DYNASTY REUNION

AHEAD OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE GS0 BMW Mo, WE FIND OUT WHICH GENERATION OF MUNICH'S SUPER-SEDAN IS THE GREATEST EVER

- ANDREW FRANKEL

THE GREATEST BMW M5 EVER: THE CLASSICS

THE OLD-SCHOOLERS, THE THREE-PEDAL SPECIALS THAT BUILT THE REPUTATION OF MUNICH’S BAHNSTORMER

THEY SIT TOGETHER, insouciant, on the side of a hill. They are arranged in age order from first to last and the sense of occasion is palpable. Six cars, the oldest model dating from some 37 years before the newest. It's an extraordinary sight, one that sets you blinking just to make sure it's real. They are all 'E's and 'F's - the first M5 to bear a 'G' code number is still not available for testing.

So that's how I'm going to refer to them in this story. For those insufficiently sad to know the numbers already, a short aide-memoire to help you know one from the other...

In order, we have: E28 the original, in production from 1984 to 1988 with a 3.4-litre straight-six and a five-speed manual gearbox.

E34 - its successor, in production from 1988 to 1995, also with a straight-six engine, first available in 3.5-litre capacity but with a bigger 3.8 from 1992. All cars had five-speed gearboxes and rear-wheel drive, save the very last which received a six-speed transmission in 1994. Also available as a 'Touring' wagon, but only in left-hand drive. The car featured here is an early, five-speed 3.8-litre.

E39 - the first V8 M5, built from 1998 to 2003, with a 4.9-litre engine and a six-speed manual gearbox.

E60 - the V10 M5, built from 2004 to 2010, with a 5.0-litre engine, a seven-speed robotised paddleshift gearbox (a six-speed manual was also available in North America) and rear-wheel drive. Also available as a wagon (E61).