My M5 Has gone
Discussion
After just over a year the M5 went today. After buying a 165K example that had only two owners I thought I could spend a couple of grand on it and grab a keeper.
However, the bills kept mounting and never stopped so it was time to cut my losses (which were huge) and get something cheaper to run and that wouldnt break down.
I looked at 330, 335 and 130i M Sport but in the end I have ended up with something more sensible. It is a 2006 Merc C350 which still has 272bhp, a 7 speed tiptronic and plenty of toys. It also comes with a MB warranty and I think it was a lot of car for the money. On the 100 mile trip back I saw a steady 26mpg at 85-90mph and it is still fairly quick. Its very quiet (but then it would be compared to a mufflerless M5
) but very smooth and deceptively fast. Its also pretty good on the handling side because it has the sport pack.
I am really really going to miss the amazing noise of the V8. The muffler delete is a MUST. I will also miss the motorway grunt and the looks but Im looking forward to some trouble free motoring for a couple of years. I am proud to say that I have owned an E39 M5
Be interesting to see where my M5 ends up. The salesmans was looking forward to taking it home tonight and then I guess its off to the auction.
However, the bills kept mounting and never stopped so it was time to cut my losses (which were huge) and get something cheaper to run and that wouldnt break down.
I looked at 330, 335 and 130i M Sport but in the end I have ended up with something more sensible. It is a 2006 Merc C350 which still has 272bhp, a 7 speed tiptronic and plenty of toys. It also comes with a MB warranty and I think it was a lot of car for the money. On the 100 mile trip back I saw a steady 26mpg at 85-90mph and it is still fairly quick. Its very quiet (but then it would be compared to a mufflerless M5
) but very smooth and deceptively fast. Its also pretty good on the handling side because it has the sport pack. I am really really going to miss the amazing noise of the V8. The muffler delete is a MUST. I will also miss the motorway grunt and the looks but Im looking forward to some trouble free motoring for a couple of years. I am proud to say that I have owned an E39 M5
Be interesting to see where my M5 ends up. The salesmans was looking forward to taking it home tonight and then I guess its off to the auction.
E21_Ross said:
my dad had that 272bhp engine in his old CLK350 from 2006. i just hope your C class is better built. 7k of warranty work in a little under 3 years for a car that was brand new when he bought it has put him off MB for the rest of his days....
all the best though!!
You're trying to cheer him up, aren't you...? all the best though!!
Mercs are lightweight in the warranty stakes.
it sounded worse than i meant it! to be fair though, the new C class is supposed to be much better built. that CLK was getting towards the end of its build i think, it started during the "s
t" era.
Good luck with your new car.
I have had my E39 M5 for 2yrs & its never been any trouble, apart from 2 services i think the only thing that played up(the needle kept going right across into the red when the engine wasn't running hot) was the thermostat which i changed myself. Thrashed the hell out of it up at Bruntingthorpe last week & then managed 29.5 mpg average on the 180 mile journey home, better on fuel now since mapped by Evolve, love it !
You probably made the right decision ! good luck.
Simon.
I have had my E39 M5 for 2yrs & its never been any trouble, apart from 2 services i think the only thing that played up(the needle kept going right across into the red when the engine wasn't running hot) was the thermostat which i changed myself. Thrashed the hell out of it up at Bruntingthorpe last week & then managed 29.5 mpg average on the 180 mile journey home, better on fuel now since mapped by Evolve, love it !
You probably made the right decision ! good luck.
Simon.
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