Discussion
Also worth adding for 400bhp this is the most benign car I've driven. Yes if you turn off the traction control and floor it coming off a roundabout you're going to have some 'fun'.
But it's not an inherently twitchy car. Keep it out of sport mode and below 3k rpm and you forget what's under the bonnet. Keep the driving aids on and they kick in well in advance of things going south, unless you're really doing something mental.
Compared to my old monaro it's a pussycat. Opportunities to get in trouble in it for sure - but not really much worse than you could do in a 320d in similar circumstances. If you're going to be daft in an m5 chances are you'll have a similar outcome if you decide to be daft in any other rwd car. For general driving though there shouldn't be any concern and even being silly the stability systems will reign things in a lot.
My other half likes driving the m5, no problems in it at all. She wouldn't go near the Monaro after driving it once, it terrified her. Likewise my previous to that turbo jap wagon.
Suggestions of anyone who is 19 exploding in a ball of fire just for looking in the direction of one seem a bit over the top to be honest. A 19 year old with their head screwed on won't have any trouble with one, other than the costs associated with ownership at such an age. If you're a 19 year old without a careful head on your shoulders then e39 m5 or not you're going to get in trouble.
Only the OP knows this. If you have a history of driving like an idiot with a string of written off cars behind you, it's probably not the best idea. Otherwise I don't see why the default position should be 'don't do it'.
But it's not an inherently twitchy car. Keep it out of sport mode and below 3k rpm and you forget what's under the bonnet. Keep the driving aids on and they kick in well in advance of things going south, unless you're really doing something mental.
Compared to my old monaro it's a pussycat. Opportunities to get in trouble in it for sure - but not really much worse than you could do in a 320d in similar circumstances. If you're going to be daft in an m5 chances are you'll have a similar outcome if you decide to be daft in any other rwd car. For general driving though there shouldn't be any concern and even being silly the stability systems will reign things in a lot.
My other half likes driving the m5, no problems in it at all. She wouldn't go near the Monaro after driving it once, it terrified her. Likewise my previous to that turbo jap wagon.
Suggestions of anyone who is 19 exploding in a ball of fire just for looking in the direction of one seem a bit over the top to be honest. A 19 year old with their head screwed on won't have any trouble with one, other than the costs associated with ownership at such an age. If you're a 19 year old without a careful head on your shoulders then e39 m5 or not you're going to get in trouble.
Only the OP knows this. If you have a history of driving like an idiot with a string of written off cars behind you, it's probably not the best idea. Otherwise I don't see why the default position should be 'don't do it'.
There is an argument to say the OP would be better off in an M5 that is designed as a performance saloon than he would be in a Saxo or similar with lots of go-faster bits added on. Sure, the M5 has 400bhp, but it has suspension, brakes, steering, etc, etc to match the performance. I have never heard it said that it's an inherently unsafe car.
Of course the flip side is that if he is going to head to the scene of the accident, then he's probably going to be heading there much more quickly in an M5 than he would be in a lesser car, but that in itself doesn't mean much if he's sensible and avoids having an accident in the first place. If he is going to be daft behind the wheel, he will be daft in whatever he drives. He is over 18 and I don't feel it's our place to judge him without knowing him.
In terms of running the car, well I can't honestly say I haven't overstretched myself to get the car I wanted, and got caught out on more than one occasion. I think you can get carried away with the costs involved in running such cars, but you can also be unlucky. It sounds like he's not reliant on the dealer network to keep the thing running which should help keep costs sensible(ish). It's a risk, sure, but it's a very nice car, only the OP can know for himself if he can afford it. There is no way at 19 I could have afforded to even fuel a M5, so well done to the OP for working hard enough to get where he is. If I were in your position, I'd go for it.
Of course the flip side is that if he is going to head to the scene of the accident, then he's probably going to be heading there much more quickly in an M5 than he would be in a lesser car, but that in itself doesn't mean much if he's sensible and avoids having an accident in the first place. If he is going to be daft behind the wheel, he will be daft in whatever he drives. He is over 18 and I don't feel it's our place to judge him without knowing him.
