2002 BMW E39 M5 (OEM+) Review - Is There a Better Sports Sedan?

[@pochacco30]

For those wondering, here is the list of "OEM+" performance upgrades at the time of this review: - HPS intake elbows - Turner plug-n-play IAT relocation kit, MAF temp sensor relocated to the front of the air box - Eventuri carbon fiber intake plenum upper cover - Eisenmann Race mufflers - Einhorn Industries lightened dual-mass flywheel (stock flywheel but 8 lbs lighter) - E60 545i short shifter - UUC DSSR - Ground Control coilovers dialed in for street comfort, no aggressive camber setting - Dinan rear sway bar (set to middle of three settings) The rest of the intake is stock. Stock exhaust manifold, cats, and resonator. Stock tune. OEM Luk clutch (and no, there is no clutch delay valve for the M5). Rebuilt stock transmission, rebuilt stock LSD with factory 3.15 gear ratio (upgraded from 2 clutch to 3 clutch). Stock brakes. 15mm spacers up front purely for looks. Stock staggered style 65 wheels dressed in PS4S tires.

[@sdlausen1]

Relative to the design of the car/era, the E39 M5 has one of the BEST looking OEM wheel designs ever. FIGHT ME.

[@augustortiz]

BMW M cars in general have always had beautiful wheels from the factory.

[@mperformance3502]

For sure. E46 ZCP/CSL wheels

[@augustortiz]

@@mperformance3502 yep, for me those and M359’s were just insane. The new M5CS’s wheels are also gorgeous.

[@Zygrene]

Facts. The spoke design, color/finish, concavity. All perfect.

[@Stephen-re4oy]

E36 style 24s. Factory forged and made for BMW by Fuchs.

[@KotomiP]

That Poplar Wood trim looks amazing with the black interior. An E39 M5 only needs newest all round tires (PS4S in this case) and maybe an exhaust, not for sound or any power gain, but for not crumbling away like many late 90s/early 00s stock car exhausts, and maybe some extra rust prevention here and there.

[@richardj.piercer.a.2878]

I had two E39 m5s and drove them for almost 9 years. Absolutely Loved them. Muffler delete was the sweetest sounding exhaust ever. Moved on to a Chevy SS with zero regrets.

[@pochacco30]

Awesome video! To answer the question, I don't know if there is a better sports sedan. Perhaps, but the E39 M5 with OEM+ upgrades is the one best suited for me, I'm confident of that. Fenton, thanks so much for flying out to see us little folks in NC. (And shout out to Stephen for coordinating with you & Kevin Jubbal, and hosting the event and grilling the hot dogs for everyone!) Like you I used to drive an E39 540i, and I remember watching your M-Sport videos years ago hoping you would review the M5. Little did I know that years later I'd be watching my own M5 featured on your channel! Thank you for being so kind in the video. It was an honor to have you review it and a pleasure to host you and Kevin that weekend. I honestly would love to do it again sometime. Perhaps we could meet up at Tail of the Dragon! :)

[@big-R]

Exhaust sounded lovely

[@pablos3563]

W124 E500 and E39 M5 is a two best sport sedans ever made in my opinion

[@BrakRulesAll]

After lusting for one for years, I finally got a cherry E39 M5 in 2015, to go with my daily at the time, a 2005 330ci ZHP coupe. Having those 2 cars to drive back-to-back all the time, the lousy recirculating ball steering in the M5 really stood out as a VERY sore spot, compared to the ZHP's absolutely sublime steering. I wound up only keeping that M5 for a year, after finding myself reaching for the ZHP keys far more often. Loved a lot of things about it - the looks, the motor, etc. - but in the end, just couldn't be in love with it. So we broke up.

[@Zygrene]

That's fair. E39 M5 steering is only good when the tires are loaded up in the corner. On center it's pretty dead.

[@jonasbaine3538]

Steering rack not swappable?

