A SYMPHONY OF POWER AND PRECISION

STORY | STEIN BROEDER

PHOTOGRAPHY | KARL NOAKES

For decades, the BMW M5 has been the pinnacle for people who crave the perfect blend of luxury and exhilaration. Some describe it as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” or the “perfect sleeper.” However, BMW coined a phrase we all know too well that best describes this understated sedan. Come on, let’s say it together, “the ultimate driving machine.”

It is this sentiment that drew the owners of these four M5s to their respective versions of the car, and to each other. Cars have an uncanny ability to weave the threads of human connection. And the M5 is no stranger to this phenomenon. These machines are more than mere modes of transportation; they are catalysts for shared experiences. Whether it’s a chance encounter at a gas station, or a brief conversation at a meet-up, we find not just mobility, but a communion—a shared journey that binds us together, one mile at a time.

Matthew Vincent (1988 M5), Ryan Boshaw (1991 M5), Jamil Hassam (2001 M5), and Petar Vrcelj-Nikolic (2008 M5) bonded over their love of this unique sedan.

Collectively, their M5s make for an impressive line-up and fascinating historical look at what has changed, and what has remained the same, over the decades.

THE TRAILBLAZER

Vincent’s 1988 M5 is the pioneer among the bunch, the one that paved the way for generations to come.

For Vincent, his love of BMWs started when he got a ride from a high school friend who had an E30 325 with an S50 engine swap, which impressed him with its performance. You could say he was hooked. He stared out with an E30 325 of his own and eventually graduated to this M5, and he hasn’t looked back.

The inaugural M5, born from the E28 5 Series, graced the automotive stage in the mid-1980s. Handcrafted with precision, it was a wolf in sheep’s clothing—a discreet sedan with a roaring heart. Under the hood lay the M88/3 engine, a direct descendant of the M1 supercar’s powerplant. With 286 horsepower, it catapulted the E28 M5 to the title of the world’s fastest production sedan at the time and its rear-wheel-drive layout and manual transmission ensured an engaging driving experience.

“The car prefers to be driven hard and fast, and it gets angry when I drive it slowly for too long,” said Vincent. Matthew has made some modifications to his M5, such as adding Euro bumpers and Euro stainless steel headers, which helped increase the power. He has also upgraded the suspension with H&R and Bilstein components, which improved the handling and ride quality and added a Super Sprint exhaust system, which gives the car a free-flowing sound.

EVOLUTION PERFECTED

Ryan Boshaw’s 1991 M5 was the first evolution of the series. Its lines were a little bolder, its stance a little wider, and its engine had more power. Boshaw got the BMW bug from his father, who had a BMW E38 740 and a BMW E46 M3 with a Dinan Stage 3 kit. He and his brother bonded with their dad over cars and worked on them together. He was lucky enough to pick up his M5 from a collector which explains how there’s only 44,000 miles on the odometer.

The E34 M5, produced from 1988 to 1995, epitomized the marriage of elegance and power. Its S38 straight-six engine, refined from the previous generation, delivered 316 horsepower in the 3.5-liter variant and 340 horsepower in the 3.8-liter version. This sedan was a symphony of engineering prowess, harmonizing agility with comfort.

Boshaw has kept the car OEM plus, meaning he has only added or changed parts that enhance the original character of the car. He has installed a full Super Sprint exhaust system and put the car on coilovers, which improve the handling and stance of the car.

THE V8 DYNAMO

Jamil Hassam’s 2001 M5 is the last of the analog heroes. It would be the last of the series to feature a manual gearbox and the thrill of rear wheel drive. Hassam has been fascinated by BMWs since he was a kid. His first love was an E36 M3 and then discovered the E39 M5 in a video game, where he learned all about its engineering and performance. The E39 M5, spanning 1998 to 2003, marked a shift. It bid farewell to the straight-six and embraced a 4.9-liter V8 engine. With 400 horsepower, it sprinted to 60 mph in a mere 4.8 seconds. Effortlessly blending executive class with racetrack ferocity, from its timeless design to its intoxicating exhaust note. Hassam describes the driving experience as “a harmonious blend of performance, luxury, and understated menace.” He has made some tasteful modifications that enhance the car’s performance and appearance, such as a square wheel setup, a Dinan suspension, a full exhaust system, and a navigation upgrade. He too prefers the OEM plus style, which keeps the car close to its original design.

UNLEASHING THE BEAST

Petar Vrcelj-Nikolic grew up in Serbia and fell in love with world of cars watching Formula 1 races with his father. He was seduced by their speed and power. When it came time for him to step into the world of BMWs, he hadn’t forgotten his first love.

The E60 M5 was a symphony of speed, power, and precision. Produced from 2004 to 2010, its 5.0-liter V10 engine was a technological marvel that churned out an astonishing 500 horsepower. The M5’s aggressive styling, flared wheel arches, and quad exhausts announced its arrival. The SMG automated manual transmission allowed lightning-fast gear changes, while the active suspension adapted to every curve. It was a supercar masquerading as a sedan, pushing boundaries.

Although most of the E60 M5s had an automatic transmission, Vrcelj-Nikolic’s one of the rare analog versions, its manual transmission it granting the driver an even more visceral driving experience. “It is truly a Jekyll and Hyde car that can switch from a comfortable luxury sedan to a four-door supercar,” added Vrcelj-Nikolic.

As far as modifications are concerned, Vrcelj-Nikolic has also kept things minimal, he sharpened up the handling with a upgraded suspension and sway bars and also added a cat-back exhaust and a full carbon intake system.

However, the modification he is most proud of is the wheels. “It has a custom-built set of BBS Motorsports E 88 wheels,” said Vrcelj-Nikolic. “BBS won’t make those wheels for my generation M5 as it is a bit too heavy, however I found a way make it happen,” he added with a wry smile.

And so the BMW M5 saga continues, with each iteration, and owner, pushing the envelope. From the E28’s raw elegance to the E60’s technological wizardry, the M5 remains a beacon of automotive excellence. As we eagerly await the next chapter, we celebrate a legacy that defies convention and fuels the passion for driving.

A Symphony Of Power And Precision