Cars back in the 1990's may not be as safe as cars today, but I miss the visibility and some of the cars then were so easy to fix as well. I prefer these older BMW's over the new ones.
Most cars of 1990's were safe it just depend on the driver cause there are drivers out there who are nuts behind the wheel even today they are distracted by something and they don't pay attention to the road.
BMW M4 - a rebadged M3 New 3 and 5 series - same cars but different exterior New M5 - somewhat better from the older ones but still a nightmare to own M8 - rebadged M6 coupe M2 - better get the 1M instead
@@E_tiBEAMERBOY Watch the video very closely at 3:45 , regarding this vehicles braking balance. I suspect that was what the previous comment was all about.🍻
Lovely inline 6, manual transmission, hydraulic power steering, and incredible suspension made the BMW of yesterday a much more analog, better driving experience
One of the best-looking 5-series ever. The people at Classic Car magazine, oddly enough, didn't care for its supposedly boring styling. But the enthusiasts know.
I prefer the e39. My father had a 2003 M5 in Le Mans blue. He also had an e38 Z3 M Coupé in Laguna Seca blue. When he passed away in 2010 my mom sold them. I wish I had had the money to buy at least one off her, but I understand she needed the money. I miss my father very much, he was a wonderful, overly generous man. He never flaunted his money around, and treated everyone as his equal. He instilled in me a strong work ethic, and to never judge anybody based on their financial status. He also taught me to never judge somebody, because you never know what burdens and pain they might be going through.
Despite what John says, if you look at the HVAC controls you IMMEDIATELY know how to use them, especially if the car is in motion and you have to keep your eyes on the road. Try that with a modern M5 with it endless stupid screens and click-throughs. And, of course, times have changed. The 'lesser' M240i of today has much more horsepower, better gas mileage, and substantially faster 0 - 60 times. But the simplicity and straightforwardness of this M5 make it more desirable in the too-much-tech world of 2019.
He finds something to complain about in the interior of EVERY car they test. Usually its the "incomplete" gauge cluster or "poorly marked" stereo controls. Here its the HVAC that meets his disapproval despite the fact that literally anyone could figure out how to work them in a matter of seconds lol.
I really appreciate this comment. I’m surprised I don’t hear about it more often. The newer touch screen controls have no tactile feel so you always have to take your eyes off the road for every adjustment, and they all take longer now too. Something to consider, this model 5-series (e34) has the window switches on the center console and the fog light switch in on the dash just to the right of the steering wheel. As a manual driver this is perfect because you don’t have to take your hand off the wheel for either of these items, you just use your shifting hand. This vehicle is so well engineered and so underappreciated, even the non-M spec ones.
I froze the video and looked at it. Seemed pretty simple to me, and I don't drive a BMW so I'm not used to seeing their setup. I guess I could figure it out within a day or two of driving it.
@@JackBandicootsBunker Yet it is only the wild V10 engine that makes that car great.. Im not saying a standard issue E60 is bad, but they really dont compare well to the older models.
Or rather they USED to be the ultimate driving machine.. Just seen the new FWD 1-Series and it literally made me feel sick how cheap and crappy modern BMWs have become :-(
Mike Smith you’re talking about geometry caster and camber or toe in toe out very important during suspension set up you forgot other important metrics like unsprung weight at all four corners and anti roll bar thickness wich again helps in anti dive braking
@Keye T I’d agree, the E39 M5/5-Series being products of the 90’s which carried over until 2003 were the last cars to represent BMW’s old values. Then came the unnecessary complexity, turbos, and computer overload. In fact, in the 90’s BMW M was against using forced induction, they preferred engine speed. The 2000’s on up have not been kind to the marque.
