BMW M5 BMW M5 (E39)
BMW M5 (BMW M5 (E39)) was built from 1998 to 2003, as a 4-door saloon. Powertrain: 4.9 L S62 V8. Layout: Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive. Size: 4,783 x 1,801 x 1,412 mm (L x W x H). Weight: 1795 kg.
Composed from the specifications below, so it states nothing the specs do not. Photograph: Neef - 2, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons), from this generation's own encyclopedia entry.
Overview
Introduced in 1998 at the Geneva Motor Show, the E39 generation of the M5 was the first M5 to use a V8 engine, resulting in an increase in power output to 294 kW. It was also the first M5 to use aluminium front suspension components and a multi-link rear suspension. Production began in October 1998. Production totalled to 20,482 cars from 1999 to 2003. Unlike its predecessors, the M5 was produced on the same assembly line as the regular 5 Series models at the Dingolfing factory in Germany.
Engine
The E39 M5 is powered by the BMW S62 V8 engine, which generates a power output of 294 kW at 6,600 rpm and 500 Nm of torque at 3,800 rpm. The S62 engine has electronically actuated individual throttle bodies, an aluminium block and heads, variable valve timing (double-VANOS), and a semi-dry sump oil system.
Drivetrain
The transmission is the Getrag 420G six-speed manual, as used in the E39 540i, but with an upgraded clutch due to the increased torque. The differential uses a shorter 3.15:1 ratio, and it has a limited-slip differential with 25% maximum locking.
Chassis
The E39 M5 uses aluminium-intensive MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension, like the other V8 models of the E39 5 Series range. However, several changes were made by BMW M. Reduced spring height, 23 mm lower. A specific shock valving, thicker front and rear anti-roll bars, polyurethane auxiliary springs, and steel balljoints.
Source: the English Wikipedia article on this model, CC BY-SA 4.0. Text may be shortened; read the full article for the complete text.
Not yet sourced for this model. Used prices swing with year, mileage, grade and country, so we publish a market range only when it comes with a named source and a date, and never an estimate. For a live figure, use the landed-cost tool with the price on the auction sheet.
Against the other sedan models in this database (57 with this body type). Computed from the dimensions in the specifications, so it changes as the database grows.
- 117 mm below the median of 4,900 mm, and shorter than 79% of the 34 other sedan models in this database.
- about the same as the median of 1,810 mm, and narrower than 55% of the 40 other sedan models in this database.
- 48 mm below the median of 1,460 mm, and lower than 91% of the 34 other sedan models in this database.
- about the same as the median of 2,850 mm, and shorter than 61% of the 38 other sedan models in this database.
- Fuel use (combined)15 mpg = 15.7 L/100 kmEPA fueleconomy.gov, model year 2003
- Fuel cost per 100 km23.5515.7 L x your fuel price
- Fuel cost per 10,000 km2355consumption x distance x your fuel price
Costs are in your own currency: they use the prices you enter above.
Who it suits
- Executive and chauffeur use: the saloon body prioritises rear-seat comfort and a quiet cabin.
Check before you buy
- Inspect for corrosion at sills, floor, subframes and suspension mounts, and replace perishable rubber (hoses, bushes, boots) at import.
- Read the auction sheet grade and notes, and verify the odometer against service and inspection records. How to read an auction sheet
- Run a history check (accidents, flood, mileage) before you bid. History check guide
- Import age rules: this generation already qualifies in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia. Confirm the rule for your exact vehicle with customs before buying. Landed-cost calculator
General guidance for this type of vehicle, worked out from its body, powertrain and age. It is not a finding about this particular model; use an inspection and the auction sheet for the car you are actually buying.
Worked out from this generation's production years and each country's age rule. Rules also depend on vehicle type and the month of manufacture, so confirm with customs before you buy.
Other generations of the M5
- BMW M5 (E28) · 1984-1988
- BMW M5 (E34) · 1988-1995
- BMW M5 (E60/E61) · 2004-2010
- BMW M5 (F10) · 2011-2016
- BMW M5 (F90) · 2017-2023
- BMW M5 (G90/G99) · 2024-present
More from BMW · all BMW models
Can I import a BMW M5 (BMW M5 (E39)) from Japan?
By production year alone, BMW M5 (BMW M5 (E39)) is inside the age window for United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia. Rules depend on vehicle type and the month of manufacture, so confirm with customs before you buy.
What powers the BMW M5 (BMW M5 (E39))?
Per its encyclopedia infobox, engine: 4.9 L S62 V8.
How big is the BMW M5 (BMW M5 (E39))?
4,783 mm long and 1,801 mm wide and 1,412 mm tall, on a 2,830 mm wheelbase (4-door saloon). For container loading, use the container packer.
How much fuel does the BMW M5 (BMW M5 (E39)) use?
The US EPA lists a combined 15 mpg (15.7 L/100 km) for model year 2003. Your own figure depends on driving and condition.
Answered from this page's own data, not from outside claims. See the sources below.
- en.wikipedia.org (retrieved 2026-10-19)
- fueleconomy.gov (EPA) (2003)
Confidence: single-source (Wikipedia infobox). Specifications differ by market, trim and model year; the auction sheet or the vehicle's registration document is the final word on a particular car.
- Complete guide · 12 minHow to Import a Used Luxury Car from Japan: Auction Grades, Paperwork and Country Rules (2026)How to import a used luxury car from Japan: what an auction grade means, how to check mileage and history, which export papers Japan asks for, and the age rules in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Kenya.
- General import guide · 9 minHow Much Does It Cost to Import a Car from Japan? (2026)Shipping is only part of it. The real cost of importing a car from Japan stacks purchase, freight, duty, fees, and US-side costs. Here's the full breakdown for 2026, with a worked example.
- General import guide · 9 minThe 25-Year Import Rule, Explained (2026)The 25-year rule is the single most important law in car importing — and the most misunderstood. Here's how it actually works, by month of manufacture, with the EPA and NHTSA thresholds untangled.
- General import guide · 8 min7 Common Car Import Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)Most import horror stories come down to a handful of avoidable mistakes. Here are the seven that cost first-time importers the most money and stress — and exactly how to avoid each one.
- General import guide · 8 minHow to Check a Used Car's History Before ImportingA clean photo and a low mileage number prove nothing on their own. Here's how to verify a Japanese car's real history — mileage, accidents, grade — before you commit a single yen.
- General import guide · 7 minContainer vs RoRo Shipping: Which to ChooseRoRo is cheaper; container is safer. The choice between the two main ways to ship a car from Japan comes down to your car's value and what you're willing to risk. Here's how to decide.