2 years of ownership my E39 M5 experience is as follows
Discussion
I brought the Evo mag greatest M Car ever issue, it stated “Very occasionally there comes a car whose looks, sound and feel are perfectly matched. The E39 M5 is such a car”
That was it I was having one i’d owned an E46 330 Coupe (10 months old) an E46 M3 and then brought an E90 320d M Sport, I knew the 320d was a mistake but it served its purpose, I sold it and went M5 hunting, if you are buying or thinking of buying do not listen to the advice I did initally of going for a facelift with sat nav etc, its false, buy on condition and history, also just pay for an inspection if your unsure.
Again do not listen to internet rumours of early models using loads of oil (topped mine up twice in 2 years)they’ll talk about VANOS issues, again don’t listen to them go find a low mileage mint example, buy on condition and history, mine was a 1999 M5 FBMWSH Mint, I went and looked at facelift models with sat nav but there was rust around the filler caps, windscreen and hig miles, i’ll say buy on condition do not listen to the so called internet M5 experts its not all true.
So in the end I brought an 1999 M5 with 52k on the clock, I visited the original BMW garage it was brought from and rang the original owner, I was a happy chap.
My inital problem I think is i’m a motorcyclist so the car never really felt quick but I did have fun in it and it could be slung around at speed with ease, the idea was i’ll have a car to runaround in (E30 325i), the bike was for the summer and the M5 for days when the bike can’t come out but I still needed a fix, also the M5 was suitable to take the family away in.
First thing I found was the brakes were/are s
te, 15 minutes of hardwork they were fading like mad, heavy car but to be fair every car i’ve owned has had brake fade (including the M3) after hard use, they just don’t seem to be designed with heavy brake use in mind, however I wasn’t going to scrape so went and had new discs/pads all round.
The oil level never went down and no rattles from VANOS so just to repeat myself don’t listen to the horror stories.
Anyhow got the car back from the garage and after having the discs/pads done, I bedded them in after a few weeks, 1 sunny Sunday morning my brother rang me and we decided to go for a play, so took the M5, the idea was we’d do some speed runs and general fun, my brother was riding an 1998 GSXR 600, the M5 was great fun(as was the M3) but just felt so unsafe compared to a bike at speed, the brakes were shot within 20 minutes trying to live with the bike, in the end there was smoke coming off of them and no feel left whatsoever to dangerous to continue the M5 couldn’t live with the bike but was still a chuckle, just a shame they don’t design cars to be used hard.
After that day I never really was in love with her anymore, was a gorgeous car to look at and went well but I think if used they way they are intended they can’t handle it. However things spring to mind like a Boxster S moving out of my way as I sail through with a bike on the back won’t be forgotten.
So needless to say today she was sold and I watched her leave the drive without being to concerned , however glad I have owned one as wouldn’t have known for myself what they are like.
I won’t own one again so potential buyers if your buying one over a motorbike don’t, do not make that mistake full stop, if your just after a quickish car get one but buy on mileage and condition, not pre-post facelift hype.
Also make sure you have monies for brakes ready to go.
So decision as to what to buy next now pends.
That was it I was having one i’d owned an E46 330 Coupe (10 months old) an E46 M3 and then brought an E90 320d M Sport, I knew the 320d was a mistake but it served its purpose, I sold it and went M5 hunting, if you are buying or thinking of buying do not listen to the advice I did initally of going for a facelift with sat nav etc, its false, buy on condition and history, also just pay for an inspection if your unsure.
Again do not listen to internet rumours of early models using loads of oil (topped mine up twice in 2 years)they’ll talk about VANOS issues, again don’t listen to them go find a low mileage mint example, buy on condition and history, mine was a 1999 M5 FBMWSH Mint, I went and looked at facelift models with sat nav but there was rust around the filler caps, windscreen and hig miles, i’ll say buy on condition do not listen to the so called internet M5 experts its not all true.
So in the end I brought an 1999 M5 with 52k on the clock, I visited the original BMW garage it was brought from and rang the original owner, I was a happy chap.
My inital problem I think is i’m a motorcyclist so the car never really felt quick but I did have fun in it and it could be slung around at speed with ease, the idea was i’ll have a car to runaround in (E30 325i), the bike was for the summer and the M5 for days when the bike can’t come out but I still needed a fix, also the M5 was suitable to take the family away in.
First thing I found was the brakes were/are s
te, 15 minutes of hardwork they were fading like mad, heavy car but to be fair every car i’ve owned has had brake fade (including the M3) after hard use, they just don’t seem to be designed with heavy brake use in mind, however I wasn’t going to scrape so went and had new discs/pads all round.The oil level never went down and no rattles from VANOS so just to repeat myself don’t listen to the horror stories.
