The consensus among most BMW enthusiasts is that the E39-generation of BMW M5 is the best generation. It’s the most pure, the most thrilling to drive and the one that provides that old-school feeling of BMW M more than any other M5, both before and after it. It’s an absolute legend in the automotive community. So, naturally, fans would be happy to see any E39 M5; stock, tuned, modified, whatever. Just seeing an E39 M5 makes a bad day better. Except this one. No. This one gives me the same feeling I get when I see a Facehugger in Alien. Ugh.
We don’t know too much about this car but, from what we can see in its Ebay listing’s photos, it’s an E39 BMW M5 with the front bumper from a BMW M4 and the rear bumper from an . And it just looks…wrong.
There’s actually no way of telling whether or not this is actually an M5. It could just be a 5 Series with some M5 modifications and an engine swap. We’re hoping for the latter, to be honest, because if it is a real M5, that means someone butchered a current and future classic.
To be honest, the rear end doesn’t look horrible with the E92 M3 bumper, just odd. The front, though, looks pretty rough. Not only was the M4 bumper modified to fit the E39 BMW M5 but it’s likely a replica and just doesn’t look…right. Plus, the widened fender flares just don’t work on the rather skinny E39, as cars from that era are significantly smaller than modern cars. So even the M5 from its day, which was considered a relatively large car then, is quite a bit narrower than the current M4, which isn’t considered a huge car by modern standards.
I’m all for modifying older BMWs to be a bit more modern, more fun and more unique. In fact, it’s encouraged. But when you take a classic, like this car is claimed to be, and turn it into Frankenstein, it’s a bit upsetting. Especially when it looks a bit off.
[Source: Car Throttle]
Horrible. :(
Shouldn’t have messed with a car I think still looks amazing today.
After the F90 M5 debut, E39 M5 has become a classic, for example realoem.com has now listed E39 M5s as classics.
I really don’t know what to say to this “fake” owner.
That just reflects that BMW has moved -all- variant E39 parts to the classic section of their parts catalog. Did the same with E38 parts.
Taking from the article, I think it looks like an alien. Probably the reason why the owner is selling it, too many people commenting on it looking like something from out of space.
Terrible and ugly as hell!
IMO the front is not that bad. IF this were a coupe it would look good, but it seems way out of place on an M5
based on the Reg, it is/was a 535i, so no M5s were harmed in the making
coincidentally it was first bought and registered at the BMW/MINI retailer that I work at!
That’s good news!
flares arches look great IMO, that front bumper mod though.. wow thats a disaster one which i feel could have worked with some more time spent (and some impartial opinion)