E39 M5 Facelift question
Discussion
Hi,
I have been looking at a lot of E39 M5s lately as I'm looking to buy.
A nice one that I have seen advertised is on an X plate with a production date of 2000-07-04, which I presume means 4th July.
However, it has corona headlights and I cannot tell if the rears are pre or post facelift. However, it has the small screen and a pre-facelift steering wheel. On the spec sheet under 'series options' it lists 522 as 'Xenon headlights' which I have seen on a 2003 model spec sheet also.
Suffice to say that I am a bit confused, as according to the BMW Registry website, it says that facelift production models started from September 2000. Any advice on this matter would be welcome.
Michael
I have been looking at a lot of E39 M5s lately as I'm looking to buy.
A nice one that I have seen advertised is on an X plate with a production date of 2000-07-04, which I presume means 4th July.
However, it has corona headlights and I cannot tell if the rears are pre or post facelift. However, it has the small screen and a pre-facelift steering wheel. On the spec sheet under 'series options' it lists 522 as 'Xenon headlights' which I have seen on a 2003 model spec sheet also.
Suffice to say that I am a bit confused, as according to the BMW Registry website, it says that facelift production models started from September 2000. Any advice on this matter would be welcome.
Michael
So do you think that these are standard or a retro fit?
Is there any way of definitively finding out? It is a low mileage vehicle with a high spec, but things that aren't period, original, OEM etc, like retro fitted lights and newly refurbished alloys in silver (not shadowline) are little niggles that are noteworthy (for my preferences!).
Is there any way of definitively finding out? It is a low mileage vehicle with a high spec, but things that aren't period, original, OEM etc, like retro fitted lights and newly refurbished alloys in silver (not shadowline) are little niggles that are noteworthy (for my preferences!).
Thanks Gents.
I am in agreement about condition and in fact the two that I have narrowed down are low mileage, apparently clean examples. One I have inspected already and the 2000 model is being seen on Saturday.
Isn't the upgraded VANOS a significant, if overblown, alteration to the facelift vehicles, in addition to the steering wheel etc?
Also, while I'm at it, could someone please explain to me what the 455 'comfort' and 456 'active' seat options are? I think that the numbers are correct, they are a little blurry on the image that I have been sent.
I am in agreement about condition and in fact the two that I have narrowed down are low mileage, apparently clean examples. One I have inspected already and the 2000 model is being seen on Saturday.
Isn't the upgraded VANOS a significant, if overblown, alteration to the facelift vehicles, in addition to the steering wheel etc?
Also, while I'm at it, could someone please explain to me what the 455 'comfort' and 456 'active' seat options are? I think that the numbers are correct, they are a little blurry on the image that I have been sent.
So this build date in all likelihood has the Vanos accumulator system. Is there any possible check for this?
Do you know of any drivers/owners commenting on the level of support that comfort/active seats offer? They seem quite flat from the images, however the active (inflation) aspect may have been selected in order to compensate for this.
Hi all, time for the big reveal!
http://www.gumtree.com/p/bmw/bmw-m5-2000x-61000-mi...
I went to see this car, at considerable inconvenience to myself, which was communicated to me as being a good honest vehicle that was totally original. It transpires that it had aftermarket straight pipes, pipercross air filters and a sticky gearbox, probably attributable to lots of burnouts and aggressive gearchanges. There was no glass sunroof (I asked specifically) and the rear heater element did not work (small fry).
All in all I wasted my time going to see this vehicle, key elements of which were not communicated to me despite numerous and detailed email exchanges over a number of days. It was clear that this was being sold as an original spec low mileage vehicle and that I was after a largely unadulterated model.
It is a shame as the bodywork was nice and the interior was good too. The comfort seats are very nice and yet still supportive. The stereo sound was excellent.
The issue is that the previous owner was a 25 year old guy who lightly modded it and thrashed it. Shame for the car and shame on the seller for trying to sell a mechanically inferior vehicle as being something tip top, which it is not.
I wish any interested parties all the best, but be prepared for some expenses in getting this vehicle back to spec, which should be considered in the negotiated price.
http://www.gumtree.com/p/bmw/bmw-m5-2000x-61000-mi...
I went to see this car, at considerable inconvenience to myself, which was communicated to me as being a good honest vehicle that was totally original. It transpires that it had aftermarket straight pipes, pipercross air filters and a sticky gearbox, probably attributable to lots of burnouts and aggressive gearchanges. There was no glass sunroof (I asked specifically) and the rear heater element did not work (small fry).
All in all I wasted my time going to see this vehicle, key elements of which were not communicated to me despite numerous and detailed email exchanges over a number of days. It was clear that this was being sold as an original spec low mileage vehicle and that I was after a largely unadulterated model.
It is a shame as the bodywork was nice and the interior was good too. The comfort seats are very nice and yet still supportive. The stereo sound was excellent.
The issue is that the previous owner was a 25 year old guy who lightly modded it and thrashed it. Shame for the car and shame on the seller for trying to sell a mechanically inferior vehicle as being something tip top, which it is not.
I wish any interested parties all the best, but be prepared for some expenses in getting this vehicle back to spec, which should be considered in the negotiated price.
Yes, I hope that Olly22n can forgive me for keeping my cards close to my chest. I couldn't exclude the possibility that this was a dealer who just wanted to hang on to a lovely car for himself. He claimed that the exhaust was mentioned in the original advert, but upon re reading, all that I can see is a single word in the description, 'tuning'! That's a cynical concealing of the facts imho.
The spec is excellent and I agree that it would make a great restoration project at the right price. The engine pulls well and suspension feels okay, but gearboxes aren't cheap, let alone the additional damage caused during a brief but unhappy chapter of its life. It certainly did not feel as tight as the 03 plate 68k example that I test drove, that was immediately apparent.
I still am curious, what resources did you employ in order to determine the vin?
The spec is excellent and I agree that it would make a great restoration project at the right price. The engine pulls well and suspension feels okay, but gearboxes aren't cheap, let alone the additional damage caused during a brief but unhappy chapter of its life. It certainly did not feel as tight as the 03 plate 68k example that I test drove, that was immediately apparent.
I still am curious, what resources did you employ in order to determine the vin?
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