What equipment did the first owner choose? To say the least – extraordinarily rich. BMW’s equipment options are, incidentally, a topic for a separate discussion. They are so extensive, so full of nuances and minutiae that it is at the very least nonchalant to write about ‘full options’. However, the facts speak for themselves – this is an exceptionally well-equipped vehicle, which did not even lack analogue TV. Interestingly, the interior finish is not in wood, but in polished aluminium. This is typical of the ‘Sport’ option. Indeed, you could choose the interior of the M5 in either comfort or sporty style. In both versions there were leather seats, but traditionalists looking for wooden accents had to opt for the comfort variant.

As already mentioned, the odometer shows 54000 kilometres driven. The car came to the Bonaventura Classic Collection in 2020, bought from a Dutch collector, who sold it only because of a scratch on the rear wing. The slight damage was immediately repaired, but there was no room in the collection for the copy after the ‘repair’. The fact that this was the only intervention of any kind in the structure of the car was not an argument. Thus, the collection from the Netherlands removed the car that no longer matched its requirements. And so, our Collection, on the other hand, acquired a ‘Five’ in wonderful condition, which enriched it nicely. Exhaust, interior, engine compartment – everything here looks as if the car left the factory yesterday and not in 1999. The removal of a scratch from the bodywork is a fact that, in this case, affects the value as little as a slammed door.

The Dutch collector managed his cars extremely delicately. Gentle to the point that he drove his E39 with gloves on. Thanks to this treatment, one will not find even the smallest scuff on the upholstery or a tiny stain inside. Every element has retained its colour, softness, roughness or smoothness, smell, and everything else that elevates the value of a classic.