E39 M5s are a thing of beauty. I have a Techno Violet 1 of 4 produced and possibly 1 of 2 remaining RHD models. It is my prize possession, and every time I turn that key and hear that V8 fire up, I smile. Mechanically, stock and just the headunit upgraded to a modern Kenwood for phone connectivity. I love BMW from that era and still today they are aesthetically pleasing and don't look out of place. Great video and great motor there Ben. 👏 ❤
Matured like a fine wine, unlike this old YT video I discovered .. and he's still going after 12 years!!! WTF TH-cam this fellas, UnF*****gbelievable lol "BMW E39 5 Series Airbag Light Reset"
I had the haywood and Scott setup on my imola red e39 m5. Was an amazing sound in fact i would say sounds better than my imola red f10 m5. I miss the e39 to the point ten years after im looking to add one again to my little collection
This was BMW’s best era for quality of build and sophistication of design. 1999-2003 prime years. The M5 gets a lot of the headlines, but if you don’t want to spend £20k, consider the standard e39 straight 6. If you choose well you’ll pay a fraction of the £20k, and still have a car that’s great to drive, looks fab, and will last you a lifetime if you maintain it. Absolutely love mine!
Thanks for filling the perfect and lost spot in automotive content on TH-cam that are for petrolheads that also wants to care for what’s good for the family. Love your heart and energy that really goes through the screen! I’m Definitely a subscriber for sure. Been looking into e39 lately for all the mentioned reasons. However my budget and goal is to find a 5k car, which means not an M5 ofcourse but a 530i manual, which comes in TOURING 🤩👌🏼 Looking forward to future content. Cheers
Ben is doing a fantastic job keeping this beauty on the roads. It was great to meet him and photo the car at your meet. Looking forward to seeing it again soon!
It's crazy how far cars have come on in the last 20 years. I've got a modern 540 and it's almost a second quicker to 60 than this M5 and gets nearer 30 on a mixed run. That said, this is so much cooler and sounds unbelievable. Newer cars are getting faster all the time but the driving experience is going the opposite way. Id be tempted to change mine for a modern classic any day
I agree, thing is the faster everyday cars become the less the driver can be in control of keeping it in a straight line so you lose that engagement along the way… a modern BMW is such a easy thing to live with though, super reliable and refined. Be nice to have both in an ideal world 😅
My two boys and their mates love our E39 M5 and E46 M3 Convertible…..educating the next generation of petrol heads has never been so much fun. Keep up the great work!!!
E39 is a special car, well built and solid cars. This always was my favourite M5. V8 NA engine with manual box and only rear wheel drive. I hope one day I will get one. Well done Ben, great video. Now get some E38 750 to test 🤣 I'm sure it'll be a good dad car
My US spec 2001 E39 M5 without fold down rear seats had car seat anchors. It was the perfect Dad Car and it served me well for 170k miles with regular maintenance, although shame on BMW for fitting the M5 with a plastic radiator.
Damn what a lineup between parents, an STi and an E39 M5. Those are 2 of my favorites, performance 4 door sedans that can be daily driven heroes without breaking the bank (assuming they don’t break, head gaskets and timing chain guides respectively lol)
Mate if only you know how much joy your videos bring to a fellow petrol head dad. I’ve only got the 1 little one to contend with but the things you go into are exactly the same as I’d want to know, even if I’d probably never going to own the cars you talk about, but it’s still super interesting! Thank you for your hard work bringing such great content 🙏
My man 🙌 thank you for the kind comment means a lot! I have some more affordable stuff lined up as well. I really appreciate the support, just need everyone like us to find the channel so I can keep making this content 😊
@@dadcars 100% but quality like this and likes from people like me will help the algorithm learn and get other car dads subscribed to your channel! I was brought to your channel via the collab with Alex.
@@A2KLAU thanks man 🙏 yeah Alex is an absolute legend for taking the time to shine a light on this small channel, can’t wait for my next collab with him! Hope you enjoy the other videos on the channel and seeing if we can grow this into a job for me one day 🙌
@@dadcars agree, been following Alex for years and he does have his heart in the right place! I’ve enjoyed the older videos too, but must admit not enough time to watch them all, but any new stuff I’m subscribed so won’t be missing out! Wish you the very best of luck growing the channel and hope it gets the love it and you deserve 💪🙏
Great work, man! Liked and subscribed. Got an E39 for the birth of my first son in 2020, because I was raised on the backseat of E34 and E39 and wanted to show my son, what it is like to drive in a real car, naturally aspirated and non-synthetic. Thought of it as a second car for weekend and so, because I had a modern skoda as business-car. One year later: sold the skoda and rockin E39 as daily with meanwhile 2 kids! Its "only" a straight-six, but that 200hp are more than enough and my older son hates the modern ford from his mother and loves my E39. Parenting done right. :) Keep up the good job, mate! Regards from germany
Yes, yes and yes! Would definitely daily an E39 M5 without hesitation. Superb videos by the way, even though I don't have kids, I still enjoy watching your content - cheers!!
Great video. Best car I've ever bought. Mine is undergoing a full nut and bolt, including engine rebuild and now, after watching this, I'm thinking of getting one of those H&S exhausts. 🤤
Just before my daughter was born I had a 996. I then bought a Jag xjr6 which I’ve had ever since. Probably the cheapest performance saloon that you can buy
I had a Corrado VR6 with 100k on the clock as my dad car until my daughter was 3 years old. (She is 23 now) We even went on a summer holiday to the south of France in it and it was superb. No AC, but we coped. Only changed it when we had our 2nd child as it wouldn’t work for a family of 4. I miss that car 😊.
@@dadcars after the Corrado we had a Seat Toledo 1.6SE with AC as main family car and I had a roll out model MK2 Golf Gti, but as it had 5 doors & power steering we still used this when it wasn’t really hot. I remember taking this to Cornwall for an out of season week away. Brilliant car to. Kids are now 23 & 19 so family car not as important, I need an estate to do university runs, fishing trips & RC car racing. We also have a dad/mum car that you reviewed recently, a 23 plate Kia Picanto GT-Line S, this is a right hoot to drive locally, not dissimilar to the MK2 Gti.
