E60 V10 M5

[harry01hog]

Having lusted after one of these for a while, I've decided to take the plunge. I know all about the SMG issues etc having read the excellent buyers guide on here, but as I'm only going to use it for weekends/holidays (say 6000/year tops) I'm prepared to take the hit.

However I have a dilemma - mileage? Would I be better going for a very low mileage one such as the ones for sale at Hexagon Classics in London (they have 2 - an 06 plate with 11400 miles, and an 08 plate with 18000 miles - both £34000) or one with slightly higher mileage such as Munich Legends (06 plate with 24600 miles at £26750) ?

There are several on PH with higher mileage as well (Sytner Boreham Wood 06 plate 45000 miles £25000/Cooper BMW 07 plate 58000 miles £23500) for example.

Any ideas/suggestions as which would be better ? I'm slightly wary over very low mileage cars as I wonder if they have ever been driven or warmed through properly?

[Shaoxter]

As usual, buy on condition rather than mileage. Seeing as you're looking for cars under 60k miles, buy the best example you can and then put a BMW Insured Warranty on it.

You'd be mad to even consider those Hexagon cars IMO, drive it for a couple of years and you'll probably lose half your money come trade in time.

[matty13]

I got one of these in September . You won't regret it . I brought on condition and history , you won't go far wrong

[AW10]

I would go for one though a BMW main dealer - you get some peace of mind though the BMW approved used car warranty for the first year and there's no aggro extending the warranty after that year is up. But still go through the car and its service history carefully to make sure everything is as it should be.

[Dan_M5]

I bought a 48k FBMWSH for 16k last year private and put mondial on it. Lower mileage doesn't mean good.

[Carpmart]

I took my e60 M5 to over 110k miles. I bailed as I started to get nervous with that kind of miles on that engine. It really matters not which of the ones you've highlighted you buy, they are all UBER low mileage. Condition, feel, intuition are the metrics to use... head not heart!

[markclow]

Great cars when everything is working A1. Great pull up-top, great handling, so-so brakes, nice interior. However lots of things that go wrong and lots of trips to the gas station.

I think there are better alternatives, such as E63 etc.

[manand38]

markclow said:

Great cars when everything is working A1. Great pull up-top, great handling, so-so brakes, nice interior. However lots of things that go wrong and lots of trips to the gas station.

I think there are better alternatives, such as E63 etc.

Have you owned one?
All //M cars have things go wrong, trust me, I have 3.
Brakes, I've never had any problems, even at the Nurburgring.
It's a V10 5 litre, like any supercar, it'll drink fuel.

[andymc]

Dan_M5 said:

I bought a 48k FBMWSH for 16k last year private and put mondial on it. Lower mileage doesn't mean good.

have you used the warranty?

[markclow]

manand38 said:

Have you owned one?
All //M cars have things go wrong, trust me, I have 3.
Brakes, I've never had any problems, even at the Nurburgring.
It's a V10 5 litre, like any supercar, it'll drink fuel.

Yep I had one (6 speed in USA) and I stand by my opinion. And you are not the only one who has owned m cars. So you don't need to tell me that they go wrong, Mine gave me enough problems to detract from the experience of owning the car.

And there is a reason why many people upgrade the brakes on them.

I think there are better alternatives.

Edited by markclow on Monday 6th March 02:01

[Dan_M5]

andymc said:

Dan_M5 said:

I bought a 48k FBMWSH for 16k last year private and put mondial on it. Lower mileage doesn't mean good.

have you used the warranty?

Yes,

New Engine, New Rear Shock, New Alternator

[andygtt]

Love the E60 so much Ive had 2.... unfortunately both of them are on my drive terminally broken with unexpected mechanical failure despite proper maintenance

for both cars I didn't have a warrant, bought on condition rather than mileage as I used to say don't buy if you can't afford to maintain.... I've changed my tune now as have had to financial write off both.

I might get one fixed if the engine isn't terminal, but the other is scrap (electrical issue) and the engine is now in my capri project

Pay for a BMW warrant!

[Mikeeb]

Andy, still the Vanos pump/line failure or something else now?

[Schermerhorn]

Those who have never had to use their warranty are a few of the lucky ones. Just about everyone I have spoken to or met who has had one of these tells me the same thing, either one/a few or all of the below have been changed:

Clutch
Flywheel
Throttle actuators
SMG pump
VANOS related issues
Various electrical gremlins


I think the engine and drivetrain was just a bit too ahead of its time and the engineering hadn't really caught up to make it properly reliable as most highly strung/high revving N/A engines of the time (Ferraris etc) were similarly temperamental in their nature.

Loved my M6 and hated it in equal measure sometimes too but would probably never have one again. Just too much of a headache to own from my experience.

[cosworth330]

Schermerhorn said:

Those who have never had to use their warranty are a few of the lucky ones. Just about everyone I have spoken to or met who has had one of these tells me the same thing, either one/a few or all of the below have been changed:

Clutch
Flywheel
Throttle actuators
SMG pump
VANOS related issues
Various electrical gremlins


I think the engine and drivetrain was just a bit too ahead of its time and the engineering hadn't really caught up to make it properly reliable as most highly strung/high revving N/A engines of the time (Ferraris etc) were similarly temperamental in their nature.

Loved my M6 and hated it in equal measure sometimes too but would probably never have one again. Just too much of a headache to own from my experience.

It seemed like you had endless problems with yours, I remember all your threads. About the time you sold it I had owned my M5 for coming up 2 years and never had any problems. Since then throttle actuators and vanos solenoids under warranty.

[Cactussed]

I had throttle actuators, tailgate wiring loom, soft close wiring / mechanism, dsc unit and various other bits and bobs.
All within a year. All under warranty on a FBMWSH car.
Not best pleased. Got rid.

[manand38]

I don't know. All my //M cars have had issues, it's the nature of the beast. M5, SCL and M Coupe.

Think you really need to compare the E60 with V10s of the time. How have the Fezzas and Lambos faired from that period?

[Mags]

I've had an E61 (Touring) M5 for coming up to 2 years now. The Mondial warranty has paid for itself, Oil cooler split and throttle actuators as well as coil packs (possibly clumsy technician!) I think my tailgate loom has a problem now as the heated window has packed up but otherwise everything is good. I bought at about 58k miles and am up to about 68k now. It had sat around before I bought it so a new battery and regulator/rectifier was required a few weeks after purchase.
I love it and so does my wife, it's such a capable car, I took it down to the south of France last summer and it was great, yes the fuel tank is small and empties pretty quickly but its a 500bhp 2 tonne car, go figure. Last week I had it filled to the brim moving a load of stuff just like any other estate car.
I hope it continues to be solid, it's a great car and I've even grown to be happy with the gearbox. I do like the Audi RS6 and whatever Merc E touring equiv is but I've always loved BMW's and had a few M cars in my time so have no intentions of changing at the moment.

[Cactussed]

That was the other thing.
I don't expect great MPG from a heavy car with a V10.
I DO expect a fuel tank bigger than my right testicle.

Took it to France on year also. Via literally every service station en route.
Then had to fill up 5 times whilst down there.
Its not hugely expensive, just incredibly, hugely annoying.

[Schermerhorn]

manand38 said:

I don't know. All my //M cars have had issues, it's the nature of the beast. M5, SCL and M Coupe.

Think you really need to compare the E60 with V10s of the time. How have the Fezzas and Lambos faired from that period?

Not really a fair comparison. Lots of Gallardos etc of the time are still on pretty low mileage and the same applies to high revving V8 Ferrari F430s too. The E6x range was supposed to be used every day but they are just too tempremental for that and you're never sure when the next 4 figure bill is looming.