Keith's BMW M5: Readers Rides: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

Readers’ Rides:
2002 BMW M5
Added on Oct. 14 by Keith

A 540i Sport with the 6-speed is a good car. Quick, quiet, athletic. But what happens when the BMW engineers are told to turn it up to 11?

The M5 happens.

Four doors. Fine Germanic leather. Alcantara headliner. And, of course, 400 horsepower.

It’s the Real Car of the family. Not some over-engined mutant or anorexic athlete. It’s low-key menace that coddles us in luxury and packs a mean right hook.

I haven’t come up with this many transparent excuses to take a car for a ride in decades.

5 updates
7 comments

Updates

Comments

RexSeven:: I know it's an overused phrase, but this car is best described as an iron fist in a velvet glove. Nice Bimmer!
Oct 14, 2009 8:09 p.m.
Luke:: Cool. Perfect colour for it, too.
Oct 15, 2009 12:18 a.m.
Carson:: So when are you starting the Targa Nfld transformation on it?
Nov 4, 2009 8:17 p.m.
bluej:: whoah! why isn't it on your cars site? sweet ride :D
Nov 5, 2009 2:49 p.m.
Keith:: It's not on my slowcarfast.com site yet because I'm keeping it a secret from my parents :) They're coming to visit in a few weeks, and I want to blow their minds. Then the documentation begins. I can't imagine hustling this guy through some of those narrow Targa stages…
Nov 5, 2009 7:20 p.m.
Stenner302:: Bought a miata in 2007 and found all the info I ever needed for it on your sites. Bought an e39 (wanted an M5 but had to settle for a 530i) in July 2009 and lo-and-behold guess who else I discover today has an e39? Those cars seem to complement one another's strong points and make good stable mates! Now I'm just waiting for you to release a shop manual for this one : )
Apr 13, 2010 1:36 p.m.
jddeadfuelpumps:: One day I hope to own an E39 540i with a 6-spd. And the only gadgets I'll care about keeping alive are my ABS, A/C, power mirrors, windows, locks, sunroof, and radio. That will be my grown-up car for when I'm 40. You have a beautiful car.
Apr 14, 2010 12:14 a.m.