1990 BMW M5 | Retro Review

Y'all seen Ronin?

[@Motorweek]

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[@AD-sp5cv]

How does it cost money to upload an old video? lol humans so money hungry

[@christophercolumbus8944]

@@AD-sp5cv exactly they're just re upoloads

[@jondesalvatore2052]

I just love how all the older BMW's from the 90's braked. NO nose dive and when the car stopped completely the body motions are so controlled.

[@quentinwooten30]

Yes. They seem to squat during hard breaking. I thought that was cool too for back in the day

[@E_tiBEAMERBOY]

QUENTIN30 CDUB lol not to be an ass or anything but squat is used for when the car accelerates and dive is used when the car brakes like the OP typed

[@yannikavadas1490]

@@E_tiBEAMERBOY Watch the video very closely at 3:45 , regarding this vehicles braking balance. I suspect that was what the previous comment was all about.🍻

[@opmike343]

Wow, I never noticed that. That WHOLE car squats under braking. Pretty amazing stuff.

[@SlimDON1182]

That's because of the self leveling suspension and stiffer shock absorbers.

[@jocamp5]

Ohhh those old times. When BMW cars were well made and not garbage or a collection of complicated electronics 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@steveespinola7652]

I know right, now you need an instruction manual to drive those new BMWS you see on the street so complicated. LoL 😁.

[@weedmastersr]

@@steveespinola7652 And for all that tech, they're worse driver's cars. Too big, too fat, too luxurious. Capable but disconnected.

[@steveespinola7652]

You are right about that.

[@hybridShinx]

BMW M4 - a rebadged M3 New 3 and 5 series - same cars but different exterior New M5 - somewhat better from the older ones but still a nightmare to own M8 - rebadged M6 coupe M2 - better get the 1M instead

[@asdfghjqwertyu1858]

Cars back in the 1990's may not be as safe as cars today, but I miss the visibility and some of the cars then were so easy to fix as well. I prefer these older BMW's over the new ones.

[@steveespinola7652]

Most cars of 1990's were safe it just depend on the driver cause there are drivers out there who are nuts behind the wheel even today they are distracted by something and they don't pay attention to the road.

[@car_lov3r]

i don't care about safety. I'd rather die having fun in an old car than live with being bored in a new one.

[@clee19821013]

In terms of crash zone etc modern car is way safer, modern car got bigger for a reason

[@E_tiBEAMERBOY]

Agreed.

[@Anirossa]

Yeah, I'm keeping my 3rd gen 5 series for sure :D

[@quentinwooten30]

Still looks good today

[@GewelReal]

Looks like very old car

[@Juanknes]

Of course. Some modern cars are too bloated, this is a clean and classy design.

[@brainkill7034]

The BMW E34’s styling is absolutely timeless imo.

[@geemanbmw]

Let's not forget the E34 M5 was the last hand built M car . LEGEND ❤

[@brettbanta2100]

It absolutely does. I like this look better than the new ones

[@fc872e1]

Lovely inline 6, manual transmission, hydraulic power steering, and incredible suspension made the BMW of yesterday a much more analog, better driving experience

[@spankthemonkey3437]

Independent throttle bodies too

[@brainkill7034]

Amen, way better driving machine.

[@kirkpatrick84]

Timeless design.

[@ODSTOninersIxTwO]

it looks its decade....

[@OhioGuy216]

I prefer the e39. My father had a 2003 M5 in Le Mans blue. He also had an e38 Z3 M Coupé in Laguna Seca blue. When he passed away in 2010 my mom sold them. I wish I had had the money to buy at least one off her, but I understand she needed the money. I miss my father very much, he was a wonderful, overly generous man. He never flaunted his money around, and treated everyone as his equal. He instilled in me a strong work ethic, and to never judge anybody based on their financial status. He also taught me to never judge somebody, because you never know what burdens and pain they might be going through.

[@TheAllianceEnt]

"Yuppies" were getting the BUSINESS in this review lmao

[@hectorfuji]

My neighbor has a red 1995 M5 manual with original 40k miles, takes it out once a year for the local BMW show. It's beautiful.

[@chrisestep9100]

Damn it I love the 80s and 90s.

[@ravisriram6746]

One of the best-looking 5-series ever. The people at Classic Car magazine, oddly enough, didn't care for its supposedly boring styling. But the enthusiasts know.

[@das11270110]

310 hp in 1990 is incredible

[@ragingbull94mtx]

Indeed!™ About the same or more than a period Ferrari 348.

