The E39 M5 chassis is turning 25 years old this year, and even today, it remains the sports sedan that every modern sedan is measured against. That is just one of the many reasons that we at EAG are fans of this chassis, we always try to find great examples, and this one is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best anywhere. In an era where BMW’s slogan was “The Ultimate Driving Machine,” the E39 M5 seems tailor-made to fit that phrase.

There is significant debate among enthusiasts about what the best color is on the E39 - some say LeMans Blue, while others prefer the clean look of Alpine White. But what can't be denied is that when you see an Imola Red example that has been well taken care of - it is just drop dead gorgeous. As a non-metallic shade, this medium red gives the E39 M5 a timeless look and works very well with the black plastic rub-strips around the car as an accent. At EAG, we ensure that before a car leaves our dealership, everything is basically as it would have been coming out of the factory - needless to say, on this M5 with just 9,557 miles, the exterior didn't need much of anything from us.

On the inside, the original buyer ordered a two-tone Sport interior in black and Silverstone leather which is a perfect combination with the extroverted Imola exterior. With aluminum trim around the cabin, this 2002 is a post-LCI car, meaning it is fitted with the more attractive 3-spoke steering wheel, and widescreen navigation display in the center stack.

Powering the E39 M5 is a DOHC 5-liter V8 known internally as the S62. It is fitted with double VANOS variable valve timing, eight individual throttle bodies, and “semi-dry-sump” oiling, increasing engine lubrication under hard cornering. Rated from the factory at 394 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, the S62 is an outstandingly flexible engine that will happily pull from 1,800 rpm in top gear or rev to 7,000 rpm. This engine is then backed up by a mandatory 6-speed manual gearbox built by Getrag that sends power back to a shortened 3.15 rear axle with a limited-slip differential.