Fantastic video Ben and Channel! kicking myself as I had the chance to buy an E39 M5 9 years ago for under 6k, bought a CL500 instead which I still have as my now Teenage daughter won't let me sell, so all worked out in the end! 😂 Keep up the good work!
CL500 is something that catches my eye for sure! But yet, this is one of those cars that one kicks themselves for not buying when the world took them for granted
@dadcars Yeh the CL has been a great Dadcar but lacked excitement so supplemented with a Focus RS 😂 E39 M5 would have combined everything in one package, luxury, space and excitement! if you can find a good one under 20k then definitely go for it! 👌
I just bought a 2004 e46 touring 318i for 2.5k With 80k on clock full service history Looking at coming to your next show with my little girl hopefully people don't get us mixed up both bald heads n all
I have owned my e39 M5 since 2006. It’s been a family car and has been (and still is) fantastic. I’ve used it for kids taxi duties and holidays etc. over the years. Doesn’t get as much use now but still feels special. I put a Tubi exhaust on it which sounds very nice but otherwise it’s stock. If they are looked after they are reliable and great to drive.
Love my E39 M sport auto 2.8I 5 series. Looks brand new and drives the same as it did in 1999. Great car and me 75 years old now hope it will see me out. 198000 miles. Best car ever owned. So lucky. Enjoyed the video and subscribed. Mine does not growl like the M5 but seeing it speeding on the road looks like mine otherwise. 30/40 miles to the gallon. In silver and where interior. Getting less to find now.
Great video of a monster of a car Bens car is lovely!! He has loved it from the moment he got it and done sooooo much to it . Really is a credit to him. I'm also lucky enough to have driven it 😂.. He convinced me to get my own v8
Awesome 👏 he’s very modest about this car as well but it’s actually a very special thing and he should be proud of what he’s done to it and the memories he’s made with his family 🥲
I loved my e39 M5. Mine was resplendent with screens in the headrests, and Bluetooth headphones for my kids, and a PlayStation 1 and DVD player. The kids loved it. But keep your traction control on- original owners seemed to boast that the TC was turned off. Drive like that on the regular, and you’ll have no rear tyres in 2k miles....
400bhp is still a substantial amount of power. I think we're a little desensitised to what power means these days and 5-ish seconds to 60 is damn quick. The exhaust sounds perfectly judged; it's happy to announce it's V8-ness but sounds pretty sensible at normal speeds. Because you don't give a rating and have championed the compact belt-secured seat and multimac system, the more interesting questions is this: what KIND of DadCar is it? Is it a full-blown alternate family wagon? Is it a second car? Is it a school-run Dad Car? Or is best as an occasional Memory-Maker (I suspect many older classics fit that last one)
Subscribed! Didn't know dad cars was a thing. I been looking at tHe E39 as my potential next thing. My past 4 cars were: 1. 1999 Gmc Yukon SLT 2. 2003 Cadillac DHS 3. Nissan Pathfinder LE 4. Cadillac DTS luxury lll (current)
You definitely should have used the sportbutton, it makes the car feel at least 30% faster, also yes the traction control may be a little keen but it was one of the first with dynamic stability control, which will keep the car straight on ice/ snow. In the previous gen E34, youd be toast. Ive had 2 m5s for 26 years, the E39 for 17 - thats how good it remains. Great vid. ❤
@@dadcars The Sport button just makes the throttle more responsive and stiffens up the steering. Not much in it really although I do always put it on. As or the Traction Control... I never turn it off and once it really did save my bacon I hit some patchy ice on a bend of a country road and the DSC light went crazy, dabbing individual brakes to pull me back into line. It genuinely felt as though a giant hand had reached down from the sky and tapped my back into my lane.
I got one as my dadcar for the past 3 years. Putting about 10.000km a year on the clock. It has cost me about 2k Euro's a year to keep up with the maintenance. I really love the way it drives and sounds. That being said: At the moment I am wondering if a F80 M3 would be a good follow up..😅
Excellent car all around, and definitely a sweet dad car! Just recently joined the dad crew and have shifted my focus to these types of cars. Right now it's an e34 touring but this may be a good next stop once I'm done with that one! And to your last point, I don't know anyone with a 1st gen 5 series as a daily, but my e28 was my daily up till my daughter was about 10mo. :)
This was new around the time I left high school. I remember reading magazine articles about it at the time and being in awe. Still a legendary car and great to see one that’s not only being loved but driven. Cars are for driving not keeping in museums
@@dadcars Yes, they also mention that the passenger seat of the E34 is suitable for what they call it BMW VARIO system, whatever that is. This is for children aged 9 months - 3 years and between 3-6 years. I guess that was pre-Isofix standard or of the sort. After all Isofix was put into legislation in 2004 (first mentioned in documents about 1999)
I've just subscribed today after the video with Alex s4 popped up on my you tube. Like what I've seen so far. Keep the older cars coming. I'll watch some that u have up that look like newer / super cars but I'm here for the older stuff. I'm also a petrol head dad of 2 young kids. Got an escort rs cosworth and a subaru sti type r, daily a merc c350 cdi
@dadcars i just watched the ff and the maserati videos and there brilliant 👏 I'll probably work my way through all your videos over the next few weeks 😂👍
Another quality review, just the parts you want to hear about and non of the woffle that you don`t. Totally agree about that exhaust as well. Totally in keeping with the car. Notice your subs seems to be rising exponentially 😎😎
You did get a full leather wrapped upper and lower dash, including full leather door panel and B pillar as an extra for the E39 M5. And Alcantara headliner.
Probably the best M car ever made. This was during a time when BMW could make cars that actually looked attractive and subtle. Maintenance won’t be any worse than most performance cars of that age really…. This era of 1990 design cars many of them suffered rust problems and you can throw in bmw vanos problems. Most of these animals are really high miles though it shows you they are generally pretty reliable and people drive them a lot.
