And no, it wasn’t a V8. If asked to name the most outstanding quality of BMW’s E39 M5, most fans would point to its legendary V8 engine, a high-revving beast of a power plant that cemented ...

But nearly 20 years ago, BMW nailed the formula with their E39 M5 (1998-2003), the reigning king of all M5s. It is a car praised for its power, performance, balance, tractability and design.

The E39 BMW M5 Almost Had a Turbocharged Inline-6 Instead of Its Signature V-8 The brand even considered a V-6 powerplant before ultimately landing on the legendary S62.

As BMW tells us, the E39 M5 almost stuck with the six-cylinder engines that had always powered its performance models. It even considered a turbocharged V6 instead of a V8 or its classic inline-6.

The BMW E39 M5 is powered by a thumping naturally-aspirated V8 under the hood, displacing 4.9 liters and producing 394 hp at 6,600 rpm and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque at 3,800 rpm.

While many consider the BMW E39 to be the quintessential 5-Series, others seem to be less impressed with its design and more interested in converting it into something utilitarian. Remember this ...

This 1996 BMW Just Proved Toyota Isn’t the Only Brand That Lasts Forever And the owner has seemingly replaced it with an all-new i5.