Time Capsule E39 M5 Set for Auction at Pebble Beach

[Neptune7]

Maybe it was this car.

[Darth One]

would immediately drive it home the 3,000 miles from Pebble Beach to Fort Lauderdale.

[ron_jeremy]

The E39 is a classic, and in a good way. Back in the day, it won "car of the year" almost every year on the market, even up until 2001 i believe. Goes to show the quality in this model, it is a BMW classic next to E46 and E30. With this, the price will be insane for well kept cars. Good luck to the new owner, and good luck to the ignorant haters.
;-)

[mrmoua2u]

Call the person who bought this car for an idiot or stupid but I bet this is not his only collector car. Stupid that he could of or should bought something more exotic like GT3, GT2 RS etc etc but im sure he has that too. Maybe he even have a bigger house and boat than yours...lol.

Stop hating on those who are willing to spend that kind of money when they do got the money.
Shit, I would if I got endless money. People who attend and buy cars at PB aint your average Joe's.

[///M-er-gized]

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

I'd rather have a 2019 model.

I agree.

[MRV99]

There is a guy in the Chicagoland area which has an Imola Red E39 M5 w/ two tone red and black interior, 800ish miles. BMW NA tried to buy it from him with an offer in the 6figures but he refused to sell it. Only get driven to change all the fluids on a yearly basis.

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by CSBM5

If anyone is interested in the history of this car, search the M5board using username BigGar and threads he started. This car was one of three extremely well-cared for E39 M5s with very low mileage (back in 2008) that were part of an extensive collection maintained in a large climate controlled facility.

This car sold at an RM auction along with a 2000 model with about 1900 miles back in 2010.

FWIW, EAG sold a 390 (?) mile E39 M5 for $149k about 18 months ago. I seriously doubt anyone that is bidding on this car is worried about a gasket leak or has any intention of actually driving very far.

Pricing on E39 M5s has been growing very strongly for well-kept cars. I owned my 2001 for over 14 years and recently sold it at 66k miles on BaT for $34k ($35,700 buyer cost). My car was garaged 24/7 since new, almost never in rain, never in bad weather, and driven only ~1200 miles/year for the past 10 years. I never experienced all these internet horror stories about cars that aren't driven "enough."

It was a fantastic car that when driven was exercised "fully and completely" after a careful warmup. One of the best memories was trying to catch my daughter on track at NCCAR about 10 years ago; I was in her E46 and she was driving the M5. The wail of the Dinan exhaust from the M5 and it's lowered stance as it pulled away strongly on the straights was incredible.

Out of all the BMWs I've owned and then sold over the last 40+ years, the E39 M5 and my 1972 Bavaria go down as my favorites.

Oh, they're going down alright!


J/k. Couldn't resist. Great post and thank you for sharing this history with us.

[Damage Inc]

Originally Posted by ///M-er-gized

I agree.

He's a collector with a dozen cars. He's not looking for a DD lol. Thus the term "collecting".

[bmwMcrzy]

Originally Posted by MRV99

There is a guy in the Chicagoland area which has an Imola Red E39 M5 w/ two tone red and black interior, 800ish miles. BMW NA tried to buy it from him with an offer in the 6figures but he refused to sell it. Only get driven to change all the fluids on a yearly basis.

Can you disclose who the owner is ?

[E39hijinks]

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

Fair enough, but if I had six figures to spend on automotive soul I wouldn't be looking anyplace near a 2002 M5.

People that spend this kind of coin on this kind of car don't just have "six figures." They have many six figures and many cars. This is something to collect for someone who has many things. This is not a "I'm a successful guy with a good degree and I need a nice car" kind of car.

This car sits next to other special cars on display.

[Darth One]

i honestly understand the mentality. people spend millions on stupid pieces of avant-garde art...those are far worse uses of collector money than a time-capsule M5.

i still wouldn't be able to resist driving it, though. i have some cars that either have appreciated, or have a good chance of appreciating, but i can't resist driving them either. even though i'm "killing" their value by taking their mileage over 1000 or whatever.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Originally Posted by E39hijinks

People that spend this kind of coin on this kind of car don't just have "six figures." They have many six figures and many cars. This is something to collect for someone who has many things. This is not a "I'm a successful guy with a good degree and I need a nice car" kind of car.

This car sits next to other special cars on display.

Of course I didn't intend to imply the prospective buyer only had six figures. I'm saying that if I had six figures specifically budgeted to spend on automotive soul it wouldn't be directed towards a 2002 M5.

[thxbuff2001]

Originally Posted by Haywood

Fortunately, your opinion of the e39 is in the minority.

Ive owned a e60 M5 and I am still sorry i sold it for a GT3. That being said, I dont think an e60 M5 is a better car than an e39 M5.

I would say it is second, then an F10 as third.

[thxbuff2001]

Apparently some newbies here think that just because theyve owned a few new BMW they are now experts of the brand.

Have you heard of "Respect for the Elders?" I hope I dont see you haters there in the future.

[chris82]

It'd be cool if you could go short on cars. Buy it full price, drive the crap out of it, then sell it back for cheap and profit all that money.

[EL Jeffe 5]

Originally Posted by Dr. Dre

On of the most overrated cars I've ever driven. All the controls were just shit. Steering, shifter just terrible. The E60 M5 was such a better car. Once that v10 woke up it was magic. Like some else mentioned, why would you just by the new one for that price.

Shit for that price you could go by a 360 Stradale.

Do you honestly think somebody with life long savings bought this car?
Its probably somebody how have more money in the bank then you and I can dream of.
I bet you anything this car wont be driven on the road it will be just stored.

[technik330]

There's quite a few rather bitter comments in here, come on guys - we're better than that.

People who spend money on a car like this or either dedicated to said car, or have the kind of money that only few of us could ever be able to relate to.

I wouldn't be surprised if this car and or other 'purchases' were trucked home and will undergo a full inspection and all necessary things tended to, without so much as a blink.

This M5 will probably live in a collection, good for the buyer and his collection.

[turo329]

Originally Posted by Neptune7

Maybe it was this car.

I use to have the DVD of all the "BMW Films". Really enjoyed it. Wish I could find it. Probably got lost in a move. These are just fantastic tactile cars in so many ways. The BMW cars that were made during this era were the Pinnacle of BMW.

[antzcrashing]

I just hate stories like this. Absolutely absurd

[jmg]

What a stunning car! For those worried about it falling apart: this is a collector car. Whomever's buying is going to maintain it and keep it in museum quality to sell again in 15-20 years for much much more. No one is going to be driving this car much and it's for a different kind of enthusiast. If you can afford to buy this car and let it sit, you can afford an enthusiast car to actually drive that's an actual sports car. If you are buying this as a daily driver this car isn't for you, get a new M5.

[bmwMcrzy]

Originally Posted by turo329

I use to have the DVD of all the "BMW Films". Really enjoyed it. Wish I could find it. Probably got lost in a move. These are just fantastic tactile cars in so many ways. The BMW cars that were made during this era were the Pinnacle of BMW.

I like saying it was the Zenith of BMW engineering.

[BMWI6]

This is one of the very few cars than can literally pass if someone wasn't familiar with it as a new 2018 model. Its amazing how this car looks less dated than the e60.