Hey guys it has been a while since I have posted. I told Frank and some others I would post up the car I ended up with.

So I ended up picking up a 2003 E39 M5 from the orginal owner. Car has bumper to bumper warranty till end of 2011.

Have not had a chance to push it to much yet but will update when I do. It is definetly a Beast on the highway.

Here is a pic

Congrats on the new ride!
What made you go with an E39 M5? Performance wise there isn't much difference between a lightly tuned C32 and the E39. Both are 4 door sedans, gas guzzlers, same year, both euro, etc., etc.

The main reason was the manual trans. I just could not deal with the automatic.

Second the M5 has a larger interior most important was the back seat for the kids.

Third the BMW handles better

4th I missed the sound of the V8

I really considered the W211 E55 that had all above except the manual tranny.

Don't get me wrong I loved the C32 but have always been a manual shift guy. Then hearing wifey complain on the interior room was al it took for me to sell.

Great thing with the C32 you can do a bunch of fairly inexpensive performance items and make it faster than it already is.

Although rated at 400 bhp, M5s are typically dynoing between 300 to 335 hp at the wheels (SAE corrected) on the widely used Dynojet 248C dynamometer, with a few exceptions slightly higher than that. With absolutely no upgrades this car already seemed extraordinarily fast.This is what I have heard from other sources...will wait for your update as well.

It is definetly fast especially on the highway. The other thing I can't believe that led me away from the E55 was the LSD. LSD and manual was a must.

Those dyno numbers are about right. A healthy M5 is around 340 RWHP and ones with MAF's not clean are around 300. So I would say the typical E39 M5 is around 330 give or take.

You can grab another 20 RWHP with chip, intake and exhaust.

Now the flip side is yes the M5 stock for stock is faster than the C32 but a tune and pulley on the C32 and I bet it would be right there with a stock E39 M5. I may be worng but I bet it would be close. You can get cheaper HP out of the S/C engines than you can with the M5.

I will update more on it as I get to drive it a bit more. Problem is you dont get traction till 3rd gear

raced an E39 M5 about 5 years ago when i was stock except for a Renntech tune (which I did not know about). M5 had intake. exhaust, chip, and rims. M5 pulled about a car on me from 15 to 70-ish. Man....did it sound good though. Enjoy your new car!

I love the pic that is great.

I know the C32 is quick but I am surprised it was just a car length with his mods. As the speeds increased the gap would have gotten greater. I can say you hit that thing at 80 and it sets you back and keeps pulling.

The thing is with people like LET you throw $2,500 at the C32 and it becomes even more of a monster. I liked the sleeper effect of the C32. It seems like with the M5 everyone is picking a race with you.

I surprised a lot of people in the C32. The best was the guy in a 2005 Mustang GT with exhaust. I said wanna give them a run and he said dude that is a V6 and this is a V8. I said I will try my best. I think he was really surprised to be seing my tail lights.

You have a beauty in hand and it can unleash power.
Be safe andhappy driving

it was a short run and it was only to 70....the M5 was pulling. i also have a pretty strong C32, so that could have something to do with it

either way, the E39 M5 is a gorgeous car. i just love that interior. its beautiful. enjoy it!

wtf is that in the top right of the hottest pic on here?

Thanks so much guys. I am still loving that pic in the sig. It looks even better when you are scrolling down and do not see the whole thing first. That is by far the best I have seen to date.

lol i have no idea....it is a clip from a movie and that is what i found.

Congrats Bud Its a very nice car Enjoy!

Thanks Vic

how does the MPG compare?

We can help you out with your new ride, too.

Congrats on the new purchase - the E39 is a classy animal.

Beautiful car... stout performance combined with timeless styling - def. a winning combo!

Embarrsed to say I really do not keep track and I should. I looked at the on board computer the other day and it said just shy of 16 MPG and that is around town. So I would guess on the highway it will be low 20's. Now this is not mashing the gas. When that happens all numbers are surley down the tube.

When I had my 540/sport with M5 diff I could get about 28 MPG on the highway. So safe to say with the M probally 23 MPG.

You have a PM