BMW M5
BMW M5 (E39)
Photo: MrWalkr, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Vehicles · Anglo-German Precision

BMW M5 (E39) · 1998–2003

The E39 was the first V8-powered M5: a 394 hp, 4.9-litre S62 super-sedan hand-finished into a 155 mph four-door offered with a six-speed manual and no automatic. Widely regarded as the last fully analog M5 — hydraulic steering, no turbos, no paddles — it is the benchmark against which every later, heavier, forced-induction M5 is judged.

The one to have: 2001–03 facelift 6-speed manual in a factory color (Titanium Silver, Le Mans Blue, Imola Red), sub-60k miles, unmodified — Celis LED tail lights, 18-inch M-Parallel wheels, documented VANOS and rod-bearing service, and clean VIN-matched paperwork.

Specification
Engine
4.9L S62 V8
4,941 cc DOHC 32v, eight individual throttle bodies, double VANOS, 11.0:1
Output
394 hp
400 PS / 294 kW at 6,600 rpm; 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) at 3,800 rpm
0–60 mph
4.8 sec
Limited to 155 mph (250 km/h); roughly 186 mph (300 km/h) derestricted
Gearbox
6-speed manual
Getrag 420G — the only transmission offered; ~20,482 built 1998–2003
The market
Verified sales on file
6
Nov 2025 – May 2026
Median sale
$52k
all tracked results
★ Facelift, low-mile, unmodified
$69k
median of 2 target-spec sales
Top result
$79k
Bring a Trailer · May 2026
Benchmarks: Drivers $30k–$50k; clean low-mile facelift cars $60k–$90k; exceptional sub-20k-mile examples past $130k. · Trend: Best cars firming, drivers flat

Know the real one

First V8 M5: the 4.9L S62 uses eight individual throttle bodies, double VANOS and a hollow-cam quad-cam top end, making 394 hp at 6,600 rpm.
20,482 built 1998–2003, roughly 9,992 LHD North American cars. Every example left the factory a 6-speed manual — no SMG or automatic was ever offered.
Verify a VIN starting WBSDE9… and the matching S62 (not an S62-swapped 540i); watch for VANOS rattle, thrust/rod-bearing history and aged cooling. Facelift cars wear Celis LED tail lights and 18-inch M-Parallel wheels.
Value tracks originality: factory paint, stock suspension and documented service. Modified or high-mile cars trade well below clean, unmolested examples.

Verified sales · ★ = target spec · foreign results converted to USD as noted

DateVenueYearSpecMilesPriceLocNote
May 2026Bring a Trailer20036MT facelift ★—$78,547—Top of recent market; matches the £62,126 BaT sale on The Classic Valuer, USD-converted (date corrected from 06-15; 'Canada car' descriptor could not be verified and was removed)
Apr 2026Bring a Trailer20026MT facelift—$76,971—Strong result; matches the £60,880 BaT sale on The Classic Valuer, USD-converted
Jan 2026Bring a Trailer20006MT, Imola Red/Caramel, low-mile ★47,000$60,000CALow-mile, desirable color and interior — target-tier condition; sold via a California dealer
Dec 2025Bring a Trailer20006MT, Titanium Silver59,000$42,459—Driver-grade; price converted from GBP (£33,582) via The Classic Valuer
Dec 2025Collecting Cars19996MT RHD (Australia)101,011$37,950—Higher-mileage RHD; sold AUD 57,500, USD approximate — verified via Collecting Cars listing
Nov 2025Bring a Trailer20036MT facelift, Scarab Green65,000$43,159—Clean facelift; price converted from GBP (£34,136) via The Classic Valuer

Where to hunt

Bring a Trailer — E39 M5Sold results + live US auctions Classic.com — E39 M5 marketPrice history and listings aggregator Cars & Bids — E39 M5Recent no-reserve auction results
Research file — market data verified through July 18, 2026. Sources: individually observed results via Classic.com feeds, BaT, Cars & Bids, Mecum, RM Sotheby's, Broad Arrow, Gooding, Collecting Cars, PCARMARKET and venue coverage, plus marque registries and factory press material.