Of course it sounds better because its an NA engine and a straight no filters exhaust. These days you gotta put so many filters and particules into an exhaust system that I wonder how anything comes out, and not to mention that its all turbos. But all in all, this car might be good sounding but by todays standards its slow; a modern 540i outperformes it big time. Its nearly impossible to achieve 600+ hp mark with just NA engines and still retain decent fuel economy and satisfy all the ecological standards in a car like this, so a lesser sound but thats why you get 3 second to 100 kmh family saloons these days.
God this a reminder of how unbelievably well BMW’s from this era drove. I was fortunate enough to have experienced many of them and as the owner of a 2020 M2 Competition I can say they were so much more special and satisfying than anything they make today
Beautiful car. What’s all this about yuppie talk ? This car was always performance bred, and what about the comparisons lol, those cars just don’t even come close to comparison.
Nowadays, ppl who buy BMW performance sedans are coming from the tacky "new riches" who make money from giving scammy financial and motivational talks in hotel conference rooms.
It is NOT a spinning propeller. It is the Bavarian flag colors. Nothing to do with a propeller. It's actually 2 company emblems into one, if people did their research
Damn! This car essentially gave birth to the modern luxury sports sedan market! The design of this car still holds up 30 years later with that glossy red paint! Too bad it guzzles gas like a drunken sailor. A Hummer H3 gets better gas mileage than this car!
You see....it IS possible to make a car ride well and handle beautifully without 40 different computers controlling everything!! Whats more, I bet you get way more feel and feedback from this car than a modern BMW. It may be "slow" compared to a modern M but I know which one I'd rather take down my favorite twisty road! 0-60 times and lap times count for little if the car has no fun or involvement on the public road.
I drove one of these for a year,I can attest the clutch was bloody stiff,of course the electrics went faulty all over the place,sunroof,drivers seat,warning lights for stuff that was fine,ahhhh the good old days.
Back when BMW offered standard manual transmissions in all of their North American luxury performance sedans. Even after recent decades of electrical and catastrophic engine failure, the strong legacy left behind by the well built 1980’s and 90’s BMW performance cars still carries the brand. Audi, Acura, Lexus, Mercedes, and Infiniti could eat their hearts out at the time when it came to 300+ hp luxury performance sedans
Just a little unburnt fuel. Completely normal. If you *really* want to see a smoke show, watch MotorWeek's test of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe from 2013. :)
Some people have no concept of time. Yes things are quicker now, but u do realise this car is 30 years old.... You can compare and that's cool but the others complain as if the new car was a choice back then???
Funny how everyone saying how nice the old cars were compared to the ones today... My dad told me that back in the early 90s when he bought this 5 series BMW my grandpa said to him how the new cars are ugly and all over electronic stuffed... And how he enthusiastically talked about the good ol cars
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How does it cost money to upload an old video? lol humans so money hungry
@@AD-sp5cv exactly they're just re upoloads
Cars back in the 1990's may not be as safe as cars today, but I miss the visibility and some of the cars then were so easy to fix as well. I prefer these older BMW's over the new ones.
Most cars of 1990's were safe it just depend on the driver cause there are drivers out there who are nuts behind the wheel even today they are distracted by something and they don't pay attention to the road.
i don't care about safety. I'd rather die having fun in an old car than live with being bored in a new one.
In terms of crash zone etc modern car is way safer, modern car got bigger for a reason
Agreed.
Yeah, I'm keeping my 3rd gen 5 series for sure :D
Ohhh those old times. When BMW cars were well made and not garbage or a collection of complicated electronics 🤦🏻♂️
I know right, now you need an instruction manual to drive those new BMWS you see on the street so complicated. LoL 😁.
@@steveespinola7652 And for all that tech, they're worse driver's cars. Too big, too fat, too luxurious. Capable but disconnected.
You are right about that.
BMW M4 - a rebadged M3
New 3 and 5 series - same cars but different exterior
New M5 - somewhat better from the older ones but still a nightmare to own
M8 - rebadged M6 coupe
M2 - better get the 1M instead
I just love how all the older BMW's from the 90's braked. NO nose dive and when the car stopped completely the body motions are so controlled.
