Looking at an E60 M5 tomorrow
Discussion
Morning chaps, don't think I've been on this forum before, so hello 
Looking at an E60 M5 tomorrow to potentially scratch an M car itch I've had since I was a teenager when in about 1997 I saw drawings of the then upcoming E46 M3 and E39 M5 in a car mag in Italy while on hols
I'm sure it's been asked and answered loads but my PH search skills are letting me down - could someone highlight the main things to look out for in terms of history the car should have, common faults that should have been been rectified/monitored etc? Dealer is ODavis who I've encountered before and seems straight up, car is this one:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
I'm not too worried about running costs (I'd be px-ing my Porsche 993 which has cost me about £3K a year to look after in my ownership), but are there any upcoming big services/consumables likely to need doing given its age and mileage?
Looking at an E60 M5 tomorrow to potentially scratch an M car itch I've had since I was a teenager when in about 1997 I saw drawings of the then upcoming E46 M3 and E39 M5 in a car mag in Italy while on hols
I'm sure it's been asked and answered loads but my PH search skills are letting me down - could someone highlight the main things to look out for in terms of history the car should have, common faults that should have been been rectified/monitored etc? Dealer is ODavis who I've encountered before and seems straight up, car is this one:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
I'm not too worried about running costs (I'd be px-ing my Porsche 993 which has cost me about £3K a year to look after in my ownership), but are there any upcoming big services/consumables likely to need doing given its age and mileage?
Interesting info, thanks so far everyone.
Zod said:
It's a great car, but surely you'd be mad to sell a 993 for it, unless you're looking to crystallise a profit.
I've done everything I want to in the 993 and I won't make any significant profit out of it. And having two soft top Porsches is doubling up on the same kind of car sort of. Plus with an M5 we can more easily go away with our baby daughter. Not yet, trying to hammer out a deal. Should know in a day or so.
Test drive was rather fun. Obviously you can only get a smidgen of a taste of what the car is like as I'm not comfortable pushing a car that is a) not mine, and b) completely new to me. We would have been left for dead if my clone has been driving the 993 in front of us given how well I know that car and how tactile it is
Noise is good although not as loud as I was expecting. Then again it's not a dedicated sportscar so that shouldn't really be a surprise. From what I could sample of the V10 it feels a real peach. I was expecting it to drive a bit like my old 550 Maranello but it's a completely different beast. Feels much lighter to position on the road even though it weighs a lot more. Character of the engine feels completely different as well even though displacement/max revs/power are not a million miles apart: 5 litre / 8200rpm / 500bhp plays 5.5 litre / 7700rpm / 485bhp. Think that's probably why the car is so popular actually, it's not "easy" power, if you don't rev it you don't get it, very un-GT like! You can't help noticing that the weight blunts the straight line performance slightly though, if it weighed as much as a 530i it would be proper supercar bonkers!
That gearbox is interesting isn't it! Especially if you're used to Porsche PDK - you don't half know when you're changing gear Suspect that playing with the settings helps a bit and I imagine one develops a technique to smooth is out after a bit of practice.
The gearbox we can label as "character", but what I did find a bit balls is the seat bolster moving thing. I'll caveat this comment by saying that I am very wide and not just because I'm still carrying an extra few kgs from xmas, and that it may have been on "uber" support setting if there is such a thing, but basically it felt like I was being punched in the kidneys every few secs. Not cool. There was plenty of support as is and once we switched it off things were much improved.
Anyway, overall a very interesting car, love the dual personality luxury 5 series cruiser with a mental side Hopefully one will feature in my garage in short order
Test drive was rather fun. Obviously you can only get a smidgen of a taste of what the car is like as I'm not comfortable pushing a car that is a) not mine, and b) completely new to me. We would have been left for dead if my clone has been driving the 993 in front of us given how well I know that car and how tactile it is
Noise is good although not as loud as I was expecting. Then again it's not a dedicated sportscar so that shouldn't really be a surprise. From what I could sample of the V10 it feels a real peach. I was expecting it to drive a bit like my old 550 Maranello but it's a completely different beast. Feels much lighter to position on the road even though it weighs a lot more. Character of the engine feels completely different as well even though displacement/max revs/power are not a million miles apart: 5 litre / 8200rpm / 500bhp plays 5.5 litre / 7700rpm / 485bhp. Think that's probably why the car is so popular actually, it's not "easy" power, if you don't rev it you don't get it, very un-GT like! You can't help noticing that the weight blunts the straight line performance slightly though, if it weighed as much as a 530i it would be proper supercar bonkers!
That gearbox is interesting isn't it! Especially if you're used to Porsche PDK - you don't half know when you're changing gear
Suspect that playing with the settings helps a bit and I imagine one develops a technique to smooth is out after a bit of practice. The gearbox we can label as "character", but what I did find a bit balls is the seat bolster moving thing. I'll caveat this comment by saying that I am very wide and not just because I'm still carrying an extra few kgs from xmas, and that it may have been on "uber" support setting if there is such a thing, but basically it felt like I was being punched in the kidneys every few secs. Not cool. There was plenty of support as is and once we switched it off things were much improved.