In terms of running the car, well I can't honestly say I haven't overstretched myself to get the car I wanted, and got caught out on more than one occasion. I think you can get carried away with the costs involved in running such cars, but you can also be unlucky. It sounds like he's not reliant on the dealer network to keep the thing running which should help keep costs sensible(ish). It's a risk, sure, but it's a very nice car, only the OP can know for himself if he can afford it. There is no way at 19 I could have afforded to even fuel a M5, so well done to the OP for working hard enough to get where he is. If I were in your position, I'd go for it.
Slow said:
Lowest postcode area, IV2, 3 over 50s as named drivers, 2 years ncb.
From reading expect 2-3k a year in bills, I could afford that without problems except less buying drinks for friends.
Just wether or not I can drive without Dieing is the problem then I guess.
Find it impossible to believe you could insure it.From reading expect 2-3k a year in bills, I could afford that without problems except less buying drinks for friends.
Just wether or not I can drive without Dieing is the problem then I guess.
Just for fun I tried a comparison site adding my daughter to mine.
Made her 19 with 2 yrs NCB with a car of her own
Best quote was £25808
Admittedly we have a BT postcode which is by far the worst anywhere in UK but even so.
My young friend... you sound like a sensible fella therefore don't listen to all these OAP's on here. Buy the M5, treat it with respect and learn as you go along. My first motorcycle was a Yamaha R1, I was 20 years old at the time - everyone told me not to buy it due to the dangers and death death death. Well I'm still here alive and well (Thank God). Point is, once you've popped the M5 cherry, you'll most likely want something more composed after it. I went for about 8 years without buying a powerful motor. I now have a HD cruiser and an E60 M5, as well as a VW Polo.
I have to agree with meanm5. If you can afford to buy and run one at 19 then do it. My car was a basic 1.1 Ford Fiesta when I was that age. it was all that I could afford. When you're older you might not be able to do run an M5. Who knows? You never know what life will throw at you. Just be careful with it. Be an idiot in it and the laws of Physics will win followed by Mr G Reaper. Be sensible and it will give you an intangible feeling that is difficult to find elsewhere. It is a great car and the best that i have ever owned. And I get some nice comments from people about it.
However, it is very expensive to run. I use mine as a daily driver and have done for over four years. I do know what it costs to run. Just remember that the whole drive train (engine, gearbox, clutch, brakes, suspension, exhaust) are all M5 specific. There are very few pattern parts available though some exist. Nevertheless, all those parts are very expensive, even the pattern parts. Just go on to ecp website and look up prices of items that are common replacements, eg, brakes, clutch, water pump, suspension parts, etc.
I do most of the work myself. However, in March 2013, the front brake calipers seized on. Due to my workload, i didn't have time to do the job myself. I went to my local, and very trusted garage. I never, ever use main dealers. It still cost me £1267 for two new calipers, two new front discs, new pads and a few other sundry items. Less than £300 of that cost was labour. All parts were pattern. It was somewhat galling that i had only replaced the front discs and pads 18000 miles earlier, which cost me £522 for two front discs and one set of pads on that occasion.
However, it is very expensive to run. I use mine as a daily driver and have done for over four years. I do know what it costs to run. Just remember that the whole drive train (engine, gearbox, clutch, brakes, suspension, exhaust) are all M5 specific. There are very few pattern parts available though some exist. Nevertheless, all those parts are very expensive, even the pattern parts. Just go on to ecp website and look up prices of items that are common replacements, eg, brakes, clutch, water pump, suspension parts, etc.
I do most of the work myself. However, in March 2013, the front brake calipers seized on. Due to my workload, i didn't have time to do the job myself. I went to my local, and very trusted garage. I never, ever use main dealers. It still cost me £1267 for two new calipers, two new front discs, new pads and a few other sundry items. Less than £300 of that cost was labour. All parts were pattern. It was somewhat galling that i had only replaced the front discs and pads 18000 miles earlier, which cost me £522 for two front discs and one set of pads on that occasion.
