E39 M5 Daily Drive?

[mikey-r]

Hi,

I've had an itch ever since selling my Subaru for another hi performance car. Currently have 2 330d's and I'm thinking about replacing the '02 Sport with an E39 M5. It'll be the wifes daily drive (20 miles a day B roads) as I have a considerably longer commute. It'll do about 10k per annum.

My question is, will it be too much of a beast? The Mrs used to love the Subaru but it was such a light feeling car to drive - I suspect the M5 will have a much heavier/cumbersome feel when not pressing on as this is what the 330d Sport feels like?

The car I'm interested in is a BMW AUC car (currently in Coopers Norwich) T107 DNW. It seems overpriced on the face of it as no Satnav/TV (not that I actually want either) but I'm presuming they'll be open to an offer and it will come with a years warranty. Apart from checking to see if the Vanos has been an issue, is there anything else I should be looking for/asking?

I've spent ages trawling through previous posts and am I right in thinking that apart from the Vanos, there are not further 'weak links'?

Any views/comments gratefully recieved (even if it's "that's an overpriced pile of poo - stay well clear!".

Lastly, anything I've forgotten...
Expect:
20MPG
Rears every 8/10k
£185 tax (as pre 2001)
If Vanos goes - remortgage house
Change oil every 6k
Find a good indy (PMW Chelmsford)?

Thanks.

[arryb]

Test drive - probably the only way you're going to find out if your wife likes it or not?

[Paulburrell]

Mikey

Can only speak after a month of owning a 2002 version. The car is a real pussycat to drive on everyday commutes and a hoot to drive when the red mist decides to descend. Your wife would love it. Because of it's torque you can get away without changing gear much if you just can't be bothered. In fact it almost feels like an auto some times. But if you do decide to press the loud pedal hard. then all hell breaks loose the endless torque and the noise are intoxicating. Apart from Vanos issues I understand that the MAF's need replacing after about 50k.(about £500 for the pair), oh and check for clutch and brake disc wear. Ask the dealer to undertake a diagnostic test and to give you a copy of the fault code readout, that will tell you whether there's anything potentially nasty lurking underneath. Visit the www.m5board.com for lots of far more informed opinion than mine.

As for price £10k is probably a bit high, but then again if you get a BMW warranty for 12 months it might be worth it. By way of comparison I paid £13k privately for mine last month, it's an 02 model in absolutely mint condition with all of the toys, 62k miles and a full dealer service history. I also met a guy last week with a black one for sale, FSH, same spec toys as the Cooper car(ie no Sat Nav) and he was looking for £8k.

Good luck with the search.

Steve

[Seesure]

mikey-r said:

Lastly, anything I've forgotten...
Expect:
20MPG

If it's commuting only, probably less, I get 21.7mpg but that inlcudes a lot of motorway driving

mikey-r said:

Rears every 8/10k

Only if you drive like nob or only drive around town, I get 30-35k per set of rears

mikey-r said:

£185 tax (as pre 2001)

Correct

mikey-r said:

If Vanos goes - remortgage house

£6k ish, but DRVANOS can do repairs do a Google, 99 times out of 100 it'll be the vanos solenoids, have only heard of a few cars NEEDING both replacing although the dealer will always say it's the Vanos when the EML comes on.

mikey-r said:

Change oil every 6k

Why ?? Unless you are totally anal about changing oil - service intervals are roughly 14-17k

mikey-r said:

Find a good indy (PMW Chelmsford)?

Worth their weight in gold, IMHO a must have.

Plus clutches last a lot longer than www folklore would suggest unless you can't drive, some forums will tell you the clutch only lasts 50k and is mega expensive. Mine was done at 96k and was £550 fitted - however I didn't need a flywheel as I did the change well before the clutch was slipping badly.

[S600VXR]

Ive just bitten the bullet and bought one as a dailey driver. So long as its got SH or at least service reports and receipts you cant go wrong at the moment. They are a big car mind although very easy to drive so your wife should be fine unless she visits bumpit and scarper carparks (NCP and such like) alot.

[CarbonM5]

mikey-r said:

Hi,

I've had an itch ever since selling my Subaru for another hi performance car. Currently have 2 330d's and I'm thinking about replacing the '02 Sport with an E39 M5. It'll be the wifes daily drive (20 miles a day B roads) as I have a considerably longer commute. It'll do about 10k per annum.

My question is, will it be too much of a beast? The Mrs used to love the Subaru but it was such a light feeling car to drive - I suspect the M5 will have a much heavier/cumbersome feel when not pressing on as this is what the 330d Sport feels like?

