E60 / E61 M5 Buyers Guide
Discussion
omniflow said:
Some things I think are worth covering, with a tiny bit of input.
1. Options vs. Standard equipment. What is actually standard and what is an option? Which options are really worth having, and how do you tell if they're fitted?
From my point of view:
Active Seats - Total waste of money and dashboard switches. They actually make me feel queasy when they're turned on. I don't know if you can get memory seats without them being active seats, but I DEFINITELY wouldn't let active seats sway the deal.
Power Tailgate on a Touring - I saw about 7 cars, and ALL of them had the power tailgate. If it was an option it was a very commonly ordered one.
Full Leather rather than extended - I like it, but is it really a dealbreaker if the car doesn't have it?
Interior Colour - don't automatically exclude a car because of a red leather interior, it's not actually that bad. Although the rest of the spec can make a difference. One car I saw had trim level that resulted in Red leather, Black leather and Aluminium all coming together in one place that is really visible from the drivers seat. It all just clashed, although I'm sure that's down to personal taste.
Not sure if there are any other options that are worth talking about.
2. Transferring Warranty - how does it work. On this one I know that if it's a BMW insurance backed warranty (rather than an AUC warranty), the person who's selling you the car has to contact BMW warranty and tell them to transfer the warranty to you. Them giving you all the paperwork isn't good enough (although you could possibly commit fraud and phone BMW warranty pretending to be the previous owner, but I wouldn't recommend this and joking aside, I've never actually tried it to see if it would work). No idea how transferring an AUC warranty works. I was given all sorts of stories by non-franchised dealers about what I needed to do to transfer the warranty, none of them were correct.
3. Satnav (& the rest of iDrive) - takes some serious getting used to. It's worth persevering with all the settings and you'll end up with something that is usable - I think the option you need is dynamic routing, otherwise it spends all it's time trying to put you on the route it originally planned, rather than adjusting to the route you've actually taken. I've looked around for an aftermarket 7 digit postcode option and haven't managed to find one. Even asked BMW, no use whatsoever.
Ive added it to the guide mate, along with a little bit extra.1. Options vs. Standard equipment. What is actually standard and what is an option? Which options are really worth having, and how do you tell if they're fitted?
From my point of view:
Active Seats - Total waste of money and dashboard switches. They actually make me feel queasy when they're turned on. I don't know if you can get memory seats without them being active seats, but I DEFINITELY wouldn't let active seats sway the deal.
Power Tailgate on a Touring - I saw about 7 cars, and ALL of them had the power tailgate. If it was an option it was a very commonly ordered one.
Full Leather rather than extended - I like it, but is it really a dealbreaker if the car doesn't have it?
Interior Colour - don't automatically exclude a car because of a red leather interior, it's not actually that bad. Although the rest of the spec can make a difference. One car I saw had trim level that resulted in Red leather, Black leather and Aluminium all coming together in one place that is really visible from the drivers seat. It all just clashed, although I'm sure that's down to personal taste.
Not sure if there are any other options that are worth talking about.
2. Transferring Warranty - how does it work. On this one I know that if it's a BMW insurance backed warranty (rather than an AUC warranty), the person who's selling you the car has to contact BMW warranty and tell them to transfer the warranty to you. Them giving you all the paperwork isn't good enough (although you could possibly commit fraud and phone BMW warranty pretending to be the previous owner, but I wouldn't recommend this and joking aside, I've never actually tried it to see if it would work). No idea how transferring an AUC warranty works. I was given all sorts of stories by non-franchised dealers about what I needed to do to transfer the warranty, none of them were correct.
3. Satnav (& the rest of iDrive) - takes some serious getting used to. It's worth persevering with all the settings and you'll end up with something that is usable - I think the option you need is dynamic routing, otherwise it spends all it's time trying to put you on the route it originally planned, rather than adjusting to the route you've actually taken. I've looked around for an aftermarket 7 digit postcode option and haven't managed to find one. Even asked BMW, no use whatsoever.
Eddie
ecain63 said:
m3mjw said:
Cheers Eddie. It comes with a decent warranty for 3 months but I had already decided I wanted a BMW one after advice from others. The car seems to have been looked after so time will tell. I have owned an m3 for 5 years without issue or fear why did I sell her out for a further 150 bhp and v10 howl !!! Thanks for advice. Marc
I'd still get a BMW one straight away as your other warranty probably wont cover anything to do with the clutch. Enjoy,Eddie
Also I still have my M3 and can assure you after owning the M5 for a week you will never look longinly at the M3 again.
