E39 M5 Buying advice
Discussion
People are worry about the m5 because it was an expencive car when new and this goes from the e28 to the e60 v10, so they are generally be costly to run when they are older. The advise on the e39 is not saying there is alot of crap out there on the market but some which could be costly in relation to the purchase price .
Power for pound I don't think there has been a better time to buy not only an M-Power classic but a 400 BHP manuel RWD V8 saloon which drives like a limo or a track day racer, depending on your mood of the minute. You Tube the hire e39 and you'll be hooked
cheers Matt
Power for pound I don't think there has been a better time to buy not only an M-Power classic but a 400 BHP manuel RWD V8 saloon which drives like a limo or a track day racer, depending on your mood of the minute. You Tube the hire e39 and you'll be hooked
cheers Matt
I did 300 miles in mine yesterday, mostly cross country, in pissy slippy weather, but I got out after being in the car for 6 hours as fresh as when I got in it.
Its cross country ability to take advantage of the slimmest overtaking opportunities is brilliant, it's comfortable and by god I'm glad I bought it!
Mine is defintiely a keeper until it collapses in a pile of dust or something major breaks - its worth bugger all now for what its capabilities are so why get rid for something "newer" when this is such a capable machine?
Its cross country ability to take advantage of the slimmest overtaking opportunities is brilliant, it's comfortable and by god I'm glad I bought it!
Mine is defintiely a keeper until it collapses in a pile of dust or something major breaks - its worth bugger all now for what its capabilities are so why get rid for something "newer" when this is such a capable machine?
Not exactly the M5 but some E39 things to look out for
http://www.bmw-sport.net/showthread.php?p=2116
edited to correct link
http://www.bmw-sport.net/showthread.php?p=2116
edited to correct link
Would anyone care to comment re my earlier questions re buying an E60 vs E39....
- it looks like I will be instantly taking a depreciation hit on an e60, however, how far can it really fall in the next year? If it falls 6k to sub 20k where does that leave the very best e39s?
- the e60s will keep falling and so the e39s will have to , do you think we are looking at a depreciation halt at £20k is and does this then make the e60 the much better solution?
- it strikes me that I could spend a long time finding a great e 39 whilst I could go and pick up a great e60 tomorrow or am I talking bollix?
- it looks like I will be instantly taking a depreciation hit on an e60, however, how far can it really fall in the next year? If it falls 6k to sub 20k where does that leave the very best e39s?
- the e60s will keep falling and so the e39s will have to , do you think we are looking at a depreciation halt at £20k is and does this then make the e60 the much better solution?
- it strikes me that I could spend a long time finding a great e 39 whilst I could go and pick up a great e60 tomorrow or am I talking bollix?
jon b16 said:
Would anyone care to comment re my earlier questions re buying an E60 vs E39....
- it looks like I will be instantly taking a depreciation hit on an e60, however, how far can it really fall in the next year? If it falls 6k to sub 20k where does that leave the very best e39s?
The tattyist, leggiest E60 may be 20k by next year. The best E39's will hold their price if the sellers hold on, the same way the best E36 EVOS go for about 8k, the price of the cheapest E39's. - it looks like I will be instantly taking a depreciation hit on an e60, however, how far can it really fall in the next year? If it falls 6k to sub 20k where does that leave the very best e39s?
[/quote]
The tattyist, leggiest E60 may be 20k by next year. The best E39's will hold their price if the sellers hold on, the same way the best E36 EVOS go for about 8k, the price of the cheapest E39's.
[/quote]
Same as any model ///M car I think, having owned 2 e34 M5's and now an e39 - there are good and bad of every model, some e34 M5's look great bargains aswell as some e39 M5's do and no doubt e60's will too but the best well cared for cars with the right history will always command top money and give the best ownership experiences.
Cheap is very rarely a bargain if looking at long term.