I have same exact car - 2000 in Silverstone, it is fantastic. Sounds like a muffler delete. Mine arrived that way but I took the bypass pipes out in favor of Supersprint cans.
Great video 👍🏻 very useful information keep up the good work. Love the e39 in any shape but the manual M5 is a dream car for me…bit out of my price tag now at £18-£25k for a good one. Would like to see a dad car budget video of the ultimate dad car for £5-10k…just an idea though
@@dadcarsI think every car I’ve ever owned has had the ski bag, I think they are fairly common in North America on cars with a cold weather package, my Aud A6i, E39 & e46 all had this I believe. Im not sure if my CLS has it or not I need to check.
Considered one of these bigger engined E39's in petrol - alas ULEZ reality saw that plan shot to pieces. Pity. Had a 330D several years ago, was one of the most memorable cars I owned.
@@dadcars no I don’t, I also can’t tell if it the ISOFIX was an optional extra or included. Just that’s is S470 on the vin decoder and I’m 09/2002 build month. There are rumours on the internet of when they were standard but no one really knows. All I’ll say is they are buried deep into the cook of the rear seats. So much so if you weren’t trained to raise cows you might not be feeling deep enough to find them.
Sure, it is fine as a daily driver if you can afford the worst case of engine failure. This is what happened to my M5 daily driver a few years ago, timing chain guides :C. Luckily I found another one for a good deal during the first year of the pandemic, and also a 540i touring which is slowly incorporating the parts from the dead one. The issues today are the same as they were 10+ years ago, as they are with any used car - unpredictable costs if things break. The safety features are pretty good - ABS, traction control, proximity sensors for parking. The only missing factory option is probably video in reverse. Those booster seats are sure sexy!!! I wish I hadn't seen them in the video - now I have to find a way to import a set for my E39 touring and make the heated rear seat elements fit properly.
@@dadcars but you’ll probably have to keep a big chunk of money spare to ensure an F10 is reliable, whereas a E39, should be cheaper in parts, easier to repair in contrast. The E90 platform, especially the E92 has started to increase in value as we speak, but a E90 is more of a family car than a E92 but boy is the E92 sexier looking machine. However, if a proper M5 F10 sourced with all the papers and essential maintenance done, then it would be the ultimate family car that pays homage to the beautiful E39 Keep up the amazing work that you do and what a legend, thoroughly entertaining video and every second of it
Love your videos man, you put in a lot of work and love into them and it shows. It will take off soon :) Did we find out the exhaust setup on this in the end haha
the sport button stiffen the steering for more feel, and it makes the throttle linear instead of it being comfortable, non sport throttle is quite unresponsive and if you give about 25% throttle to accelerate you can feel it letting off without you doing it to make it more comfortable
I had one of these about 4 years ago. Fantastic cars and really really playful for a near on 2 ton car. Sadly the maintenance was too much for me and couldn't justify keeping it. Pity as actually now, I could see myself in one again
I'd have another one. However I'm now priced out of the market I think! Have to admit I really like our E61 535d... In the real world it's just as fast having been mapped. The torque is just insane
I always preferred SWB E38s for looks, space and comfort (especially the seats) but that's not to say thay 5 series wasn't a gorgeous design. And a manual S65 car is certainty the best drive train between the two.
I daily one (M5). $2500 a year is about right. An occasional $4000 throw in. Very reliable though. Still they drive wonderfully. Much more analog than newer BMWs. So $3000/ yr avg. So I pay about $220 per month to own. Another $200 a month in gas. lol. Very inexpensive in relative terms.
E39 m5 is my favourite m5 of all time but too high maintenance as a daily same with the generation after it e60. The f10 should be fine at least it's modern
@@Birmingham_racing can’t believe I’ve yet to feature a gti! Arguably one of the most important Dadcars ever… I’ll sort that out as soon as I can I promise 🫡
If by Daily you mean simply commuting long miles to work I 💯 agree… however if like me who does 5k miles a year, it’s all about using the most exciting car possible everyday to make memories with your children and is completely worth it 🙌
@@djneils100 but when you’re 80+ and you look back, you and your kids will be like… remember when we did the school run in a E39 M5 when everyone was driving EVs….🥹 that’s worth more than any value depreciation in my mind 🙌
I’ve yet to do it myself in a car but rest assured I will with my next car is it doesn’t have it. I’ve heard that on cars where isofix was available as a option it is fairly easy while with cars that never had it, it is like you say not that easy
Hi there Dad! Just thought I'd let you know I've picked up a near stock 2003 Lexus GS 430 (rare) Sport! The earlier version of the one you reviewed recently. Just has SC430 alloy wheels (kinda look gangster) and a stainless exhaust giving it a fruity tone. If you're interested. Its a lovely comfy car.
E39 M5 Quattroporte Various other M care A risky Gran Turismo An estate with a massive engine A Jaaaaaaag And many others 🤷♂️ I’m open who knows what’ll come up!
You lot with lemonade pockets not Ralph Lauren’s need to look up manual e39’s with M Sport 11 suspension which is now wait for it .. M5 lol .. I’m amazed people don’t know but it’s true you could spec a non m5 bmw with m5 suspension 🇩🇪
This car is almost identical to mine. I actually think that a manual 530i is a better proposition overall. You get 80-90% of the appeal of the M5 for less than 50% of the purchase and running costs.
In a way I can second that, I've had 2 M5's and 4 530 manual M-sports, M5's are alot faster and feel alot more special but they are a headache, lots of expensive stuff can and will go wrong whereas the M54 leaks oil and that's about it. And they rust as all e39's do, easy fix to that though, don't drive your E39 in the salt and it's fine, my M5's were all solid and rust free, my 530's not so much, used all year round.
