F10 M5 Daily Driver??
Discussion
Guys,
I'm thinking of getting a circa 15-20K miles F10 M5 for use as my daily driver. What real world mpg can I expect and will I be disappointed with the handling / weight? Currently use a 997 GTS so obviously I don't expect it to handle as well as that but I'd hate to buy one and be really disappointed!
Any thoughts? Thanks.
I'm thinking of getting a circa 15-20K miles F10 M5 for use as my daily driver. What real world mpg can I expect and will I be disappointed with the handling / weight? Currently use a 997 GTS so obviously I don't expect it to handle as well as that but I'd hate to buy one and be really disappointed!
Any thoughts? Thanks.
Boo's Dad said:
Guys,
I'm thinking of getting a circa 15-20K miles F10 M5 for use as my daily driver. What real world mpg can I expect and will I be disappointed with the handling / weight? Currently use a 997 GTS so obviously I don't expect it to handle as well as that but I'd hate to buy one and be really disappointed!
Any thoughts? Thanks.
I can't tell you about the mpg, but I went from an M3 CSL into an E60 M5. I knew that the extra weight and size would result in less good handling, but it was still disappointing the first time I tackled one of my favourite roads. Just as I was revelling in the straight line acceleration, I came up to a 90 degree corner and had to take it a lot slower than in the CSL.I'm thinking of getting a circa 15-20K miles F10 M5 for use as my daily driver. What real world mpg can I expect and will I be disappointed with the handling / weight? Currently use a 997 GTS so obviously I don't expect it to handle as well as that but I'd hate to buy one and be really disappointed!
Any thoughts? Thanks.
That is what awaits you. The M5 handles very well for a car of its size and weight, but it will never feel close to something like your GTS. If you need the extra space though, as I did, the handling is pretty well the best you'll get and the speed will make up for it to quite an extent.
I did hanker after something shorter, lower and sportier though, hence my current garage.
Mine is my only car (came from a 997 C2S) and I absolutely fecking love it 
The power is in a different league to my 997 and the mid-range is astonishing (albeit you do get used to it!). I'm not concerned that it's not as nimble, it still handles brilliantly for a car of its size.
I've had mine 16 months and have 16k on the clock and this year I'm off to Le Mans and then Italy for two weeks during the summer and I can't think of a better car to travel in.
MPG - now rather sadly I have an app for that
not becuase I'm concerned about cost - you don't get an M5 if you are worried about MPG but out of curiosity (and also I'm a bit of a numbers freak..... 
)
Personally I'm pretty pleased with 17.3mpg from a 560bhp fire breathing monster
It's not a GTS but it's one hell of a machine
The power is in a different league to my 997 and the mid-range is astonishing (albeit you do get used to it!). I'm not concerned that it's not as nimble, it still handles brilliantly for a car of its size.
I've had mine 16 months and have 16k on the clock and this year I'm off to Le Mans and then Italy for two weeks during the summer and I can't think of a better car to travel in.
MPG - now rather sadly I have an app for that
not becuase I'm concerned about cost - you don't get an M5 if you are worried about MPG but out of curiosity (and also I'm a bit of a numbers freak..... )Personally I'm pretty pleased with 17.3mpg from a 560bhp fire breathing monster
It's not a GTS but it's one hell of a machine
Around Manchester i get about 18mpg, the 220 miles door to door trip that i do every few months i get about 26-28mpg. It is a V8 4.4litre so was aware of the costs, but the performance sold me.
The depreciation from the two to three year mark surprised me a great amount, i expected the bathtub curve to be a little more forgiving.
It is a great car to get in and drive, around town or on the motorway - boot space is great, and the performance is amazing.
Selling mine at the moment due to life changes/direction - i need a estate/tourer. A lot of other competition in the market, with quite a few fully loaded ones in a nicer colour.
Good luck on your search! A three year old with a full MOT @ 21-25k are circa £42-45k at the moment.
The depreciation from the two to three year mark surprised me a great amount, i expected the bathtub curve to be a little more forgiving.
It is a great car to get in and drive, around town or on the motorway - boot space is great, and the performance is amazing.
Selling mine at the moment due to life changes/direction - i need a estate/tourer. A lot of other competition in the market, with quite a few fully loaded ones in a nicer colour.
Good luck on your search! A three year old with a full MOT @ 21-25k are circa £42-45k at the moment.
I've just taken delivery (on Sunday) of mine, I think it's going to be perfect as a daily driver, I've clocked up 800 miles this week, rushing to get the running in service out of the way and it really is a beast as well as being very comfortable but poised at the same time.
