M5 after a brief drive (or just stats) should reflect on what the standard was when the cars were released. From that standpoint, the E28, E34, and E39 were the most impactful as they were game-changers in the super-sedan segment. No car manufacturer tried to mimic the E60, but it is a masterpiece in its own way and is one of the most fun cars I've driven past 7-8K RPM. Below that not so much (due to the relatively low torque at lower RPMs) which is why I didn't buy one as DD.

My first drive in the E39 M5 in 2002 was absolutely game-changing for me. Nothing else with a MT could seat 5 adults and challenge most sports cars of the time. It took a few years before I upgraded my 2002 E39 530i (MT) to the to 2002 E39 M5, but that was an iconic moment for me. My entire family (3 children and spouse) in a 400 hp sedan with a MT. Seemed unbeilable at the time. Hell, now a hot hatch can beat an E39 M5 to 60 mph (not to mention all number of EVs), but the soul remains. I'll be coming up on 20 years of ownership in December with no thoughts of selling.

All of the M5 generations are near or at the top of their game. I'm sad that a MT is no longer available, but I certainly understand why. (The only reason I got into BMWs is that when I needed a sports sedan in 1999 that would fit my family. the E39 was the ONLY option with a MT. That led to a 1999 528i and the rest as noted above!)

Here here!!!!!!!! Hmm, perhaps your post should be the final stake in this thread!

[M6-Coupe]

I believe S85 on E60 is brilliant.
Then S63B44T4 on F90
Then S63B44T1 on F10

[GooseX3MC]

I had an E39 between 2002-2004. It was sublime for the time … the engine, V8 sound, refinement, cabin quality, driving pleasure etc … what was amazing was the ride quality of the E39 M5, which was so much better sorted than the 528i with Sports suspenion that I had prior.

Ride quality is something that BMW need to sort out on their M Comps … in many of the modern M Comp models the “Comfort” setting for the suspension is a misnomer especially when coupled with the horrendous state of the UK’s roads. It takes away from the pleasure of the ownership experience unfortunately.