@@PowerslideSWE I had a manual E39 528i which wa on 169k miles and rather tired, so I bought a manual E60 530i (M54). I missed not having an E39, so bought the M5 a year later. I'm still tempted to get an E39 530i, and then possibly put a 6-speed manual on it from an E60. Yes, E39s do rust. I spent £2800 on my M5 getting the rust done. Not much else has gone wrong on it in the 11 years I've owned it but I've had the diff deals, fuel lines, alternator and a few other bits done that haven't been cheap.
E39 M5s are a thing of beauty. I have a Techno Violet 1 of 4 produced and possibly 1 of 2 remaining RHD models. It is my prize possession, and every time I turn that key and hear that V8 fire up, I smile. Mechanically, stock and just the headunit upgraded to a modern Kenwood for phone connectivity. I love BMW from that era and still today they are aesthetically pleasing and don't look out of place. Great video and great motor there Ben. 👏 ❤
Wow that sounds like a lovely car! 👏 these are a very special thing for sure… I may well but one 🙌
Wow. So jealous.
Matured like a fine wine, unlike this old YT video I discovered .. and he's still going after 12 years!!! WTF
TH-cam this fellas, UnF*****gbelievable lol "BMW E39 5 Series Airbag Light Reset"
Im Jealous! Yup, I admit it! You win the internet today Sir!
@@jeromepower6120 Google search .. Bavarian Dominator @ the Review Centre.... its the same fella mate lol
The exhaust is a pair of Hayward and Scott back boxes 😎👌
I had the haywood and Scott setup on my imola red e39 m5. Was an amazing sound in fact i would say sounds better than my imola red f10 m5. I miss the e39 to the point ten years after im looking to add one again to my little collection
This was BMW’s best era for quality of build and sophistication of design. 1999-2003 prime years. The M5 gets a lot of the headlines, but if you don’t want to spend £20k, consider the standard e39 straight 6. If you choose well you’ll pay a fraction of the £20k, and still have a car that’s great to drive, looks fab, and will last you a lifetime if you maintain it. Absolutely love mine!
The greatest dad car is an e34 540i wagon with a 6-speed manual conversion. I miss mine everyday
I would love to drive around the kids in this E39 M5, what a legend 🙌🏼
Ben (the owner) is a very cool guy right! 🙌
E39 M5 & B7 RS4 are my favourites around that era... manual & natural aspirated V8 monsters
It’s a really special sweet spot isn’t it! 👌
Thanks for filling the perfect and lost spot in automotive content on TH-cam that are for petrolheads that also wants to care for what’s good for the family. Love your heart and energy that really goes through the screen! I’m Definitely a subscriber for sure.
Been looking into e39 lately for all the mentioned reasons. However my budget and goal is to find a 5k car, which means not an M5 ofcourse but a 530i manual, which comes in TOURING 🤩👌🏼
Looking forward to future content.
Cheers
Thank you! absolutely loved reading this comment 😊 I’ve got another sub 5k feature coming up soon 😉
Hi Ben. Hope your doing good.
That BMW sounds so good. I love the color too. That car looks brand new to me. One great video.
It’s a real credit to its owner isn’t it! As it was the cheapest one for sale when he purchased it
Ben is doing a fantastic job keeping this beauty on the roads. It was great to meet him and photo the car at your meet. Looking forward to seeing it again soon!
You and Ben both have super cool 4 door V8s 😎
Great Review. At you 15:57 you are talking about the first gen 5-series, the E12, but the photo you have is an E3. The "7 series" grand dad. :)
Ah I thought that was a 5 series 🙈 nice spot! It’s too late now it’s uploaded 🥲
Absolutely the best saloon ever made
🫡… a lot of people think so 🙌
She's a beauty right there, Ben!
I know right! This is my kind of Q car 👌
It's crazy how far cars have come on in the last 20 years. I've got a modern 540 and it's almost a second quicker to 60 than this M5 and gets nearer 30 on a mixed run. That said, this is so much cooler and sounds unbelievable. Newer cars are getting faster all the time but the driving experience is going the opposite way. Id be tempted to change mine for a modern classic any day
I agree, thing is the faster everyday cars become the less the driver can be in control of keeping it in a straight line so you lose that engagement along the way… a modern BMW is such a easy thing to live with though, super reliable and refined. Be nice to have both in an ideal world 😅
Cars have regressed in the last 20 years. Who cares about outright speed?!
Well said, I own three 5 Series models (E39 540I, E60 535, and F10 535) and the feeling is night and day between the F10 and the E39.
My two boys and their mates love our E39 M5 and E46 M3 Convertible…..educating the next generation of petrol heads has never been so much fun. Keep up the great work!!!
That’s what it’s all about! 🙌 you got a couple of awesome Dadcars there my man
E39 is a special car, well built and solid cars. This always was my favourite M5. V8 NA engine with manual box and only rear wheel drive. I hope one day I will get one. Well done Ben, great video. Now get some E38 750 to test 🤣 I'm sure it'll be a good dad car
E38 750 wow that now be a fun one to feature! In the meantime I’ve already done a 760i v12 review with all 4 kids on board! Check that out 😎
My US spec 2001 E39 M5 without fold down rear seats had car seat anchors.
It was the perfect Dad Car and it served me well for 170k miles with regular maintenance, although shame on BMW for fitting the M5 with a plastic radiator.
Ah good to know yeah I thought they did come with isofix/ latch 🙌
Damn what a lineup between parents, an STi and an E39 M5. Those are 2 of my favorites, performance 4 door sedans that can be daily driven heroes without breaking the bank (assuming they don’t break, head gaskets and timing chain guides respectively lol)
I know super cool right! 🙌
What. A. Car. Great video with it too.
I agree… and thanks 😊
Mate if only you know how much joy your videos bring to a fellow petrol head dad. I’ve only got the 1 little one to contend with but the things you go into are exactly the same as I’d want to know, even if I’d probably never going to own the cars you talk about, but it’s still super interesting! Thank you for your hard work bringing such great content 🙏
My man 🙌 thank you for the kind comment means a lot! I have some more affordable stuff lined up as well. I really appreciate the support, just need everyone like us to find the channel so I can keep making this content 😊
@@dadcars 100% but quality like this and likes from people like me will help the algorithm learn and get other car dads subscribed to your channel! I was brought to your channel via the collab with Alex.