Anyway, overall a very interesting car, love the dual personality luxury 5 series cruiser with a mental side
Hopefully one will feature in my garage in short order Shaoxter said:
Sounds like positive feedback and nice to hear a new driver not mention torque for a change
You need to drive the SMG in manual S5 mode (quickest setting unless you turn DSC off). Lift off the throttle on upshifts... or not if you want to reveal the S6 mode 8250rpm party trick
The active seats are actually an option and can be turned off permanently either via the iDrive or with the buttons on the console. Personally I find them awesome!
Let me guess:You need to drive the SMG in manual S5 mode (quickest setting unless you turn DSC off). Lift off the throttle on upshifts... or not if you want to reveal the S6 mode 8250rpm party trick
The active seats are actually an option and can be turned off permanently either via the iDrive or with the buttons on the console. Personally I find them awesome!
1) ref gear change, S6 party trick is a sledgehammer to the back?!
2) ref bolsters, you're a lot skinnier (I.e. Sensibly sized!) than me width wise!
Slippydiff said:
Stick me in my old E63 M6 and you in your hairdressers 993 
and I guarantee you wouldn't see which way I went, unless the roads got seriously narrow and had some very tight slowlish bends.
Haha! True and I guarantee you wouldn't see which way I went, unless the roads got seriously narrow and had some very tight slowlish bends. my comment was more in the context that until you get used to it, you're always faster in the car you know and can thrash than a car you don't and can't not that being faster matters obviously so long as you're having fun Thanks Slippy, will have a think.
Car I looked at on Sunday would come with a Premium level Autoguard warranty (exact length to be negotiated) - anyone got any experience of this? Is it any good?
Warranty doc here: http://www.autoguardwarranties.com/products/warran...
I'm trying to chase down exactly what the max (and min!) individual claim limit is.
Cost for 12 months is ~£1,200, which is comparable to the cost of the Named Component cover from Mondial with £100 excess, or Comprehensive Cover with £250 excess.
Thoughts?
Car I looked at on Sunday would come with a Premium level Autoguard warranty (exact length to be negotiated) - anyone got any experience of this? Is it any good?
Warranty doc here: http://www.autoguardwarranties.com/products/warran...
I'm trying to chase down exactly what the max (and min!) individual claim limit is.
Cost for 12 months is ~£1,200, which is comparable to the cost of the Named Component cover from Mondial with £100 excess, or Comprehensive Cover with £250 excess.
Thoughts?
Mario149 said:
Not yet, trying to hammer out a deal. Should know in a day or so.
Test drive was rather fun. Obviously you can only get a smidgen of a taste of what the car is like as I'm not comfortable pushing a car that is a) not mine, and b) completely new to me. We would have been left for dead if my clone has been driving the 993 in front of us given how well I know that car and how tactile it is
Noise is good although not as loud as I was expecting. Then again it's not a dedicated sportscar so that shouldn't really be a surprise. From what I could sample of the V10 it feels a real peach. I was expecting it to drive a bit like my old 550 Maranello but it's a completely different beast. Feels much lighter to position on the road even though it weighs a lot more. Character of the engine feels completely different as well even though displacement/max revs/power are not a million miles apart: 5 litre / 8200rpm / 500bhp plays 5.5 litre / 7700rpm / 485bhp. Think that's probably why the car is so popular actually, it's not "easy" power, if you don't rev it you don't get it, very un-GT like! You can't help noticing that the weight blunts the straight line performance slightly though, if it weighed as much as a 530i it would be proper supercar bonkers!
That gearbox is interesting isn't it! Especially if you're used to Porsche PDK - you don't half know when you're changing gear Suspect that playing with the settings helps a bit and I imagine one develops a technique to smooth is out after a bit of practice.
The gearbox we can label as "character", but what I did find a bit balls is the seat bolster moving thing. I'll caveat this comment by saying that I am very wide and not just because I'm still carrying an extra few kgs from xmas, and that it may have been on "uber" support setting if there is such a thing, but basically it felt like I was being punched in the kidneys every few secs. Not cool. There was plenty of support as is and once we switched it off things were much improved.
Anyway, overall a very interesting car, love the dual personality luxury 5 series cruiser with a mental side Hopefully one will feature in my garage in short order
Hokey cokey, so the deal has been hammered out, all being well deposit goes on the car tomorrow with collection this weekend Test drive was rather fun. Obviously you can only get a smidgen of a taste of what the car is like as I'm not comfortable pushing a car that is a) not mine, and b) completely new to me. We would have been left for dead if my clone has been driving the 993 in front of us given how well I know that car and how tactile it is
Noise is good although not as loud as I was expecting. Then again it's not a dedicated sportscar so that shouldn't really be a surprise. From what I could sample of the V10 it feels a real peach. I was expecting it to drive a bit like my old 550 Maranello but it's a completely different beast. Feels much lighter to position on the road even though it weighs a lot more. Character of the engine feels completely different as well even though displacement/max revs/power are not a million miles apart: 5 litre / 8200rpm / 500bhp plays 5.5 litre / 7700rpm / 485bhp. Think that's probably why the car is so popular actually, it's not "easy" power, if you don't rev it you don't get it, very un-GT like! You can't help noticing that the weight blunts the straight line performance slightly though, if it weighed as much as a 530i it would be proper supercar bonkers!
