E39 M5 - V8 content

[TheAngryDog]

Hi all,

I had been regretting selling my M5 back in February and buying a Mazda 6 MPS for my commute to work. After an operation in May on my left ear left me in a bit of a pickle, I was signed off work for a month and then when I was able to go back to work, I was allowed to work from home for 2 months while I recovered (still not recovered).

It was during this period that I decided I wasnt really gelling with the Mazda, and that I should get another M5. I sold the Mazda in June and was car less for a while, meaning I could save up to buy another M5, and as I was not having to travel for work, I was saving plenty of money.

Well Friday of last week I had saved up enough money to go out and buy the M5 that I had been talking to the owner about since June, and I am not disappointed to be back in one. I missed the V8 burble and RWD power, the comfort, the build quality (over the Mazda) and the sense that I was getting in and out of a special car each time, which the Mazda never did.

So here it is. It is a 2001 Y reg Facelift with 126k miles on her, in Carbon Black, which is the same colour as my last one. The car is pretty much standard except for a Miltek stainless steel exhaust system with sports cats, Intravee II system and an Alpine KCA-420i. It has full black leather, MK4 Nav, Lots of service history, all of the suspension bushes have been replaced, recent clutch and recent fuel pump.

I have a few things to sort, mainly the dash pixels (common), a bit of rust (common), spare key needs fixing (£18) and just a service and a few other little bits and bobs, nothing major, nothing urgent.

Its good to be back!

[TheAngryDog]

Thanks chaps. I intend to keep this one nice and it is going to get very restricted winter use.

chris116 said:

That sounds like a nice one, do like Carbon Black.

What do you think of the Intravee set up? My CD changer has had it and I'm thinking about going with Intravee instead of replacing the changer.

Thanks Chris. It has a few usual faults but they will get seen to. Re the Intravee, I haven't had a chance to play with it. I got back at 11:30pm on Friday night, yesterday was a day of shopping and family bbq and today I have been back at work, so I will not get a chance to play with it until Thursday, however on initial looks over it, its worth it!

[TheAngryDog]

Palmers said:

Me likey! Those exhausts look the nuts!

Cheers! The drivers side one has twisted a little so the outer tail pipe is closer to the ground, need to get it up in the air and sort the clamps out I think and get it all aligned properly.

Forgot to add, its had new MAF's and Lambda sensors too.

[TheAngryDog]

Mr Tidy said:

OP, that is great - 7th photo is wonderful!

No Mazda will compete with that! From what I have read this is what you have to have!

Enjoy!

Thanks chap! Yeah this car is definitely me, the Mazda may be tuneable, but it'll always be a Mazda. The M5 is a different ball game.

[TheAngryDog]

Thanks Mark! I was Initially going to look for a Le Mans blue one but then I heard that this one would be coming up for sale, so I jumped on it before it was even advertised. I had known of the car for around 18 months and knew the owner looked after it, and as is often said, buy on condition. I do like carbon black and I know it is the most common colour . I know what you mean though, dirt and marks show very easily.

The plan is to sort out the body work before the rust sets in on the rear quarter, bootlid, front sill and fuel filler area and sort the dash pixels out. Then next year if funds allow then I may look to supercharge it.

[TheAngryDog]

Thanks mate! I'll have to record some video of the Exhaust and add to this thread!

[TheAngryDog]

LanceRS said:

Glad to see you back in one, knew the Mazda thing wouldn't last.

Cheers Lance. Yeah the Mazda was ok, but it is not a car you'd look back on in 10 years time and think "yes, I was glad to own one, what a car!"

Had I not have had my op I probably wouldn't have been able to get back in one. Every cloud and all that I guess, even if I am still suffering

Coker said:

Ace. Must be great getting back into this after the Mazda, for the noise alone if nothing else.

The Intravee is a good little system, I have it in my M3. Definitely worth having.

Cheers! I need to have a play with it work out what it is all about but on the short go I have had on it, it's a good bit of kit.