[@jonathanmoga5188]

Not that "incredible"

[@tinhinnh]

were they underrated back then

[@cristianfernandez7403]

310 hp M POWER !!

[@hybridShinx]

Take it to the dyno and temper its ECU and it will make 370hp and the Ferrari 348 will be scrapped

[@oliverroo59]

Sill looks great to this day. Clean and fluid, without a hint of overstyling. I love it.

[@mikezerker6925]

"The best sports sedan in the world!" Wow.. high accolades from John Davis!

[@fhowland]

That braking distance is seriously impressive

[@Captain_Brown_Beard]

I still daily a 94" 540i. Its a beast on the highway.

[@jameswillard1]

God this a reminder of how unbelievably well BMW’s from this era drove. I was fortunate enough to have experienced many of them and as the owner of a 2020 M2 Competition I can say they were so much more special and satisfying than anything they make today

[@out_on_bail]

jameswillard1 your car is a 2019. 2020 is not here yet sorry.

[@jameswillard1]

Want to bet on that?? ....and I’ve actually had it since end of June

[@out_on_bail]

jameswillard1 it’s the year 2019. your car is really a 2019

[@waltervila33]

No nosedive on this vehicle that’s how you do 50/50 weight distribution this is what BMW calls the ultimate driving machine

[@br9801]

I miss that aspect of this era of BMWs. Wish they still did it.

[@soundseeker63]

Or rather they USED to be the ultimate driving machine.. Just seen the new FWD 1-Series and it literally made me feel sick how cheap and crappy modern BMWs have become :-(

[@waltervila33]

Mike Smith agreed to some extent but weight distribution plays a vital part in nose dive during hard braking and cornering

[@waltervila33]

Mike Smith you’re talking about geometry caster and camber or toe in toe out very important during suspension set up you forgot other important metrics like unsprung weight at all four corners and anti roll bar thickness wich again helps in anti dive braking

[@ShaiyanHossain]

E28-E39 best 5 series now they're just the ultimate driving barge

[@JackBandicootsBunker]

Shaiyan Hossain Despite the biblical unreliability, I’d also add the E60. That V10...

[@williamskagen9901]

​@@JackBandicootsBunker Yet it is only the wild V10 engine that makes that car great.. Im not saying a standard issue E60 is bad, but they really dont compare well to the older models.

[@williamskagen9901]

@bobagopaaa I have owned both a 525d e61 and still own a 530i e39 so I would beg to differ :).

[@hybridShinx]

I know a guy who knows a guy who drives a E60 M5 but uses a gearbox from a A80 Supra 😂 Talk about avoiding mechanical failure going too far

[@LearnAboutFlow]

Despite what John says, if you look at the HVAC controls you IMMEDIATELY know how to use them, especially if the car is in motion and you have to keep your eyes on the road. Try that with a modern M5 with it endless stupid screens and click-throughs. And, of course, times have changed. The 'lesser' M240i of today has much more horsepower, better gas mileage, and substantially faster 0 - 60 times. But the simplicity and straightforwardness of this M5 make it more desirable in the too-much-tech world of 2019.

[@soundseeker63]

He finds something to complain about in the interior of EVERY car they test. Usually its the "incomplete" gauge cluster or "poorly marked" stereo controls. Here its the HVAC that meets his disapproval despite the fact that literally anyone could figure out how to work them in a matter of seconds lol.

[@fitfogey]

Yeah. Looked like fan speed in the middle of two temperature controls. Not sure why that was complicated to him.

[@brainkill7034]

I really appreciate this comment. I’m surprised I don’t hear about it more often. The newer touch screen controls have no tactile feel so you always have to take your eyes off the road for every adjustment, and they all take longer now too. Something to consider, this model 5-series (e34) has the window switches on the center console and the fog light switch in on the dash just to the right of the steering wheel. As a manual driver this is perfect because you don’t have to take your hand off the wheel for either of these items, you just use your shifting hand. This vehicle is so well engineered and so underappreciated, even the non-M spec ones.

[@carlasghost656]

I froze the video and looked at it. Seemed pretty simple to me, and I don't drive a BMW so I'm not used to seeing their setup. I guess I could figure it out within a day or two of driving it.

[@JKIZZLLE]

Back when the cars were actually leagues ahead of competition. The new ones are computers on wheels

[@m3trooper]

Ahh, quite the RETRO video upload! ❤ This is when BMW M cars were truly deserving of that ///M badge.

[@BrendanMacWade]

The 5 series was about 16 years old by this point, and maturing very nicely. That motor is one of the best looking in the history of automobiles.

