2000 BMW E39 M5

Finished in the stunning colour of Silverstone Blue with black heritage leather, this BMW E39 M5 comes straight to us from a small personal collection.

It’s been in the owner’s care since 2017 and despite not having covered many miles over the last few years the owner’s fastidious nature means he’s had it recently inspected prior to sending it to us and he tells us this work comprised an Inspection II service and a new set of spark plugs plus a fresh MOT that also had all the previous advisory points taken care of.

Completely original bar a stainless-steel Milltek sports exhaust (“sounds amazing!”) ‘W934 HSO’ has a good service history from folk like Dick Lovett.

In fine fettle, it is ready to be used and enjoyed – or put back in storage to continue to ride that appreciation curve.

The Silverstone Blue coachwork is nothing less than stunning. With mm-perfect panel alignment, tight and consistent shutlines, and a wonderful shine to the paintwork, it’s a poster child for the E39’s underrated beauty.

The sliding metal sunroof sits nice and flush too, filling the aperture squarely and opening and closing as it should at the touch of a button.

The glazing is also good, including the windscreen. The badges are bright and clear, and the lamp lenses are, with the exception of the nearside headlamp which has a small chip, excellent.

The black rubber bumper inserts are glossy and unmarked too, which is another indicator of a meticulous owner who’s been careful not to mark the car when parking.

Another thing to note are the genuine factory alloy wheels (none of your aftermarket rubbish here…), which are in a superb condition with no dents or scrapes or signs they’ve been kerbed. They are also fitted with a matching set of Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres on all four corners.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

As for flaws, the windscreen seal is showing age-related perishing, as is the offside rear door kick plate rubber surround. Both could do with being replaced to allow the car to fulfil its potential.

We also noted a tiny area of lacquer peel on the front right wing and a few light marks to the black window surrounds.

Oh, and the headlamps mist up inside after being washed but we think that’s just a thing the model does as we’ve seen it before.

In other words, there’s not a lot to do and certainly nothing intrusive or expensive.

Understated and discreet, the black Heritage leather interior has weathered the past two-and-a-bit decades with impressive aplomb. With only very light creasing to the seat facings, the underlying structure is still firm and supportive.

Shapely and electrically adjustable in more ways that a primary school child could count, the front seats are heated, too. Throw in adjustable under-thigh cushions and some of the best lateral support in the business and you’ve got what might just be the perfect seats for a sporting saloon like this.

The headlining, including the one for the sliding sunroof, is excellent, as are the carpets and door cards.

The dashboard is unsullied by extraneous holes, and the instruments and controls are still bright and crisp.

Further proof of its careful curation comes with the fact it still has operational blinds on the rear side windows plus the electric one for the rear. All are in a good condition and all work as they should.

The M Sport steering wheel and gearknob are present and correct, as is the original headunit.

Have we mentioned that it’s standard and unmolested?

The boot is very clean, beautifully organised and plays home to the warning triangle and tool kit, CD multichanger, and the navigation system.

There’s even a net to keep your smalls from rolling around, which might prove handy given the M5’s staggeringly competent chassis/engine combination…

As for flaws, there are a few light scratches to the driver’s door card and handle but these are entirely consistent with the car’s age and use and wouldn’t worry us.

The engine bay is as beautifully presented as you’d expect given its curation and maintenance record, which is recorded as follows.

• 01.08.2000 – pre-delivery inspection by John Clark (Aberdeen)

• 31.08.2000 and 1,211 miles – running-in check by John Clark (Aberdeen)

• 29.01.2002 and 17,779 miles – Inspection I by John Clark (Aberdeen)

• 30.12.2002 and 32,065 miles – Inspection I by John Clark (Aberdeen)

• 12.03.2003 and 45,890 miles – Inspection I

• 17.09.2004 and 56,128 miles – Inspection II by John Clark (Aberdeen)

• Date unknown and 68,477 miles – Inspection II by Millers Garage

• 22.10.2014 and 81,312 miles – Inspection II by Nuxley Road Garage

• 23.04.2015 and 81,793 miles – Inspection I by Nuxley Road Garage

• 04.04.2017 and unknown miles – Inspection II service by Dick Lovett Swindon

• 22.11.2021 and 84,092 miles – Inspection II service plus fresh brake fluid and coolant by Autoworks Services Ltd

Other recent work includes:

• 11.09.2020 – airbag sensor mat replaced by Dick Lovett Swindon

• 12.01.2019 – new battery

• 26.04.2018 – new differential seals and rear upper suspension arms

• 23.02.2015 – stainless-steel custom exhaust fitted

As you can see – and hear – it starts well and makes a lovely noise through that bespoke stainless-steel Milltek exhaust. It also idles nicely and even comes with a quarter of a tank of petrol, which is worth having these days, eh?

The underside looks good and strong; certainly, no MoT tester has ever mentioned serious structural rot during the M5’s annual tests.

As for work to do, one of the tyre pressure sensors needs resetting or replacing as the ‘TYRECONTROL INACTIVE’ message shows on the dashboard when the car is first started.

The M5’s MoT certificate, which is valid until August 2024, was gained without a single advisory.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and the M5 comes with its book pack and wallet, a stamped service history booklet, and some old invoices.

Many enthusiasts rate the E39 M5 as being the very best of ‘em all; still largely analogue and yet viciously fast, its handling is what makes this iteration so compelling.

And yet, they’re still, in our eyes at least, cheap – and that won’t last forever. In fact, we’re starting to see them climb in value with the very best cars having already topped £60,000…

But, if you want to be able to use your car, you really don’t want the very best because you’re going to be too scared to use it. No, what you want is a car like this: one that looks terrific but is very gently patinated; diligently maintained and nicely run-in with a few miles on the clock too, so you aren’t afraid to use it.

And this one could probably be yours for somewhere between £20,000 and £25,000, which is chump-change for the performance you are getting.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.