It won't be a 911, but it's great at what it does.
A couple of pics from the pick up:
It won't be a 911, but it's great at what it does.
A couple of pics from the pick up:
As a daily driver it is magnificent, although would benefit from being louder.
My average on country roads is 18mpg. On smooth roads the handling is excellent, on bumpy roads it does struggle though, it gets upset by short sharp bumps while accelerating.
Overall though it is awesome, the sheer lunacy of acceleration as it engages warp drive never fails to amuse.
My average on country roads is 18mpg. On smooth roads the handling is excellent, on bumpy roads it does struggle though, it gets upset by short sharp bumps while accelerating.
Overall though it is awesome, the sheer lunacy of acceleration as it engages warp drive never fails to amuse.
Wills2 said:
I've just taken delivery (on Sunday) of mine, I think it's going to be perfect as a daily driver, I've clocked up 800 miles this week, rushing to get the running in service out of the way and it really is a beast as well as being very comfortable but poised at the same time.
It won't be a 911, but it's great at what it does.
A couple of pics from the pick up:
Nicely fitted out garage & reminds me i need to get quotes to man mine up a littleIt won't be a 911, but it's great at what it does.
A couple of pics from the pick up:
Given the PN plate, did you acquire yours from Bowkers? Also, is that Silverstone interior? My 1st F10 M5 was Singapore Grey with Silverstone but it always struck me how cream Silverstone leather is.
W8PMC said:
Nicely fitted out garage & reminds me i need to get quotes to man mine up a little
Given the PN plate, did you acquire yours from Bowkers? Also, is that Silverstone interior? My 1st F10 M5 was Singapore Grey with Silverstone but it always struck me how cream Silverstone leather is.
It is nicely fitted out, but it's not mine that's the dealers handover room! (I wish my garage looked like that) Given the PN plate, did you acquire yours from Bowkers? Also, is that Silverstone interior? My 1st F10 M5 was Singapore Grey with Silverstone but it always struck me how cream Silverstone leather is.
Lloyd colne supplied the car, the interior is individual Platinum merino extended looks very much like Silverstone in the picture but is a much warmer lemony cream in real life. It also extends down the sides of the centre console and covers the lower half of the dash as well and the rear of the seats compared to the standard leather.
Edited by Wills2 on Friday 6th March 10:43
Wills2 said:
W8PMC said:
Nicely fitted out garage & reminds me i need to get quotes to man mine up a little
Given the PN plate, did you acquire yours from Bowkers? Also, is that Silverstone interior? My 1st F10 M5 was Singapore Grey with Silverstone but it always struck me how cream Silverstone leather is.
It is nicely fitted out, but it's not mine that's the dealers handover room! (I wish my garage looked like that) Given the PN plate, did you acquire yours from Bowkers? Also, is that Silverstone interior? My 1st F10 M5 was Singapore Grey with Silverstone but it always struck me how cream Silverstone leather is.
Lloyd colne supplied the car, the interior is individual Platinum merino extended looks very much like Silverstone in the picture but is a much warmer lemony cream in real life. It also extends down the sides of the centre console and covers the lower half of the dash as well and the rear of the seats compared to the standard leather.
Edited by Wills2 on Friday 6th March 10:43
- very* nice colour combination with the platinum merino - is that azurite?
Do you mind listing the full spec?
800 miles in the first week is jolly good going too!
Edited by theboss on Friday 6th March 11:00
theboss said:
- very* nice colour combination with the platinum merino - is that azurite?
Do you mind listing the full spec?
800 miles in the first week is jolly good going too!
Edited by theboss on Friday 6th March 11:00
Sapphire black
Merino platinum leather
20" wheels
M Multi function seats
reversing camera
online entertainment
Internet
Privacy glass
It was in stock un registered, the only thing I would have changed is piano trim instead of aluminium, but it's over £1500 to retro fit that.
I think blue/silverstone sounds lovely.
Boo's Dad said:
Guys,
I'm thinking of getting a circa 15-20K miles F10 M5 for use as my daily driver. What real world mpg can I expect and will I be disappointed with the handling / weight? Currently use a 997 GTS so obviously I don't expect it to handle as well as that but I'd hate to buy one and be really disappointed!
Any thoughts? Thanks.
The subjective feel of the car won't be up to the GTS. It does not have the nimbleness, the precision, the delicacy, intimacy nor the "instrument-like" quality of a good 911. It's also not rear engined of course os it misses out on all the dimensionality and depth of experience that that brings to the Godlike 911.I'm thinking of getting a circa 15-20K miles F10 M5 for use as my daily driver. What real world mpg can I expect and will I be disappointed with the handling / weight? Currently use a 997 GTS so obviously I don't expect it to handle as well as that but I'd hate to buy one and be really disappointed!
