Did I make a mistake?

[TheAngryDog]

I sold my 1999 M5 (E39) in February and I am thinking that I perhaps shouldn't have, or at least bought another.

I currently have a Mazda 6 MPS and it is a very good car, and I am happy with it, but it doesn't feel special. I think its a good looking car, but it isn't as exciting as the M5. I know there is a power difference, 396bhp to 256bhp, and I know I only need to spend another £500 to get the car to around 300-320bhp, but to go the next level it would cost another £2200 minimum to get it to around 370 - 380bhp, but then there is a risk of bending the rods at this level of tune. Sure it would be as quick, if not quicker than an M5, but it will still be a Mazda 6.

Should I have kept my M5?

Or should I have saved for a bit longer and bought an Audi RS6 C5 or W211 E55 AMG (Compressor).

Vauxhall VXR8's are out of my price range.

Its odd as I fell out of love with my M5 due to the issues it had, but clearly it seems to have worked itself under my skin.

[aka_kerrly]

Were you not thinking of giving the M5 a full respray or is that another PH User?

[Terzo123]

If you don't need 4 doors, what about a Monaro?

If you could push your budget a bit, you might get into a VXR one.

Similar performance to the M5, and bucket loads of character.

[TheAngryDog]

aka_kerrly said:

Were you not thinking of giving the M5 a full respray or is that another PH User?

I was but it needed £7500 spending on it really to bring it up to spec.

Terzo123 said:

If you don't need 4 doors, what about a Monaro?

If you could push your budget a bit, you might get into a VXR one.

Similar performance to the M5, and bucket loads of character.

I prefer 4 door cars so I'd prefer a saloon. I don't mind the Monaro but just prefer the looks of the 4 door VXR.

[Monkeylegend]

TheAngryDog said:

I was but it needed £7500 spending on it really to bring it up to spec.

That must answer your question surely, presumably why you sold it.

[TheAngryDog]

Monkeylegend said:

TheAngryDog said:

I was but it needed £7500 spending on it really to bring it up to spec.

That must answer your question surely, presumably why you sold it.

Of course, but did I make the mistake in not getting another M5 or something of similar "standing"?

[Monkeylegend]

TheAngryDog said:

Monkeylegend said:

TheAngryDog said:

I was but it needed £7500 spending on it really to bring it up to spec.

That must answer your question surely, presumably why you sold it.

Of course, but did I make the mistake in not getting another M5 or something of similar "standing"?

You have got your answer then. Sell the Mazda and get another M5.

[S3_Graham]

Monkeylegend said:

TheAngryDog said:

Monkeylegend said:

TheAngryDog said:

I was but it needed £7500 spending on it really to bring it up to spec.

That must answer your question surely, presumably why you sold it.

Of course, but did I make the mistake in not getting another M5 or something of similar "standing"?

You have got your answer then. Sell the Mazda and get another M5.

E36 M3 Saloon? Perhaps slightly less wallet raping but still different and 'special'

Could also try out a 2.7TT S4?

[daveco]

TheAngryDog said:

Monkeylegend said:

TheAngryDog said:

I was but it needed £7500 spending on it really to bring it up to spec.

That must answer your question surely, presumably why you sold it.

Of course, but did I make the mistake in not getting another M5 or something of similar "standing"?

Get another M5 but be patient and wait for a good example to pop up. If the colour isn't right you can get very high quality body wrap (metallic not that matt stuff) for about £1,500 that come with ten year guarantees.

[TheAngryDog]

E39 M5 colours don't make any difference to me really, they all appeal.

I Don't fancy an E36 M3, it has to be a V8 at least . Also the S4 2.7 also doesn't really appeal.

I'd consider an E60 if I could afford one but it's going to be some time before I can, and then there's the reliability issues

Hmmmmm

[groundcontrol]

To answer the original question: yes.

[Vaud]

540i? 545i?

[TheAngryDog]

^^^ it has to be an M5, the 540 and 545 do not appeal to me.

groundcontrol said:

To answer the original question: yes.

Mrs Angrydog is not amused that I want another M5 lol

[TREMAiNE]

Your MPS is lovely... But I can see your points!

I know its not exactly the PH way, but if you like the VXR8, could you not finance the amount you can't afford? If that's the car you want?

What about an E55 AMG? 5.4 Superchaged V8, mmmm

Edited by TREMAiNE on Friday 22 May 23:29

[V8RX7]

You have to consider there is a reason that people pay more than twice the price of the MPS for an M5 when new.

That said they are too big and heavy for me but if you want a sub £10k V8 sports saloon there really isn't a better choice.

[TheAngryDog]

My credit rating is non existent thanks to an ex of mine, I'm still paying off the hole she left me in so finance is a no no

I mentioned the E55 AMG and I do like them especially as they're already nigh on 500bhp and would be over 500bhp with a remap.

I know how good the E39 M5 is and how ruinous it can be, hence the £7500 cost to put my old one right.

Decisions decisions. I should probably keep Hold of my MPS for a year really.....

[Depthhoar]

Remembering the array of problems you had with your M5, Mike, I'd say on balance you probably did the right thing selling on that particular car.

This M5 thing bites deep though doesn't it? I couldn't contemplate being without mine.

There might just be a small upside to this for you if your are thinking about getting another one soon.

This will sound like heresy to some but.....I think lower/middle market E39 M5 prices have eased a little.

There have been several really nice examples for sale recently at quite sensible prices (£7k-£8k) on other BMW forums, with reasonable mileages and the sort of history & provenance knowledgeable buyers want. Last year sellers of these sort of cars seemed to want £1.5k to £2k more for similar metal. There's some rubbish out there too, of course, but in amongst them are some very attractively priced gems.

Just do it, Mike. (You know you want to...!)

[TheAngryDog]

I know I did the best thing moving my old car on

One thing that I haven't taken into consideration yet is that any M5 I bought, it would probably need some money spending on it like suspension and bushes? One thing I have seen is that a lot of cars for sale do not appear to have these done.

[TheAngryDog]

There are some expensive M5's around!

£15k seems to get you into an E60. £11k seems to be the price for an E39 at the moment!

[a7x88]

Think I remember speaking to you about this when you first went to change.....
I'd only just got my MPS - but only as I couldn't stretch to what I really wanted - the e39 M5!!

To me an M5 will always be more than my hotted up Japanese saloon.

I would however hope that the MPS running costs are lower and seeing how frustrated you seemed with the M5 bills this may help it grow on you over time?