An Instant Classic

POSTED BY , 26 June 2007

-J.F. Musial

We all have wanted one, at least at one point since its introduction almost a decade ago. Quad exhaust pipes, simplistic lines and an aggressive stance that's hard to miss. The E39 M5 became an instant classic once production began in the late '90s. It is the definition of a sleeper; nothing outrageous but enough brute force to throw a chill down your spine each time the throttle is kicked. Enough room for the family, enough power to scare your date, yet still unnoticed to the untrained eye. Seen on the highway by a true enthusiast, nothing less than a nod of respect will follow.

From the factory, the E39 M5 came with very few options. Color, navigation, and the rear spoiler delete were the only options provided. One could actually get a standard 5er with more options than the more expensive M5. This was the beauty of the E39 M5. It was a car built by BMW for the drivers of the world that couldn't deal with the B.S. other luxury brands were producing under the title of a "Sports Sedan".

Never once have I seen an E39 M5 with chrome rims or an absurd body kit. Over the past few months, I've had many arguments with Los Jalop Johnson over which made the perfect highway cruiser/sleeper/high performance sedan. It always came down to a fight between the B7 Audi RS 4 and the E39 M5. The die-hard Audi fan I am, I always picked the RS. It made perfect sense to me. Quattro for any roadway condition, a perfectly tuned FSI 4.2l V8, and an outstanding weight distribution; for an Audi at least. I stood by the RS; in fact I always will - it is a wonderful machine.

Today on my daily 30 mile commute into the New York City area, that all changed. I see everything from McLaren SLRs, Ferraris, and an assortment of German luxury vehicles on my drives around the state. Today though, I saw an E39 M5 and B7 RS4, both in black, and both within minutes of each other. I used the opportunity to see how the cars looked in their native habitat: on the open road. The RS 4 looked great, it always will. The stance is there, it sounds beautiful, and it certainly looks like the bully in the playground with that front chin. I gave myself a few minutes of the eye candy before passing and continuing on my way. Around a few bends, the E39 made its appearance.

Apart from the Polizei M5 which I catch a ride in with my buddy Alex Roy every few weeks, there aren't many E39 M5s in the Tri-State area; at least compared to the number of other M's and AMGs. This one though, just minutes after spotting a black RS 4, looked fantastic. It too was black, but in perfect condition. No swirls to be seen in the dawn sun, no rim rash or New York bumper car scars. It looked great. And then it dawned on me.. maybe Johnson was right? Even as he and I disagree on almost everything from cars to music, I started to see just why the E39 M5 was the "ultimate driving machine". It became an instant classic because of one key element that both engineers and designers seemed to have agreed on. It had nothing to prove.

Today, we see BMW and Audi going back and forth with each other. A game of chess some would call it. They match each others' moves every few years. It's a never ending cycle which will eventually bite them in the ass in my opinion. The E39 M5 was built to serve a purpose, not to fill the gap in a market. Drivers wanted it, not playboys trying to show off to the girls on 22nd street. The car was designed with one thing in mind; to be driven by those who love to drive. The RS 4, though soon to be phased out by Audi to make way for the new RS 6 production, is a wonderful piece of equipment. I think that what Audi did was make the RS 4 what the S4 should have always been. Instead, the company is producing a wonderful car to compete with the M3 which will arrive once Audi moves onto bigger and better things. They filled a gap in the market: something that makes sense on paper for the executives, but ruins the whole concept of why a car should be built. Anyway, I doubt this debate will ever end. I'm sure each person has his/her own opinion on this subject; perhaps I could be wrong? It wouldnt be the first time. Share your feedback, I want to know what you think.