Any thoughts? Thanks.
It's heavy, a little blunt and lacking in real feedback/feel but for a heavy car of this type my feeling is that it manages pretty well and BMW have been able to engineer quite a bit of character into the car, esp the drivetrain.
And talking of the drivetrain, a few squirts in sport+ and you will forgive any grievances you might have for other aspects of the car. The box and engine are quite breathtaking and the rate that the thing can munch ground is simply laugh out loud ridiculous. A standard car will outrun a 997 Turbo S so its going to be a big leap up from your GTS.
Would I have one as an only car ? I am not so sure about that. Yes it's an amazing car, an amazing daily drive and a fabulous place to be in every single day but it doesn't really nail the 'special drivers car' thing. But then its a 4 door saloon based on a mass production platform and one should manage their expectations accordingly. It also needs a huge huge road to make it come alive. When you do find that road and start to string a few bends and straights together with maximum throttle, maximum braking and maximum grip then you are going far far too fast than anyone should ever really go on any UK road.
So opportunities to really stretch the beasts legs are few and far between and many journeys in the car can be a fairly sober lesson really in restraint. I tend to offset that though by using the gears a lot, enjoying the sound, the pops and blips and kicking the tail out here and there for giggles. The car has a ton of presence and lots of special character. I always remind myself that its a daily, carries 4 people and has a huge boot. When you think of it like that, you can only smile to yourself and love the thing.
Final footnote. Yes, the M5 does not have the purity and intimacy of good drivers car but what it does have is a purity of handling. IN a textbook sense the handling is at least the equal of your GTS. Engine in the front, rear wheels driven. The breakaway is amazingly progressive and linear, the chassis is extremely well balanced, you have power on tap to overwhelm the car at any given moment, its completely driveable on the throttle and although it will eventually understeer in certain scenarios, you can easily drive through this with the right foot. If you are prepared to exploit all of that, then its actually fun in a way that many other of the best drivers car aren't.
Edited by jackal on Friday 6th March 17:12
jackal said:
The subjective feel of the car won't be up to the GTS. It does not have the nimbleness, the precision, the delicacy, intimacy nor the "instrument-like" quality of a good 911. It's also not rear engined of course os it misses out on all the dimensionality and depth of experience that that brings to the Godlike 911.
It's heavy, a little blunt and lacking in real feedback/feel but for a heavy car of this type my feeling is that it manages pretty well and BMW have been able to engineer quite a bit of character into the car, esp the drivetrain.
And talking of the drivetrain, a few squirts in sport+ and you will forgive any grievances you might have for other aspects of the car. The box and engine are quite breathtaking and the rate that the thing can munch ground is simply laugh out loud ridiculous. A standard car will outrun a 997 Turbo S so its going to be a big leap up from your GTS.
Would I have one as an only car ? I am not so sure about that. Yes it's an amazing car, an amazing daily drive and a fabulous place to be in every single day but it doesn't really nail the 'special drivers car' thing. But then its a 4 door saloon based on a mass production platform and one should manage their expectations accordingly. It also needs a huge huge road to make it come alive. When you do find that road and start to string a few bends and straights together with maximum throttle, maximum braking and maximum grip then you are going far far too fast than anyone should ever really go on any UK road.
So opportunities to really stretch the beasts legs are few and far between and many journeys in the car can be a fairly sober lesson really in restraint. I tend to offset that though by using the gears a lot, enjoying the sound, the pops and blips and kicking the tail out here and there for giggles. The car has a ton of presence and lots of special character. I always remind myself that its a daily, carries 4 people and has a huge boot. When you think of it like that, you can only smile to yourself and love the thing.
Final footnote. Yes, the M5 does not have the purity and intimacy of good drivers car but what it does have is a purity of handling. IN a textbook sense the handling is at least the equal of your GTS. Engine in the front, rear wheels driven. The breakaway is amazingly progressive and linear, the chassis is extremely well balanced, you have power on tap to overwhelm the car at any given moment, its completely driveable on the throttle and although it will eventually understeer in certain scenarios, you can easily drive through this with the right foot. If you are prepared to exploit all of that, then its actually fun in a way that many other of the best drivers car aren't.
Great post! Picked mine up a couple of months ago and have to admit it really is a serious machine. Very pleased so far.It's heavy, a little blunt and lacking in real feedback/feel but for a heavy car of this type my feeling is that it manages pretty well and BMW have been able to engineer quite a bit of character into the car, esp the drivetrain.
