Test drove E60 M5, have a couple of questions
Test drove E60 M5, have a couple of questions
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Carpmart

Original Poster:

142 posts

255 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
I've driven an E60 M5 for the first time today with the view to me potentially buying it. It was a thoroughly pleasant experience except for low speed pull away and an inability for the car to respond smoothly at low speed.

Is this down to me and trying to be too 'gentle' with it?

Pulling away from rest with foot on brake, then gently accelerating, was kind of a clonky (no noise) mechanically engaging type of feeling. Is this normal or is it symptomatic of an issue with the car, clutch, release bearing etc? At speed and shifting through the box on the paddles all was smooth and as expected, just harsh in 1st and 2nd gears.

Its a 67k car with no history that I can find of the clutch being done, makes me a little nervous that it will have some money to spend soon on it?

Second question is one of value. June 2006 car with 67k miles, Interlagos blue with black leather, I'll be the 3rd owner, what do you think its worth please?

Contigo

3,130 posts

235 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
Was it cold? Mine sometime jumps in second when pulling away from say a roundabout but once warm the joltiness subsides. I would be wary about the release bearing as you mention as the symptoms do sound similar to those described on various threads here.

Pig Skill

1,368 posts

229 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
This ain't the type of car to buy blindly. Pay for an inspection by an expert or it could well end in tears at bedtime.

Carpmart

Original Poster:

142 posts

255 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
Where does one find an expert?

I take it you're not referring to the 'mickey mouse' RAC/AA inspection/report?

Pig Skill

1,368 posts

229 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
Depends where it is,must there are a number of very good indie BMW specialists throughout the uk

No def not aa or rac etc.

Carpmart

Original Poster:

142 posts

255 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
Rickmansworth?

omniflow

3,673 posts

177 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
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CPC Automotive - they're opposite the Audi Garage in Amersham.

Pig Skill

1,368 posts

229 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
omniflow said:
CPC Automotive - they're opposite the Audi Garage in Amersham.
And highly regarded too.

For a niche car that has known 'issues' in certain areas that are expensive to remedy, I would be very careful in buying. Most tend to seek out cars with good provenance, servicing history and ideally backed with a warranty.

Also at that mileage it would need to be cheap with lots of history covering the key components or you are likely to get a kicking come resale time as they are hard to move on at the best of times.

No offence intended to current M5 owners, the car is epic. I am just advising our seemingly inexperienced OP of the pitfalls of buying a highly strung super saloon.

andygtt

8,345 posts

290 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
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my car was very clonky in 1st and 2nd gear when I test drove it... i tried it in auto and manual, but this was because of the way I drove it and the fact i changed too early.

However after I started using it it was fine, it needed to learn my driving and I needed to learn it... it now pulls smoothly away with only the occasional clonckyness if I catch it out when I pull up to a junction and try to pull away when it decides to change down to 1st.
I deliberatelly let the car rev to 3-4k before I change as its much smoother, has plently of torque and gives better mpg smile
It doesnt want to be driven along at under 2000rpm and the gerchanges etc around there are never that smooth as its trying to slip the clutch etc etc rather than just do a proper change.

jon-

16,534 posts

242 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Pig Skill said:
This ain't the type of car to buy blindly. Pay for an inspection by an expert or it could well end in tears at bedtime.
Assuming they have the valuable BMW warranty, what's the worst that could happen? (famous last words). Engine, gearbox, electrics etc are all covered, so you just have to worry about standard consumables, which are the same on any car.

Carpmart

Original Poster:

142 posts

255 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies guys!

So I've contacted CPC to see if they will do an inspection of the car for me before I buy it! Its got a dealer offered warranty of three months with 'XYZ' Warranty, I'm sure this is 'vanilla' and wholey inappropriate for an M5, so will need other provisions. With 67k miles, is there anyway to reasonably get a decent warranty on it? Where do I buy from?

The car has an impressive set of stamps from the same dealer Benham BMW in the midlands which appear to all be in order. As its a 2006 car, how can I check for SMG pump issues/upgrades/problem free spec? Is there a decent BMW database which a friendly dealer will access on the car? Do BMW help directly if contacted and how do I get hold of them?

If the threads I've read are correct, I'm looking at circa £1500 for a clutch and flywheel fitted at a decent Indi, is that correct?

Lots of questions .......

Thanks in advance!

contracttor

922 posts

211 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
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jon- said:
Pig Skill said:
This ain't the type of car to buy blindly. Pay for an inspection by an expert or it could well end in tears at bedtime.
Assuming they have the valuable BMW warranty, what's the worst that could happen? (famous last words). Engine, gearbox, electrics etc are all covered, so you just have to worry about standard consumables, which are the same on any car.
The thing is the car has over 60K miles so when the warranty is renewed to the new owner they are going to be looking at about 160 per month.

mondie

644 posts

168 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
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How much is the car? I couldnt own one without a BMW warranty, its just too scary !

Carpmart

Original Poster:

142 posts

255 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
mondie said:
How much is the car? I couldnt own one without a BMW warranty, its just too scary !
How do I buy the BMW waranty? £160 per month (previous post suggested number) seems like a lot of contingency I can build quite quickly with a slush fund approach!

jon-

16,534 posts

242 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Carpmart said:
mondie said:
How much is the car? I couldnt own one without a BMW warranty, its just too scary !
How do I buy the BMW waranty? £160 per month (previous post suggested number) seems like a lot of contingency I can build quite quickly with a slush fund approach!
Very rough man maths, you'd need something like 3 years worth of slush fund to do a gearbox, and something like double that for an engine...

Carpmart

Original Poster:

142 posts

255 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
jon- said:
Very rough man maths, you'd need something like 3 years worth of slush fund to do a gearbox, and something like double that for an engine...
How do you get to nearly £5k for a gearbox fault? and £10k for a problem with an engine? That seems like a crazy high number, has anyone ever had a £5k gearbox fault or £10k engine one?



jontysafe

2,370 posts

204 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Those figures are VERY conservative for complete gearbox or Engine from BMW. You`re talking £20k for a new engine from BMW. That said you can get engines cheaper from breakers but no warranty.

That said these are strong cars and there is a LOT of internet scare mongering.

Carpmart

Original Poster:

142 posts

255 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
TBH, with the price of these cars now, I'd break the car and buy another if I have that kind of issue, so its a non issue on that basis! smile

BalhamBadger

1,186 posts

199 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Carpmart said:
TBH, with the price of these cars now, I'd break the car and buy another if I have that kind of issue, so its a non issue on that basis! smile
I like your style.

jon-

16,534 posts

242 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Carpmart said:
TBH, with the price of these cars now, I'd break the car and buy another if I have that kind of issue, so its a non issue on that basis! smile
You win 6 man points for this post.

Go and buy.