BMW E39 Interior options

Surely, being BMW's benchmark executive sedan of the late '90s and early 2000s, the E39 5 Series offered a wide range of luxury, comfort, and also performance-oriented options for its buyers to choose from.

Note: We will not bore you with the standard equipment that was widely available on most cars. Instead, we will highlight the rarest, most desirable interior options when it comes to this generation of the 5 Series.

The following presentation is meant to provide a general overview and does not aim to cover all technical information.

1. Rear Compartment Fridge

On the BMW E39 5 Series, the rear compartment fridge (often referred to as the rear cool box or Beverage Cooling Box) was a rare and luxurious factory option, typically available on higher-end trims or through Individual/custom orders.

Installed behind the rear center armrest, the fridge was accessible from the rear passenger compartment. To make it functional, the rear seat pass-through (commonly used for skis or long items) was used to integrate the cooled storage unit.

Cooling performance was modest — more of a chilled box than an actual electric fridge. On the other hand, the E38 7 series had the real deal.

E39's vs E38's Fridge option

2. Full leather interior

This wasn't just about leather seats — this was an extensive leather upholstery package that wrapped the cabin in luxury, way beyond what most E39s ever saw. This was a quite commonly ordered option on the M5, but a very rare option on non-M models — could only be ordered through BMW Individual.

The option code may vary depending on market, but it generally showed under the "Volleder" or "BMW Individual Leather" options on the build sheet.

This option replaced many standard plastic or vinyl trim surfaces with high-grade leather, including:

Dashboard upper and lower sections – stitched leather-wrapped, often with contrast or matching thread.
Center console – the sides and even the rear HVAC housing.
Door cards (full) – upper and lower portions in leather, including the inserts.
Door handles / pull grips
Glovebox lid
A-, B-, and C-pillar trim – either in leather or Alcantara, depending on the configuration.
Sun visors and headliner in Alcantara (when ordered in conjunction with the Individual headliner).

The leather used was Nappa leather, high-grade and soft-touch. You'll also find the beauty of hand-stitched panels, especially around the dashboard curvature and seams, along with thicker foam padding underneath some leather sections for added plushness.

3. Active seats

The Active Seat system, available on select high-end BMW E39 models, was designed to enhance driver comfort on long journeys. Integrated into the front seats (sometimes just the driver's seat), it used subtle, automatic movements of the seat base to reduce fatigue and improve circulation by preventing prolonged pressure on specific muscle groups.

The system functioned through a mechanism integrated into the seat cushion, which subtly shifted the lower seat base side-to-side in response to the driver's movements.

This feature was not offered on the non-facelift E39s nor the E39 M5 (as its sport seats prioritized support and rigidity over adaptive comfort). The Active Seat remained exclusive to luxury-oriented trims, making it a rare and refined option in the E39 range.

4. Double Glazing

The double glazing option on the BMW E39 was a rare and refined feature, typically found on higher-spec models like the 540i Highline, but also available on the M5 for those seeking an extra layer of comfort.

It involved dual-pane acoustic glass that offered superior sound insulation and better thermal efficiency. This enhanced cabin isolation from wind and road noise, subtly elevating the overall driving experience without compromising the car's performance-oriented nature.

5. Rear door sunshades

The rear door sunshades on the E39 were one of those understated, smart options that quietly elevated the rear seat experience. Neatly tucked into the door panels, the manual mesh shades could be pulled up for extra comfort and privacy — perfect for keeping glare out without going full limo tint. This option was more commonly seen on the Touring, where rear-seat practicality and long-haul comfort were often higher on the checklist.

6. Ceiling DVD Player

The ceiling-mounted DVD player was one of the rarer and more niche options available for the E39, usually installed through BMW Individual or dealer-level retrofits. Mounted centrally in the headliner, it folded down to reveal a screen for rear passengers — a high-tech touch for the early 2000s

We couldn't find much more info on this online, so we'll greatly appreciate owners input on this.

7. VHS Screens for rear Passengers