KJK

i do not agree 0-60 54o 6spd will out run the m5 i know i owned one. second: i want you to fiund a good desent m5 not beaten to death for the money you are saying. third: when you said :" In my experience chasing 540i/6's on the track " thats right. you will chase it. but thats where you will stay. my man i dirven 540 6spd and i can say that 6 th gear is verry handy. and fast cars don't have to growl, and shake and all. everyone knows it has the power to take almost anyone,definetelly e34 m5, people are just too stuburn to admit it. 540 6spd, for the price a muchbetter buy, and by the way if you do come across a miracle and you see jessus or moses standing by the 93 e34 m5 with 80k miles for 25k do let me know. so stick with your wifes car.

0-60mph, maybe, but everywhere else they are equal and the M5 tends to be faster past 80mph. In my experience chasing 540i/6's on the track the cars are pretty even. There are few M5's that are "rust buckets" as most owners LOVE them. If you are paying in the 35k+ range, you are getting either a low mileage perfect car or a stroked, fire breathing beast that will slaughter a 540i. Good, solid examples with mileage in the 80-100k range run from $18k-$25. That price difference will buy lots of parts. Plus, the 540i, while a great car, will never have the raw, visceral feel of an E34. Oh, and the sound of the engine is worth the maintenance costs. The 540i will be quiet, ride smoother, etc. but I buy those kinds of cars for my wife.

KJK 91 M5

well first of all. the new 540 sport 6-spd will out gun the old m5 1/4 mile and 0-60 school kids know that., unless the old m5 is an alpina, but then imagine if you put twin turbo on the 540 sport. ok. second so what so it was hand build. so what. does that mean its a better car no it just means its more expensinve to maintain this 7 year old rust bucket with parts too expensive.
but thast me followups welcome!!!! so if you got 35-40k to spend on a bimmer spend it on 540sport 6spd

No need to shout. I think your forgetting that M5's are more than just 0-60 and 1/4 mile times. It's the whole last hand-built package.

E34 M5 vs E39 540 SPORT 6 SPEED???? WITH ALL MY LOVE TO THE E34 M5 IN THIS COMPARISON I WOULD HAVE TO SAY 540 6SPD ALL THE WAY. OR ATLEAST EQUAL. E34 M5 IS ONE OF THE GREATES CARS IN THE WORLD, ONE OF MY FAVORITE BUT THE MARKET TODAY IS COMING OUT WITH SIMILAR PERFORMANCE CARS IF A 94-5 EOURO 3.8L M5 COST 40-5K YOU CAN GET FOR THE SAME MONEY A 99 OR A 98 540 SPRT 6SPD, AND NOT LOOSE TOOMUCH ON PERFORMANCE, BUT IN CONTRAST GAIN ON RELIABILITY AND LENGTH OF LIFE OF THE CAR. BUT E34 M5 STILL RULZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!! IN MY BOOK