05 STI to E39 M5

05 STI to E39 M5

Author
Discussion

Jim1985

Original Poster:

227 posts

170 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
quotequote all
Currently driving a 2005 Impreza STI mapped to around 330bhp. I've also just started doing track days. I've been wanting an M5 for about 13 years now. I normally get bored of my cars after about six months but after 18 months of the STI I'm starting to get itchy feet. I fancy something fast and German and a little nicer inside. Servicing costs put me off in the past but I imagine the independents are reasonable.
Anyone done a similar change? Would I be disappointed? Would it struggle on track? I know brakes are a weak point...

Cemesis

771 posts

161 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
quotequote all
Buying an M5 for track work and coming from an STI would be a bad move and I'm a big M5 fan.

Take a look at an E46 M3 SMG instead as that will feel special on a track.

TheAngryDog

12,394 posts

208 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
quotequote all
+1. You can take an M5 on track, but an E46 M3 would suit you better.

Jim1985

Original Poster:

227 posts

170 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
quotequote all
Ah I'm a bit disappointed. E46s just aren't special enough IMO.

nonuts

15,855 posts

228 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
quotequote all
The brakes aren't so bad on track in an e39 M5 as long as you have good pads / fluid and original discs.

That being said it's a heavy, thirsty car that costs a lot to keep in the condition you'd want if doing regular track days.

An e36 M3 evo in good condition would be a lot more fun on track from my point of view.

Jim1985

Original Poster:

227 posts

170 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
quotequote all
Ah I'll probably keep mine then for a bit longer. I like E36s but only as a lower budget car.

TheAngryDog

12,394 posts

208 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
quotequote all
Jim1985 said:
Ah I'm a bit disappointed. E46s just aren't special enough IMO.
Why? An M5 weighs 4000lbs. It's a heavy V8 engined autobahn stormer that will do sub 5 seconds to 60 if launched right and crack 186mph. It is not a track car, but can act the hooligan biggrin. If you want a track car keep your Impreza.

Jim1985

Original Poster:

227 posts

170 months

Tuesday 23rd December 2014
quotequote all
The M5 was the be all and end all car to me for a very long time. It became a definite aim for me when I had my hot hatches and now I'm in a position to possibly upgrade to one it seems like it may not be 100% suited to what I want from it.

TheAngryDog

12,394 posts

208 months

Wednesday 24th December 2014
quotequote all
Jim1985 said:
The M5 was the be all and end all car to me for a very long time. It became a definite aim for me when I had my hot hatches and now I'm in a position to possibly upgrade to one it seems like it may not be 100% suited to what I want from it.
They can be tracked, I know people who do, but it isn't what an M5 was built for. You can fit bigger brakes and coilover suspension etc and these do not tend to ruin the day to day ride of the car if you go for the right set - BC Racing appear to be held in good regard.

If its occasional track days you want, then it would be worth considering an M5. If it is more track days then day to day driving you want from it, then you need to reconsider.

Also, a 300bhp Impreza is going to be quicker around a track than an M5.

cosworth330

1,299 posts

236 months

Wednesday 24th December 2014
quotequote all
I had an E36 M3 Evo which had a few mods and ran R888's , did The Ring and various track days over the 3 yrs I had it and it was a fantastic car. Previous to this I ran a heavily modded 3dr Cossie for about 5yrs and did lots of trackdays. M3 was a better car on track.
After the M3 I bought an E39 M5 which I had for almost 5yrs but it felt too big to hammer on track and too heavy plus the costs were too expensive.
The same month I bought the M5 I bought a Mk2 Golf gti 16v for £360 off eBay and it took me about a year to build it into a track car with a cage, bigger brakes , coil overs and 2.0 16v lump. I had more fun in this than I ever did in any of my other cars on track days ( Lydden hill is my local track ) as I could push it to its limits and more without any worry if I crashed plus parts were so cheap and small 15 inch wheels.

Sold the above and have had the V10 M5 for the last year but won't bother tracking that either. Will build another cheap track car at some point .

I would keep your Subaru for now. An M5 is too heavy for regular track days.


Edited by cosworth330 on Wednesday 24th December 11:01

Jim1985

Original Poster:

227 posts

170 months

Friday 26th December 2014
quotequote all

Track days for me are less about chasing times and being fast around a track and more about being able to enjoy my car driven quickly without fear of police, oncoming traffic or lampposts.

Recently I HAD decided to keep my STI. But after driving past one yesterday, and thoughts of the V8 and all that torque... I can't get the M5 out of my head!

I fit coilovers to all my cars, so that's not an issue... And it would be a daily as well. 3 weekends in the month it would be taking me to Nandos. On the 4th it'd be at Oulton Park. One a month MAXIMUM.

