The Quiet Genius of the E39 M5: Why BMW Still Hasn’t Topped It
By Team Dailyrevs April 20, 2025
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Engineered by Legends: The E39 M5 wasn’t just built—it was crafted by names like Wolfgang Reitzle, Gerhard Richter and Joji Nagashima.
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Analog Brilliance: Its naturally aspirated V8, 6-speed manual, and hydraulic steering make it feel more alive than most modern performance sedans.
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Still Revered: Mate Rimac, founder of Rimac Automobili, daily-drives one. That’s not nostalgia—that’s respect.
The M5 That Reset the Benchmark
In the late 1990s, BMW’s M Division wasn’t interested in making loud statements. Instead, they built quiet revolutions. And none were more enduring than the E39 M5, launched in 1998—a car that would go on to define what a super sedan should be.
It wasn’t just a faster 5 Series. It was a no-compromise exercise in engineering restraint and performance obsession. And it didn’t come from luck. It came from people.
The Architects of Perfection
While the public saw a sleek four-door with discreet quad pipes and a 400-hp badge, behind the scenes was an all-star team of designers, engineers, and executives whose fingerprints are on every bolt.
Alexander Hildebrandt – The Visionary Project Leader
At the helm of the E39 M5 project was Alexander Hildebrandt, then Head of Product Marketing at BMW Germany. Hildebrandt was instrumental in steering the M5's development, balancing engineering ambitions with market realities.
He recalled the internal debates about transitioning from the beloved inline-six to a V8 engine:
“I well remember the discussions about the BMW M5, and how – in the eyes of some M fans – it still had a flaw,” German Car Forum
Despite initial reservations, Hildebrandt championed the V8, recognizing its potential to elevate the M5's performance. His leadership ensured that the E39 M5 not only met but exceeded expectations, becoming a benchmark in the sports sedan segment.
While the public saw a sleek four-door with discreet quad pipes and a 400-hp badge, behind the scenes was an all-star team of designers, engineers, and executives whose fingerprints are on every bolt.
Wolfgang Reitzle – The Enforcer of Excellence
As BMW’s Head of R&D in the 1990s, Reitzle was infamous for rejecting anything that wasn’t perfect. He didn’t just authorize the M5 project—he demanded it be a world-beater. The E39 M5 wasn’t a marketing exercise; it was his legacy, his standard of “engineered purity” before departing for Ford.
Gerhard Richter – Head of M Engineering
The man in charge of translating ambition into road feel. Richter didn’t just want more power—he wanted balance, feel, precision. He oversaw the entire integration of the S62 powertrain, revised the suspension tuning, and ensured the M5 carried the badge with technical credibility, not just branding.
The Heart of the Machine: The S62 V8
The E39 M5 wasn’t fast for its time—it’s still quick by today’s standards. The S62, a naturally aspirated 4.9-liter V8, was BMW’s first V8 to feature double VANOS and individual throttle bodies. Output? 400 horsepower. But it’s how it delivered that power—silky, linear, and alive at every RPM—that defined the experience.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Engine | 4.9L S62 V8, Naturally Aspirated |
| Power | 400 hp @ 6,600 rpm |
| Torque | 500 Nm @ 3,800 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual (Getrag 420G) |
| 0-100 km/h | 5.3 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h (limited) |
| Curb Weight | ~1,795 kg |
This wasn’t about brute force. It was about usable performance—delivered with grace and grit.
BMW S62V8 Engine
Joji Nagashima – The Designer Who Drew Restraint Into Art
The E39 M5’s lasting appeal isn’t just about what’s under the hood—it’s about the confidence in its form. The man responsible for this shape was Joji Nagashima, BMW’s legendary Japanese designer.
Nagashima didn’t chase flash. He mastered discipline in design. Clean lines, perfect proportions, and restrained aggression. The E39 didn’t try to impress you—it assumed you’d understand.
“The best designs don’t need to scream,” Nagashima once said in an interview. “They last.”
He understood BMW’s core aesthetic—functional, poised, and unmistakably German—and translated it through an international lens. His portfolio at BMW also includes icons like the E90 3 Series and E36 Compact, but the E39 is arguably his finest work.
When other brands were bulking up their sedans with flared arches and hood scoops, Nagashima sculpted something far more timeless: a design that made the E39 M5 feel like a gentleman, but drive like a brawler.
It's no exaggeration to say that part of the E39 M5’s legacy stems directly from Nagashima’s pencil—and his discipline to say “no” when most designers would say “more.”
Peter Tuennermann – Making It Dance
BMW’s chassis engineer, Peter Tuennermann, tuned the suspension to handle the extra weight and power of the S62 while maintaining the magic ride/handling balance that made the E39 platform legendary.
Steering feel, turn-in response, body control—it was all honed with obsessive detail. The result? A sedan that felt like a coupe in corners and a grand tourer on highways
Driving It Today? Still Sublime.
In a world of turbo lag, drive-by-wire numbness, and synthetic engine noise, driving an E39 M5 feels like a revelation. The throttle is instant. The steering is alive. The whole car breathes with the road in a way modern machines rarely do.
And this isn’t just enthusiast nostalgia. Mate Rimac, founder of the EV hypercar company Rimac, still daily-drives an E39 M5. That alone speaks volumes.
A Dying Breed?
Yes. The E39 M5 was perhaps the last purely analog M5. No drive modes. No digital filters between driver and machine. Just six manual gears, rear-wheel drive, and mechanical excellence.
Even later icons like the E60 M5—with its V10 scream—felt more dramatic but less organic. The F10 and G30? Powerful, but heavier, more isolated, and increasingly tech-heavy.
Why BMW Can’t Recreate It
Today’s emissions, noise regulations, and customer expectations have changed the game. But the bigger problem is this: intent.
The E39 M5 wasn’t built to chase quarterly earnings or flex on Instagram. It was built by car guys for car guys, under the leadership of people who cared more about steering feel than touchscreen size.
Conclusion: The Gold Standard
The E39 M5 isn’t just a great car from the past. It’s a blueprint for how great cars should be built.
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Honest.
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Engineered.
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Driven.
Until BMW decides to once again put its most obsessive minds in a room and ask them to build something for the love of driving—not the metrics—the E39 M5 will remain the benchmark. Quietly. Confidently. Forever.
Want to explore the E39 M5 in detail?
You can click here to view detailed images, specs, and updates on the E39 M5 and its successors.
Sources : e90post