2001 BMW

An excellent example of this iconic super-saloon is for sale following a change in circumstances. It took me 9 months to find this car! Built 12th Dec 2000 at Plant Dingolfing, Germany. First registered 5th Jan 2001, this car started life as [Sytner] Harold Wood of Romford's demonstrator, hence the unusual options (e.g. glass sunroof).

This car is a facelift model with all those benefits (VANOS, front/rear lights, steering wheel) but falls into old (cheaper) taxation rules. Le Mans blue metallic with black/blue ‘Nappa Point’ leather, titanium fascia.

Options above the extensive standard equipment include glass sunroof, sun protection glass, 6CD changer, widescreen satellite navigation with TrafficMaster system (still functioning!), analogue television, telephone (now removed), parking sensors front and rear and tyre pressure monitoring. Everything works; the air-con still blows cold. The M5 registration plate was added on 15th March 2006 by a previous owner and has been on ever since, and will stay with the car.

The last owner before me lavished a small fortune on this car to bring it to a very high standard, and it has had further work since. MoT to October 2016, also had an oil service by M-Tek Northampton at the same time. The service book is full of stamps, showing the all-important running-in service, and every service thereafter. I also have a binder bursting at the seams with invoices and paperwork for the car, including a copy of the BMW service record showing 8 main dealer services by 89k miles. Thereafter it has been cared for by main dealers and specialists such as CPC Amersham and M-Tek Northampton. Inspection 2 in August 2013; two oil services in the 10k miles since. Clutch replaced at 100k. HPI clear. Now on 139,600 miles; please note this will slowly increase as the car is still in use.

Some of the work carried out in the last two years includes:

Full machine-polish paint correction and detail

Wheels refurbished in correct OEM shadow chrome finish by Lepsons (still unmarked)

New front kidney grills

Re-upholstered steering wheel

New OEM illuminated gear lever and gaiter

New windscreen wipers

New centre armrest parts

New genuine carpet mats

Upgraded MK4 DVD-based sat-nav with latest V32 software and 2013 maps

New boot light

New auto-dimming rear view mirror

New sump and rocker gaskets

New brake pads and discs front and rear

New front control arms both sides

New front wishbones both sides

New front thrust bearings

New tyres all round (Continental SportContact)

Full laser wheel alignment at WIM, Chesham

New camshaft sensor

New O2/lambda sensor x2

New rear left upper track control arm

New centre steering tie bar drag link

New differential seals

New HVAC FSU

New Bosch S5 110Ah battery

New front parking sensors x2

New OEM luggage net

New brake fluid

New fuel filter

The car is in fantastic condition, but there are one or two bad bits - this car is not in concours condition, but nor am I seeking £25k for it. Aside from typical marks from 14 years on the road, there are some minor areas of paint bubbling, particularly the front right wheelarch and two blobs on the boot lid, as will be evident in the photos. The fuel filler shows only very minor bubbles and has not degraded in the two years I’ve owned the car. All the issues are purely cosmetic; the structure is solid and mechanically it is excellent. The front bumper, being original paint, has a fair few marks and chips that reflect the mileage covered – some might call it patinated... I had planned to address all the bodywork over the last winter but redundancy prevented that from taking place, and now my circumstances are different so I must let the car go to its next custodian.

It drives and performs supremely well as a result of all the work carried out, there is none of the typical E39 shimmy or wobble at any speed. Always warmed up carefully (referencing oil temperature, not the tachometer lights), the car has spent 95% of its time in my ownership on 75- or 120-mile motorway trips. Unmodified, unmolested, this M5 is ready to be enjoyed.

For obvious reasons I must request proof of valid insurance before I will permit any test drives; I will be happy to demonstrate the car to you otherwise.

PS The photos are in different locations as a miserable security guard took exception to my use of the first location, despite having used it many times before.