[TheAngryDog]

Thanks Sutts. Yeah it sounds pretty good tbh, better than my old one that just had a back box delete and straight pipes put in place.

Shame about your RS4, but having an E28 must be of comfort

[TheAngryDog]

Palmers said:

If i was gonna buy an M car would so be one of these! I love a big ole barge with a honking V8.

Has anyone else noticed how modern cars are all about jagged lines and looking aggressive? Much prefer the flowing curves and elegance myself!

No no Palmer! The S8 is good enough!! ??

Miss AngryDog doesnt like modern cars as such. She likes her 2013 Twingo RS just fine, but hates the E60 and F10 M5. Maybe in a few years I will convince her that an F10 is a good edition if I do not keep and supercharge this.

Just ordered a part of new tyres for the rear - £262 delivered. Oh well lol

[TheAngryDog]

E63M6 said:

E39 has gotta be the best looking 5er. Beautiful car there OP, Enjoy.

bulldong said:

Looks fking awesome. I love these.

Thanks guys . Had to go to my job interview in it today. Sounds sooooooooo nice. It is nice driving a car with power again, especially as it sounds like it has power!

[TheAngryDog]

bad company said:

Hmmm, black car with a black interior - you will be well set up for doing funerals in your spare time.

I had one of these from new. It was one of the best 'every day drivers' I ever had. My only problem with it was that at the time I was doing c20 mpa and the tire wear was very expensive.

Tbh I prefer black leather in darker cars. My last one had black and grey leather which was ok, but some people spec'd truly awful colour combinations. Yes yes I know black is seen as boring, but so what? If it was a lighter coloured car then a different colour leather would likely suit it, but as its black its fine by me .

I used my old one to go up down the motorway twice a week, did a lot of miles in it in a short period of time. I get to drive it again tomorrow as its my first day off and I cannot wait.

Medic-one said:

Great looking car.

I bought a V8 saloon (Jag S type R) a few months back and although i like the car, i'm still not a big van of the auto box and keeping thinking i should have gone for an M5....

Thanks. Get the M5, I know the S Type R is mighty, but auto's in a fun car don't do it for me.

[TheAngryDog]

Depthhoar said:

Great that you're back in the fold, Mike.

Your new car is a real credit to its previous owner and an exceptionally smart buy by you.

Proper lesson in how to source and buy a top quality niche car. I'm guessing it was quite a civilised transaction for both parties? I'm not about to sell my car (never I hope!!) but if I did I dread the day I have to market it and put up with the chancers, time-wasters, dreamers, liars and just plain rude people who take an interest in it. Selling/buying to/from a fellow car forum member just seems such a smoother (enjoyable?) and more agreeable process. I bought my M5 from a PH member and clearly remember both of us having big smiles all round when the deal was done.

Cheers mate. Yeah Rich has looked at it, and the owner before him too. Definitely a nicer example than my last one.

He didnt advertise it, I saw that he was going to be selling his exhaust with a view to selling his car as standard at some point, so I contacted him and the rest is history!

Very civilised, though it was a long day for me - set off from home at 7:15 am, got to Rich's later than expected (that reminds me, I need to put a claim in with Virgin Trains for making me late), Rich didn't want me to leave lol. Got back home around 11:30pm.

It is definitely a better option selling to another forum user I have found, as both a seller and a buyer. At least they know the type of car, under no illusions etc. If / when I sell this, hopefully it'll go to another forum user.

[TheAngryDog]

Thanks guys

Yeah I'm well aware of the rear view mirror issue mate, so I'll be keeping a view good eye on it.

They can do 27 on a motorway run if you're careful. But who wants to be careful?

New boots today

[TheAngryDog]

Looks like the fsu has failed, I get no heat and no cold air from the vents

Not a difficult job, just annoying.

[TheAngryDog]

Why do I have no luck? The fan blower appears to have packed up. I dont think it is the fsu as when I tapped the fan blower after removing the pollen filter box it worked until I turned the a/c on and then it just stopped blowing air.