@@A2KLAU thanks man 🙏 yeah Alex is an absolute legend for taking the time to shine a light on this small channel, can’t wait for my next collab with him! Hope you enjoy the other videos on the channel and seeing if we can grow this into a job for me one day 🙌
@@dadcars agree, been following Alex for years and he does have his heart in the right place! I’ve enjoyed the older videos too, but must admit not enough time to watch them all, but any new stuff I’m subscribed so won’t be missing out!
Wish you the very best of luck growing the channel and hope it gets the love it and you deserve 💪🙏
@@A2KLAU thank you my man really appreciate it 🙏
Amazing video Ben ! Hands down the best DadCar ! Can’t wait to have you onboard 👀👌🏾👌🏾
Fingers crossed! Once the DadB9 sells let’s see what cars are available 🙌
Great work, man! Liked and subscribed. Got an E39 for the birth of my first son in 2020, because I was raised on the backseat of E34 and E39 and wanted to show my son, what it is like to drive in a real car, naturally aspirated and non-synthetic. Thought of it as a second car for weekend and so, because I had a modern skoda as business-car. One year later: sold the skoda and rockin E39 as daily with meanwhile 2 kids! Its "only" a straight-six, but that 200hp are more than enough and my older son hates the modern ford from his mother and loves my E39. Parenting done right. :)
Keep up the good job, mate!
Regards from germany
Amazing! Well done man! That’s the Dadcars ethos right there 🙌👏
If well maintained, this is a special car to use for many, many years to come. Glad you showcased it.
I agree! 🙌
Got one for my dad car recently and I love driving it daily! 2003 had the isofix :)
Amazing! Drop me a message on Instagram I’d love to pick you brains about it :)
Loved mine - but too old for me now. Keep up the great work mate! Loving the channel.
Thank you Rick 👍
Yes, yes and yes! Would definitely daily an E39 M5 without hesitation. Superb videos by the way, even though I don't have kids, I still enjoy watching your content - cheers!!
That’s a very meaningful comment thank you my man 🙌🫡
Great video. Best car I've ever bought. Mine is undergoing a full nut and bolt, including engine rebuild and now, after watching this, I'm thinking of getting one of those H&S exhausts. 🤤
Awesome! Yeah this car sounds epic!
Brilliant video,love your enthusiasm
Thank you Peter ☺️
Brilliant review. I just hope I can buy one before they get impossible to afford!
This is precisely what makes me think I should buy one as my next car! What do you drive ATM?
Just before my daughter was born I had a 996. I then bought a Jag xjr6 which I’ve had ever since. Probably the cheapest performance saloon that you can buy
I love a 996 c4s or turbo! Ahhh a proper jaaaag! Love it 👏
Love that e39🔥 down to earth bloke too and beautiful daughter. I've a four year old myself. She's my world ❤️
Thanks man, around four is a special time 🥲
I had a Corrado VR6 with 100k on the clock as my dad car until my daughter was 3 years old. (She is 23 now) We even went on a summer holiday to the south of France in it and it was superb. No AC, but we coped. Only changed it when we had our 2nd child as it wouldn’t work for a family of 4. I miss that car 😊.
Ah man that’s awesome! Those memories are what my channel is all about 🙌🥹
@@dadcars after the Corrado we had a Seat Toledo 1.6SE with AC as main family car and I had a roll out model MK2 Golf Gti, but as it had 5 doors & power steering we still used this when it wasn’t really hot. I remember taking this to Cornwall for an out of season week away. Brilliant car to. Kids are now 23 & 19 so family car not as important, I need an estate to do university runs, fishing trips & RC car racing. We also have a dad/mum car that you reviewed recently, a 23 plate Kia Picanto GT-Line S, this is a right hoot to drive locally, not dissimilar to the MK2 Gti.
Driving my dream and a dad myself now , I think it’s time . Great video and really love your set up . Big up from Ireland 🇮🇪
Fantastic video Ben and Channel!
kicking myself as I had the chance to buy an E39 M5 9 years ago for under 6k, bought a CL500 instead which I still have as my now Teenage daughter won't let me sell, so all worked out in the end! 😂
Keep up the good work!
CL500 is something that catches my eye for sure! But yet, this is one of those cars that one kicks themselves for not buying when the world took them for granted
@dadcars Yeh the CL has been a great Dadcar but lacked excitement so supplemented with a Focus RS 😂 E39 M5 would have combined everything in one package, luxury, space and excitement! if you can find a good one under 20k then definitely go for it! 👌
@@rgkdetailingscotland if one comes up… I’ll go for it 👌
I just bought a 2004 e46 touring 318i for 2.5k
With 80k on clock full service history
Looking at coming to your next show with my little girl hopefully people don't get us mixed up both bald heads n all
Awesome! Which event are you coming to?
Hopefully the spring one bit of a trek from Leeds
Wow. We just don’t see rust in the chassis like that in Australia for cars of this ages.!
Yeah our road conditions and climate is brutal for cars
I have owned my e39 M5 since 2006. It’s been a family car and has been (and still is) fantastic. I’ve used it for kids taxi duties and holidays etc. over the years. Doesn’t get as much use now but still feels special. I put a Tubi exhaust on it which sounds very nice but otherwise it’s stock. If they are looked after they are reliable and great to drive.
How cool is it that your kids memories of being in a car with their dad was in such a special car 🙌🥲
Love my E39 M sport auto 2.8I 5 series. Looks brand new and drives the same as it did in 1999. Great car and me 75 years old now hope it will see me out. 198000 miles. Best car ever owned. So lucky. Enjoyed the video and subscribed. Mine does not growl like the M5 but seeing it speeding on the road looks like mine otherwise. 30/40 miles to the gallon. In silver and where interior. Getting less to find now.
Sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing this, great comment 🙌😊
@@dadcars Ah thank you. Well chuffed with that.
Phenomenal car and certainly the perfect dad car !
Cool right!
Damn I so regret selling my Oxford green '02 M5. Sold it for 19k EUR years ago, because green wasn't trendy and it was an 'old man's color'.
Green is all the rage here in the Uk.. well I love it anyway 😅
Really loved this one keep on going mate you doing great
🙌 thank you my man! Share this with a friend 😅
Great video of a monster of a car
Bens car is lovely!! He has loved it from the moment he got it and done sooooo much to it . Really is a credit to him.
I'm also lucky enough to have driven it 😂..
He convinced me to get my own v8
Awesome 👏 he’s very modest about this car as well but it’s actually a very special thing and he should be proud of what he’s done to it and the memories he’s made with his family 🥲
I loved my e39 M5.
Mine was resplendent with screens in the headrests, and Bluetooth headphones for my kids, and a PlayStation 1 and DVD player. The kids loved it.
But keep your traction control on- original owners seemed to boast that the TC was turned off. Drive like that on the regular, and you’ll have no rear tyres in 2k miles....
Wow!!! Imagine playing the original Gran Turismo in the back of a E39!! The dream! 🙌
400bhp is still a substantial amount of power. I think we're a little desensitised to what power means these days and 5-ish seconds to 60 is damn quick. The exhaust sounds perfectly judged; it's happy to announce it's V8-ness but sounds pretty sensible at normal speeds.
Because you don't give a rating and have championed the compact belt-secured seat and multimac system, the more interesting questions is this: what KIND of DadCar is it? Is it a full-blown alternate family wagon? Is it a second car? Is it a school-run Dad Car? Or is best as an occasional Memory-Maker (I suspect many older classics fit that last one)
For me this is certainly a 5k miles a year DadCar along side a 3rd gen X5 or equivalent. Also imo 400bhp is perfect for a RWD manual 👌
Subscribed! Didn't know dad cars was a thing. I been looking at tHe E39 as my potential next thing. My past 4 cars were:
1. 1999 Gmc Yukon SLT
2. 2003 Cadillac DHS
3. Nissan Pathfinder LE
4. Cadillac DTS luxury lll (current)
You definitely should have used the sportbutton, it makes the car feel at least 30% faster, also yes the traction control may be a little keen but it was one of the first with dynamic stability control, which will keep the car straight on ice/ snow. In the previous gen E34, youd be toast. Ive had 2 m5s for 26 years, the E39 for 17 - thats how good it remains. Great vid. ❤
If I buy one I’ll do a full test video alone without a child on board, sport button and no traction control 😎 thanks man 🙌
@@dadcars
The Sport button just makes the throttle more responsive and stiffens up the steering. Not much in it really although I do always put it on.
As or the Traction Control... I never turn it off and once it really did save my bacon
I hit some patchy ice on a bend of a country road and the DSC light went crazy, dabbing individual brakes to pull me back into line. It genuinely felt as though a giant hand had reached down from the sky and tapped my back into my lane.
@@lewis72 oh Christ yeah when it’s icy you’ll take any support you can get 🙌
I have owned one of these since 2004, check all jacking points and inner sills like the man said, replace vanos oil pipes.
Wow what a legend owning one all these years 👏
I got one as my dadcar for the past 3 years. Putting about 10.000km a year on the clock. It has cost me about 2k Euro's a year to keep up with the maintenance. I really love the way it drives and sounds.
That being said: At the moment I am wondering if a F80 M3 would be a good follow up..😅
Awesome! I have done a F80 review you may wish to check out 😎 I get stuck in the back of that one as well 😅
@@dadcars haha it's a real dadcar when that safety is on ;)
Excellent car all around, and definitely a sweet dad car! Just recently joined the dad crew and have shifted my focus to these types of cars. Right now it's an e34 touring but this may be a good next stop once I'm done with that one!
And to your last point, I don't know anyone with a 1st gen 5 series as a daily, but my e28 was my daily up till my daughter was about 10mo. :)
E34 touring 🙌 very cool, I gave the thumbs up to one last one week, congrats on becoming a Dad 🫡
Well done....a very sensible choice!
This would be sensible for me 😅
This was new around the time I left high school. I remember reading magazine articles about it at the time and being in awe. Still a legendary car and great to see one that’s not only being loved but driven. Cars are for driving not keeping in museums
I absolutely agree! Lots get annoyed seeing these cars being driven which makes no sense to me
Just got a m5 e39
Love it
Amazing 🙌 If you’ve got Instagram drop me a DM I’ve got a couple of questions for you 😊
great car and one to consider for my future dadhood
Epic DadCar! 🙌😊
I daily my E39 M5 almost everyday with two kids in the back. Perfect dad mobile.
Awesome! You have a really cool DadCar 😎🙌
Gone up by another 1 ! Subscribed.
Thanks Rich! 🙌
BMW were pretty innovative in that regard. E34 (very rare) and E36 also featured a built in booster seat even for the E36 compact if optioned.
Amazing 👏 basically meant it was illegal to not put your child in the booster seat as one was “available”
@@dadcars Yes, they also mention that the passenger seat of the E34 is suitable for what they call it BMW VARIO system, whatever that is. This is for children aged 9 months - 3 years and between 3-6 years. I guess that was pre-Isofix standard or of the sort. After all Isofix was put into legislation in 2004 (first mentioned in documents about 1999)
I've just subscribed today after the video with Alex s4 popped up on my you tube. Like what I've seen so far. Keep the older cars coming. I'll watch some that u have up that look like newer / super cars but I'm here for the older stuff. I'm also a petrol head dad of 2 young kids. Got an escort rs cosworth and a subaru sti type r, daily a merc c350 cdi
That’s an awesome fleet! 🫡 Check out the classic Aston V8 I did! The og british super DadCar 🙌 glad you found the channel
@dadcars i just watched the ff and the maserati videos and there brilliant 👏 I'll probably work my way through all your videos over the next few weeks 😂👍
@@dominiclund9236 awesome! Glad you’re enjoying the channel! 🙌
Ive had one of these (also in Silverstone) for a week now and I love it! Perfect, as you said, to compliment a wagon (Alpina D3 F31 in my case!)