The car I'm interested in is a BMW AUC car (currently in Coopers Norwich) T107 DNW. It seems overpriced on the face of it as no Satnav/TV (not that I actually want either) but I'm presuming they'll be open to an offer and it will come with a years warranty. Apart from checking to see if the Vanos has been an issue, is there anything else I should be looking for/asking?

I've spent ages trawling through previous posts and am I right in thinking that apart from the Vanos, there are not further 'weak links'?

Any views/comments gratefully recieved (even if it's "that's an overpriced pile of poo - stay well clear!".

Lastly, anything I've forgotten...
Expect:
20MPG
Rears every 8/10k
£185 tax (as pre 2001)
If Vanos goes - remortgage house
Change oil every 6k
Find a good indy (PMW Chelmsford)?

Thanks.

Everything apart from the vanos is accurate,I knew someone back in 03 who had both vanos done for 2700 quid at the dealers!
They rarley go tbh and that car was a very early one.

I change the oil every 5k miles,works wonders on any engine!

[mikey-r]

Thanks chaps. That's exactly the sort of feedback/comments I'm after.

My main worry (for the Mrs) was how heavy the clutch was I suppose - is it a real calf buster or fairly light?

Everything's stacking up nicely. It's been far too long since I had that rush of driving something a little bit special.

Anyone want a very clean 330d Sport.... MMMmmmm, probably the wrong BMW section I reckon!

[smack]

Seesure said:

Plus clutches last a lot longer than www folklore would suggest unless you can't drive, some forums will tell you the clutch only lasts 50k and is mega expensive. Mine was done at 96k and was £550 fitted - however I didn't need a flywheel as I did the change well before the clutch was slipping badly.

Checking invoices that came with my car, the clutch was changed at 28k (the car used to live in London), and cost over 1000 pounds at a London BMW dealer, including the flywheel (366 with a 10% discount). Labour cost for the job was a bit over 300 quid.

[Paulburrell]

mikey-r said:

Thanks chaps. That's exactly the sort of feedback/comments I'm after.

My main worry (for the Mrs) was how heavy the clutch was I suppose - is it a real calf buster or fairly light?

Clutch is no harder on the calfs than the wife's Toyota Yaris, honest.

[finmac]

My wife loved driving my old one - great cars, only thing against them now is they look a bit dated.

[ArmaghMan]

mikey-r said:

Hi,

I've had an itch ever since selling my Subaru for another hi performance car. Currently have 2 330d's and I'm thinking about replacing the '02 Sport with an E39 M5. It'll be the wifes daily drive (20 miles a day B roads) as I have a considerably longer commute. It'll do about 10k per annum.

My question is, will it be too much of a beast? The Mrs used to love the Subaru but it was such a light feeling car to drive - I suspect the M5 will have a much heavier/cumbersome feel when not pressing on as this is what the 330d Sport feels like?

The car I'm interested in is a BMW AUC car (currently in Coopers Norwich) T107 DNW. It seems overpriced on the face of it as no Satnav/TV (not that I actually want either) but I'm presuming they'll be open to an offer and it will come with a years warranty. Apart from checking to see if the Vanos has been an issue, is there anything else I should be looking for/asking?

I've spent ages trawling through previous posts and am I right in thinking that apart from the Vanos, there are not further 'weak links'?

Any views/comments gratefully recieved (even if it's "that's an overpriced pile of poo - stay well clear!".

Lastly, anything I've forgotten...
Expect:
20MPG
Rears every 8/10k
£185 tax (as pre 2001)
If Vanos goes - remortgage house
Change oil every 6k
Find a good indy (PMW Chelmsford)?

Thanks.

Took the plunge last Thursday and bought a 00 E39 M5.Will be doing approx. 20,000 per annum.Thankfully "herself" wont drive it.
I changed from a Scooby to a 330d and now to an M5.
So far Mpg is.......16.7

Edited by ArmaghMan on Monday 13th April 19:47

[E38]

Seesure said:

mikey-r said:

Change oil every 6k

Why ?? Unless you are totally anal about changing oil - service intervals are roughly 14-17k

Change oil every 17k and you will be changing the engine every 75k.
Best change the black stuff every 5k or 12 months, whichever comes first.

[hoopyfrood]

mikey-r said:

Lastly, anything I've forgotten...

You covered most of the issues with these, they are a reliable everyday hyper-car and I use mine daily for the daily trudge into the city. But keep some dosh in reserve for the things it does throw at you. Camshaft Position Sensors are common faults, MAFs go off resulting in power drop after some heavy mileage, they can drink oil (the one at Coopers is a pre-March 2000 so its the weaker VANOS, pre-facelift model so it will drink more than normal), brake disks are expensive (budget around £1k front and back with performance pads and brake lines).