[@sultanofswingdrift3021]

not even close to swapable, v8 engine intersects the space for steering ract. Thats the whole reason for BMW not putting it in

[@DrTaurix]

I wonder how it would compare to a 530i then, since that has a rack and pinion

[@fredrik3863]

Great review of the Bavarian masterpiece 👌

[@MatthiasAI]

Eyo I started following u when u got the 540i, nice full circle seeing this video now

[@pochacco30]

Same here, and now I’m watching my own car in his video. Talk about full circle! 😆

[@Zygrene]

This is the car I should have bought back in 2017!

[@Jazoolz_e39]

Do you have an instagram? Your M5 is beautiful, would love to see more of it. That poplar wood trim with the leather dash is perfection! @@pochacco30

[@churchofbrap876]

One of my personal favorites!

[@analogdriven]

Really interesting spec with the Sport seats and... Poplar? Wood trim. I dig it.

[@julianwooable]

That pappel shifter is really rare more so if it’s illuminated.its an individual part. I searched a really long time until I could find one.

[@pochacco30]

Good eye. I had to find a non-illuminated Poplar shift knob. Got lucky and found new old stock. Then I had my friend modify the inner hole with a Dremel to fit on an M5 illuminated shift knob. I pulled off the Bruyere Club wood trim and slid on my now modified the Natural Poplar wood trim. It felt too light so then I shoved a few ounces of tungsten putty filling up the empty gaps inside the upper portion of the shift knob. Now it feels perfect! A one of a kind illuminated E39 M5 Natural Poplar weighted shift knob. 😁

[@opmike343]

I still think the E90 is the better "sports" sedan. However, the E39 M5 is an incredible GT car.

[@MMusa-gy7qb]

Nice example from a very nice guy , Mark. Amazing e39 m5❤

[@pochacco30]

Thank you. I don’t recognize your screen name. Who is this?

[@MMusa-gy7qb]

@@pochacco30 Zaid 😁

[@pochacco30]

@@MMusa-gy7qb Hey man! Now we both have our cars immortalized on KZbin!

[@MMusa-gy7qb]

@@pochacco30 by the way I just sold my m5 after owning it 13 years 😢 I sill have the m5 swapped touring

[@pochacco30]

@@MMusa-gy7qb Awe, that’s too bad. You had a great example. At least you’re still in the E39 M5 family with that touring.

[@sidekickchuck]

Easy clutch gel fix. Get a southbend stage 2 performance clutch. Not overly aggressive but engagement point is very noticeable and grips well.

[@web]

the channel slowly evolves from S2k comparison reviews to e39 m5 ones

[@chrisfink8615]

Great review! How would you say the ride comfort and handling of the koni-based ground control coilovers compared to the koni yellow shocks you had on your old 540i?

[@Zygrene]

WAY better. Koni Yellows on my car felt awful. Worse than stock.

[@wizzfizz6800]

Would love for you to review a manual Pontiac G8

[@BigCherries]

Ok you got me to click. I’ve always liked the look of these m5s, they’re the best hands down. Although, I’m not giving up my SS. I just can’t, I flippin love it.

[@franciscocabrerabrito5945]

I'm between the E39 and the RS4 B7. Hard to deny here in EU, the Audi with wide fenders, bucket seats and that flat bottom Lamborghini steering wheel looks more special.

[@alphabeta8403]

9:45 *If you take reliability into consideration and overlook FWD, 3G TL-S 6MT is the ultimate.*

[@bk_nreynolds3278]

Respectfully I’m taking a Chevy SS over that and the e39 if we’re considering reliability

[@Sessions1]

Absolutely. The Cadillac CTSV 2004-2007. Drove them back to back and the Cadillac is far superior sports sedan.

[@sophiafilms8072]

Love the E39. Manual cars are the best.

[@Vision33r]

Current gen 3 is the same size as 10 yr old 5 series and 5 series now is the same as 7 series of old.

[@albertoj.mollinedo4116]

Nothing beats the 8 series of the early 90's that car was something else. Back when BMW used the V12 design they made for the McLaren F1 and shoved it into the 850 CSi

[@rossfripp4503]

Lovely car. But in answer to your question - "Is there a better SPORTS sedan?" - yes, the E90 M3 for starters.

[@churchofbrap876]

Yes! Will that car last 200k miles though?