Anyhow got the car back from the garage and after having the discs/pads done, I bedded them in after a few weeks, 1 sunny Sunday morning my brother rang me and we decided to go for a play, so took the M5, the idea was we’d do some speed runs and general fun, my brother was riding an 1998 GSXR 600, the M5 was great fun(as was the M3) but just felt so unsafe compared to a bike at speed, the brakes were shot within 20 minutes trying to live with the bike, in the end there was smoke coming off of them and no feel left whatsoever to dangerous to continue the M5 couldn’t live with the bike but was still a chuckle, just a shame they don’t design cars to be used hard.
After that day I never really was in love with her anymore, was a gorgeous car to look at and went well but I think if used they way they are intended they can’t handle it. However things spring to mind like a Boxster S moving out of my way as I sail through with a bike on the back won’t be forgotten.
So needless to say today she was sold and I watched her leave the drive without being to concerned , however glad I have owned one as wouldn’t have known for myself what they are like.
I won’t own one again so potential buyers if your buying one over a motorbike don’t, do not make that mistake full stop, if your just after a quickish car get one but buy on mileage and condition, not pre-post facelift hype.
Also make sure you have monies for brakes ready to go.
So decision as to what to buy next now pends.
The fact that it can even look at the bike is quite a feat though isn't it?This might sound strange but at 2 years in there's probably more to come from it.
I had many dabbles in mine,and never once did it feel lacking.The only real bug is the driving position which is at odds with a regular E39.
Last month I borrowed an early SL600 which was chuffing quick and a real laugh,the TC was a dream compared to the M5's and it really grew on me.
I had many dabbles in mine,and never once did it feel lacking.The only real bug is the driving position which is at odds with a regular E39.
Last month I borrowed an early SL600 which was chuffing quick and a real laugh,the TC was a dream compared to the M5's and it really grew on me.
You've posted the same post twice, here and in Biker Banter, so it seems like you have sour grapes against the M5.
A pity you had a misjudged experience with it, as it also sounds like you expected the dynamics of a 1000 kg Lotus Exige when you bought a 1800kg 4door bahnstormer based on a magazine review, and probably not much real expeience with performance cars. Or at least not enough to have reasonable expectations.
Cooking the brakes on the road? I would suggest you learn to drive without spending so much time on the brakes. Common amateur error.
The E39 M5 is not overhyped by any stretch of the imagination. Amongst performance cars, it remains one of the greatest all round supersaloons. Try a few similar cars and you'll get a more balanced idea. It has a sublime combination if performance, comfort, handling and balance... The M5 is not a track car and it will never deliver the adrenaline hit of a bike. But as a car amongst the likes of E-class AMGs, RS6s, VXR8s, XFRs, the M5 is top of the class.
In all fairness, it's like you bought an RT1200 and expected it to perform like a Blade.
A pity you had a misjudged experience with it, as it also sounds like you expected the dynamics of a 1000 kg Lotus Exige when you bought a 1800kg 4door bahnstormer based on a magazine review, and probably not much real expeience with performance cars. Or at least not enough to have reasonable expectations.
Cooking the brakes on the road? I would suggest you learn to drive without spending so much time on the brakes. Common amateur error.
The E39 M5 is not overhyped by any stretch of the imagination. Amongst performance cars, it remains one of the greatest all round supersaloons. Try a few similar cars and you'll get a more balanced idea. It has a sublime combination if performance, comfort, handling and balance... The M5 is not a track car and it will never deliver the adrenaline hit of a bike. But as a car amongst the likes of E-class AMGs, RS6s, VXR8s, XFRs, the M5 is top of the class.
In all fairness, it's like you bought an RT1200 and expected it to perform like a Blade.
spareparts said:
You've posted the same post twice, here and in Biker Banter, so it seems like you have sour grapes against the M5.
.
Yes I posted here to warn potential buyers of the pre-post face lift hype and on BB to warn people about selling their bikes for a "preformance car"..
Read both again there are differences, attention to detail.
OP I think something Japanese and turbocharged would be more fitting to your demands.
Did you try 140mph plus acceleration aginst the GSXR? Did you try taking the wife to the South of France overnight on the GSXR?
Horses for courses.
Spoken as the long term owner fo a pre face lift m5 and 08 Hayabusa
Did you try 140mph plus acceleration aginst the GSXR? Did you try taking the wife to the South of France overnight on the GSXR?
Horses for courses.
Spoken as the long term owner fo a pre face lift m5 and 08 Hayabusa
humpbackmaniac said:
OP I think something Japanese and turbocharged would be more fitting to your demands.
Did you try 140mph plus acceleration aginst the GSXR? Did you try taking the wife to the South of France overnight on the GSXR?
Horses for courses.
Spoken as the long term owner fo a pre face lift m5 and 08 Hayabusa
I took the Ducati to Monaco via the N85 I honestly wouldn't have trusted the E46 M3 or my M5 on those roads following the rest, prehaps on my own would have been different.Did you try 140mph plus acceleration aginst the GSXR? Did you try taking the wife to the South of France overnight on the GSXR?