[@davidaubin3902]

4:15 John: BUT LIKE WE'VE SAID SO MANY TIMES BEFORE, A WARMER LESS TEUTONIC LOOK WOULD BE NICE! LOL

[@G0ZERIAN]

Chris Bangle: "Hold my beer...."

[@yannikavadas1490]

I just smile at how clinical some have steered towards to at this point. Tesla being a prime example. I suspect this is the dividend of Autonomy. 😐😕😴

[@Montblanc1986]

Sounds better than the new ones

[@11094DEREK]

Looks better too

[@Omgiamsotriggered]

Of course it sounds better because its an NA engine and a straight no filters exhaust. These days you gotta put so many filters and particules into an exhaust system that I wonder how anything comes out, and not to mention that its all turbos. But all in all, this car might be good sounding but by todays standards its slow; a modern 540i outperformes it big time. Its nearly impossible to achieve 600+ hp mark with just NA engines and still retain decent fuel economy and satisfy all the ecological standards in a car like this, so a lesser sound but thats why you get 3 second to 100 kmh family saloons these days.

[@immature1990]

I Miss the 90s BMW

[@davidmiloscia1913]

Oh the sound that baby makes! The angels are singing!

[@michaelmeliambro5117]

More like the demons of hell are being summoned from that horrific exhaust.

[@khairulnabilakmal33]

Yeah i watched Ronin. A good movie pretty much

[@grndiesel]

I have to say, these cars have aged really well.

[@chrisdooley6468]

Ronin with that Peugeot vs M5 race was spectacular. As was that Audi S8 that was 'tuned'. Fantastically underrated movie

[@BigBoss-tk6lh]

R.I.P 90s cars..best generation ever.Modern cars are so complicated and expensive to fix and maintain..but they are much safe ....

[@dftns19]

"Yuppie" was the buzzword of the times apparently.

[@smithraymond09029]

Stood for "young, upwardly mobile". A reference to the baby boomer generation making their way in the world.

[@travisp11]

Yup...I started hearing it in the 80s and lasted through the 90s

[@SS16000]

Young Urban Professionals

[@elementkx]

Still used now, I thought.

[@chrisj197438]

dftns19 They were the hipsters of their day

[@JDMHaze]

This was a literally bmw last PURE original content 5 series... Then came the turbos and excess of complexity electronics

[@anthonymolina7416]

They should make another v10 m5 it sounds so good

[@JDMHaze]

Anthony Molina ehhh i think having the 1 satisfies... it makes it a unicorn

[@georgelin8498]

The v8 e34 540i and e39 m5 are the greatest 5 series IMO

[@JDMHaze]

George Lin By traditional performance? Or overall including reliability

[@mr.butterworth]

@Keye T I’d agree, the E39 M5/5-Series being products of the 90’s which carried over until 2003 were the last cars to represent BMW’s old values. Then came the unnecessary complexity, turbos, and computer overload. In fact, in the 90’s BMW M was against using forced induction, they preferred engine speed. The 2000’s on up have not been kind to the marque.

[@Ash-928]

The 6 cylinder sounds awesome!

[@mfmantica]

Great car. Nice looking. Better than new models

[@1995RangeRover]

When metal was used under the hood more and not so much plastics.

[@trevagraham1605]

the 90's were truly the best time for good automobiles. They're all over engineered now.

[@michaelv6870]

The M5 will always be the benchmar. No matter how many AMGs Merc throws at it.

[@McBeamer94]

@3:09 So this phrase is much older than I thought! I thought that BMW got truly yuppy-ish when the Bangle-butted cars got out!

[@MarcelloTheBandit]

Yes I've seen Ronin. That made me want this or the 1993 535i with the 540i grille. Love that classic BMW inline 6 sound.

[@propergarage4249]

These guys are my Favorite!! 👊 I have e39 M5 myself and oh boy I love it

[@obsessedwithguitars3157]

I thumbed up for the car, but I also wanted to give props for the Ronin reference in the description.

[@ericfitzgerald9139]

500E next!

[@aurorajones8481]

I always loved this front end. Hated the rear and the side was a slab of sheet metal. But the front!!! Love it. Gimme a kiss.