Yes. They seem to squat during hard breaking. I thought that was cool too for back in the day
QUENTIN30 CDUB lol not to be an ass or anything but squat is used for when the car accelerates and dive is used when the car brakes like the OP typed
@@E_tiBEAMERBOY Watch the video very closely at 3:45 , regarding this vehicles braking balance. I suspect that was what the previous comment was all about.🍻
Wow, I never noticed that. That WHOLE car squats under braking. Pretty amazing stuff.
That's because of the self leveling suspension and stiffer shock absorbers.
Lovely inline 6, manual transmission, hydraulic power steering, and incredible suspension made the BMW of yesterday a much more analog, better driving experience
Independent throttle bodies too
Amen, way better driving machine.
"Yuppies" were getting the BUSINESS in this review lmao
Still looks good today
Looks like very old car
Of course. Some modern cars are too bloated, this is a clean and classy design.
The BMW E34’s styling is absolutely timeless imo.
Let's not forget the E34 M5 was the last hand built M car . LEGEND ❤
It absolutely does. I like this look better than the new ones
One of the best-looking 5-series ever. The people at Classic Car magazine, oddly enough, didn't care for its supposedly boring styling. But the enthusiasts know.
Sill looks great to this day. Clean and fluid, without a hint of overstyling. I love it.
Timeless design.
it looks its decade....
I prefer the e39. My father had a 2003 M5 in Le Mans blue. He also had an e38 Z3 M Coupé in Laguna Seca blue. When he passed away in 2010 my mom sold them. I wish I had had the money to buy at least one off her, but I understand she needed the money. I miss my father very much, he was a wonderful, overly generous man. He never flaunted his money around, and treated everyone as his equal. He instilled in me a strong work ethic, and to never judge anybody based on their financial status. He also taught me to never judge somebody, because you never know what burdens and pain they might be going through.
My neighbor has a red 1995 M5 manual with original 40k miles, takes it out once a year for the local BMW show. It's beautiful.
"The best sports sedan in the world!" Wow.. high accolades from John Davis!
I still daily a 94" 540i. Its a beast on the highway.
Despite what John says, if you look at the HVAC controls you IMMEDIATELY know how to use them, especially if the car is in motion and you have to keep your eyes on the road. Try that with a modern M5 with it endless stupid screens and click-throughs.
And, of course, times have changed. The 'lesser' M240i of today has much more horsepower, better gas mileage, and substantially faster 0 - 60 times. But the simplicity and straightforwardness of this M5 make it more desirable in the too-much-tech world of 2019.
He finds something to complain about in the interior of EVERY car they test. Usually its the "incomplete" gauge cluster or "poorly marked" stereo controls. Here its the HVAC that meets his disapproval despite the fact that literally anyone could figure out how to work them in a matter of seconds lol.
Yeah. Looked like fan speed in the middle of two temperature controls. Not sure why that was complicated to him.
I really appreciate this comment. I’m surprised I don’t hear about it more often. The newer touch screen controls have no tactile feel so you always have to take your eyes off the road for every adjustment, and they all take longer now too.
Something to consider, this model 5-series (e34) has the window switches on the center console and the fog light switch in on the dash just to the right of the steering wheel. As a manual driver this is perfect because you don’t have to take your hand off the wheel for either of these items, you just use your shifting hand. This vehicle is so well engineered and so underappreciated, even the non-M spec ones.
I froze the video and looked at it. Seemed pretty simple to me, and I don't drive a BMW so I'm not used to seeing their setup.
I guess I could figure it out within a day or two of driving it.
Back when the cars were actually leagues ahead of competition. The new ones are computers on wheels
310 hp in 1990 is incredible
Indeed!™ About the same or more than a period Ferrari 348.
Not that "incredible"
were they underrated back then
310 hp M POWER !!
