Background: Introduced in 1998, the E39-generation M5 has become one of the defining BMW M cars of its era.

Combining the understated proportions of the E39 5-Series with BMW M's 4.9-litre S62 V8, a six-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive, it offered genuine high-performance ability without compromising its role as a practical four-door saloon.

The later facelift cars introduced a number of detail changes, most visibly the distinctive 'Angel Eye' headlamps, whilst retaining the naturally aspirated S62 V8 and manual transmission that are now so closely associated with the model.

This particular example takes that familiar formula considerably further.

The Car : First registered on 21st June 2002 and showing 100,600 miles at the time of cataloguing, this facelift M5 is finished in Le Mans Blue and has had just three owners from new.

Originally supplied in Northern Ireland, it remained there with its first two keepers before coming to mainland UK in 2014, subsequently remainin...