I'm still so keen. Especially because I dont care about facelift or rear blind or widescreen display or telephone, I'm half convinced I could get a bargain. I want a dark coloured example with less than 130,000 miles for less than £7000.
Is this do-able? Will I get stung with a billion pound suspension bill?

cosworth330

1,299 posts

236 months

Friday 26th December 2014
quotequote all
If your set on getting one ( they are fantastic cars). Andyran on here did a few trackdays in his E39 M5 when he had it and Leezamonkey over on M5board did a lot a trackdays in his with standard 140,000 mile suspension and brakes. Went to Lydden twice with Lee and he could really throw his M5 around the circuit but tyres wore out very quickly

Always check the 4 jacking points underneath as quite a few are rotten. It might take you a while to find a good one as they are getting thin on the ground. My old one is up for sale on BMW5 series forum , Silverstone one with Eisenmann and BBK.

cosworth330

1,299 posts

236 months

Friday 26th December 2014
quotequote all
You might get one under 7k but chances are it'll be a bit ropey. Problem is all the good ones are going up in value. If you get one that needs a bit work it could work out very expensive.

e21Mark

16,205 posts

172 months

Friday 26th December 2014
quotequote all
A cheap M5 will most likely become an expensive one very quickly.

Have you driven an E46 M3? I know you said they don't appeal but they're extremely capable and great fun. You'll have more choice for your budget too.

(Get one with a carbon airbox and your ears will thank you for it)

This even has a warranty

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-BMW-E46-M3-SMG2-343...

Edited by e21Mark on Friday 26th December 09:06

rb5er

11,657 posts

171 months

Friday 26th December 2014
quotequote all
Surely a 300bhp impreza has more torque than a standard M5 and is much lighter?

The M5 is a big old tank on huge wide wheels. Very expensive on track consumables. Wrong car for the job. E36 better suited as suggested.

TheAngryDog

12,394 posts

208 months

Friday 26th December 2014
quotequote all
And M5 has 369 ftlbs of torque but it's a heavy car to move. If a 300bhp Impreza has more torque then it must drive like a diesel!

Patrick Bateman

12,143 posts

173 months

Friday 26th December 2014
quotequote all
By many accounts the brakes on these are a weak spot but they're fine for road use despite what some folk say.

I was away to say that they'll likely be exposed on track but then just remembered when the e39 was the ring taxi it just had a pad and fluid upgrade if I recall correctly. I suspect a tight circuit would still expose it though.

Buy from an enthusiast that's had lots of work done-

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/104029-2001-facelift...

Oh and personally, don't factor in colour unless there's one you really can't stand (unlikely) or are happy to make an already difficult/rare search even more so.

Edited by Patrick Bateman on Friday 26th December 13:07

TheAngryDog

12,394 posts

208 months

Friday 26th December 2014
quotequote all
Patrick Bateman said:
By many accounts the brakes on these are a weak spot but they're fine for road use despite what some folk say.

I was away to say that they'll likely be exposed on track but then just remembered when the e39 was the ring taxi it just had a pad and fluid upgrade if I recall correctly. I suspect a tight circuit would still expose it though.

Buy from an enthusiast that's had lots of work done-

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/104029-2001-facelift...

Oh and personally, don't factor in colour unless there's one you really can't stand (unlikely) or are happy to make an already difficult/rare search even more so.

Edited by Patrick Bateman on Friday 26th December 13:07
Sound words. I'm not familiar with Oulton Park but looking at the layout I actually think an M5 on coilovers would do ok.

If you had've been closer OP I'd of let you have a drive of mine. Its not the best example but it would've given you an idea.

Jim1985

Original Poster:

227 posts

170 months

Friday 26th December 2014
quotequote all

Im going to register on some forums - any recommended uk based ones?

I'm not after a car that's specifically faster than my STI, I just don't want it to feel like a step down in performance. Plus I can always buy another STI, I feel the market for E39 M5s may have bottomed... This might be my only chance! Plus I'm expecting a company car in the next year so that should help. Then it'll probably get sold on when I move in eighteen months or so and get an inexpensive buzzy little hatchback for track duties.

That posted example sounds ideal- I can't see pics though. Ill have to register

cosworth330

1,299 posts

236 months

Friday 26th December 2014
quotequote all
Jim1985 said:
Im going to register on some forums - any recommended uk based ones?

I'm not after a car that's specifically faster than my STI, I just don't want it to feel like a step down in performance. Plus I can always buy another STI, I feel the market for E39 M5s may have bottomed... This might be my only chance! Plus I'm expecting a company car in the next year so that should help. Then it'll probably get sold on when I move in eighteen months or so and get an inexpensive buzzy little hatchback for track duties.

That posted example sounds ideal- I can't see pics though. Ill have to register
Bottom of the rear door is corroded. Been for sale since October so may come down in price. Check the usual corrosion points as it may have more.