E39 M5s have quickly ascended to Holy Motor status among enthusiasts, especially those longing for a little less complication and bloat – two major weaknesses on recent BMWs. Their continually increasing desirability is lifting prices, and while bargain examples can be found, they are usually a bit rougher than one would want when buying such a nice car – especially one that is not immune to complication and prone to steep repair costs. Today’s M5 looks like it should be parked behind a wine and cheese table, providing a perfect backdrop with a burgundy exterior and caramel interior. In this guise, the car reminds me of a well-heeled guy in khakis and an oxford, but with a few buttons open in the Napa breeze. This car will party all you want, but can button it up and close the business deal whenever you need. With just 29k miles, there should be a lot less stress about the maintenance, but you’ll have to pony up some serious capital initially to snatch it from the rest of the drooling Bimmer enthusiasts.
