Thanks to its unique 500 horsepower 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V10, the BMW M5 E60 is considered one of the best sports sedans ever, but good looks were never on its side.

Sure, it has aged more decently than some were expecting, but its predecessor, the E39, is arguably the best looking of the series. Produced between 1998 and 2003, it was the first M5 to use a V8, a recipe that has stuck to this day, except for the aforementioned E60.

Powering it was a 4.9-liter naturally aspirated engine, making 394 horsepower (400 PS / 294 kW), at 6,600 rpm, and 369 pound-feet (500 Nm) of torque at 3,800 rpms. It came paired exclusively to a six-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive, a smile-injecting configuration packed in an executive body. With a curb weight of 3,957 lbs (1,795 kg), the E39 needed only 4.8 seconds to sprint from rest to 60 mph (0-96 km/h), and was able to keep pushing up to a top speed electronically limited to 155 mph (250 km/h).

Now, the example that you are about to see being driven on video down below was made in 2003 and has been properly maintained over the years. Apart from a handful of upgrades, including the addition of a short shift kit, aftermarket intake and exhaust from Dinan and strut and sway bars, it’s bone-stock. So, how does a 17-year BMW M5 feel like on a twisty road? Well, you’re about to find out, as aside from a few pointers on the car, the film focuses on the driving dynamics and sound.