Greetings, everyone, this virtual drive-in is strictly speaking not about a daily drive but I was kindly asked to write it nonetheless. :-) You'll see very soon why.
The car is a 2000 model E39 BMW M5, owned 50/50 by me and my brother, and the reason it's not an actual daily drive is because it's on the road only for 6 months /year, to avoid the harsh and damaging winter. On top of that, high fuel costs make it an expensive drive so cheaper alternatives are necessary to avoid us from going bankrupt. And in case you're now wondering where the land of harsh winters and high fuel prices is, it's Finland, Europe - and hence this drive-in will likely have a non-US angle to it thanks to the differences in our respective automotive cultures.
Anyhow, on to some E39 M5 technical details for the uninitiated - I cannot claim to have performed any measurements on the car, so any performance figures have been lifted for various sources. The M5 is essentially a 500-series BMW with a naturally aspirated 4.9L gasoline V8 fitted on it, with the engine putting out 394bhp / 294kW of power and 369 lb-ft / 500Nm of torque which are obscenely high figures in comparison to any typical cars over here, albeit the figures might not appear so crazy to US readers. ;-) Gearbox is 6-speed manual Getrag, as the M5 was never sold with an automatic, and as a final touch the power train has a limited slip differental to alleviate issues with wheelspin. Top speed is normally electronically limited to roughly 150 MPH / 250 km/h but this is only due to 2 "gentleman's agreement" between German car makers and the German government, so the limited is often disabled as is the case this time as well - with the limiter disabled, the top speed is around 180 MPH / 300 km/h.
However, despite the performance figures, the M5 is a gentle beast as long as you can deal with the somewhat finicky clutch which doesn't let you slip the clutch disc much, seeing how one can drive it casually like any typical sedan without the need to be especially careful and ground clearance is great enough to make it suitable for roads which may not be completely level (or paved). Hence, it can function as a daily drive with no extra considerations - but when your right foot gets that serious twitch and you tap the "Sport" button for faster engine response, you can easily blast from 0-60 MPH (or 0-100 km/h) in less than 5 seconds and 120 MPH / 200 km/h can be reached in roughly 17 seconds. In other words, more than enough to smoke nearly all cars and many motorcycles over here behind when necessary, and blazingly fast when overtaking someone on the highway.
Which is pretty good for a car which officially tips the scales at roughly 3980 lbs / 1790 kg with the driver and is by no means an extreme sports cars... this pretty much defines the driving experience with the M5 which is akin to a huge lump of quicksilver in traffic, due to how there's practically always sufficient power available to zip around at whatever pace you want. And since we only use (low-profile) Michelin Pilot Sport tyres under the M5, handling is great with very little restlessness or strange sensations I'm used to when driving crappier cars, albeit hard cornering is not the M5's strongest suite due to the heavy body which puts stress on the bushings - but it's by no means troublesome, and BMW has further prepared for maniacs by fitting the S62 engine with a system capable of altering oil flow with magnetic valves to prevent oil starvation in situations with high lateral G-forces.
The same refined feel continues in the interior which is rather dark with planty of black and gray leather leather combined with black plastic and brushed aluminum, and there's some nifty of attention to detail - such as how the leather on the steering wheel has been stitched with red, blue and gray thread which are the BMW M-Sport colours, and how the gear stick has a lit shift pattern. Of course, even the 'base model' BMW M5 was well-equipped with everything from power windows and front power seats to a CD changer and parking control, and the original owner had chosen extra options like GPS navigation, double-thickness side windows for exatra sound proofing, sun shades for the rear windows (electric for the rear window, manual for the rear side windows), and some other things I've forgotten. Honestly, all the equipment underlines the idea that you're driving a luxurious saloon and not a sports car or a muscle car, especially when driving along a sunny road with the front seat hugging you, climate control humming and classical music flowing from the speakers while coasting along the road with precious little noise disturbing the journey.
Furthermore, some of you might have noticed that in the photos the M5 shows some 2002 model options - and it has indeed been retrofitted with various 2002 model options like bumpers, lights, instrument cluster and the newer 16:9 navigation cabin unit. Not everything has been upgraded, for example the 2002 model had forward- and rear-facing parking control while the 2000 model only has a rear-facing one.
Finally, from the point-of-view of someone who like to do at least basic repair jobs by himself, the E39 M5 has proved out to be surprisingly uncomplicated to work on despite the relative complexity of the engine and other parts of the car. So far me and my brother have replaced the spark plugs, replaced the MAF units (mostly just in case, due to the former owner having put in unsuitable air filters) changed all oils (engine, gearbox, differential) and repaired the VANOS variable valve timing system solenoid packs (new rubber seals, solder repairs), along with a number of minor electrical repairs, and there have been no unwanted surprises or difficulties. And despite being soon 12 years old, it's in excellent condition, with no rusted parts, chipped paint, dented body panels, or malfunctioning equipment, so it has been a joy to work with due to not having to battle with huge issues or nasty wear-and-tear.
And that's it, I can't think of anything more to say, and I hope you have enjoyed my comments about the M5 - the car which can be either used as a comfortable daily drive or to leave other cars in the dust, depending on what me and my brother happen to like. :3
Thanks Sabre! Hopefully, there's more to come!
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