And talking of the drivetrain, a few squirts in sport+ and you will forgive any grievances you might have for other aspects of the car. The box and engine are quite breathtaking and the rate that the thing can munch ground is simply laugh out loud ridiculous. A standard car will outrun a 997 Turbo S so its going to be a big leap up from your GTS.
Would I have one as an only car ? I am not so sure about that. Yes it's an amazing car, an amazing daily drive and a fabulous place to be in every single day but it doesn't really nail the 'special drivers car' thing. But then its a 4 door saloon based on a mass production platform and one should manage their expectations accordingly. It also needs a huge huge road to make it come alive. When you do find that road and start to string a few bends and straights together with maximum throttle, maximum braking and maximum grip then you are going far far too fast than anyone should ever really go on any UK road.
So opportunities to really stretch the beasts legs are few and far between and many journeys in the car can be a fairly sober lesson really in restraint. I tend to offset that though by using the gears a lot, enjoying the sound, the pops and blips and kicking the tail out here and there for giggles. The car has a ton of presence and lots of special character. I always remind myself that its a daily, carries 4 people and has a huge boot. When you think of it like that, you can only smile to yourself and love the thing.
Final footnote. Yes, the M5 does not have the purity and intimacy of good drivers car but what it does have is a purity of handling. IN a textbook sense the handling is at least the equal of your GTS. Engine in the front, rear wheels driven. The breakaway is amazingly progressive and linear, the chassis is extremely well balanced, you have power on tap to overwhelm the car at any given moment, its completely driveable on the throttle and although it will eventually understeer in certain scenarios, you can easily drive through this with the right foot. If you are prepared to exploit all of that, then its actually fun in a way that many other of the best drivers car aren't.
Edited by jackal on Friday 6th March 17:12
jackal said:
The subjective feel of the car won't be up to the GTS. It does not have the nimbleness, the precision, the delicacy, intimacy nor the "instrument-like" quality of a good 911. It's also not rear engined of course os it misses out on all the dimensionality and depth of experience that that brings to the Godlike 911.
It's heavy, a little blunt and lacking in real feedback/feel but for a heavy car of this type my feeling is that it manages pretty well and BMW have been able to engineer quite a bit of character into the car, esp the drivetrain.
And talking of the drivetrain, a few squirts in sport+ and you will forgive any grievances you might have for other aspects of the car. The box and engine are quite breathtaking and the rate that the thing can munch ground is simply laugh out loud ridiculous. A standard car will outrun a 997 Turbo S so its going to be a big leap up from your GTS.
Would I have one as an only car ? I am not so sure about that. Yes it's an amazing car, an amazing daily drive and a fabulous place to be in every single day but it doesn't really nail the 'special drivers car' thing. But then its a 4 door saloon based on a mass production platform and one should manage their expectations accordingly. It also needs a huge huge road to make it come alive. When you do find that road and start to string a few bends and straights together with maximum throttle, maximum braking and maximum grip then you are going far far too fast than anyone should ever really go on any UK road.
So opportunities to really stretch the beasts legs are few and far between and many journeys in the car can be a fairly sober lesson really in restraint. I tend to offset that though by using the gears a lot, enjoying the sound, the pops and blips and kicking the tail out here and there for giggles. The car has a ton of presence and lots of special character. I always remind myself that its a daily, carries 4 people and has a huge boot. When you think of it like that, you can only smile to yourself and love the thing.
Final footnote. Yes, the M5 does not have the purity and intimacy of good drivers car but what it does have is a purity of handling. IN a textbook sense the handling is at least the equal of your GTS. Engine in the front, rear wheels driven. The breakaway is amazingly progressive and linear, the chassis is extremely well balanced, you have power on tap to overwhelm the car at any given moment, its completely driveable on the throttle and although it will eventually understeer in certain scenarios, you can easily drive through this with the right foot. If you are prepared to exploit all of that, then its actually fun in a way that many other of the best drivers car aren't.
So so true, couldn't of put it better myself. Mine's gone now and I do miss it massively for it's adrenalin rush but not it's ordinary feel being a 5 series BMW.It's heavy, a little blunt and lacking in real feedback/feel but for a heavy car of this type my feeling is that it manages pretty well and BMW have been able to engineer quite a bit of character into the car, esp the drivetrain.
