Yes they were. You have 135 special 540's in America and 32 in Canada, that are built close to the 70 Australian cars, of which mine is one. That are special builds. It very definitely came with the Illuminating 6 speed gear knob. Only the M one does it.
There was NO M5 built outside of Europe in 95. These where the replacement cars and the precursor to the E39 M5 configuration.