Horses for courses.
Spoken as the long term owner fo a pre face lift m5 and 08 Hayabusa
Yep did do some lepton games, why what should I have found?
As for overdoing it on the brakes, Clio 182 Cup Brake Fade, E46 M3 Brake fade, M5 Brake fade, 330 Coupe Brake Fade possibly chasing a car you don't find that but chasing a bike just can't cope. I think BMW need to invest in brakes as well as engines.
I'll go for a car with upgraded brakes before purchase next time.
Just to confirm I didn't buy the M5 to replace the bike it was just another toy, my opinion is they are great fun and handle superbly, the idea was for future buyers to buy on condition and mileage with FBMWSH than worrying about face lift etc.
Also if you've had a bike don't expect them to be that quick or the E46 M3 for that matter.
996 sps said:
As for overdoing it on the brakes, Clio 182 Cup Brake Fade, E46 M3 Brake fade, M5 Brake fade, 330 Coupe Brake Fade possibly chasing a car you don't find that but chasing a bike just can't cope. I think BMW need to invest in brakes as well as engines.
I can't believe you're still alive and not in jail. On public roads??! 
The Stiglet said:
996 sps said:
As for overdoing it on the brakes, Clio 182 Cup Brake Fade, E46 M3 Brake fade, M5 Brake fade, 330 Coupe Brake Fade possibly chasing a car you don't find that but chasing a bike just can't cope. I think BMW need to invest in brakes as well as engines.
I can't believe you're still alive and not in jail. On public roads??! king mad! As for a M5 trying to replicate or be a fun alternative well..... come on its a huge heavy saloon with a big heft engine.
CooperS said:
The Stiglet said:
996 sps said:
As for overdoing it on the brakes, Clio 182 Cup Brake Fade, E46 M3 Brake fade, M5 Brake fade, 330 Coupe Brake Fade possibly chasing a car you don't find that but chasing a bike just can't cope. I think BMW need to invest in brakes as well as engines.
I can't believe you're still alive and not in jail. On public roads??! king mad! As for a M5 trying to replicate or be a fun alternative well..... come on its a huge heavy saloon with a big heft engine.
The M5 is faster than the majority of normally peddled superbikes (ie, NOT Brendan etc) around the Ring on a typical TF. And you can lap all 15+ miles without cooking the brakes.
And if a person can't have fun in an E39 M5, then I would seriously question things! The M5 is one of the best balanced, and most fun powersliding V8 muscle cars ever...
I have every right to give potential buyers advice, I came on here for advice when looking for an M5 hence why the point was made about don't listen to the pre-post face lift warnings of high oil use and VANOS issues, buy on condition and serivce history.
I didn't buy the M5 to replace the bike it was another toy.
The brake issue was and is a fact, as I put in my previous post I got discs and pads replaced all round but its a heavy car couldn't handle hard braking, literally smoking and complete brake fade.
Why would I buy an M5 to "just go fast in a straight line?" They are not seriously quick in a straight line IMO, very quick for a car prehaps, but as I said prehaps my mistake was/is owning a motorcycle.
It was/is a great car just not trustworthy under hard use after 15/20 minutes.
I wouldn't have used it on the N85 over my bike put it that way.
Metcalp more than willing to be shown my braking areas at a track day etc, have no problem being shown my errors, although i'm hoping should be fairly compentent, just let me know.
Edited to add you tube clip of guy suffering with brake fade on M5, also if you google it there is loads of others who suffer brake fade as I and many others did in the E46 M3 as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmWMuN7xBWk
This guy upgraded but still shaking violently under heavy braking, exactly as I found, fe c king scarey at speed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf0URWs2efw
More brake problems!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3p6g-jl1qA
I didn't buy the M5 to replace the bike it was another toy.
The brake issue was and is a fact, as I put in my previous post I got discs and pads replaced all round but its a heavy car couldn't handle hard braking, literally smoking and complete brake fade.
Why would I buy an M5 to "just go fast in a straight line?" They are not seriously quick in a straight line IMO, very quick for a car prehaps, but as I said prehaps my mistake was/is owning a motorcycle.
It was/is a great car just not trustworthy under hard use after 15/20 minutes.
I wouldn't have used it on the N85 over my bike put it that way.
Metcalp more than willing to be shown my braking areas at a track day etc, have no problem being shown my errors, although i'm hoping should be fairly compentent, just let me know.
Edited to add you tube clip of guy suffering with brake fade on M5, also if you google it there is loads of others who suffer brake fade as I and many others did in the E46 M3 as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmWMuN7xBWk
This guy upgraded but still shaking violently under heavy braking, exactly as I found, fe c king scarey at speed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf0URWs2efw
More brake problems!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3p6g-jl1qA
Edited by 996 sps on Wednesday 16th November 08:29
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