Other than that (and open an account with Coopers parts dept) it should be a good motor. Just check the history on the car fully (Coopers should be able to give you a good rundown - there's a guy calles Giles at the service desk in Coopers and he's a good chap to talk to, helped me a fair bit in the past)

[mikey-r]

Thanks again guys. All good info and insights into owning one of these iconic motors! No-one's managed to scare me off yet so all good... apart from an email yesterday from Coopers saying it's sold I did find the car on another traders site @ £8999 so I'm guessing either they outed it to a friendly dealer or it went to auction and the trader picked it up from there? The BMW warranty would have been worth a grand in my book just for the peace of mind in the first year whilst I get to know the car.

There appears to be quite a few 2000 cars for that money with better spec's so the search continues and at least this gives me more time to sell the 330d for reasonable money rather than let it go for peanuts in p/ex.

[derestrictor]

They are as bomb proof as performance cars can probably be.

Tbh, even if you have the biggest bill conceivable (which is unlikely) it would still be a bargain.

I think people overstate the costs of these cars in the face of the value repertoire they serve up.

You genuinley have to stop thinking of them ito common or garden, humdrum BMW fare: they are more akin to a practical, reliable Ferrari 456 (ride, sound, tactility) except that they go harder and handle with more confidence.

Oh, yes and costs 3-4 times less to acquire.

When my engine blows up I shall install another and do something absurd with it. There is no point in replacing the car/chassis since it is perfect and quite unmatched in the pantheon of supersubtle, automotive assassins.

[emicen]

I've been using an M5 for the last few days for commuting. Borrowed it from my mate whilst my regular car is getting its brakes done.

They are remarkable as daily drivers. The early AM bank holiday commute beckoned yesterday and the M5 and myself answered. 30 miles from the car park in my flat to the car park in my work. Turned the engine on at 6:24, turned it off at 6:43, you do the math

Lunch time had the office petrol heads queued up at my desk trying to coax me in to a fast food trip. So the car's abilities were demonstrated to them over various twisty country roads and dual carriageways.

Yet with a sensible commute up the road last night in the heavier evening traffic and a commute this morning at a mere 0.8 leptons, the seemingly quite accurate trip computer is showing over 20mpg, including a bimble through town to Tesco last night.

For some time I had been debating getting shot of my 320Cd as the ecconomy just isnt what it should be and the car frankly isnt quick enough to keep me entertained. The natural progression had seemed to be to its bigger brother, the 330d. But 5 days living with the howl of that V8 has really got me thinking. M5, 200cel cats, exhaust, LPG...

[derestrictor]

emicen said:

...5 days living with the howl of that V8 has really got me thinking. M5, 200cel cats, exhaust, LPG...

Many people assume The Holy Inquisition is something which fizzled out five centuries ago.

It is.

However, a Papal Bull was issued in the mid 16th century under the tutelage of Beyonce Nostradamus.

In it, our man foretold the coming of many things including the arrival of the "many litred, self propelling supercarriage."

Julius III, Supreme Pontiff at the time (and clandestine leader of The Torquemada Isle of Man Hooning Sect) was so concerned that such transportational purity remain unsullied by the hand of Satan that he issued the requisite decree, effectively condemning any who transgress against the 'Holy Roman Wagon.'

Academics are split as to the true interpretation but I'm pretty damn sure that LPG in an M5 is the surest way to invite a gang of bulging eyed, hysterical Jesuits into your bedroom with an insertion complex involving your backside and a gnome from the Vatican's very own duck pond...

[Rags]

derestrictor said:

Academics are split as to the true interpretation but I'm pretty damn sure that LPG in an M5 is the surest way to invite a gang of bulging eyed, hysterical Jesuits into your bedroom with an insertion complex involving your backside and a gnome from the Vatican's very own duck pond...

Genuine LOL

[emicen]

Rags said:

derestrictor said:

Academics are split as to the true interpretation but I'm pretty damn sure that LPG in an M5 is the surest way to invite a gang of bulging eyed, hysterical Jesuits into your bedroom with an insertion complex involving your backside and a gnome from the Vatican's very own duck pond...

Genuine LOL

Genuine rolleyes.

I'll take my place in line for the Vatican gnome enema, right after they go and educate the garden shed mechanics at AC Schnitzer in the error of their ways
http://www.ac-schnitzer.de/en/bmw-cars/product/con...

[derestrictor]

Fear not, there's a bridge with a hanging rope for such unspeakable heresy.

In the meantime, at least Schnitzer have a solution for Mk1 E65/66 7s' unfulfilled front aprons.