E39 M5 - to sell or not to sell - excuses required

[Hedgetrimmer]

I have just bought an XFR due to increased travelling at work. Unfortunately this means that I now have an "out of the box" e39 M5 doing very little mileage sitting around looking pretty.

Here's the dilemma: She was owned by a well know engine builder for 10 years who fastidiously maintained the car. I have continued this regime and all of the usual age related things have been replaced even though it is lower mileage. I doubt I would find another in the same condition without paying silly money at Hexagon.

I therefore need some excuses to not sell to fend off the misses. Any ideas will be well received...

[TheAngryDog]

Hedgetrimmer said:

I have just bought an XFR due to increased travelling at work. Unfortunately this means that I now have an "out of the box" e39 M5 doing very little mileage sitting around looking pretty.

Here's the dilemma: She was owned by a well know engine builder for 10 years who fastidiously maintained the car. I have continued this regime and all of the usual age related things have been replaced even though it is lower mileage. I doubt I would find another in the same condition without paying silly money at Hexagon.

I therefore need some excuses to not sell to fend off the misses. Any ideas will be well received...

It'll be worth more in a few years than it is now, and means when you sell more shoes for her?

[Depthhoar]

If it's as good as you say, and with really low mileage, you'll do well at sale time.

Best time to sell would be the spring/summer when prices tend to peak.

If you're looking to make some proper money then sit on the car for a few years and enjoy watching the values for low mileage, cared for E39 M5s soar.

As a bit of an aside, just had written notice that a fixed rate cash ISA I have is going to be realising 1% next year for sums over £10k. 3.1% if I shop around for another one......I think I'll buy another E39 M5 instead, meaning we'll have a 'his & hers' M-Power set-up in the household!

[Hedgetrimmer]

Now searching for a garage in my area to accidently hide it in. I am less bothered about making money. It's the fact that good ones are scarce and I don't want the hassle of finding another in years to come when I inevitably regret the sale!

[Nords]

You will always regret it, if you sell. Tell her it isn't worth anything as no one wants a old large petrol engined BM!

[r4_rick]

I'm sorry i dont get this and in no way am I aiming to offend the OP....just a different opinion...doing lots of miles in a car builds the bond, time to enjoy the comfort, build quality, not to mention the ultimate sporting mile munching that the M5 can do. Take in the admiring glances from the petrol heads in their corporate audis, no customer sniping comments when you turn up in your old bmw. Then in 10 years you take it to the local show and shine with 300k on the clock, "all by me, we had some great trips together", okay it'll depreciate and yes it'll cost at the dealer, but your lever arch file of invoices will be worth every penny!

Or sell it to me, I'll look after it for you with a promise of first refusal if i sell, i just need to get rid of a range rover sport to create the space!

As I said. not looking to offend.

[adamsgj]

+1 for the sell it.....to me

Seriously looking, would the engine builder be a man called Dave by any chance???

PM, me if you are really looking at selling

Thanks

Gareth

[smack]

What is considered low mileage these days for E39's?

[Depthhoar]

smack said:

What is considered low mileage these days for E39's?

Using totally unscientific 'straw poll' sampling techniques + skewed statistical analysis on what's available for sale now!......

30 to 40k miles - very low mileage (basically any E39 M5 on Hexagon Moderns stock list)

60 to 75k miles - low mileage (they do occasionally come up for sale)

80 to 90k miles - low-ish mileage

90 to 120k miles - typical mileages of many that appear for sale.

120 to 140k miles - "average"?

150k+ miles - high mileage?

200k+ - 'starship' mileage (they do exist - one or two at 300K+ - and some run very well indeed according to reports on BMW forums!)

The above list is basically all nonsense because some of the best condition cars can be 100k+ and owned by meticulous enthusiasts who have lavished a lot of maintenance on their P+J. Conversely, there are examples of quite poor condition cars with much lower mileages being punted by traders and private owners for a quick profit that require a lot of work and often look a bit worn as well. The British love affair with low mileage used cars....in this niche low mileage doesn't always mean lovely.

The market is a bit all over the place with prices and condition. Buyers who want to actually drive their cars (not just put them away as an 'investment') need to look at a fair number of vehicles and buy on condition, and not just use odometer readings as a way of filtering prospective purchases. The classifieds section of BMW forums can be a happy hunting ground for some of the better cars.

[Hedgetrimmer]

adamsgj said:

+1 for the sell it.....to me

Seriously looking, would the engine builder be a man called Dave by any chance???

PM, me if you are really looking at selling

Thanks

Gareth

It certainly is Dave Andrews. He looked after my Caterham for a number of years and so I have known the car for a long time (and finally prised it from him).

PM sent

[julian64]

Very thinly veiled attempt to sell a car on the forum. Poor form.

[smack]

Thanks, I was interested as I haven't looked into the used cars market for some time for E39's.

Mine has low 40k, as I have spent too much time O/S and the car always got put to sleep the moment the salt hit the roads in winter, bought from someone who was in the same boat as me. Not the car enough has resulted in it has needed many rubber based parts as they have given up the ghost, but I always have replaced items with geniune as I thought it was worth it in the long run.

julian64 said:

Very thinly veiled attempt to sell a car on the forum. Poor form.

Don't bother PM'ing me, it is not for sale...

[taz1]

Hedgetrimmer said:

I have just bought an XFR due to increased travelling at work. Unfortunately this means that I now have an "out of the box" e39 M5 doing very little mileage sitting around looking pretty.

Here's the dilemma: She was owned by a well know engine builder for 10 years who fastidiously maintained the car. I have continued this regime and all of the usual age related things have been replaced even though it is lower mileage. I doubt I would find another in the same condition without paying silly money at Hexagon.

I therefore need some excuses to not sell to fend off the misses. Any ideas will be well received...

Im currently in the market for an M5, would you still be interested in selling?