The E39-generation 5 Series has long been a favourite of enthusiasts, journalists and collectors alike.

A high water mark of BMW’s long-running executive saloon series, it’s a model that BMW got really, really right: a smooth and comfortable ride, strong levels of standard kit (with plenty of options available), crisp design, solid and durable construction, feelsome steering, decent seats… the list of accolades goes on and on.

And for many a connoisseur of modern classics today, the really desirable ones are the run-out special editions, the Champagne II and the Aegean Edition.

The car we have here is an example of the latter, and the specs are impressive: just 150 of these were built with power coming from the venerable M50B30 3.0-litre straight-six (good for a solid 231bhp).

Based on the 530i Sport, it has the delectable staggered-width alloy wheels, a fully loaded and leather-trimmed interior and, of course, that model-specific paint shade from BMW’s Individual palette.

This car is owned by a man who knows a thing or two about these cars, having dabbled more than a little in the E39 oeuvre before. He bought this one in late 2018, with the intention of tidying up a couple of bits and restoring that showroom-quality finish.

Life does have a habit of getting in the way, of course, and we needn’t remind you that the last couple of years have had a particularly seismic effect on a lot of people’s lifestyles – so he’s decided to sell it on.

An all-original-spec Aegean Edition with a full service history, running beautifully and thoroughly enjoyable to drive, and with just a few minor cosmetics required to get it up to show quality.

We’re expecting the collectors to be watching this listing very keenly… 

The E39 has a very well designed and laid out interior, with plenty of standard-fit equipment, and this Aegean Edition is a fine example of the breed.

Given the mileage, the seat leather has worn the years remarkably well – there’s a little gentle wear to the driver’s seat, but nowhere near as much as we’d expect to see on a car with 168k on the clock, and the rear bench is in impressively fresh condition; there are no rips or tears anywhere, and the headlining is very good too.

The air-con works well and blows nice and cold.

There’s a little wear and discolouration on the driver’s side doorcard and armrest, but these shouldn’t be hard to clean up.

The OBC screen (the strip at the base of the instrument binnacle) is missing some pixels, which is a common E39 issue; you can still make out most of what’s being displayed, and it’s worth noting that there are plenty of companies who can fix the OBC (usually for under £100) so this isn’t a major concern.

Inside the boot it’s all tidy and dry. Under the floor we find the correct jack and spare wheel, on the left side is the 6-CD changer and DVD nav slot, on the right is a fairly recent battery that’s been kept alive on a trickle charger, and in the bootlid is the toolkit with all the original tools.

The Aegean Blue Metallic paint is this special edition’s calling card, and it really is a remarkable colour that pops and shapeshifts in the sun.

All of the panels are straight with even gaps; there’s the odd small pinhole ding here and there, as well as a handful of minor areas of surface corrosion: these are on the bootlid, the rear wheel arches, and the leading edge of the bonnet.

There are also a few stone chips to the nose, and the front bumper would benefit from repainting. On the whole, however, it’s a very presentable E39, especially in that glorious paint colour, and it wouldn’t be a herculean task to address these minor blemishes.

The window glass is all good, and the light lenses are all complete (although the offside front fog lamp is misted up, and the headlights would benefit from an easy refurb).

The staggered-width alloy wheels look superb, and are in lovely condition aside from the odd very minor kerb mark; they wear Avon ZZ5 tyres in the correct sizes, with plenty of tread.

E39s are celebrated for their smoothness, and that’s very much the case with this one.

The straight-six fires easily on the first turn of the key and settles into an even idle, purring like a kitten and accelerating through the revs on a creamy-smooth wave of torque.

The owner overhauled the cooling system in 2020, including a new radiator, viscous fan, thermostat, water pump, and various pipes and hoses, so it nicely maintains an even temperature.

The auto ’box shifts smoothly and cleanly, and it all feels just as a 530i should.

The car’s only covered 80 miles in the last couple of years so it would probably be recommended to treat it to a decent service, but the fundamentals are all good here.

The ride is comfortable, the brakes are strong, there are no squeaks or knocks or rattles, it all feels very solid.

The E39 feels like a very canny purchase in 2022. 

Roundly celebrated as an excellent design through-and-through, the special-edition 530i models are particularly sought-after; while the V8s are more raucous, there’s just an inherent rightness to the combination of a BMW saloon with a torquey straight-six.

The Aegean Edition is a really lovely spec, with that sublime colour joined by the right wheels, the right interior, all the right bits to make for a wonderful modern-classic cruiser. 

And this example looks like a great buy: enthusiast-owned with a lots of stamps in the service book, all original specification – you could jump in and use it right away, or address a few minor cosmetics to create a show-stopper. 

Either way, it’s a heck of a lot of car for the money.