Unveiled at the 1998 Geneva Motor Show, the BMW M5 (E39) marked a turning point in M GmbH history: it was the first M5 to be powered by a V8 engine, the naturally aspirated 4.9-litre S62 producing 294 kW (400 PS) at 6,600 rpm and 500 N·m of torque at 3,800 rpm. KK Scale's 1:18 die-cast model renders the saloon in solid black — one of the original BMW Individual colour options — with proportions drawn directly from the car's 4,783 mm body length.
The S62 V8 and What Made the E39 M5 Different
Where the E28 and E34 M5s used high-revving inline-six units assembled by hand at BMW M GmbH's Garching facility, the E39 switched to the S62 V8, a unit derived from the production M62. The result was 0–60 mph in 4.8 seconds and a top speed electronically limited to 155 mph. Aluminium front suspension components and a multi-link rear axle underpinned dynamics that still define the benchmark for performance saloons of the era. Total production ran to approximately 20,482 units between October 1998 and June 2003.
From Garching to Dingolfing: A Road Car for Volume
Unlike its hand-built predecessors, the E39 M5 was assembled on BMW's standard production line at the Dingolfing factory, making it the point at which the M5 nameplate scaled into broader commercial reality. This black example replicates a production-specification car with no racing markings or special livery. Solid black was a catalogued BMW Individual colour throughout the full production run from 1998–2003, giving this shade an authentic period status. No Touring version was ever offered to customers; a single prototype in Titanium Silver was built but not approved for production.
KK Scale's 1:18 Scale Model: Die-Cast Metal, Sealed Construction
KK Scale produced this 1:18 die-cast in three colourways on the same tooling — Blue Metallic, Silverstone Blue Metallic, and Black — each sharing the identical geometry scaled from the 4,783 mm saloon. The body is fully sealed die-cast metal; doors and bonnet do not open. At this price tier the model sits below fully opening alternatives from AUTOart or Minichamps but delivers the correct 1:18 footprint and metal construction at a more accessible entry point for the collector.
In the Display Cabinet
At a calculated length of 26.5 cm, the E39 M5 demands a shelf depth of at least 12 cm and a clear run of roughly 28 cm including any base. It pairs naturally with contemporary E39 platform siblings such as the 540i or, for an engine-lineage angle, with a Z8 (E52) that shares the same S62 V8. Collectors building a generational M5 arc will want the E34 and E60 alongside it. The three-colour KK Scale run — black, blue metallic, Silverstone blue metallic — also works as a compact colour-study set on a single shelf row.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the 1:18 scale model?
The real BMW M5 (E39) saloon measures 4,783 mm in length. Divided by 18, the model comes to approximately 26.5 cm. Allow a clear shelf run of around 28 cm and a depth of at least 12 cm for comfortable display.
Does the model have opening parts?
No. This is a sealed die-cast metal body — doors and bonnet do not open. Detail is concentrated on the exterior surfaces: body panels, window surrounds, and the period-correct production-spec profile of the E39 M5.
What material is the model made from?
The model is die-cast metal throughout. KK Scale uses this construction across all three colourways produced on the same tooling for the E39 M5.
Why is the E39 M5 historically significant among M5 generations?
It was the first M5 ever powered by a V8 engine — the 4.9-litre S62 producing 400 PS — and the first to use aluminium front suspension components. It was also the first M5 built on BMW's standard Dingolfing production line rather than hand-assembled at Garching, allowing production to reach approximately 20,482 units between 1998 and 2003.
