BMW M5 E39 Touring
The V8 Monster That Never Was
E39 M5 Touring Prototype Revealed
Remember the BMW E39 M5 Wagon? Well you shouldn’t, because there never was one. Sure there were some who threw an M5 engine in their 525iT, but never the real deal from the M division. Remember that there was a 5-door M5 the generation before (E34) and after (E61) the E39 M5. BMW strongly considered producing one, and even made this prototype version. Rumors are abound that plans for production were axed due to problems with the rear axle, but perhaps the real death sentence for this M5 wagon was poor projected sales. Shown to the public as BMW is celebrating 25 years of the M5, this rare prototype unfortunately never came to fruition even as a low volume production model.
It featured the sedan’s award-winning 5.0L V8, which produced 400 horsepower and 368 lb-ft. of torque. Most importantly, the E39 M5 Touring had rear wheel drive and a 6-speed manual transmission- an increasingly rare combination in sport wagons these days.