Take it to the dyno and temper its ECU and it will make 370hp and the Ferrari 348 will be scrapped
E28-E39 best 5 series
now they're just the ultimate driving barge
Shaiyan Hossain Despite the biblical unreliability, I’d also add the E60. That V10...
@@JackBandicootsBunker Yet it is only the wild V10 engine that makes that car great.. Im not saying a standard issue E60 is bad, but they really dont compare well to the older models.
@bobagopaaa I have owned both a 525d e61 and still own a 530i e39 so I would beg to differ :).
I know a guy who knows a guy who drives a E60 M5 but uses a gearbox from a A80 Supra 😂
Talk about avoiding mechanical failure going too far
Yeah i watched Ronin. A good movie pretty much
No nosedive on this vehicle that’s how you do 50/50 weight distribution this is what BMW calls the ultimate driving machine
I miss that aspect of this era of BMWs. Wish they still did it.
Or rather they USED to be the ultimate driving machine.. Just seen the new FWD 1-Series and it literally made me feel sick how cheap and crappy modern BMWs have become :-(
Mike Smith agreed to some extent but weight distribution plays a vital part in nose dive during hard braking and cornering
Mike Smith you’re talking about geometry caster and camber or toe in toe out very important during suspension set up you forgot other important metrics like unsprung weight at all four corners and anti roll bar thickness wich again helps in anti dive braking
4:15 John: BUT LIKE WE'VE SAID SO MANY TIMES BEFORE, A WARMER LESS TEUTONIC LOOK WOULD BE NICE! LOL
Chris Bangle: "Hold my beer...."
I just smile at how clinical some have steered towards to at this point. Tesla being a prime example. I suspect this is the dividend of Autonomy. 😐😕😴
Damn it I love the 80s and 90s.
"Yuppie" was the buzzword of the times apparently.
Stood for "young, upwardly mobile". A reference to the baby boomer generation making their way in the world.
Yup...I started hearing it in the 80s and lasted through the 90s
Young Urban Professionals
Still used now, I thought.
dftns19
They were the hipsters of their day
This was a literally bmw last PURE original content 5 series... Then came the turbos and excess of complexity electronics
They should make another v10 m5 it sounds so good
Anthony Molina ehhh i think having the 1 satisfies... it makes it a unicorn
The v8 e34 540i and e39 m5 are the greatest 5 series IMO
George Lin By traditional performance? Or overall including reliability
@Keye T I’d agree, the E39 M5/5-Series being products of the 90’s which carried over until 2003 were the last cars to represent BMW’s old values. Then came the unnecessary complexity, turbos, and computer overload. In fact, in the 90’s BMW M was against using forced induction, they preferred engine speed. The 2000’s on up have not been kind to the marque.
Ahh, quite the RETRO video upload! ❤ This is when BMW M cars were truly deserving of that ///M badge.
Sounds better than the new ones
Looks better too
Of course it sounds better because its an NA engine and a straight no filters exhaust. These days you gotta put so many filters and particules into an exhaust system that I wonder how anything comes out, and not to mention that its all turbos. But all in all, this car might be good sounding but by todays standards its slow; a modern 540i outperformes it big time. Its nearly impossible to achieve 600+ hp mark with just NA engines and still retain decent fuel economy and satisfy all the ecological standards in a car like this, so a lesser sound but thats why you get 3 second to 100 kmh family saloons these days.
Great car. Nice looking. Better than new models
That braking distance is seriously impressive
Back when BMW were cool cars....now they are driven by the biggest D Bags.
they were cool cars, but do you think the bmw driver stereotype is new? There are jokes from the 80s about how bmw drivers were d-bags
I Miss the 90s BMW
I have to say, these cars have aged really well.
When metal was used under the hood more and not so much plastics.
The 5 series was about 16 years old by this point, and maturing very nicely. That motor is one of the best looking in the history of automobiles.
