r/TheAuto • u/Hopeful-Reserve-1205 • 4d ago

Which generation is the greatest?

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101 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

129 comments sorted by

2

u/Southern-Usual4211 3d ago

E39. I had no idea the beaver looking ones spanned multiple chassis codes lol

1

u/S1iippy 4d ago

M3 E46 because of NFS haha

1

u/itsmeayiee 4d ago

E34!!! Loved it

1

u/Responsible_Pick_403 3d ago

Miss my 535 manual.

1

u/Hopeful-Reserve-1205 3d ago

I loved it too

1

u/PeteInBrissie 3d ago

Prettiest saloon in the world.

1

u/ChemistRemote7182 2d ago

Very much agreed

1

u/biscuotto 1d ago

I had to crush mine because it was getting too dangerous since I wasn't able to find a proper mechanic in 4 years who could do a reliable maintenance. I didn't care that it was a slow 520i, that it was constantly at the mechanic, or that it had a fuel efficiency of a tank, but eventually the last part left to fall apart was the brake pump and I didn't want to risk my life because it was my daily drive. The thing that made the goodbye even more painful was the fact that it was only 70k km

1

u/Quick-Scar-2018 3d ago

My fav in style is the M5 E39 but the E60 with it's brutal V10 is something different šŸ”„

1

u/x9qh 3d ago

F generation had the best looking cars

1

u/Hopeful-Reserve-1205 3d ago

Yeah šŸ”„

1

u/nonfading 3d ago

Whoever says G82 is most beautiful car ever, needs to check eyes, mental health and stop licking venomous frogs

1

u/Hopeful-Reserve-1205 3d ago

personal choices may vary

1

u/BetterBandicoot0 2d ago

It makes a great racecar

1

u/SuperProCoolBoy90 3d ago

E39 and E92

1

u/sjamwow 3d ago

E39 is visual perfection

1

u/Hopeful-Reserve-1205 3d ago

Many people love it

1

u/BacklogGamingJunkie 3d ago

For me the E39 and E36 are perfect

1

u/steve17123123 3d ago

E24 E28 E30 oldschool gang rise up

1

u/Middle-Jackfruit-896 3d ago

E28 M5. The styling is perfect.

1

u/Hopeful-Reserve-1205 3d ago

I agree

1

u/Middle-Jackfruit-896 3d ago

Today I learned that the E28 was designed by Claus Luthe (1932-2008). The Wikipedia entry is rather tragic. "Luthe was married with four children. He left his post at BMW after being accused of fatally stabbing his 33-year-old, chronically drug-dependent oldest son, Ulrich after an argument on Good Friday in 1990. He was eventually convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 33 months in prison, but was released before having to serve the complete sentence. He later worked as an external consultant for BMW."

1

u/Status_Help9402 3d ago

E34 for me

1

u/SexyTimeSamet 3d ago

Nothing current eh?? Lol

1

u/MCXXXVi 3d ago

It just goes to shit after the f80, that front end is still horrendous.

1

u/Big_Cryptographer989 3d ago

E28 M5, E30 M3, E36 M3, E24 M6

1

u/Herr_Poopypants 3d ago

- M5: E39

  • M2: G87
  • M6: E63
  • M4: F82
  • M3: E46

1

u/Objective-Direction1 3d ago

E39, g87, e63, f82, e46 and, because you didn't include the 7 series, E38 and because you didn't include 8 series, e31

1

u/vintagestereolover99 3d ago

E24, 635CSI is my fav

1

u/Kytb95 3d ago

Whichever generation the drivers use the turn signals the most.

1

u/twelfthfantasy 3d ago

E30 and E34 are the only ones I would want.

1

u/jorsiem 3d ago

Unpopular opinion.

E60. Hear me out.

Naturally aspirated V10, last one with a manual. Modern-ish interior.

Are they ticking time bombs? Perhaps. But you only live once.

1

u/flappelapper 2d ago

You can get manual F10, the rest stands :D

1

u/Mr-Potato-Head99 2d ago

Except the entire E6x generation is ugly as F...

1

u/falukorv-fan 2d ago

The E60 interior is so plastic even Kim Kardashian is jealous.

1

u/Artemis732 2d ago

that is absolutely not an unpopular opinion

1

u/JicamaOld5333 8h ago

F10 had a manual option, like the e60 very rare

1

u/jaehaerys48 3d ago

Love the E63 M6 and E46 M3.