The part is cheap enough but the work to get at it! I don't have the time to do it so I am going to have to book it in. I own two cars and neither of them work properly right now! Not amused.

[TheAngryDog]

Whoever said M5 ownership wasn't cheap wasn't lying

In the space of a week I've spent £300 on tyres and I am looking at the following:

A new key £200 plus I reckon
A new fsu £15
A new blower motor £57
Labour to fit the above £approx £450

I am not a happy clapper.

[TheAngryDog]

I ordered a cheap fsu yesterday when I thought it was the fsu at fault. It seems the blower is instead so that's a pita. I only needed the fsu to last until after I got back from Bruges next month. I still need the fix the Audi as well.

[TheAngryDog]

Palmers said:

I know how you feel. Just had the brakes changed on my S8 and all calipers were seized. (Did think brakes were pants for 4pot brembos..)

Including the brembo pads and discs its cost me 800 quid.

The aux belt flew off and ttted the air con pump - 250 for part + labour

It wont start with under 1/4 tank petrol - new fuel pump which is located under my lpg tank!

Full service due. Lpg service due. Gearbox /diff flush due!

But i wouldnt want to drive anything else!

Just think at least its not an econo hatch!

Ouch, thats a fair few quid! Just always leave a quarter of a tank in it, you'll be fine

C70R said:

It's a real shame that it's costing you money so soon. It's just worth remembering that this is a complicated car, which is at an age when things are going to start failing.

It's worth perhaps putting aside a 'warchest' of £2-3k/year to make sure that you keep on top of the little things.

Of course, and I wasn't expecting to not to have to spend money on it, just a pain to be doing it so soon. I knew about the tyres so that's not really an issue, the blower and key aren't welcome though lol.

e21Mark said:

I went through similar expense with my M3. It was a basically good car but I still had to go through a whole host of little bits (with not so little price tags) to bring it up to scratch and to the point where I knew exactly what had been done and when. These cars are no longer in the first flush of youth, so failures are to be expected. Eventually though, you'll reach a point where you can be pretty confident that you're on top of things and can concentrate on enjoying the car. Unless you start modifying it of course?!

Any video footage yet?

Yeah that is very true, and I do not mind spending on it, I just wish it wasn't so soon lol. It comes off the road for winter at the end of October so I'll start going through it then. I need to sort out the one touch front windows, they go down on one touch, but not up. Speaking to the mecca that is RichardP on another forum he believes it may be that the connectors are the wrong way on the front doors, as the rear one touch up and down works, so that is an easy fix.

I'll get there with it, it's not as bad as my last one so all is good!

Video of cold start and some revs;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGvciSBqV5I

Car is booked in to have the blower done. £180 plus vat for the labour, £80 for the Hella motor (not the cheap alternative).

New key is £147, which I can't get yet as I need the v5 and a utility bill. Who gets utility bills in paper form these days? Plus all mine are in my gf's name as I moved into her house!

[TheAngryDog]

New day, new problem

So driving home a few minutes ago my nav screen decides it's time to mess about. So it starts off by flickering, then sliding in and out and then showing a message saying that it has got too hot.

I had no control over the screen. I turned the car off and back on again and it still did it. Left it off for a bit longer and it seems OK?

16:9 screen, mk4 nav and intravee. Wtf is going on?

https://youtu.be/g6gXw7ItTcA

[TheAngryDog]

Huskyman said:

I've had a quick look on google and it looks like the sat nav computer that sits in the left of the boot has a cooling fan in the rear. This might have failed causing the issue. Electronics do some weird stuff when they get too hot, it might be worth having a look. HTH.

Cheers, I'd been googling it too and came across a suggestion of disconnecting it all over night.

Oddly it hasn't done it since, and I've been out in the car a fair bit today.

One to keep an eye on.

In other news, the blower motor has started working again, after I did the grand total of nothing! The only thing I did do was resync the keys to try and get the second key working. Very odd.