E39 M5 vs E60 M5: Which V-Engine Sedan Should You Buy

These two cars sit one generation apart and could not feel more different. Choosing between them is less about performance and more about how you want to spend your money and your weekends.

The E39 case

A naturally aspirated 4.9-litre V8, a six-speed manual, hydraulic steering and a body that still looks correct twenty-five years later. It is the easier car to own and the easier car to love. VANOS rebuilds, rod bearings and cooling systems are the known costs, and none of them are catastrophic.

The E60 case

The S85 V10 revs to 8,250 rpm and sounds like nothing else BMW has built for the road. It is also the car that made rod bearings a household term, alongside SMG pump failures, throttle actuator faults and a general electronic complexity that punishes deferred maintenance.

Ownership arithmetic

E39 M5 values have been climbing steadily for a decade. E60 values bottomed out and are now creeping upward as good cars leave the market. If your budget for repairs is thin, buy the E39. If you want the most engine per dollar in BMW's history and have a specialist you trust, the E60 is unmatched.