And talking of the drivetrain, a few squirts in sport+ and you will forgive any grievances you might have for other aspects of the car. The box and engine are quite breathtaking and the rate that the thing can munch ground is simply laugh out loud ridiculous. A standard car will outrun a 997 Turbo S so its going to be a big leap up from your GTS.
Would I have one as an only car ? I am not so sure about that. Yes it's an amazing car, an amazing daily drive and a fabulous place to be in every single day but it doesn't really nail the 'special drivers car' thing. But then its a 4 door saloon based on a mass production platform and one should manage their expectations accordingly. It also needs a huge huge road to make it come alive. When you do find that road and start to string a few bends and straights together with maximum throttle, maximum braking and maximum grip then you are going far far too fast than anyone should ever really go on any UK road.
So opportunities to really stretch the beasts legs are few and far between and many journeys in the car can be a fairly sober lesson really in restraint. I tend to offset that though by using the gears a lot, enjoying the sound, the pops and blips and kicking the tail out here and there for giggles. The car has a ton of presence and lots of special character. I always remind myself that its a daily, carries 4 people and has a huge boot. When you think of it like that, you can only smile to yourself and love the thing.
Final footnote. Yes, the M5 does not have the purity and intimacy of good drivers car but what it does have is a purity of handling. IN a textbook sense the handling is at least the equal of your GTS. Engine in the front, rear wheels driven. The breakaway is amazingly progressive and linear, the chassis is extremely well balanced, you have power on tap to overwhelm the car at any given moment, its completely driveable on the throttle and although it will eventually understeer in certain scenarios, you can easily drive through this with the right foot. If you are prepared to exploit all of that, then its actually fun in a way that many other of the best drivers car aren't.
Edited by jackal on Friday 6th March 17:12
Mines a daily. Do around 14k a year and averaging 17.7mpg.
Fabulous daily driver. Comfortable, loads of toys, biblically fast.
Cannot recommend one enough.
But for real driving feel and pleasure I have my Cerb. Jackal's summation is very succinct.
Fabulous daily driver. Comfortable, loads of toys, biblically fast.
Cannot recommend one enough.
But for real driving feel and pleasure I have my Cerb. Jackal's summation is very succinct.
Edited by PGNCerbera on Friday 6th March 22:31
I don't think I'd have been happy getting rid of my 911 for the m5. They offer completely different driving experiences; the m5 can't match the feel/handling of the 911. The m5 is very fast and would smash the GTS in a straight line, but the power delivery is very different from the NA 911 - there is inevitably a bit of lag before it unleashes its crazy power and, for comparison, the m5's TT motor feels marginally less responsive than the VTG turbos in my 1st gen 997 turbo. Another point of comparison: the traction on the m5 is way down when compared to the 911, whether compared to 2WD or AWD.
But, as an all-rounder, the m5 is probably impossible to beat imho.
I use mine as a daily driver to/from London - it's averaging 17.8mpg, for horrific London traffic. I don't use start/stop, but it would probably give much better MPG if I did. Anyway, 17.8mpg is incredible for such a beast. The range is also great because of the large tank.
But, as an all-rounder, the m5 is probably impossible to beat imho.
I use mine as a daily driver to/from London - it's averaging 17.8mpg, for horrific London traffic. I don't use start/stop, but it would probably give much better MPG if I did. Anyway, 17.8mpg is incredible for such a beast. The range is also great because of the large tank.
I do find it odd when people want to buy a car like this then get concerned about mpg. If you can afford the car is the petrol an issue?
Anyway, surely the best way to tell if you will like it or not is to try one? I seem to recall that you can borrow an M5 (or any Beemer) - I think the theory is that you rent it fro, BMW for a few days. I'm sure I read some dealers did this without charge if they felt someone was serious, but worst case you spend hundreds as opposed to tens of thousands on a car you aren't hapoy with?
Anyway, surely the best way to tell if you will like it or not is to try one? I seem to recall that you can borrow an M5 (or any Beemer) - I think the theory is that you rent it fro, BMW for a few days. I'm sure I read some dealers did this without charge if they felt someone was serious, but worst case you spend hundreds as opposed to tens of thousands on a car you aren't hapoy with?
Patrick Bateman said:
It is a valid concern. Couple crap economy with a fuel tank that's too small and your range is hit (e60).
If that is the concern then I can see that point but range or fuel tank weren't mentioned were they?Then get a car that is meant for covering long distances without refuelling. Diesels are good for that. I can't imagine the 911 has a bigger tank/better economy combination and therefore greater range?
Often I hear people worrying about fuel economy on a 60-80k car and (range excepted) I think perhaps they are looking at the wrong car/ballpark if the cost is the factor.
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