I'd buy a 1995 BMW M5 with 6 speed manual and wood trim
Oh the sound that baby makes! The angels are singing!
More like the demons of hell are being summoned from that horrific exhaust.
These guys are my Favorite!! 👊 I have e39 M5 myself and oh boy I love it
I thumbed up for the car, but I also wanted to give props for the Ronin reference in the description.
I always loved this front end. Hated the rear and the side was a slab of sheet metal. But the front!!! Love it. Gimme a kiss.
Ronin with that Peugeot vs M5 race was spectacular. As was that Audi S8 that was 'tuned'. Fantastically underrated movie
God this a reminder of how unbelievably well BMW’s from this era drove. I was fortunate enough to have experienced many of them and as the owner of a 2020 M2 Competition I can say they were so much more special and satisfying than anything they make today
jameswillard1 your car is a 2019. 2020 is not here yet sorry.
Want to bet on that?? ....and I’ve actually had it since end of June
jameswillard1 it’s the year 2019. your car is really a 2019
Beautiful car. What’s all this about yuppie talk ? This car was always performance bred, and what about the comparisons lol, those cars just don’t even come close to comparison.
What a car!
Ooh, bmw what have you become...
The 6 cylinder sounds awesome!
Nowadays, ppl who buy BMW performance sedans are coming from the tacky "new riches" who make money from giving scammy financial and motivational talks in hotel conference rooms.
@3:09 So this phrase is much older than I thought! I thought that BMW got truly yuppy-ish when the Bangle-butted cars got out!
I always liked the 5 series of those years and this M5, the best of that series. It has a manual transmission. What else could I ask for?
Back when BMW was more practical, cheaper for parts and maintenance and true performers...
It is NOT a spinning propeller. It is the Bavarian flag colors. Nothing to do with a propeller. It's actually 2 company emblems into one, if people did their research
Hard to believe today that an M5 came with whitewall tires.
I guess the rims make it kind of look like that at a quick glance, dont they?
So i have to ask... are there still yuppies? If so where are they?
Hipsters.
They're instagramming their workouts to make sure people know they work out. Also they appear to have duck faces.
If I had the means and garage space I'd own a '93 Audi S4, '93 BMW M5 and '93 Mercedes 500 E.... the perfect trifecta of uber sedans to me.
Darin Nederhoff Oh yes! Add a Renault Safrane Biturbo and a Lancia Thema 8.32 and you have my dream garage
As a current owner of a 1990 525i, a 1990 750iL and a 1990 535i, I always wish I could have afforded to buy an e34 M5.
The M5 will always be the benchmar. No matter how many AMGs Merc throws at it.
R.I.P 90s cars..best generation ever.Modern cars are so complicated and expensive to fix and maintain..but they are much safe ....
Damn! This car essentially gave birth to the modern luxury sports sedan market! The design of this car still holds up 30 years later with that glossy red paint! Too bad it guzzles gas like a drunken sailor. A Hummer H3 gets better gas mileage than this car!
500E next!
You see....it IS possible to make a car ride well and handle beautifully without 40 different computers controlling everything!!
Whats more, I bet you get way more feel and feedback from this car than a modern BMW. It may be "slow" compared to a modern M but I know which one I'd rather take down my favorite twisty road! 0-60 times and lap times count for little if the car has no fun or involvement on the public road.
56K back in 1990? Its a good car. Better quality than any BMW made today... But 56K?
With inflation the cost of a new m5 is really similar. The m5 was way more in it's own class in 1990 as well.
@@ThePorkTree A new M5 is 180K? Yikes!!! I have heard that these new BMW are money pits. No kidding!!!
@@grabir01 new M5s usually go for about $120k USD with options, for the current F90 generation that is
During the 1950s BMW made the ugliest economy cars.
BMW CEO today: Okay, back to ze roots, ja?!