[@SilverScarletSpider]

Back when BMW offered standard manual transmissions in all of their North American luxury performance sedans. Even after recent decades of electrical and catastrophic engine failure, the strong legacy left behind by the well built 1980’s and 90’s BMW performance cars still carries the brand. Audi, Acura, Lexus, Mercedes, and Infiniti could eat their hearts out at the time when it came to 300+ hp luxury performance sedans

[@bullit199]

Take a drink every time the host says 'Yuppie'. You'll get tanked by the end of the video LOL🤣

[@Sanpedranoazul]

My fav 5 series!!!

[@ciaranc7460]

Loving the murderer gloves at 4.50

[@playwme3]

The kinda fit with his “Lethal Weapon Henchman” jacket and haircut.

[@donvoisko]

What a car! Ooh, bmw what have you become...

[@theKevronHarris]

The BMW M5 is a rare precious gem of a German performance car!!!

[@Jorge-Tamacas]

I always liked the 5 series of those years and this M5, the best of that series. It has a manual transmission. What else could I ask for?

[@rahulvinalnarayan9743]

One of the greatest cars ever made

[@jmorris023]

"white walls, on the wheels like mayonnaise..."

[@InvestBetter.]

That's old school. 1:59 Virtually the same power numbers as today's Camaro V6

[@MrCarGuy]

I mean, sure. Even a GS430 would smoke it. M5 was really about power to weight and handling.

[@ragingbull94mtx]

I think a better comparison would be... virtually the same power numbers as a PERIOD Ferrari 348. :)

[@aestheticcruise8807]

Back when BMW was more practical, cheaper for parts and maintenance and true performers...

[@ktkof04]

Hard to believe today that an M5 came with whitewall tires.

[@GoldenCroc]

I guess the rims make it kind of look like that at a quick glance, dont they?

[@aurorajones8481]

So i have to ask... are there still yuppies? If so where are they?

[@richiesplayground7092]

Hipsters.

[@chriskelly9361]

They're instagramming their workouts to make sure people know they work out. Also they appear to have duck faces.

[@MikeBMW]

As a current owner of a 1990 525i, a 1990 750iL and a 1990 535i, I always wish I could have afforded to buy an e34 M5.

[@Celicarz11]

One of the real cars I'd love to own!!!

[@niewissen9912]

It is NOT a spinning propeller. It is the Bavarian flag colors. Nothing to do with a propeller. It's actually 2 company emblems into one, if people did their research

[@DarinNederhoff]

If I had the means and garage space I'd own a '93 Audi S4, '93 BMW M5 and '93 Mercedes 500 E.... the perfect trifecta of uber sedans to me.

[@ggj1987]

Darin Nederhoff Oh yes! Add a Renault Safrane Biturbo and a Lancia Thema 8.32 and you have my dream garage

[@grabir01]

56K back in 1990? Its a good car. Better quality than any BMW made today... But 56K?

[@ThePorkTree]

With inflation the cost of a new m5 is really similar. The m5 was way more in it's own class in 1990 as well.

[@grabir01]

@@ThePorkTree A new M5 is 180K? Yikes!!! I have heard that these new BMW are money pits. No kidding!!!

[@ShaiyanHossain]

@@grabir01 new M5s usually go for about $120k USD with options, for the current F90 generation that is

[@yoseppijoe]

Looks great, first time seeing white walls on an M5.

[@777jones]

More desirable than any current BMW.

[@BoyPagcu23Staff]

I'd buy a 1995 BMW M5 with 6 speed manual and wood trim

[@joebrito2066]

I missed the old BMW

[@JerryC25]

White walls. The ultimate sleeper.

[@Mgoblagulkablong]

0-60 6.5 sec Nowadays a Ford Fusion Sport does it in 5.3, an Accord 2.0 in 5.9, etc. crazy how fast cars have gotten.

[@michaelpegasiou4531]

I drove one of these for a year,I can attest the clutch was bloody stiff,of course the electrics went faulty all over the place,sunroof,drivers seat,warning lights for stuff that was fine,ahhhh the good old days.

[@pappyodanial]

Rememeber when BMW made cars with hydraulic steering and manual transmissions? Drove a new m340i.. walked right out of the dealer fuck that car.

[@boss12]

I love E34s.

[@soundseeker63]

You see....it IS possible to make a car ride well and handle beautifully without 40 different computers controlling everything!! Whats more, I bet you get way more feel and feedback from this car than a modern BMW. It may be "slow" compared to a modern M but I know which one I'd rather take down my favorite twisty road! 0-60 times and lap times count for little if the car has no fun or involvement on the public road.

[@joemcdonough7509]

Anyone else notice the giant black smoke that shot of the tailpipe on the drag strip?