As Eddie says get the BMW warranty straight away and stop worrying, they are not that unreliable so your not going to be stranded at the side of the road all the time.... if they go wrong its expensive but thats what you get the warranty for.
Cheers Andy. I am in now so will have to deal with whatever. I think unfortunately Internet is great and bad at same time. Obviously people let you know about problems which is great and when you see a few saying same thing it can distort your view as can look like a majority when in fact could be a relatively small no in the country if you know what I mean. I can't wait to get the car but still a little worried. I have really loved my m3 and can't believe I am finally selling her which is making me doubt my decision. Sure when I hear that engine I will know I made right decision. Cheers lads
Personal observations/additions:
Having seen side by side a tourer with extended leather and my car with full leather, I can say the lack of it is a massive deal braker for me. It is not just the dash that gets the extra slabs of finest cowhide. Every bit of plastic in the car is covered. Moreover, you do get the a-pillars and roof lining in lovely alcantara. While I would not pay the £5k cost to spec it from new, I would not consider a M5/M6 without the full leather. Lack of sunroof is also a deal breaker if it was going to be an E60 - all E61 come with panoramic as standard. The E60/E61, like all modern cars, suffers from a high waist line and relatively small glasshouse compared to the benchmark in ergonomics the E39. You need every bit of light to lift the interior, as such, a sunroof is a must for me.
The dynamic seats are a must too. If I wanted a barge, I would have bought a 535d (mapped)tm with comfort seats...
Having seen side by side a tourer with extended leather and my car with full leather, I can say the lack of it is a massive deal braker for me. It is not just the dash that gets the extra slabs of finest cowhide. Every bit of plastic in the car is covered. Moreover, you do get the a-pillars and roof lining in lovely alcantara. While I would not pay the £5k cost to spec it from new, I would not consider a M5/M6 without the full leather. Lack of sunroof is also a deal breaker if it was going to be an E60 - all E61 come with panoramic as standard. The E60/E61, like all modern cars, suffers from a high waist line and relatively small glasshouse compared to the benchmark in ergonomics the E39. You need every bit of light to lift the interior, as such, a sunroof is a must for me.
The dynamic seats are a must too. If I wanted a barge, I would have bought a 535d (mapped)tm with comfort seats...
Great write up for anyone looking for one of these, some really useful buyers tips, if i were ever to afford one something like this would be great. PH version of parkers guide 
Sounds like running costs are easily around £10k with fuel alone @ 12k miles pa being £6k [200 mile tank range] 
...
Sounds like running costs are easily around £10k with fuel alone @ 12k miles pa being £6k [200 mile tank range] ... joscal said:
Added to OP.Cheburator mk2 said:
Personal observations/additions:
Having seen side by side a tourer with extended leather and my car with full leather, I can say the lack of it is a massive deal braker for me. It is not just the dash that gets the extra slabs of finest cowhide. Every bit of plastic in the car is covered. Moreover, you do get the a-pillars and roof lining in lovely alcantara. While I would not pay the £5k cost to spec it from new, I would not consider a M5/M6 without the full leather. Lack of sunroof is also a deal breaker if it was going to be an E60 - all E61 come with panoramic as standard. The E60/E61, like all modern cars, suffers from a high waist line and relatively small glasshouse compared to the benchmark in ergonomics the E39. You need every bit of light to lift the interior, as such, a sunroof is a must for me.
The dynamic seats are a must too. If I wanted a barge, I would have bought a 535d (mapped)tm with comfort seats...
I have to agree on leather & roof! Mine has these extras, recently sat in plastic dash car & it was very plain inside! Alcantara headcloth/pillars makes the interior! The active seats will also help resale...Having seen side by side a tourer with extended leather and my car with full leather, I can say the lack of it is a massive deal braker for me. It is not just the dash that gets the extra slabs of finest cowhide. Every bit of plastic in the car is covered. Moreover, you do get the a-pillars and roof lining in lovely alcantara. While I would not pay the £5k cost to spec it from new, I would not consider a M5/M6 without the full leather. Lack of sunroof is also a deal breaker if it was going to be an E60 - all E61 come with panoramic as standard. The E60/E61, like all modern cars, suffers from a high waist line and relatively small glasshouse compared to the benchmark in ergonomics the E39. You need every bit of light to lift the interior, as such, a sunroof is a must for me.
The dynamic seats are a must too. If I wanted a barge, I would have bought a 535d (mapped)tm with comfort seats...
Great write up Eddie, very little if anything not covered!!
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