E30 BMW 3 Series – David Gluckman
No, we can't and won't overlook the E30 M3. It's all kinds of greatness in a tidy package, with an engine that has to be worked, tons of tricks and tweaks that let it utterly dominate as a touring car, and a purpose for everything that went into the homologated road cars. It's what M once was and should strive to be once again.
But I have a special place for the more simple E30s, the ones that are still attainable. My 325i was a little rough around the edges, but it had held up pretty well and the engine was still going strong deep into triple-digit mileage. You feel like you're wearing an old pair of worn-in jeans when you're driving one – it's familiar, imperfect in ways you have known about for years, yours. They have acres of glass and you can actually see out of them in every direction (novel!). And then there's the way the car talks back; not so much through the wheel, because the steering isn't great, but you know what's going on around you at all times and why. Aside from the oddly placed wheel, the controls feel right and are placed deliberately. They're just plain friendly, and there's a reason the 3 Series, and this one in particular, was the benchmark for so long. Why did I sell mine again?
E39 BMW M5 – Mike Austin
This makes the case for the best sedan ever made. The E39 hits the sweet spot in so many ways. Take the glorious M5. In 1998, 400 horsepower was crazy, especially in a car that weighed just over 4,000 pounds. Unburdened by with the weight and equipment needed to cope with modern safety standards, the 5 Series was the benchmark of a balanced, responsive chassis. This was close to peak BMW - when the engines were still naturally aspirated and spun like sewing machines. Nothing in the class could touch the 5 Series in terms of driving involvement, and few cars since come close.
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