I absolutely have to feature an Alpina D3! 🙌
I bet the owner of this car is a big M539 you tube follower and if he isn’t he needs to be that man knows everything about these cars👍👍
just get a decent e39 530d manual for a couple of grand and spend a grand on it. proper dads car. 40mpg.
That sounds epic! I’m hoping to film the more sensible value for money BMWs for the channel too 🙌
Another quality review, just the parts you want to hear about and non of the woffle that you don`t. Totally agree about that exhaust as well. Totally in keeping with the car. Notice your subs seems to be rising exponentially 😎😎
Thank you my man 🙌 yeah the Auto Alex collab boosted subs a lot! 🥰
You did get a full leather wrapped upper and lower dash, including full leather door panel and B pillar as an extra for the E39 M5. And Alcantara headliner.
Probably the best M car ever made. This was during a time when BMW could make cars that actually looked attractive and subtle. Maintenance won’t be any worse than most performance cars of that age really…. This era of 1990 design cars many of them suffered rust problems and you can throw in bmw vanos problems. Most of these animals are really high miles though it shows you they are generally pretty reliable and people drive them a lot.
Yep most are well over 100k miles now and still mechanically going strong! You know they’ve been driven hard too!
A very good review and that's an amazing car!
Thank you! It’s a stunner isn’t it 😎
Nice review, I'm looking for a v10 M5 or M6
I look forward to reviewing both! 🙌 they are potential next cars for me 🫡
I have same exact car - 2000 in Silverstone, it is fantastic.
Sounds like a muffler delete. Mine arrived that way but I took the bypass pipes out in favor of Supersprint cans.
Awesome! It’s such a stunning colour 🙌
Great video 👍🏻 very useful information keep up the good work.
Love the e39 in any shape but the manual M5 is a dream car for me…bit out of my price tag now at £18-£25k for a good one.
Would like to see a dad car budget video of the ultimate dad car for £5-10k…just an idea though
Thanks Liam! I filmed a sub 5k car this week in fact so that’ll be coming soon 🙌
E39 530i manual sport - the car I bought 8 months ago when my son was born! Love it!
Great review!😁
Thank you 😊
A built in ski bag!? That is the most random extra I’ve ever seen fitted to a car haha. Beautiful car, and great video!
Yeah I know right 😅
@@dadcarsI think every car I’ve ever owned has had the ski bag, I think they are fairly common in North America on cars with a cold weather package, my Aud A6i, E39 & e46 all had this I believe. Im not sure if my CLS has it or not I need to check.
@@ashtonhutchason3038 that’s fascinating, I’ve never seen it 😅
Considered one of these bigger engined E39's in petrol - alas ULEZ reality saw that plan shot to pieces. Pity. Had a 330D several years ago, was one of the most memorable cars I owned.
ULEZ 😓
2002 e39 here. ISOFIX in the rear. They are welded in
Do you have the built in booster seats?
@@dadcars no I don’t, I also can’t tell if it the ISOFIX was an optional extra or included. Just that’s is S470 on the vin decoder and I’m 09/2002 build month.
There are rumours on the internet of when they were standard but no one really knows.
All I’ll say is they are buried deep into the cook of the rear seats. So much so if you weren’t trained to raise cows you might not be feeling deep enough to find them.
Sure, it is fine as a daily driver if you can afford the worst case of engine failure. This is what happened to my M5 daily driver a few years ago, timing chain guides :C. Luckily I found another one for a good deal during the first year of the pandemic, and also a 540i touring which is slowly incorporating the parts from the dead one.
The issues today are the same as they were 10+ years ago, as they are with any used car - unpredictable costs if things break.
The safety features are pretty good - ABS, traction control, proximity sensors for parking. The only missing factory option is probably video in reverse.
Those booster seats are sure sexy!!! I wish I hadn't seen them in the video - now I have to find a way to import a set for my E39 touring and make the heated rear seat elements fit properly.
Thanks for sharing 🙌 yeah it’s a brave pill as a daily isn’t it
What a sweet ride!!!🎉😂😅.seriously the last good bmw
Very special car 🙌
Sub 20k is a dream for us across the pond. I will own one within the next 5 years.
They are very special cars 🙌
Quite funny that this beauty E39 costs as much as the F10 M5 beauty
It’s interesting isn’t it.. I’ll have to review a F10 but I suspect the E90 offers something really special in comparison
@@dadcars but you’ll probably have to keep a big chunk of money spare to ensure an F10 is reliable, whereas a E39, should be cheaper in parts, easier to repair in contrast. The E90 platform, especially the E92 has started to increase in value as we speak, but a E90 is more of a family car than a E92 but boy is the E92 sexier looking machine. However, if a proper M5 F10 sourced with all the papers and essential maintenance done, then it would be the ultimate family car that pays homage to the beautiful E39
Keep up the amazing work that you do and what a legend, thoroughly entertaining video and every second of it
@@anassohail938 thanks man 🙏
Gosh that exhaust sounds good! ❤
😎🙌
Peak M car…. cool, understated, comfy and 400BHP 👍
👌 I know right!
Love your videos man, you put in a lot of work and love into them and it shows. It will take off soon :)
Did we find out the exhaust setup on this in the end haha
Just added it to the description 😅
the sport button stiffen the steering for more feel, and it makes the throttle linear instead of it being comfortable, non sport throttle is quite unresponsive and if you give about 25% throttle to accelerate you can feel it letting off without you doing it to make it more comfortable
Interesting… I’ll have to give it a try next time for sure
I had one of these about 4 years ago. Fantastic cars and really really playful for a near on 2 ton car. Sadly the maintenance was too much for me and couldn't justify keeping it. Pity as actually now, I could see myself in one again
Yep all cars of this age start requiring big maintenance don’t they… fabulous cars though!