[@rossfripp4503]

@@churchofbrap876 There are numerous over 200k.- for example kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2TMmIqkZbl9fMk&pp=ygUQZTkyIG0zIGhpZ2ggbWlsZQ%3D%3D These are obviously younger than the E39 M5s but there are dozens in the UK which are well over 160k, the highest I've seen was over 260k, which was a cabriolet. Plus...that wasn't the question ;) The question was sports sedan, and the E90 M3 is better than the E39 M5 in my opinion, it's a far more sporty drive.

[@augustortiz]

@@churchofbrap876mine did. And it still going strong with the next owner after RB’s being done. Looks like a new car too.

[@johnmitchell2269]

Aston Martin Rapide. V12 with four doors.

[@northernbel1974]

Cadillac CT5 V Blackwing

[@Leonidae]

Yes. It's called Lotus Omega.

[@Zygrene]

Definitely a cool car. I've never even seen one in person.

[@ChampionsOnlyFutbol]

Why would the battery die on a 2002 e39 v6 after 2days of no use, does it just simply need a new battery???!?!??

[@dustinjames1122]

Have the chain guides/tensioners/Rod bearings And vanos rebuilt/replaced? If so, what was the cost?

[@pochacco30]

Engine and transmission were pulled out to do an overhaul in 2019 as preventative maintenance, there were no issues at the time. Timing chain/guides/internal tensioners, rod bearings and main bearings, Vanos refurbished by Dr Vanos, plus a ton of other while you’re in there jobs. Sorry, I don’t remember how much all that cost me back then, but it wasn’t cheap.

[@88ccrazy]

They should have dropped a CS E39

[@augustortiz]

The E90 M3 is a better car and sports sedan. Love both though.

[@augustortiz]

@@VidNibs HAHAH you deleted your comment because you knew you would get ratio’ed again didn’t you? You just love having bad opinions eh!

[@augustortiz]

@@VidNibs hahah caught you self liking your own comments. Its also funny everytime anyone mentions any E9X you immediately comment on begin to fawn over how perfect pre bangle cars are and how shitty the bangle ones are. Every single time you comment thinking you have the popular opinion you get ratioed. You really are an ignoramus. The E39 and E46 are insanely overrated cars. Funny how clean bangle era disasters are selling for more than the pre bangle ones are.

[@kiyalami8478]

Peek BMW. Downhill since.

[@vosedon]

what was that noise at 9:39?

[@FreshYoungDude]

Sounds like clutch pedal spring is squeaking

[@pochacco30]

I assure you that’s what it really sounds like in person. I also noticed that loud noise after each shift in the video and I’m not sure what it is, but the clutch doesn’t make that noise.

[@Zygrene]

It's the heel of my shoe rubbing against the floormat. I had the same "issue" in my E39 540i anytime it rained.

[@pochacco30]

@@Zygrene Thank goodness! 😅 I was driving the car this afternoon trying to figure out why it made that noise in the video. What a relief. You never know with these old bimmers.

[@vosedon]

Amazing car!

[@guccification5467]

when cars was real

[@JBaek24]

E39 M5 is so good... but this E39 also came with fart noises

[@Zygrene]

LOL it's due to the way I leave my heel pinned against the rubber floormat when I clutch out

[@pochacco30]

@@Zygrene If I knew you would film the floor and pedals I would have swapped out the rubber floor mats with the factory carpet mats. 😂

[@johnbabcock9766]

What the hell is that squeaking????

[@hksmr2]

Clutch pedal…mine does it too…trying to sort out a solution

[@pochacco30]

⁠In this case it’s not the clutch pedal. It’s the heel of his shoe rubbing against the rubber floor mat. The way he pins the heel of his shoe on the floor while depressing and releasing the clutch pedal caused the squeaking noise. It did rain earlier that morning so his shoe was probably wet which makes it worse. I wish I put the carpet floor mat in there for the review.

[@hksmr2]

Thanks Mark. In my case, it’s definitely the clutch pedal lever or something. Mechanic says it’s a known issue and needs to be replaced with some aftermarket rubber something? Dunno

[@Kevin-xz4jq]

First!!!

[@uniwersalnykabanos]