I bought an E39 M5 two and a half years ago. It has been a fantastic car. I have the pre-face lift model. Over the time I have had the car I have met several other owners so I've been in cars which are both facelift and prefacelft and bone stock to highly modified. Though when I say modified, in this case there are normally a select few things which are changed, and typically for good reason -
Brakes - You may find cars with non standard BBK (Big brake kits) it is generally felt that the stock brakes are not up to scratch for the performance of the car. In fact they are, but it depends on how you drive it. If you like to track it, then BBK is pretty much essential, if you just drive hard regularly, standard brakes are fine. I have done emergency stops back to back with my standard brakes against a car with BBK, both stopped equally well.
Exhaust - you've seen the clips in this thread, and there are plenty more if you search about. The car is somewhat muted with the standard exhaust, though plenty of people like that sleeper aproach. I opted to change mine and I would never return to standard for as long as I own the car, intoxicating simply doesn't describe it. You purposefully wind the windows down to hear the exhaust, tunnels never sounded better and as for fuel consumption... you'll find yourself hitting the loud pedal more often just for that spine tingling roar.
Suspension - The stock suspension is excellent, though the car rides quite high, something which results in people changing either the springs alone, or opting for coilovers (my choice) in order to lower it, but also as a result the car rolls less, and ride comfort is little changed.
Short shift kit – As has been mentioned earlier in the thread the gear shift can seem a little oar like. In all honesty it isn’t that bad, but it can be dramatically improved with a short shift kit (SSK). These reduce the throw of the gear leaver. I had one fitted early on and it is generally agreed that it is one of the best value and most noticeable improvements that you can make to the general driving experience.
Other considerations -
Oil consumption – this seems to be a hot topic for M5s and I do know someone whose car likes a good drink. Normally comparisons are made between the pre-facelift and facelift models, the newer piston rings are meant to reduce the rate of consumption, and though that is clearly the case, I know facelift owners who get worse oil consumption than me, I can get several thousand miles on a litre of oil (some cars get less than 1k). It usually comes down to the driver and how they look after the car. I replace the oil mid way between service intervals as well as at the main services, newer oil lasts far longer than old and protects the engine better. It is also a sign of a fastidious owner and one who isn't prepared to cut corners in their ownership.
Leather interior – I am interested that someone earlier said to go for the heritage leather option. It is a rarer option that the standard sport and that is likely due to the premium it attracted when new. I don’t like it myself as I don’t think it suits the sporty nature of the car, think Jaguar, but likewise don’t dismiss a car because of it, as it is still a nice finish. On rare occasions you’ll find a leather alcantara mix, but this combination really is unusual and would make a car harder to sell (for no other reason than it simply not being leather) but nonetheless probably best avoided.
Vanos - Hot topic number two. Historically the cars had weak vanos when they first came out. Nearly all cars had them replaced under warranty and you can confirm this if you go to a BMW dealership with your chassis number. I did this and had a print out pages long for all sorts of issues. Fortunately for me the car in my ownership has required nothing more than regular servicing and maintenance. Vanos is however rarely as fatal or costly as BMW makes out. Find a good independent, I and many others around the London area have used Phil Crouch (CPC Automotive) who works on E39 M5s and knows how to sort out typical vanos issues without needing to spend crazy £££s.
SatNav/Comms – historically a must have when buying one of these cars for the purpose of resale, today things have moved on and the prices have fallen so far that this really shouldn’t be the criteria for choosing or rejecting a car. Tomtoms are far better as are the more recent aftermarket blue tooth kits if you want to run a phone.
Fuel consumption – Unless you are moving from a diesel you’ll be surprised at just how good (dare I say it) the fuel consumption of these cars can be. At 70mph you probably be nearing 30mpg (not an unusual speed on today’s motorways) as long as you aren’t flooring it in every gap. 90mph sees 24mpg. Around town it can drop off and if you only do short journeys expect mid teens. Drive flat out along a country lane and you may see single figures, but I would suggest at that speed you’ll be driving dangerously anyway, so probably not worth finding out.
Comfort – I noted in a previous post that someone mentioned long journeys and getting out refreshed. I couldn’t agree more. I regularly drive long journeys (100miles +) and the car really is a great place to be for the duration, you wouldn’t realise just what the car was capable of whilst sat serenly inside.