[@ragingbull94mtx]

Just a little unburnt fuel. Completely normal. If you *really* want to see a smoke show, watch MotorWeek's test of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe from 2013. :)

[@tukangotakatik]

the og sport sedan

[@alexyoungberg5232]

*The M5 again??*

[@bilalahmed2123]

Beautiful car. What’s all this about yuppie talk ? This car was always performance bred, and what about the comparisons lol, those cars just don’t even come close to comparison.

[@Loachie90]

Try doing that slalom on a 1990 Buick

[@SuperFrankieOSX]

Now that sounds pretty fun

[@XxChuyoxX]

Back when BMW's were actually reliable.

[@bandgeeks415]

Please do more of these on bmw's🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@Juanknes]

Great sound! And look!

[@MatrixDiscovery]

Back when BMW were cool cars....now they are driven by the biggest D Bags.

[@nuclearlad]

they were cool cars, but do you think the bmw driver stereotype is new? There are jokes from the 80s about how bmw drivers were d-bags

[@bobbymacabagdal9860]

I would love to drive this car right now.

[@rarevhsuploads4995]

Those alloy wheels make it look like it has whitewall tyres. A common feature on period luxury American cars but not the European imports.

[@joshuac4772]

Love the e34 it's a great car but the e39 is the absolute pinnacle.

[@Scotford_Maconochie]

This M5 would be worth a lot today

[@stussels]

those wheels are sweet!

[@NateTheGreat1684]

The Infiniti also likely required a lot less maintenance

[@thehumanoid6543]

I love ho =w they have mentioned almost a million times that the m5's and 5 series' are yuppiemobiles. My favorite would be the later e34 m5 touring with the bigger 3.8 engine and the 6 speed manual.

[@XtaticVideo]

repeat?

[@Jaecht88]

Funny how everyone saying how nice the old cars were compared to the ones today... My dad told me that back in the early 90s when he bought this 5 series BMW my grandpa said to him how the new cars are ugly and all over electronic stuffed... And how he enthusiastically talked about the good ol cars

[@remigusker6024]

Still the best looking M5.

[@rscosworthfan]

best 5 series ever

[@Trance88]

Damn! This car essentially gave birth to the modern luxury sports sedan market! The design of this car still holds up 30 years later with that glossy red paint! Too bad it guzzles gas like a drunken sailor. A Hummer H3 gets better gas mileage than this car!

[@aliciasierra4972]

The first gen Taurus SHO (88-91) would give this M5 a run for the money.

[@rogervalkriye4133]

Those acceleration numbers can be had at 35mpg lol we've come a long way. Kinda miss the simplicity of these older BMWs though.

[@soundseeker63]

With turbos and direct injection and 8 speed auto transmissions yes, all of which are financial ticking time bombs. Its a trade off. Newer engines offer a lot more on paper but when you factor in maintenance costs and service life they are not as frugal as they first appear.

[@weedmastersr]

Yes but all those gains are putting the costs for that in the hands of the consumers. Yes, you win some extra mpg, you also tens of thousands more in maintenance costs.

[@rogervalkriye4133]

@@weedmastersr I wouldn't say they're expensive to maintain. Just making sure that oil changes are done on time and not using cheap gas is something people should be doing anyway. Maintenance on my car really isn't that expensive. My dealer always has specials so oil changes, tire rotation and fluid top offs are always $39.99. I change my own filters, and things like brakes and suspension are normal wear and tear that any car would have. It's a matter of nostalgia and nothing more. I miss old BMWs because they were more desirable when they weren't saddled with technology and driver aids. I welcome the new engines, just not the unnecessary aids like automatic braking and lane assist. Kills the senses of future generations of drivers

[@weedmastersr]

@@rogervalkriye4133 I agree about the driving aids and other stuff but modern direct-injection, turbocharged engines will not be as durable or cheap to maintain as old school naturally aspirated multi-port injection engines. It's just their nature. Plus, here in Europe they use diesels with 3 turbos, particle filters and all sorts of complicated crap. They can be durable but if something breaks it will be insanely expensive to repair. Just to change a timing chain you have to pull out the entire engine.

[@geemanbmw]

The emblem is not a spinning propeller its a portion of the Bavarian flag AND DON'T FORGET IT!! 😂

[@FloofyG]

The badge is from the bavarian flag!! Not a propeller

[@viktor4860]

this car is so "Russian Mafia"

[@ruzzelladrian907]

Back when BMWs under the hood weren't filled with plastic components.

[@xavichuvy9047]

If that's how you hold the gear-shift no wonder you find it quite rough to move.