The Last Hand-Built M - When Bavaria's Brain Trust Went Rogue

The '91 E34 M5 is what happens when BMW's M Division was still more skunkworks than marketing department. Each one was hand-assembled by a single technician - the last M car to get this treatment. Think of it as Bavaria's answer to AMG before Mercedes bought them out.

Heart of the matter: the S38B36 straight-six. 3.6 liters of individual throttle body perfection making 311hp without forced induction or variable valve timing. This engine was essentially a civilized race motor, with a 7,000 rpm redline that sounds like God's own orchestra above 4,500 rpm. Each one was dyno tested and signed by its builder.

The chassis? Perfect. Double-pivot front suspension, self-leveling rear hydraulics, and steering feel that makes modern sports sedans feel like video games. Those forged M System wheels with the directional covers weren't just for show - they were designed to cool the massive brakes. Inside, you got buffalo leather sport seats (heated, naturally), a shift knob wrapped in hand-stitched leather, and a dash layout that still teaches ergonomics classes to modern cars. The build quality makes today's BMWs feel like they're made of recycled soda bottles.

What breaks? Timing chain guides can get chatty, the self-leveling rear suspension gets expensive when it ages, and those cylinder head bolts need checking periodically. But maintain one properly, and it'll outlast most modern cars.

Pro tip: Euro models got the full 340hp motor, but the US version's torque curve is actually more usable day-to-day. The rare throwing star wheels are worth a fortune if you can find them.