2000 BMW E39 BMW 535i – Classified of the Week

You don’t need to look far here on Car & Classic for evidence of our love for the BMW E39 5 Series. It was the last truly great 5, and it’s now a legitimate modern classic, one that people spend time and effort to hunt out. It’s a car that still looks amazing, it’s still as reliable as it ever was (if, like anything, it’s looked after) and because it’s a BMW, it’s still a joy to drive. The ultimate is of course the M5, but that’s big money today. The next in line then is the Sport model, the version with that perfect body kit and wheels. You know, like the 2000 BMW E39 535i Sport we have here, funnily enough!

Look at it. That is E39 perfection. BMW nailed it with this one, truly. The Sport bumpers and other bits were not too much, but they made it stand out from every other E39. The wheels were perfect, the stance, the, the… you get the idea. But this isn’t us lauding the first E39 Sport we found. No, this particular car is special, and arguably one of the best that still exists. One owner from new, a mere 35k on the clock and near mint condition. Oh yeah, and it’s a 535i V8 with, wait for it, a manual transmission. Right? RIGHT? Now you’re listening!

First of all, how? How has this thing survived and survived so well? There’s no rust (and silver hides nothing), everything lines up, the headlights don’t look like the windows of a ’70s pub. The interior looks like it’s a photo studio away from being in a brochure. It’s just bonkers. While the E39 is a firm favourite, many do look a little… tired these days, even with passionate owners. The one owner who had this should be giving lectures on the subject.

Apparently the E39 was a mainstay in the family garage while other cars came and went. The 535i was kept for fun, for fine days and for weekends away. It’s probably never seen an ASDA car park, the boot has never played host to the wares of B&Q, no child has ever hacked up their lunch on the back seats. It’s a family car that seems to have been spared the toils of an actual family. It’s also, many would argue, the thinking man’s M5. Not as fragile, not as costly, not as intimidating to own. We celebrate its survival. How could we not?

Being one of the finest of its kind means it comes with a price to reflect that. So what are you thinking? £20k, £25k, more? Nope, £12,995. To someone who doesn’t get cars, that might seem a lot. But like us, you’re looking at that figure and thinking “really, is that all?”. And that value isn’t going to drop, unless you start going to B&Q and have vomity offspring. You could put 20,000 miles on this and still make a profit in a few years we reckon. It will still be one of the lowest mileage E39s out there, and it will still be an incredible spec. But to do that, you need to buy it, so have a look at the listing for this 2000 BMW E39 535i Sport here.