1999 - 2003 BMW M5 (E39)

I've always been a big fan of the M5 and like many people it came to light at the turn of the new millennium. It started a craze in the premium/luxury car world. Not that it hadn't been done before - this was the 3rd generation of the M5, and Mercedes and Audi had made big fast executive sedans for years as well. But this M5 came in greater numbers and greater popularity. It seems to have been the most copied and imitated BMW ever made.

Unlike the previous versions of the M5 this one wouldn't be hand built and was released in mass quantities by comparisons to the previous iterations (E28 = 2,191; E34 = 12,254; E39 = 20,482). But it seemed that pairing one of the most beautiful sounding DOHC aluminum V8's to a 6 speed manual in a luxurious sedan hit just the right chord with car fanatics. It was the right combination of sports car performance and subtle discreet sedan styling. It had a large opening in the front bumper and quad exhaust which was quickly imitated on everything from Nissan Maximas to Merecedes AMG's. The M5 otherwise looked ordinary. Clive Owen was cast along side Madonna in a short film by BMW and Guy Ritchie called The Hire which summed up the M5's Jekyll and Hyde persona perfectly.



The E39 M5, as this third generation car is known, had a powerful V8 that provided linear power and V8 torque. It was DOHC with BMW's VANOS system (variable valve timing) and like nearly every M car a throttle body to match each cylinder. This era was the beginning of a major horsepower war between the Germans making premium sedans. BMW, Audi and Mercedes would battle until each produced cars in this segment with nearly 600 bhp today.

Of course today this means that finding the right M5 can be tricky. Because they are such great cars to drive everywhere, you won't find a shortage of E39 M5's in the 200k mile range. You can find examples for a nearly impossible to believe $10,000! I never thought I'd see the day but they are out there. Of course you shouldn't jump on the first $10k M5 you see. This era of BMW's are notorious for plastics and rubber in the engine bay for hoses and other auxiliaries which have become brittle over the years. The suspension on E39's has bushings that are well known for needing replacement as well. Did BMW cut the budget short on these materials or was it all the heat and stress some of them succumbed to over the years? Additionally, the VANOS system has its share of issues and can be a costly repair. And things like clutches can be an expensive job as well. As always do your research on the big issues and get a proper PPI. Just don't expect perfection even on the best examples and have some spending money handy for repairs.

It's perhaps a number of potentially costly repairs and the high price of gas on a car which struggles to hit 15 mpg that makes them worth so little today. But the older versions from the late 80's and 90's (E28 and E34) have suddenly had a resurgence in value. Much like the E30 M3 it seems these cars are bringing back memories for people and becoming classics. Given the ultra low prices on the E39 M5 it will only be a few years before they take off in value as well.

As always, I in no way, enlighten based on what's sitting in my garage. I admit I'm an M5 fanatic and have owned older versions, but an E39 M5 has never graced my garage. I'm certain that if you have the means to purchase this car, set aside a few thousand for repairs, and enjoy it regularly, the value in the next 5 or 10 years will increase dramatically.

Happy Motoring

1989 - 1994 Porsche 911 (964)

It's no surprise that the Porsche 911 is a collectible car.  The 911, which was released in 1964, has always been an iconic German sports car.

Over the years, the car evolved at an incredibly slow rate.  The design was often viewed as flawed due to it's rear weight biased chassis with engine hanging over the rear.  Thanks to stubborn engineers in Stuttgart, they stuck with the flawed design.  But it was this design and iconic noise from the flat 6 air cooled engine which create a driving experience which words can do no justice.  If you haven't driven a 911, whether it be an early car or modern one, do it.   If automobilia courses through your veins, you'll be in heaven.

After 40 years, the silhouette remains the same.  And while governing bodies have dictated the cars bumpers and belt-line over the years, the overall car looks remarkably unchanged.    But I'm not here to bore you with the history of the Porsche 911.   A billion websites will already do that: "911 History"

I'm here to talk about a 911 which has been somewhat forgotten over the years.  People remember the first cars from the 1960's.  The 1970's which brought us bigger engines, a turbo and galvanized bodies resulting in cars which didn't crumble with rust at the thought of precipitation.  The 1980's era cars started becoming linked to stardom and a very good car with excellent fuel injection.  The mid 1990's brought the end of the air-cooled cars and so the 993 has remained extremely popular since the day it was new.  Porsche fanatics felt the water cooled cars were quite literally the end of the world.   Prices never really dropped on these cars in the way that almost every automobile succumbs to depreciation.  But just before the 993, the 964 briefly lived and it has been overlooked much of it's life.

Despite the 911 evolving at snail's pace over the first 25 years of it's life, the 964 brought some astonishing changes in 1989.  The car suddenly received modern suspension as opposed to the torsion beam setup often associated with horse drawn carriages.  For the first time, the car was offered with motion provided in all 4 wheels, a design that would quiet critics who had spun out into ditches.  Because of it's stardom, luxury items were now optional and California residents were happy to finally receive a car with an automatic transmission and a variety of power features including the cars steering.  Visually, the car finally received attractive looking painted bumpers without the obvious black 5 mph crumple zones from the 1980's.  And when you reached nearly 50 mph (or pressed a button), you could raise the rear spoiler and let cool air into the engine compartment.  This was also an impressive way to show off.  The car was offered in coupe, Burt Reynolds targa or cabriolet and gave us that famous car from Bad Boys, the Turbo.

If you've observed values of the 964 for the past 20 years you've seen the cars steadily drop to rock bottom prices.   For the past several years we've been able to find a decent example for $20-$25 grand.  That's all about to change.

The 1980's era cars dropped into the low teen's for pricing but in the past couple years we've seen a resurgence in values.   Suddenly good examples are selling for well north of $20,000.  The 964 seems to be lingering in that position but it's about to change.  The 964 has been overlooked but the truth is the car is far better to drive than the SC's of the 1980's and it's far more stylish too.  And if you look at the other side of the 964 you have that 993 which still requires a hefty sum.  Because the 964 was the first car to offer AWD it's certain to become a true classic in the 911 circle.

A company in California, called Singer, has made a truly astonishing car based on the 964 and it outlines some strengths the car possesses: Singer on Jay Leno's Garage

I, in no way, enlighten based on what's sitting in my garage.  In fact, I've never owned any 911, only a 944 Turbo and 912 from the 1960's.  But I'm certain that if you have the means to purchase this car, spend a little money on insurance and drive it regularly, the value in the next 5 years will increase dramatically.

Happy Motoring.