GTP Cool Wall: 1996-2003 BMW 5-Series (E39)

1996-2003 BMW 5-Series (E39)

  • Total voters
    116
  • Poll closed .
GranTurismo916

GranTurismo916

15,465
United States
Orange County, NY
GTP_GT916
Nii916
1996-2003 BMW 5-Series (E39) nominated by @Doog
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Engines: 2.0L I6 (M52B20/M52TUB20), 2.2L I6 (M54B22), 2.4L I6 (M52B24), 2.5L I6 (M52B25/M52TUB25/M54B25), 2.8L I6 (M52B28/M52TUB28), 3.0L I6 (M54B30), 3.5L V8 (M62B35/M62TUB35), 4.4L V8 (M62B44/M62TUB44), 2.0L Turbodiesel I4 (M47D20), 2.5L Turbodiesel I6 (M51D25TU OL/M51D25 UL/M57D25), 3.0L Turbodiesel I6 (M57D30)
Power: 520i: 148-168 hp; 523i: 168 hp; 525i: 189 hp; 528i: 190 hp; 530i: 228 hp; 535i: 241 hp; 540i: 282-290 hp; 520d: 134 hp; 525d: 161 hp; 525td: 114 hp; 525tds: 141 hp; 530d: 181-190 hp
Torque: 520i: 140-150 lb-ft.; 523i: 181 lb-ft.; 525i: 181 lb-ft.; 528i: 210 lb-ft.; 530i: 220 lb-ft.; 535i: 254 lb-ft.; 540i: 320-340 lb-ft.; 520d: 210 lb-ft.; 525d: 260 lb-ft.; 525td: 170 lb-ft.; 525tds: 210 lb-ft.; 530d: 290-300 lb-ft.
Weight: 1565-1705 kg
Transmission: 5-speed manual, 6-speed manual, 4-speed automatic, 5-speed automatic
Drivetrain: Front engine, rear wheel drive
Body Styles: 4-door sedan
Additional Info: "Is considered by many enthusiasts to be the best 5-Series."
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Curator's Comments: The BMW M5 is not included in this poll because it has already been polled.
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Cool

It looks as good in base spec as it does in top level M-Sport guise, saloon or Touring.
 
Nominating your own car.

SU











In all seriousness, as far as 90s BMWs go (E36/46 being Meh/Uncool and E38 being a High Cool) it falls closer to the E38. Far less divisive design than its successor and still looks remarkably modern compared to the 3 and 7 of that era.

Low cool.
 
Not old enough to escape into the realm of a classic. It stands twixt between the BMW drivers who have given their name to the worst drivers out there.

Uncool
 
Last properly cool mainstream Beamer, because its a lovely thing in any configuration. Solidly built, well equipped, has aged gracefully and is a workhorse to boot, assuming its properly maintained.

I would say douchey owners bump it down, but most of the big-league tailgating businessmen are in newer models, where as the dodgy owners are all in small engined E36/E46s since they can't afford to run one of these.

Still a meh overall though; they blend into the background far too much.
 
540i is balanced out by the lesser engined models to just make this a high Cool rather than Sub-Zero.

The best BMW ever, or at least that's what I hear all the time from "BMW Enthusiasts" So it must be true!
 
One of the best styled BMWs in my opinion, but unfortunately it's dragged down to uncool by the typical clientele.
 
I actually like non-M 5-series sedans. Classy, understated, and genuinely good to drive.

Low cool. All the BMW-driving rear-ends have their rear-ends stuck in a new BMW, at this point.
 
Low cool, like the simple clean yet distinct styling, rare in these parts where it seems most vehicles on the road are 4x4 pickups driven by middle aged guys wearing hats.
 
Used to own one:

2001 530i M Sport.

If I had of gotten it when it was about 5 years newer it would of undoubtly be the best car I have ever owned, best BMW Generarion made after the E30 3 series imo.

530i is better then the 540i imo as you get a proper BMW Inline Six that loves to scream.

Cool.
 
Absolutely fantastic car. But cool? Not really, particularly not while they're being driven into the ground by eighth or ninth owners. About as close as I'll get to a "meh" on these polls, but since I don't vote "meh" and it isn't cool, I'm voting uncool.
 
homeforsummer
Absolutely fantastic car. But cool? Not really, particularly not while they're being driven into the ground by eighth or ninth owners. About as close as I'll get to a "meh" on these polls, but since I don't vote "meh" and it isn't cool, I'm voting uncool.
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Pretty much this.

I'd also add that I find it to be one of the less attractive 5-ers. The E60 that replaced it (the one that everyone complained about), looks like a tight athletic sportsman, next to the flabby bulbous proportions of the E39.
 
My dad bought a used 528i back in around 2005/2006 when I was still in high school. I didn't like it. I found it too slow, cramped in the rear and uncomfortable. Then it broke down one day which gave us more problems. It wasn't fixed that well, then it broke down again. We sold it afterwards.

Uncool.
 
MatskiMonk
I'd also add that I find it to be one of the less attractive 5-ers. The E60 that replaced it (the one that everyone complained about), looks like a tight athletic sportsman, next to the flabby bulbous proportions of the E39.
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Yeah, I think the E60 now looks quite sharp, though the E39 is very spec-dependent. I actually don't mind the early cars on 16" wheels and big fat tyres with little body adornment, but aesthetically the car is probably at its best post-facelift, in full Sport trim with some larger wheels. Or the M5, of course.

To illustrate:

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$_86.JPG


Though a good E34 is, to me, probably the nicest-looking 5er.
 
homeforsummer
Not really, particularly not while they're being driven into the ground by eighth or ninth owners
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Ground? Hedge, more like.

A car that will do a 70mph crash and drive away from it is just fine in my book. Especially when I'm driving it away :D
 

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