Negatives – You could be unlucky. There are reports of high repair bills when engines have issues. I can think of one person who had an engine replaced under warranty a year or so ago. Then again, so did E46 M3 owners, so don’t think this is just some M5 gremlin. Once fixed cars rarely have problems and certainly on M5board where the majority of owners congregate, you'll here few stories these days of major problems.
Mileage – There is a post somewhere on M5Board regarding cars and what mileage owners have done in them. There are plenty of reports of cars doing well into the hundred thousands miles and in some instances 200k with little trouble. Again servicing is key.
General condition – There are dogs out there. Not everyone in the past bought an M5 with a budget to run one. That isn’t to say they are expensive, but don’t think 318i! Look after it, carry out preventative maintenance and you’ll be a happy driver. I like to buy privately because I like to see where the owner lives, I like to talk to them about their ownership and if you have done your research you’ll be able to ask the right questions which will determine whether they are know their onions, or really haven’t a clue.
Hopefully that helps. Also check out the E39 section of mtorque.co.uk
Brakes - You may find cars with non standard BBK (Big brake kits) it is generally felt that the stock brakes are not up to scratch for the performance of the car. In fact they are, but it depends on how you drive it. If you like to track it, then BBK is pretty much essential, if you just drive hard regularly, standard brakes are fine. I have done emergency stops back to back with my standard brakes against a car with BBK, both stopped equally well.
Exhaust - you've seen the clips in this thread, and there are plenty more if you search about. The car is somewhat muted with the standard exhaust, though plenty of people like that sleeper aproach. I opted to change mine and I would never return to standard for as long as I own the car, intoxicating simply doesn't describe it. You purposefully wind the windows down to hear the exhaust, tunnels never sounded better and as for fuel consumption... you'll find yourself hitting the loud pedal more often just for that spine tingling roar.
Suspension - The stock suspension is excellent, though the car rides quite high, something which results in people changing either the springs alone, or opting for coilovers (my choice) in order to lower it, but also as a result the car rolls less, and ride comfort is little changed.
Short shift kit – As has been mentioned earlier in the thread the gear shift can seem a little oar like. In all honesty it isn’t that bad, but it can be dramatically improved with a short shift kit (SSK). These reduce the throw of the gear leaver. I had one fitted early on and it is generally agreed that it is one of the best value and most noticeable improvements that you can make to the general driving experience.
Other considerations -
Oil consumption – this seems to be a hot topic for M5s and I do know someone whose car likes a good drink. Normally comparisons are made between the pre-facelift and facelift models, the newer piston rings are meant to reduce the rate of consumption, and though that is clearly the case, I know facelift owners who get worse oil consumption than me, I can get several thousand miles on a litre of oil (some cars get less than 1k). It usually comes down to the driver and how they look after the car. I replace the oil mid way between service intervals as well as at the main services, newer oil lasts far longer than old and protects the engine better. It is also a sign of a fastidious owner and one who isn't prepared to cut corners in their ownership.
Leather interior – I am interested that someone earlier said to go for the heritage leather option. It is a rarer option that the standard sport and that is likely due to the premium it attracted when new. I don’t like it myself as I don’t think it suits the sporty nature of the car, think Jaguar, but likewise don’t dismiss a car because of it, as it is still a nice finish. On rare occasions you’ll find a leather alcantara mix, but this combination really is unusual and would make a car harder to sell (for no other reason than it simply not being leather) but nonetheless probably best avoided.
Vanos - Hot topic number two. Historically the cars had weak vanos when they first came out. Nearly all cars had them replaced under warranty and you can confirm this if you go to a BMW dealership with your chassis number. I did this and had a print out pages long for all sorts of issues. Fortunately for me the car in my ownership has required nothing more than regular servicing and maintenance. Vanos is however rarely as fatal or costly as BMW makes out. Find a good independent, I and many others around the London area have used Phil Crouch (CPC Automotive) who works on E39 M5s and knows how to sort out typical vanos issues without needing to spend crazy £££s.
SatNav/Comms – historically a must have when buying one of these cars for the purpose of resale, today things have moved on and the prices have fallen so far that this really shouldn’t be the criteria for choosing or rejecting a car. Tomtoms are far better as are the more recent aftermarket blue tooth kits if you want to run a phone.