Looking back, I'm glad I didn't have an M5 at 19, but not really for the reasons mentioned so far in this thread. Main thing for me would have been missing out on the power jumps of each car change going forward from then. As soon as insurance started getting a bit more reasonable for me, it meant getting into something a bit quicker than before and enjoying that for a while. To have gone straight to 400bhp would have been a regret now I think. Still remember giggling to myself when I got my 325ti, and that was "just" 190bhp
Although, in saying all that, I probably would have killed myself in an M5 back then too TBH
Although, in saying all that, I probably would have killed myself in an M5 back then too TBH
Slow said:
Using comparethemarket
Kept at night on private property, 9 other cars there. Not sure what else changes it.
Fully comp is 5k, tpft is the 2k quote.
So your only going to insure it tpft? That's exactly what i did with my old bm cost me 5k and then i wrote it off and got nothing back. Not saying you will do the same but surely better to wait till you can insure it fully comp?Kept at night on private property, 9 other cars there. Not sure what else changes it.
Fully comp is 5k, tpft is the 2k quote.
seang83 said:
So your only going to insure it tpft? That's exactly what i did with my old bm cost me 5k and then i wrote it off and got nothing back. Not saying you will do the same but surely better to wait till you can insure it fully comp?
Does that make any sense? Where the cost, per year, to fully comp insure the car is near enough the cost of replacing the car - why would you?I did the same when I trundled around in high performance, high insurance cars at a younger age. TPFT all the way as one years worth of fully comp would pay for the car itself. I'd rather keep that in my pocket.
Sorry if anyone finds this a patronising reply, but OP if you're worried about running costs you're barking up the wrong trees here at 19. Just go out and get something clean, original, cheapish to run and RWD (say a nice E36 318iS), build up some experience and insurance for a few years, then review your situation
Slow said:
Going to wait a year and get experience in a rwd car first.
What's a e36 328i like running cost wise compared to the m5?
Can't talk about 328i but have 2 E39s. An M5 and a 528i so fairly similar I would guess.What's a e36 328i like running cost wise compared to the m5?
The costs are are fairly different. Best example is tyres I can put a set on 528 for £300 or not much more.
£300 buys one back tyre.
Suspension parts are twice as dear.
And the real kicker is that you can blow through a hundred quids worth of juice in an M5 in a day.
ArmaghMan said:
Can't talk about 328i but have 2 E39s. An M5 and a 528i so fairly similar I would guess.
The costs are are fairly different. Best example is tyres I can put a set on 528 for £300 or not much more.
£300 buys one back tyre.
Suspension parts are twice as dear.
And the real kicker is that you can blow through a hundred quids worth of juice in an M5 in a day.
It's a pricey car to run but that is scaremongering a bit-The costs are are fairly different. Best example is tyres I can put a set on 528 for £300 or not much more.
£300 buys one back tyre.
Suspension parts are twice as dear.
And the real kicker is that you can blow through a hundred quids worth of juice in an M5 in a day.
http://lovetyres.com/search/tyres/275-35-18
Patrick Bateman said:
ArmaghMan said:
Can't talk about 328i but have 2 E39s. An M5 and a 528i so fairly similar I would guess.
The costs are are fairly different. Best example is tyres I can put a set on 528 for £300 or not much more.
£300 buys one back tyre.
Suspension parts are twice as dear.
And the real kicker is that you can blow through a hundred quids worth of juice in an M5 in a day.
It's a pricey car to run but that is scaremongering a bit-The costs are are fairly different. Best example is tyres I can put a set on 528 for £300 or not much more.
£300 buys one back tyre.
Suspension parts are twice as dear.
And the real kicker is that you can blow through a hundred quids worth of juice in an M5 in a day.
http://lovetyres.com/search/tyres/275-35-18
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