Topic: So I test drove an E39 BMW M5....

[Noto]

I may check out a Z4M Coupe...possibly a Roadster.

I'd be highly supportive of that decision.

Yeah, I was in high school and one of my she-friend's dad really wanted me to marry his daughter (*sigh*).  He sold private jets/cessnas for a living and had a Modena, but bought the M5 after realizing that he couldn't take his 4 kids around in it (*sigh again*).  To be fair, he wanted something practical, and got it.

One day he offered to teach me how to drive stick.  Who the was I to decline?

Ha - that definitely sounds like an offer you could not refuse 

...if you saw his daughter, you might have thought otherwise

I friend-zoned her soooo bad.

[Fobroader]

I've never driven an E39...drove an E34 M5 though and I can still hear that I6 howl when I close my eyes at night. Buddy of mine had a 540i M sport with a manual, that car was absolutely amazing, so I cant even begin to think what the proper M is like. Pity that you were so underwhelmed, I thought this was a blow your socks off kind of car.

[lebowski]

No, but I may check out a Z4M Coupe...possibly a Roadster.

Nice! That M Coupe's a beaut for sure, especially in that dark blue.

...if you saw his daughter, you might have thought otherwise

I friend-zoned her soooo bad.

Ouch! For some reason I'm envisioning Isla Fischer's character in the Wedding Crashers. Dinners must've been fun.

I've never driven an E39...drove an E34 M5 though and I can still hear that I6 howl when I close my eyes at night. Buddy of mine had a 540i M sport with a manual, that car was absolutely amazing, so I cant even begin to think what the proper M is like. Pity that you were so underwhelmed, I thought this was a blow your socks off kind of car.

How'd you like the E34 M5 compared to the E39 540i? Seems like they'd be pretty close?

[Fobroader]

No, but I may check out a Z4M Coupe...possibly a Roadster.

Nice! That M Coupe's a beaut for sure, especially in that dark blue.

...if you saw his daughter, you might have thought otherwise

I friend-zoned her soooo bad.

Ouch! For some reason I'm envisioning Isla Fischer's character in the Wedding Crashers. Dinners must've been fun.

I've never driven an E39...drove an E34 M5 though and I can still hear that I6 howl when I close my eyes at night. Buddy of mine had a 540i M sport with a manual, that car was absolutely amazing, so I cant even begin to think what the proper M is like. Pity that you were so underwhelmed, I thought this was a blow your socks off kind of car.

How'd you like the E34 M5 compared to the E39 540i? Seems like they'd be pretty close?

The E39 was definitely faster, way better built but it was definitely aimed at the luxo tourer crowd (very hushed and serene place to be with a smooth, no bump ride). Between the two, the E39 looked better, but the E34 would be the one I would want in my garage.

[lebowski]

The E39 was definitely faster, way better built but it was definitely aimed at the luxo tourer crowd (very hushed and serene place to be with a smooth, no bump ride). Between the two, the E39 looked better, but the E34 would be the one I would want in my garage.

Right on. Yeah, that M5 seems like it would be so special, and E34 is probably my all-time favourite BMW shape. I'd like to track down a clean 535/525i one day.

[Fobroader]

The E39 was definitely faster, way better built but it was definitely aimed at the luxo tourer crowd (very hushed and serene place to be with a smooth, no bump ride). Between the two, the E39 looked better, but the E34 would be the one I would want in my garage.

Right on. Yeah, that M5 seems like it would be so special, and E34 is probably my all-time favourite BMW shape. I'd like to track down a clean 535/525i one day.

This car had a custom header and exhaust.....the sound it made......give me a sec......wow.....

[lebowski]

Jesus man...I'm trying to eat my breakfast 

[johngenx]

Love the comments with that article about the 540.  "I found a great one - the owner did so much - a huge stack of receipts!"

Interesting philosophy.  If the previous owner invested buckets into the car, then it's done, and good for me now.  I personally don't subscribe to that thinking - I think that the car will continually require attention.

We owned a 1998 528i - different beast than either the 540 or M5 for sure - but compared to the E300 we also had, I wasn't all that impressed.  BMW owners commented that even the 528i would be shockingly better than our E-Class in terms of sporting ability - wasn't so at all.  The idea that just because BMW made it that it was instantly the best "sports sedan" in the category was just BMW fanboi hype.  Just like the idea that all Lexi are cush mobiles that can't run with the Germans - false.

[2JDM]

E39 is my favourite BMW sedan to date. Classic looks.

[rrocket]

The 540 is a complete waste.  The GS400 (which was compared direcftly to the 540) did everything better.  Handled (shock), brakes, engine, everything.  It's the reason it was the Import Car of the Year and multiple 10 best winner.

[mmret]

Too bad the next gen became a boat as I like the styling of it much better.

 Also they only sold the GS460 for a few years right?

[blur911]

[johngenx]

Saw an XFR the other day.  Might be a blisteringly fast car, but the road presence was "meh."

[OliverD]

The 540 is a complete waste.  The GS400 (which was compared direcftly to the 540) did everything better.  Handled (shock), brakes, engine, everything.  It's the reason it was the Import Car of the Year and multiple 10 best winner.

Except it had no manual options. That alone would push me into a 540i over the GS400.