Does anyone know this purple E39 M5

Does anyone know this purple E39 M5

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Discussion

LunarOne

Original Poster:

6,287 posts

151 months

Friday 10th January
quotequote all
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412247...

I'm in the market for a V8 and the E39 M5 has always been an itch I wanted to scratch. There's a purple M5 for sale by a private seller in Slough - not far from me but an area replete with wideboys, innit bruvs and terrible drivers. And apparently it's had 12 keepers. I've never seen any car which had 12 keepers. OK it's getting on for 24 years old and if it's accurate, the mileage isn't that bad for the age. It's purple and I have seen and nearly bought an E39 525i Sport in Techno Violet. I'm not sure this is that colour. It kind of looks like a respray but it's difficult to tell from the photos. Seller says it's BMW Individual Mauve Purple and that it needs a good machine polish and also that there are spots of rust coming through on the rear arches. I know that story from my E46 330 Coupe...

Last V5 was issued in July 23 and the advert is exceedingly sparse, which tells me that it isn't owned by an enthusiast. But the owner assures me he's owned it for 6 years and knew the guy who had it before. He says the V5 was reissued because a different private plate was taken off it.

If this were a good, well maintained car I'd love to own it, but my head is telling me to run in the opposite direction and never look back.

Anyone know anything about it?

cossy400

3,357 posts

198 months

Friday 10th January
quotequote all
cannot help with the car, but buy on condition is normally the remit for anything BMW of age.

my last cosworth that i had from 2005 to 2009 when i bought it it had, had 17 owners in 15 years, i still bought it and when i sold it it went in 3 days even with that many owners

VeeTenM

750 posts

128 months

Friday 10th January
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Its a pretty crap advert lol I would ask to take it to www.cpcpe.com to get it checked over properly if they are serious. I wouldnt worry about owners as long as its kept well. My old M Coupe had 10 owners but was kept in decent condition.
MOT shows Fuel line corroded back in 2020 then picked up again in 2022 Central fuel pipe is very corroded but not leaking. Would check invoices etc to see it they are done or get underneath it.

LunarOne

Original Poster:

6,287 posts

151 months

Friday 10th January
quotequote all
Also the rear bumper and boot aren't the same colour as the rest of the car...

Googie

1,717 posts

140 months

Friday 10th January
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Ad refers to a 12 owner car which would worry me abit as these tend to be keepers. Would advise on a detailed pre inspection as these cars are prone to rust at this age. Budget for a minimum spend of £3k to put hidden issues right if you buy. Birds of Iver probably closer than CPC

LankyMcTally

324 posts

111 months

Saturday 11th January
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It’s a distinctive car that has had a colourful history and has been the subject of recent discussion on the E39 M5 owners group, including as to the removal of its previous Cat N insurance marker…

LankyMcTally

324 posts

111 months

Saturday 11th January
quotequote all
The colour is “Veilchen Blau” and it’s the only M5 that was produced in that colour.

LunarOne

Original Poster:

6,287 posts

151 months

Saturday 11th January
quotequote all
Thanks for that Lanky. Where can I find this owners group? There seem to be several which might fit the bill but the closest match to the name is a FB group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/4126441733) that seems to only allow existing owners to join and not prospective owners. And FB fills me with disgust.

helix403

219 posts

12 months

Saturday 11th January
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Probably rotten underneath like most E39s. See Redish Motorsport You Tube channel.

LankyMcTally

324 posts

111 months

Saturday 11th January
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The owners’ group is on WhatsApp and by invitation to people who already own a car, rather than open to all but is a brilliant and really valuable resource for anyone who has one. Although you have to have notifications silenced because it is VERY active. If you do source a car, it’s the go-to place for technical know-how, parts and general banter. A number of UK specialists are members and contributors.

The Facebook M5 owners’ group you mention has a heavy US-bias. Knowledge is good.

The M5board website is now very quiet compared to its heyday but it remains a useful searchable resource.

None of the above is especially helpful to you at the pre-purchase stage. However, if you want to drop me a message I’ll be happy to exchange DMs to get a feel for what you’re looking for and I can put the feelers out for you within the UK group.

I’d also suggest you consider approaching specialists like Barry at BMR, James at Redish or Aaron at A Reeve to see if they are aware of any customer cars that are or might shortly become available. They’ll be able to guide you towards cars which are mechanically and structurally sound, rather than those which just look pretty on the outside.

Mezzanine

10,116 posts

233 months

Saturday 11th January
quotequote all
LankyMcTally said:
The colour is “Veilchen Blau” and it’s the only M5 that was produced in that colour.
As in the only one in the world or for the UK?

12 owners and a lazy couple of sentences to describe the car screams run a mile to me.

LankyMcTally

324 posts

111 months

Saturday 11th January
quotequote all
Mezzanine said:
LankyMcTally said:
The colour is “Veilchen Blau” and it’s the only M5 that was produced in that colour.
As in the only one in the world or for the UK?
It’s one of one in the world.

20,482 E39 M5s built but only one in that colour. The Lotus White interior is also rare although I don’t have access to total build numbers there.

And I hereby claim my Level One PH bearding badge.

Mezzanine

10,116 posts

233 months

Sunday 12th January
quotequote all
LankyMcTally said:
Mezzanine said:
LankyMcTally said:
The colour is “Veilchen Blau” and it’s the only M5 that was produced in that colour.
As in the only one in the world or for the UK?
It’s one of one in the world.

20,482 E39 M5s built but only one in that colour. The Lotus White interior is also rare although I don’t have access to total build numbers there.

And I hereby claim my Level One PH bearding badge.
Fascinating. I always wonder who the person that first specced such rare combinations was.

Googie

1,717 posts

140 months

Monday 13th January
quotequote all
LankyMcTally said:
Mezzanine said:
LankyMcTally said:
The colour is “Veilchen Blau” and it’s the only M5 that was produced in that colour.
As in the only one in the world or for the UK?
It’s one of one in the world.

20,482 E39 M5s built but only one in that colour. The Lotus White interior is also rare although I don’t have access to total build numbers there.

And I hereby claim my Level One PH bearding badge.
Hi LMcT-top knowledge so I have sent you a PM...!

LankyMcTally

324 posts

111 months

Monday 13th January
quotequote all
And have messaged you back on the specific issue you raised 👍

Googie

1,717 posts

140 months

Tuesday 14th January
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LankyMcTally said:
And have messaged you back on the specific issue you raised ??
Thanks LMcT-Pistonheads at its best again.

Tommie38

885 posts

208 months

Saturday 18th January
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If you like the car then buy it. Personally I’m not a fan of the colour (although I did love Techno Violet), but can see the attraction of an individual car.

I wouldn’t be too judgemental over previous owners, not least because you know nothing of the ones before the current one. I’d buy on condition and history.

Buy it, transport it back to your leafy suburb, hold onto it for ten years, write an eight page advert and sell it for top money…!