That’s not to say we got it wrong back in 1996 when we instead gave the trophy to the brilliant Peugeot 406; it was, without question, a thoroughly deserving winner. But perhaps What Car? road testers of the period didn’t realise quite how dominant a force BMW’s new 5 Series was going to become, with the E39 going on to rack up an unprecedented seven What Car? category wins between 1996 and 2003.
During those seven years at the top of its class, the E39 5 Series not only took on and defeated its original contemporaries, but their replacements as well (for example, both the Saab 9000 and its replacement, the 9-5, were roundly beaten, despite the former being a previous Car of the Year itself).
But let’s rewind a bit. What made the E39 5 Series so great in the first place? Well, if we look back to our first group test with the then new 5-Series in March 1996, it’s clear to see that BMW pretty much nailed the executive car formula right from the off. Not only was it more “captivating to drive” than the Saab 9000 and Mercedes E-Class thanks to its “enticing chassis”, but it was also the quickest car of the group, the most comfortable and featured the highest quality interior. It’s little wonder we ended our review with a prophetic quote: “We’ll be surprised if anything betters it for some time – unless it’s the imminent 2.8-litre 528i”.
Indeed, buyers were spoilt for choice when it came to engines, with BMW offering a wonderful line-up of punchy straight-six and V8 petrols, plus a range of innovative diesels.
The 530d in particular was something of a watershed moment for diesel executive saloons: we noted in 1999 that it was the first diesel to “lift matters onto a different plain” by coming “so eerily close to behaving like its petrol equivalent”.
And then there was the high performance M5. With a 394bhp 4.9-litre V8 up front, it was tyre-shreddingly potent, yet accessible, or as we put it at the time: “It’s a real Jekyll and Hyde car; an executive express one minute, as nimble and chuckable as a hot hatch the next”.
I recently had a chance to sample BMW UK’s beautiful low-mileage example and, more than anything, I was struck by just how modern it felt. For example, the interior is reassuringly over-engineered, with beautifully damped buttons and dense, soft-touch materials used throughout, plus the whole dashboard is angled towards the driver, allowing you to easily reach crucial controls on the move. I’d go so far to say that it represents a high point in BMW interior design.
In addition, while the M5 was the sportiest model in the line-up, the driving experience highlights what was so great about all E39s: the wonderful balance between ride comfort and body control. With a relatively soft setup, it's supple enough around town to soak up the worst of urban imperfections, yet controlled enough when pushing on, meaning it works for both driver and passenger.
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