The badge is from the bavarian flag!! Not a propeller
I drove one of these for a year,I can attest the clutch was bloody stiff,of course the electrics went faulty all over the place,sunroof,drivers seat,warning lights for stuff that was fine,ahhhh the good old days.
Back when BMW offered standard manual transmissions in all of their North American luxury performance sedans. Even after recent decades of electrical and catastrophic engine failure, the strong legacy left behind by the well built 1980’s and 90’s BMW performance cars still carries the brand.
Audi, Acura, Lexus, Mercedes, and Infiniti could eat their hearts out at the time when it came to 300+ hp luxury performance sedans
Rememeber when BMW made cars with hydraulic steering and manual transmissions? Drove a new m340i.. walked right out of the dealer fuck that car.
"white walls, on the wheels like mayonnaise..."
These engines ran like clocks. Great machinery. Now, junk. Terrible reliability and endless money pits. Just garbage.
the 90's were truly the best time for good automobiles. They're all over engineered now.
the og sport sedan
Back when BMW's were actually reliable.
When BMW was best. They truly have lost their way and corporate decisions are now made by the accountants.
Just like GM....
BMWs are supposed to be the Toyota's of germany but they went too far with technology and designs
*The M5 again??*
11 city from a straight NA inline 3.5L 6?! That's one mpg better city than the 7.4 v8 in the silverado and worse than the small block chevy v8s
Anyone else notice the giant black smoke that shot of the tailpipe on the drag strip?
Just a little unburnt fuel. Completely normal. If you *really* want to see a smoke show, watch MotorWeek's test of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe from 2013. :)
Try doing that slalom on a 1990 Buick
Now that sounds pretty fun
6.5 to 60 ? 5.6 sec in other TESTs..
Some people have no concept of time. Yes things are quicker now, but u do realise this car is 30 years old.... You can compare and that's cool but the others complain as if the new car was a choice back then???
My fav 5 series!!!
This M5 would be worth a lot today
That's old school.
1:59 Virtually the same power numbers as today's Camaro V6
I mean, sure. Even a GS430 would smoke it. M5 was really about power to weight and handling.
I think a better comparison would be... virtually the same power numbers as a PERIOD Ferrari 348. :)
Funny how everyone saying how nice the old cars were compared to the ones today... My dad told me that back in the early 90s when he bought this 5 series BMW my grandpa said to him how the new cars are ugly and all over electronic stuffed... And how he enthusiastically talked about the good ol cars
Wow fuel mileage is pretty miserable for the weight. Prob due to early fuel injection I guess
Take a drink every time the host says 'Yuppie'. You'll get tanked by the end of the video LOL🤣
repeat?
Too bad BMW does not make cars like they use too
Yup. Way too many unnecessary nanny controls and driver aids taking away from the driving experience.
Those alloy wheels make it look like it has whitewall tyres. A common feature on period luxury American cars but not the European imports.
slower 1/4 mile and 0-60 than a 1993 prelude vtec.
Think about this car and a Cadillac of the era lol. Seville or DeVille touring sedans? A joke.
Loving the murderer gloves at 4.50
The kinda fit with his “Lethal Weapon Henchman” jacket and haircut.
I love E34s.
Still the best looking M5.
GREAT CAR, some of the UGLIEST WHEELS i have ever seen
90's driving gloves. LOL
best 5 series ever
Please do more of these on bmw's🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Back in 1990 the R129 500SL was faster
Yes I've seen Ronin. That made me want this or the 1993 535i with the 540i grille. Love that classic BMW inline 6 sound.
The first gen Taurus SHO (88-91) would give this M5 a run for the money.
When luxury sedans only weighed 3800 lbs.
White walls. The ultimate sleeper.
Reupload?
We did a white '93 but this red '90 is a fresh upload
"BMW made this for US" - Now days very few people can actually afford an M5, they cost as much or more than 911 depending on the spec.
The emblem is not a spinning propeller its a portion of the Bavarian flag AND DON'T FORGET IT!! 😂