Fuel consumption – Unless you are moving from a diesel you’ll be surprised at just how good (dare I say it) the fuel consumption of these cars can be. At 70mph you probably be nearing 30mpg (not an unusual speed on today’s motorways) as long as you aren’t flooring it in every gap. 90mph sees 24mpg. Around town it can drop off and if you only do short journeys expect mid teens. Drive flat out along a country lane and you may see single figures, but I would suggest at that speed you’ll be driving dangerously anyway, so probably not worth finding out.
Comfort – I noted in a previous post that someone mentioned long journeys and getting out refreshed. I couldn’t agree more. I regularly drive long journeys (100miles +) and the car really is a great place to be for the duration, you wouldn’t realise just what the car was capable of whilst sat serenly inside.
Negatives – You could be unlucky. There are reports of high repair bills when engines have issues. I can think of one person who had an engine replaced under warranty a year or so ago. Then again, so did E46 M3 owners, so don’t think this is just some M5 gremlin. Once fixed cars rarely have problems and certainly on M5board where the majority of owners congregate, you'll here few stories these days of major problems.
Mileage – There is a post somewhere on M5Board regarding cars and what mileage owners have done in them. There are plenty of reports of cars doing well into the hundred thousands miles and in some instances 200k with little trouble. Again servicing is key.
General condition – There are dogs out there. Not everyone in the past bought an M5 with a budget to run one. That isn’t to say they are expensive, but don’t think 318i! Look after it, carry out preventative maintenance and you’ll be a happy driver. I like to buy privately because I like to see where the owner lives, I like to talk to them about their ownership and if you have done your research you’ll be able to ask the right questions which will determine whether they are know their onions, or really haven’t a clue.
Hopefully that helps. Also check out the E39 section of mtorque.co.uk
RICHbe
fantastic "summary" that one.
i drive an e39 m5 thats aproaching 165,000 miles,pre facelift it hardly uses any oil and has no major problems apart from a groany heater,and "check reverse lights" keep flashing up.
anyone who has owned one of these awesome cars will not put you off buying one.
simply fantastic.
fantastic "summary" that one.
i drive an e39 m5 thats aproaching 165,000 miles,pre facelift it hardly uses any oil and has no major problems apart from a groany heater,and "check reverse lights" keep flashing up.
anyone who has owned one of these awesome cars will not put you off buying one.
simply fantastic.
Excellent post Richbe, I bought my pre face lift M5 in August and I’ve already put 10,000 miles on it already bringing its total to 128,000 mostly doing 1000 mile round trips from Portsmouth to Dunfermline. When I bought the car I did so with my heart jumping in at the deep end but as it happens I landed on my feet. The car hasn’t missed a beat and hardly uses any oil. It’s a brilliant car that hasn’t cost me a fortune to run easily getting 29.6 mpg on the motorway and 26.3 combined.
simonjermy355 said:
Excellent post Richbe, I bought my pre face lift M5 in August and I’ve already put 10,000 miles on it already bringing its total to 128,000 mostly doing 1000 mile round trips from Portsmouth to Dunfermline. When I bought the car I did so with my heart jumping in at the deep end but as it happens I landed on my feet. The car hasn’t missed a beat and hardly uses any oil. It’s a brilliant car that hasn’t cost me a fortune to run easily getting 29.6 mpg on the motorway and 26.3 combined.
that's quite something - never got above 24 in mine. average more like 21 over 165kdrivin_me_nuts said:
simonjermy355 said:
Excellent post Richbe, I bought my pre face lift M5 in August and I’ve already put 10,000 miles on it already bringing its total to 128,000 mostly doing 1000 mile round trips from Portsmouth to Dunfermline. When I bought the car I did so with my heart jumping in at the deep end but as it happens I landed on my feet. The car hasn’t missed a beat and hardly uses any oil. It’s a brilliant car that hasn’t cost me a fortune to run easily getting 29.6 mpg on the motorway and 26.3 combined.
that's quite something - never got above 24 in mine. average more like 21 over 165k
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