The E34 M5 isn’t the most popular enthusiast’s vehicle. It’s a terrific vehicle with a particular place in BMW’s history–the it’s final six-cylinder M5 and the last one to be hand-assembled at the BMW M facility in Garching, Germany–but its design is antiquated and it was never as excellent as either its predecessor or its successor. However, it’s still a fine vehicle, and we get to witness it face the Nürburgring in this new video from Misha Charoudin.
This E34 M5 is an early model with a 3.6 liter naturally aspirated inline-six engine producing 310 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. Today, it seems positively meager, given that some four-cylinder BMWs are more powerful. That was, nonetheless, rather outstanding in 1990. It also has a five-speed manual transmission, a limited-slip rear differential, and sophisticated adjustable suspension.
In terms of suspension, the owner of this vehicle lowered the suspension and installed larger 7 Series brakes. Apart than that, it’s pretty much stock, which is amazing given how frequently vehicles like this are tuned and changed beyond recognition.
So, how does a BMW M5 from 1990 handle the infamous Green Hell? To be honest, it seems to be a lot of fun. When compared to current sports automobiles, it seems positively sluggish, which it is. However, the absence of excessive speed allows you to enjoy the vehicle more: the delicate way it steers, rides, and handles. The sound is likewise excellent, with an old-school motorsport-inspired BMW roughness. Because it’s sluggish, you can ring the engine’s neck, revving it all the way out in thrilling manner in every gear.
As uncool as the E34 M5 may seem, it’s beginning to grow on a lot of enthusiasts who realize it’s a lot of fun for a lot less money than the E28 M5.
