I, too, test drove an E39 ///M5 ...

[Robin-535im]

Didn't start off too well because I got in an argument with the guy about letting it warm up at idle... Ha ha ha - kidding.

Really though, 2003 M5, 23k miles, $58k. Bone-stock, Really-dark-blue-metallic aka "Carbon Black" w/ black/black interior.

Got in and the AC didn't work for the first few miles... rep told me that was a "feature" but I wasn't too sure!

Observations:
1) gobs of low-mid torque
2) cushy - not quite cadillac like but mercedes-like, compared to my 1990 535im.
3) gobs of low-mid torque
4) rev limiter came up faster than it seemed it would.

It didn't feel as much like a racecar as I hoped. Very refined. Not raw or harsh at all, which I was kind of hoping it would be. I was expecting wheels breaking loose, feeling the road, roaring engine... but it was silky-smooth power. Got an open rt-turn with an arrow so I came in hot, down shifted to second, little heel-toe to match revs then powered out of the corner. DSC was on so the rears didn't break loose, but it wasn't nearly as exciting as I hoped.

It was deceptively fast though since it was so smooth. Bounced off the rev limiter in second while going up the on-ramp (really didn't mean to - uttered a sheepish "oops" to the sales rep!). Up ahead a hitchhiker looked like she was going to wander into traffic so I jammed on the brakes, and it stopped like I expected it to - right quick! I was really just trying not to kill the hitchhiker but I wondered for a second if the rep thought I was going to pick her up.

Didn't have the heart-thumping top end I was hoping for... but man, just tap the pedal at 1500 RPM and it lurches forward. The reason I accidentally hit the rev limiter was that I was expecting it to go scary fast at the top end and I'd let up out of fear, but it was just smooth, constant power and I didn't see the limiter coming. Power seemed very V8-ish in that manner, lots down low but didn't grow at the top like a straight engine can...

I wonder how different they are with a little suspension and engine tuning, say software, headers, maybe a Dinan intake system...

Just thought I'd share!

- Robin