That gearbox is interesting isn't it! Especially if you're used to Porsche PDK - you don't half know when you're changing gear
Suspect that playing with the settings helps a bit and I imagine one develops a technique to smooth is out after a bit of practice. The gearbox we can label as "character", but what I did find a bit balls is the seat bolster moving thing. I'll caveat this comment by saying that I am very wide and not just because I'm still carrying an extra few kgs from xmas, and that it may have been on "uber" support setting if there is such a thing, but basically it felt like I was being punched in the kidneys every few secs. Not cool. There was plenty of support as is and once we switched it off things were much improved.
Anyway, overall a very interesting car, love the dual personality luxury 5 series cruiser with a mental side
Hopefully one will feature in my garage in short order I did have a think about M6s/Alpinas etc but somehow they just don't seem as cool as an M5. And since I've always lusted after M3s and M5s since I was little I decided to stick with the original plan.Slight change of plan: after much soul searching I decided that I couldn't part with the 993 as she means too much to me and my other half. But in an epic feat of man maths I decided that I would still get the M5
Problem was that when I had got the 993 all tarted up to take along for the p/x valuation, I kinda fell in love all over again, and the drive over and back through great country roads sealed it! Dealer loved driving it when we went out for him to check it over and was genuinely disappointed when I told him I was keeping her today, even asked for first refusal if I ever do decide to sell her. Not bad for a 130K mile girl with some cosmetic work needed! Nice to have my efforts at keeping her in top notch mechanical condition appreciated Anyway, bring on the V10 to park next to her
Slippydiff said:
Congratulations, you'll love it ! ! (but probably not the fuel consumption) Let's see how long the 993 lasts ...
But Alpinas and M6 not cool ... ???
Should've gone to Specsavers
Haha! It's not a looks thing, I actually quite like the M6, the more bonkers the better. I just like the "stealth barge" aspect of the M5. Even with the badge on most people will be none the wiser about it.But Alpinas and M6 not cool ... ???
Should've gone to Specsavers
Deposit paid! It's def happening, whoop whoop!
On the practical side, I've heard that iDrive is heinously complicated and there's eleventy billion things to play with. What recommendations do people have ref which settings to adjust to my preference first in term for maximum usefulness/enjoyment?
On the practical side, I've heard that iDrive is heinously complicated and there's eleventy billion things to play with. What recommendations do people have ref which settings to adjust to my preference first in term for maximum usefulness/enjoyment?
Not strictly true I think? Not collected mine yet, but from vids I can see on youtube 3rd takes you to 95mph at max rpm it seems. So look slike you just about get 3 gears Sounds bad, but given that all Porsches from the last 5 years onward have (it pains me to say as a big Porsche fan) criminally long sh!t gearing and will do about 84mph in 2nd and 115mph in 3rd in their manual cars!! In the grand scheme of things the M5 is not too bad!
Sounds bad, but given that all Porsches from the last 5 years onward have (it pains me to say as a big Porsche fan) criminally long sh!t gearing and will do about 84mph in 2nd and 115mph in 3rd in their manual cars!! In the grand scheme of things the M5 is not too bad!Shaoxter said:
To be honest any 3.0TDI these days can be classed as a "licence loser".
Yeah, this^^ a lot. I reckon 200-250 bhp/tonne is plenty for the road in reality. It's one of the reasons I couldn't bear to part with the 993 in p/x for the M5. 2nd takes you to about 65mph, 3rd to a bit over 80, and you're almost all of the way through 4th by 100mph. You can drive her really quite hard on NSL country roads without hitting ridiculous speeds but she's still got enough absolute power to be quite exciting. She also requires you to work the engine nice and hard and moreover she *loves* it - max torque comes at 5500 rpm on my car and max power only 300 rpm short of the 6800 rpm redline (from dyno runs I did at Surrey Rolling Road, Porsche specs have it slightly different and about 500 rpm lower for both). Incomparison, the turbo torque you get in all the new sportscars is yawningly dull.Only a couple of pics so far, will try and get a few more tomorrow.
Anyway, sensible family motoring...
Frankly, I'm just quite chuffed with myself for buying a car with 4 useable seats
My mate who has one just sent me the following message: "Nice one mate - the only thing it doesn't pass is a petrol station!!" .... I tickled her home from the dealer about 25 miles and achieved 15mpg....looks like she's going to make my old 550 look frugal! 
Anyway, sensible family motoring...
Frankly, I'm just quite chuffed with myself for buying a car with 4 useable seats
My mate who has one just sent me the following message: "Nice one mate - the only thing it doesn't pass is a petrol station!!" ....
I tickled her home from the dealer about 25 miles and achieved 15mpg....looks like she's going to make my old 550 look frugal! Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff