Warning!
We have 15 years of archives. Links older than a year may have been updated to point to similar cars available to bid on eBay.
It’s been more than a decade since the E60 BMW 5 series debuted and most will agree that time hasn’t been too kind to that design. Too often, what is radical and forward thinking at a certain time becomes another man’s dated design a few years down the road. For many, however, the E39 5 series was the watershed for BMW’s mid-sized sedan. It brought us one of the most beloved M5s of all, packing a 4.9 liter V8 mated exclusively to a 6-speed manual gearbox. Offered in both sedan and Touring format with a wide range of engines, the bread and butter model would be the 530i, which could be optioned with a Sport Package for those looking to tart up their ride with some M bits, tighter suspension and more aggressive wheel and tire package. This 530i for sale in Arizona looks sharp in monochromatic Royal Red with the Style 66 alloy wheels.
We all look back fondly on our first car. I enjoyed my short time with my 1988 BMW 325is. Truth be told, I probably wouldn’t opt for another BMW. Many of the new ones lack the smooth manual gearbox of BMWs of yore and fail to fully capture that “Ultimate Driving Machine” aura. But now, the older models aren’t as interesting to me as they once were. Skyrocketing prices have put many BMWs of the 1980s out of reach of enthusiasts of modest means. In addition, there seems to be a bit of a hipster aura about them, as they have become popular with those wanting to stand out. Perhaps I was an über hipster for driving an E30 back in 1998? Do I care? Not in the least. I buy things more on spur of the moment emotions.
While I scan through countless ads for E30 M3s, E24 coupes and the occasional 2002 or E21, every now and then a BMW from this era grabs my attention. This late model 535is for sale in Utah is one of them. Representing the final year for the E28, this particular 5er has an engine swap, packing a 3.4 liter turbocharged inline-6 from the E23 745i. It’s not an original car, but has had some upgrades and a bit of freshening to make it a bit more appealing. It’s not what you would consider concours, but would certainly make an eye-catching daily driver.
The 1994 BMW 530i we featured last October is back up for the sale at the same ask of $9,900. If you’ve hankered after the chance at a clean example of one of the most handsome 5 series to date with an eight cylinder engine under the hood, you’ll want to take a second look at this sedan.
The below post originally appeared on our site October 6, 2015:
Of all of the BMWs that have come and gone over the last two decades, the E39 5 series happens to be one of my favorite, ranking right up there with the E38 7 series and iconic M Coupe. While there are still a good number of clean, low mileage M5s circulating around, these come with a high price. However, if you are willing to sacrifice a bit of performance but maybe want something a bit more tame and reasonable on the wallet for daily use, this 530i for sale in Florida should work just nicely. Finished in Blue Water Metallic and sitting on Style 42 alloys, this low mileage beauty is bound to make some Bimmer enthusiast happy.
The BMW E39 M5 needs no introduction at GCFSB. This V8 beast is still a source of joy for many a Bimmer faithful. As compared to the current M5, with its myriad of options, the E39 M5 was more of a one size fits all package, available in sedan form only and the sole transmission being a 6-speed manual gearbox. Along with the earlier M cars, this generation M5 has appreciated noticeably as of late, with very good examples stretching past $30,000. Considering the performance at hand, however, it could almost seem a bit of a bargain. This 2001 M5 in Carbon Black is for sale from our friends at Encore Motors in Macon, Georgia. Showing just a bit over 100,000 miles on the clock, it has been pampered over its lifetime, has many recent service items addressed and comes with a full history.
