Powertrain families
S62B50 V8
M5 (E39) — Sedan
1998–2003
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- E39
- Production
- 1998–2003
- Body style
- 4-door sedan
- Platform
- BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drive
Body variants
M5 → E39 → Sedan
M5 E39: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected sedan fits into the family.
E39 M5 replaced the handmade inline-six formula with the S62 naturally aspirated V8 and series production at Dingolfing. It was offered only as a sedan with a six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive and an active M differential, creating one unusually coherent core specification.
A 2000 lifecycle update revised lighting, interior details and electronics without creating a new mechanical generation. Outputs are commonly quoted as 400 PS or 394 hp because metric and SAE units differ; the value and standard must be stored together.
No E39 M5 Touring reached customer production despite factory prototypes. Regional equipment, emissions hardware and edition packages should be recorded without inventing additional engines, and Alpina's related V8 products remain separate manufacturer records.
1998–2003generation lifecycle
1body branches
1engine/drive families
1range designations
E39factory code
BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drivearchitecture
Sedan: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,784 mm
Width1,800 mm
Height1,437 mm
Wheelbase2,830 mm
Luggage460 L
Fuel tank70 L
Seats5
Doors4-door sedan
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan | E39 | 1998–2003 | 4-door sedan / 5 | 4,784 mm | 460 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented sedan applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M5 | 1998–2003 | S62B50 V8 | 400 PS / 394 hp US | 6MT | RWD | Global range | The BMW M5 E39 |
Factory designations
M5
High-performance powertrain
Engine, cooling, exhaust, software and transmission form a distinct M or ALPINA specification rather than an option package on the base model.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- E39: 4,784 mm × 1,800 mm × 1,437 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
V8 M5 production
Dingolfing began series production of the S62 sedan.
Global market expansion
Regional programmes established differing equipment and emissions specifications.
Lifecycle update
Revised lamps, cabin technology and detail changes entered production.
E39 M5 ends
Sedan production ended before the V10 E60.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Sedan
E39M5 E39 is a distinct E39 body branch. The conventional four-door passenger-car body, balancing rear-seat access, luggage space and the generation’s core chassis layout. Engines/drive: S62B50 V8.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- E39 — Sedan
- Range designations
- M5
- Powertrain families
- S62B50 V8
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW M5Wikipedia contributors
Secondary E39 engine, production and update overview.
- 02The BMW M5 generationsBMW M
BMW M generation history covering body concepts, powertrains and principal derivatives from E28 through G90.
- 03The BMW M5 of 1998BMW M
BMW M retrospective for the S62 and E39 concept.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- Store PS and SAE hp with their unit standard instead of treating 400 and 394 as conflicting engines.
- The E39 Touring remained a prototype and must not appear as a production body.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
3 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: IFCAR, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026