I'd have another one. However I'm now priced out of the market I think! Have to admit I really like our E61 535d... In the real world it's just as fast having been mapped. The torque is just insane
Fantastic video you have new subscriber
Welcome to the channel! You’ll enjoy my latest video as I’m now looking to buy my own E39 M5 😜
@dadcars thank you, and I will be hopefully getting a bmw e39 but a 525d
Great video, very tidy for the amount of miles it’s done.
Sub £20k:
- V10 RS6
- V10 M5
- E63 AMG
Each of those suggestions are on the list! Let’s see what car comes up at the right time 😎
I always preferred SWB E38s for looks, space and comfort (especially the seats) but that's not to say thay 5 series wasn't a gorgeous design. And a manual S65 car is certainty the best drive train between the two.
I daily one (M5). $2500 a year is about right. An occasional $4000 throw in. Very reliable though. Still they drive wonderfully. Much more analog than newer BMWs. So $3000/ yr avg. So I pay about $220 per month to own. Another $200 a month in gas. lol. Very inexpensive in relative terms.
Great video mate you done the best car of all time proud 😂🍻😎
I really appreciate when owners/ enthusiasts of particular cars think I did them justice so thank you for this comment 😊
My dream car, Just earned a sub😌
Thanks man 🙌
Another cracking vid 👌🏻 please when you can I'd love to see a vid of that subie being a huge subie fan 😁🔥
E46 M3 is the next to review!
Always been a car I’ve lusted over! I can’t wait to feature one 🙌
@dadcars great video by the way mate!
@@TheOfficialGlitchTTG thanks man really appreciate it 🙌
E39 m5 is my favourite m5 of all time but too high maintenance as a daily same with the generation after it e60. The f10 should be fine at least it's modern
That’s the debate! You can get a much faster and more modern BMW for the same money 🤷♂️ but is it as special?
@@dadcars not as special but if you're willing to deal with the maintenance go for it
@@Birmingham_racing what do you drive again?
@@dadcars I drive a golf so that's cheap to run
@@Birmingham_racing can’t believe I’ve yet to feature a gti! Arguably one of the most important Dadcars ever… I’ll sort that out as soon as I can I promise 🫡
Amazing car !
🙌
Great, now I’m browsing the the classified for an E39 M5… 😅
Lol 🤣🤣
seeing the way prices of cars like the first M3 have gone over the last few years you would be mad to put daily miles on a decent one of these now
If by Daily you mean simply commuting long miles to work I 💯 agree… however if like me who does 5k miles a year, it’s all about using the most exciting car possible everyday to make memories with your children and is completely worth it 🙌
@@dadcars you might not feel the same when a good one of these commands a six figure sum. plenty of other nice fast cars to daily
@@djneils100 but when you’re 80+ and you look back, you and your kids will be like… remember when we did the school run in a E39 M5 when everyone was driving EVs….🥹 that’s worth more than any value depreciation in my mind 🙌
@dadcars man, I love how you think! You only get one life and things are there for using them. Keep makin good memories, hell yeah! :)
@@MARSCH82 absolutely my man 🙌👏
The ISO-Fix retrofit is not that easy.
Is it possible you could help check with the dealer and get all the parts (with part number) for us?
I’ve yet to do it myself in a car but rest assured I will with my next car is it doesn’t have it. I’ve heard that on cars where isofix was available as a option it is fairly easy while with cars that never had it, it is like you say not that easy
👍
First king 👑
Hi there Dad!
Just thought I'd let you know I've picked up a near stock 2003 Lexus GS 430 (rare) Sport! The earlier version of the one you reviewed recently. Just has SC430 alloy wheels (kinda look gangster) and a stainless exhaust giving it a fruity tone. If you're interested.
Its a lovely comfy car.
Funnily enough I just recently filmed another Lexus 😎
@@dadcars Oh really?? Was it a gangster GS430 though? Hmmmmm?
@@bunkaaa8726 it wasn’t a GS but it will be out soon 🙌
@@dadcars Look forward to it
I love these, always have, but they rot badly and for fun 😢😬
What’s on your short list now to replace the DadB9?
E39 M5
Quattroporte
Various other M care
A risky Gran Turismo
An estate with a massive engine
A Jaaaaaaag
And many others 🤷♂️ I’m open who knows what’ll come up!
You lot with lemonade pockets not Ralph Lauren’s need to look up manual e39’s with M Sport 11 suspension which is now wait for it ..
M5 lol .. I’m amazed people don’t know but it’s true you could spec a non m5 bmw with m5 suspension 🇩🇪
Lemonade pockets! 😂
This car is almost identical to mine.
I actually think that a manual 530i is a better proposition overall. You get 80-90% of the appeal of the M5 for less than 50% of the purchase and running costs.
In a way I can second that, I've had 2 M5's and 4 530 manual M-sports, M5's are alot faster and feel alot more special but they are a headache, lots of expensive stuff can and will go wrong whereas the M54 leaks oil and that's about it. And they rust as all e39's do, easy fix to that though, don't drive your E39 in the salt and it's fine, my M5's were all solid and rust free, my 530's not so much, used all year round.
@@PowerslideSWE
I had a manual E39 528i which wa on 169k miles and rather tired, so I bought a manual E60 530i (M54). I missed not having an E39, so bought the M5 a year later.
I'm still tempted to get an E39 530i, and then possibly put a 6-speed manual on it from an E60.
Yes, E39s do rust. I spent £2800 on my M5 getting the rust done. Not much else has gone wrong on it in the 11 years I've owned it but I've had the diff deals, fuel lines, alternator and a few other bits done that haven't been cheap.
Subscribed :)
🙌
Such a nice car although I’d prefer the E60 M5