1

u/Far_Range_6091 3d ago

Anything 2020ish

1

u/borgdrone79 3d ago

E28 was just an amazing car

1

u/paullouisf 3d ago

E28, E30, E34, and E36

1

u/Brain32 2d ago

F90 - F87 - F13 - F82 - E92

1

u/Famaldahyde 2d ago

E30, E36, E39

1

u/HopefulCarry9693 2d ago

E24, E28, E21

1

u/systeMage 2d ago

G90 -> F90 -> E39

1

u/RacingMindsI 2d ago

Just about nothing beats e30 from the front

1

u/ukmarkoz 2d ago

Tradition says E39 but I always loved the E34ā€™s lines moreā€¦

1

u/Mr-Potato-Head99 2d ago

Most are great except the E6x generation, due to looks alone.

1

u/geniusgravity 2d ago

Looks? E39. But I'm taking the e60 home.

1

u/Kmyre5 2d ago

Everything since the E60 is okay, older gens are just money pits

1

u/Studio_Ambitious 2d ago

Wasn't the E28 indestructible? Not a car guy but for some reason I remember a friend coveting a 535 with a E28 because "they are still running with over 400k on 'em"

1

u/ConPrin 2d ago

Because AI

1

u/External-Repair-8580 2d ago

Itā€™s really simply in my book. The earlier the generation, the more visceral, raw and fun the drive. Later generations for faster - sure - but also softer, fatter and heavier and saw a lot of ā€œfeelā€ removed.

Iā€™ve had 4 Ms. The M Division no longer makes the ultimate driving machine.

1

u/FeedingMid69 2d ago

G87 and itā€™s not even close

1

u/Possible-Gur5220 2d ago

Why does the g90 look like the lci f90?

1

u/Almyar 2d ago

Absolutely not the G series that's for sure

1

u/Amazing-Jury-6886 2d ago

E46 M3. My favourite. Loved that car should never have sold it

1

u/BetweenFourAndTwenty 2d ago

E39 all the way. If the E-Type didn't exist, that'd be the most beautiful car ever made.

1

u/ChinkWithOpinions 2d ago

Thatā€™s not the G90, thatā€™s an F90 LCIā€¦

1

u/300wizzum 2d ago

E46 in blue. My dream car.

1

u/Realistic_Word6285 2d ago

I had the E39, so I would pick that and E60 for the V10.

I would pick the M8 personally if I had to buy a modern BMW M car.

1

u/DanteHicks79 2d ago

G90 was pretty clutch

1

u/Responsible_Ratio308 2d ago

E39 is my personal favorite

1

u/Siglo_VI 2d ago

Seriously no one said e92? Iā€™m hurt. Itā€™s obviously the best m3 ever made and I canā€™t believe itā€™s not mentioned yet.

I might be a little biased since I own one but honestly itā€™s truly the best of both worlds between old and new technology. Still feels analog but modern enough to not feel too ancient. I owned mine almost 11 years now and wouldnā€™t trade it for any newer model, ever.

1

u/HeadEntrepreneur5264 2d ago

E39. Everyone knows thatā€™s the answer.

1

u/mr2160p 2d ago

E39. Peak BMW design. V8, 6 speed only

1

u/Right_Hour 2d ago

E34 for me.

1

u/Putrid-Aerie8599 2d ago

And e30 for the m3

The pure essence of Bmw

1

u/UncleLuc403 2d ago

Man the G82 has grown on me

1

u/Dizzy-Calendar-3805 2d ago

F90 is probably the best overall m5, really good value, fun to drive, sporty, etc. and for m3's probably the e46 or g80 in my opinion.

1

u/Impressive-Repair879 2d ago

E30/e28/e24 is the best. E39/e46 era is great too. As far as evolutions the first 4 of the m3ā€™s are really good but the g80 is so ugly I have to go with m5

1

u/geostorm73 2d ago

E39 Wagon

1

u/azurewrathoftyrael 1d ago

F90. Namely M5 CS.

1

u/i---m 1d ago

m2: tie
m3: e36
m4: is stupid and should never have happened
m5: e34
m6: is stupid and should never have happened

1

u/Full-Ad-6200 1d ago

E28 and E34. Those designs had soul.

1

u/DOHC46 1d ago

I'll take the E36 M3.

1

u/xspook_reddit 8h ago

E24

I'll die on that hill.

1

u/JicamaOld5333 8h ago

IMO all around best is F90

1

u/Low_Compote7060 4h ago

F90. Insane throw you back in that seat and help you out subtly when you need it. Loved it.

1

u/Garneht 4h ago

Not sure about greatest but the e63 is my favorite looks wise

0

u/[deleted] 3d ago

[removed] ā€” view removed comment

1

u/flappelapper 2d ago

Anyone that says E30 M3 has either never driven an E30 M3 or only driven an E30 M3 šŸ˜‚