Stuart Milne loves the second-generation M5 like no other supersaloon, and says its still one of the best drivers' cars of any era.

Years ago, I ran an old BMW 5-Series. It was only a 520i, but in an age where my mates were all smoking around in clapped out-Fiestas and Astras, my Beemer made me feel like I'd hit the big time.

A few years – and cars – later, my 1991 motor I realised it was the best all-round car I've ever owned. I only got rid of it after 162,000 miles because I could sense some big bills looming.

So I still get all dewy-eyed when I see a Five – the boxy model from the early 1990s – particularly when it’s one of the hot models that I secretly hankered after.

Which means it would either have a 535i or M5 badge slapped on its square rump.

I loved the 535i because it could do nearly everything the M5 could.

But who wants to make do with 'nearly'?

I vowed if ever I got whacked with the cash stick, I'd fork out plenty of pounds to get a decent M5. But not one of the current models, even though it'll clock more than 200mph if the limiter is torn out.

It'd have to be one of early 1990s vintage, or the E34 as it's known to BMW and its aficionados.

That generation of 5-Series was the car to rewrite the rulebook on what an executive car should be, and became the yardstick against all future M5s would be judged.

It – like the original M5 – was a hand-built masterpiece. Based on the same chassis as the 535i, it was a true drivers' car.

Unlike engines today which may or may not produce the power figure the manufacturer says, the M5's engines were built produce the claimed power figure, with a margin of just five per cent either side.

This meant a heavyweight 315bhp for the early 3.5-litre models, but a face-shredding 340bhp for the later 3.8-litre machines, adding up to a sub-six second 0-60mph time, with a limited top speed of 155mph for the latter.

And it was none too shabby when it came to turning corners. Various recent roundups of the best sub-£10,000 supercars claim its as good as anything built today.

It could be improved upon, of course. Many models were specified with the optional Nürburgring suspension which sharpened the already excellent handling.

BMW even built a limited run of estate versions, dubbed Touring.

Sadly for prospect buyers of the E34 M5, there's hardly any which come up for sale. There's not much difference in price between the 3.5 and 3.8-litre models, but if you want a low mileage minter, you'll have to dig deep and seek out a specialist like Munich Legends.

L.A.T.W.O.T. Video of the Week

It might have bad haircuts and worse music, but this promo video from BMW shouts about the M5's greatness from the rooftops.

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