The 1998 BMW M5 E39 isn't just a car; for many enthusiasts, it's THE sedan. Launched in late 1998 to revolutionize the market, it was the first M5 to abandon the traditional inline six-cylinder engine in favor of the brute force of a V8, instantly becoming the fastest production sedan in the world at the time.

Unlike the 3 Series, where versions blend together, in the E39 5 Series the gap between the M5 and the others was significant. The true "intermediate version" for those who couldn't quite reach the M5 was the 540i.