Considering a E60 M5, SMG....but have concerns

[wax lyrical]

1/ About real-world fuel economy - what is it REALLY??

2/ About reliability

3/ About residuals

Can any current or former owners advise please? I am thinking about a 2005 model, 60k miles on the clock, with FBMWSH and currently warranted until next year. Just under £16k.

Thanks in advance for all input!

[E38Ross]

never owned but bear in mind, you can keep the warranty running....you can keep a full warranty until 100k miles, past then i believe it's just a "driveline" warranty if you decide to keep a warranty going.

[contracttor]

if it's already over 60k then I think when you 'renew' it will be nearer 2 grand a year for 0 excess, monthly, all-inclusive.

My long term fuel cons is 14.4, measured over 35K miles, albeit in an M6.

Read the sticky at the top regarding clutch issues.

[andygtt]

lots of people worry because they are expensive to run and repair if you have trouble.

My car was a high mileage 05 plate car... done 18k with no issues at all other than a tempramental DVD player... complete set of tyres being the most expensive things as the service was a reasonable £400 including oil change etc.

my car averages 17-21mpg depending if I only do short journeys or longer runs... I also dont drive like a granny and tend to redline it quite a bit.
I did used to only get 12-17mpg but did the calculations and found computer was wrong and discovered it was set to US gallons lol.

I absolutely love my M5 and with a decent exhaust they sound increadable.

[Plainview23]

The MPG depends entirely on what type of driving you're doing - on a long motorway run last weekend I got 23MPG from an M6 .... around town traffic that drops to 14MPG.

[Contigo]

Read the buyers guide, everything is in there!

[helix402]

A friend of mine sees 18 mpg indicated, so less in reality.

[omniflow]

I never understand why people talk about MPG - it's not particularly informative.

I prefer to think in terms of MPT, or Miles Per Tank. With an E61 M5, my median (I think that's the correct term) MPT is ~200, at a cost of ~£90 a time. I've had as much as 240 miles from a tank, and as little as 180 - both of those filled up as late as I dared.

I'm sure on a long run @ 65 MPH you could do better than 240 miles from a tank - but I've never done a long run @ 65 MPH and I have no plans to.

If you plan on £90 at today's prices for every 200 miles, you won't be far wrong.

[CSLchappie]

I average 200 miles a tank, generally town driving, but have had close to 360 from one tank on a round trip to Gatwick from Derby.

[Boogsie]

HTF do you get > 300 miles? 55mph?


I average about 200 miles per tank. And lately at Tesco momentum is costing just over £70 per tank. Normally with < 10 miles range.

[pscl227]

If you have questions about fuel economy I would guess this isn't the car for you.

[E38Ross]

pscl227 said:

If you have questions about fuel economy I would guess this isn't the car for you.

disagree to a certain extent. there can be a pretty substantial saving from say 15mpg average to 18mpg average as that's a fair chunk less fuel; whereas 35 to 38mpg would be far less of a saving. as long as OP knows what to expect and accepts it, it'll be fine

[Contigo]

I see 14MPG indicated but use it for more round town and the odd A road blast. We are going down to Cornwall soon so should be a good test of MPG and a good chance to cruise at 70!

[omniflow]

Regarding point 2 - reliability:

My Alfa has had fewer unplanned trips to the Garage in 10 years than my M5 has had in 10 months.

[Boogsie]

omniflow said:

Regarding point 2 - reliability:

My Alfa has had fewer unplanned trips to the Garage in 10 years than my M5 has had in 10 months.

Now there's a slating!
Apart from the clutch issue on mine (which I kind of knew about going in) it's been great over 6 or 7k miles.

[wax lyrical]

Thanks for all the input so far guys! Very useful and much appreciated.

Obviously I understand that this is a car that cannot be run on a tight budget but I have come to the conclusion that it would be foolish to buy one without a warranty. Too much of a risk.

In a few years, the 5 litre V10 will be a bit of a dinosaur - much like big American V8's are now, but who cares?? What an engine and what a noise!!

[andygtt]

omniflow said:

I never understand why people talk about MPG - it's not particularly informative.

I prefer to think in terms of MPT, or Miles Per Tank. With an E61 M5, my median (I think that's the correct term) MPT is ~200, at a cost of ~£90 a time. I've had as much as 240 miles from a tank, and as little as 180 - both of those filled up as late as I dared.

I'm sure on a long run @ 65 MPH you could do better than 240 miles from a tank - but I've never done a long run @ 65 MPH and I have no plans to.

If you plan on £90 at today's prices for every 200 miles, you won't be far wrong.

I've had over 300miles from a tank and as little as 180miles... cruising at 80+mph sees car give over 23mpg and can see you beyond 300miles.

Id say I have averaged 240miles to tank of 60litres (have put 65 litres in before) and thats about 18mpg... I also only ever run on normal unleaded.

use manual mode and let the car rev to 4k with each gear change... and make sure you hit over 8000rpm at least once every trip lol

[M5MarkM]

andygtt said:

I've had over 300miles from a tank and as little as 180miles... cruising at 80+mph sees car give over 23mpg and can see you beyond 300miles.

Id say I have averaged 240miles to tank of 60litres (have put 65 litres in before) and thats about 18mpg... I also only ever run on normal unleaded.

use manual mode and let the car rev to 4k with each gear change... and make sure you hit over 8000rpm at least once every trip lol

WTF?! We are talking V10 here?! My advice to OP, buy Andys M5, it's been VERY well looked after

My worst was Brunters, full tank plus 3x5 litre cans was 72 miles! My average is around 160 miles per tank... my best.... was a very dull journey!