Thinking of an E60 M5 (or maybe an M6)

[mercGLowner]

Posted: Fri 19 Jun, 2009 10:24 Post subject: Thinking of an E60 M5

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I am seriously considering an E60 M5 as my next car, although M6 equally a possibility. A reasonable mileage (< 60K) 05 or 55 plate car seems to be around the late £20Ks at independant traders and in the early £30K at BMW dealerships (M5). I would prefer to buy one registered before Mar 06 in order not to unesseccarily line the pockets of the exchequer with the increased VED from Mar 06 registrations! May I ask some advice from you M5/M6 owners out there?

- Are these a decent everyday proposition? I am not fussed too much about mpg, my current car is a V8 AMG and I only drive about 100 miles per week.
- Are running costs 'reasonable' (by that I mean affordable to budget conscious, but not skint, prospective owner bearing in mind that I already run a CLK55 and do not scrimp on servicing). I would aim to buy an M5 which does not need new rubber/brakes shortly after I buy!
- Assume FBMWSH absolutely essential?
- What are standard servicing costs? Assume variable servicing?
- What goes wrong and assume warranty is important? BMW AUC being the best.

Any other tips/comments appreciated. I am not rushing in to buy straight away.

Thanks

[derestrictor]

If you can get through basic training (at Camp SMGIII) then you'll be fine.

[mercGLowner]

derestrictor said:

If you can get through basic training (at Camp SMGIII) then you'll be fine.

Haven't experienced this yet, but hopefully easily mastered!

[Vixpy1]

Running costs can be fairly horrific, I would strongly suggest buying one with BMW warranty, or a decent aftermarket one.

[groucho]

I was very pleased with my purchase, though bought it privately. It was registered in Dec 05, so on a 55 plate, 29k miles and picked it up for 27.7k.

There are some bargains out there so happy hunting.

The car is awesome.

[mercGLowner]

This one caught my eye:

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/BMW+...

I like the silverstone leather interior. This one doesn't have Logic7 which I would prefer, if I was being picky. I think I would certainly err towards an AUC car though and negotiate myself a two year BMW warranty. The cheapest one on the BMW AUC website was just under £31K. There are some out there with awful wood trim (vice the aluminium/metal trim). The wood is dreadful in my view and definately would be enough to put me off, I couldn't live with it.

Suppose I would buy privately if it had the balance of a BMW warranty.

Edited by mercGLowner on Friday 19th June 19:58

[groucho]

mercGLowner said:

This one caught my eye:

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/BMW+...

I like the silverstone leather interior. This one doesn't have Logic7 which I would prefer, if I was being picky. I think I would certainly err towards an AUC car though and negotiate myself a two year BMW warranty. The cheapest one on the BMW AUC website was just under £31K. There are some out there with awful wood trim (vice the aluminium/metal trim). The wood is dreadful in my view and definately would be enough to put me off, I couldn't live with it.

Suppose I would buy privately if it had the balance of a BMW warranty.

Edited by mercGLowner on Friday 19th June 19:58

Mine did.

[mercGLowner]

groucho said:

mercGLowner said:

This one caught my eye:

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/BMW+...

I like the silverstone leather interior. This one doesn't have Logic7 which I would prefer, if I was being picky. I think I would certainly err towards an AUC car though and negotiate myself a two year BMW warranty. The cheapest one on the BMW AUC website was just under £31K. There are some out there with awful wood trim (vice the aluminium/metal trim). The wood is dreadful in my view and definately would be enough to put me off, I couldn't live with it.

Suppose I would buy privately if it had the balance of a BMW warranty.

Edited by mercGLowner on Friday 19th June 19:58

Mine did.

Can you buy a BMW warranty even if you buy privately with some outstanding BMW warranty on the car? If so how much is it?

[groucho]

mercGLowner said:

groucho said:

mercGLowner said:

This one caught my eye:

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/BMW+...

I like the silverstone leather interior. This one doesn't have Logic7 which I would prefer, if I was being picky. I think I would certainly err towards an AUC car though and negotiate myself a two year BMW warranty. The cheapest one on the BMW AUC website was just under £31K. There are some out there with awful wood trim (vice the aluminium/metal trim). The wood is dreadful in my view and definately would be enough to put me off, I couldn't live with it.

Suppose I would buy privately if it had the balance of a BMW warranty.

Edited by mercGLowner on Friday 19th June 19:58

Mine did.

Can you buy a BMW warranty even if you buy privately with some outstanding BMW warranty on the car? If so how much is it?

As long as the BMW warranty is still current it is transferable and you can then continue with it. As to price, I'm not sure. It changes with the mileage. With the documentation supplied with my car, the previous owner paid £750 last November.

Edited by groucho on Friday 19th June 20:15

[mercGLowner]

groucho said:

mercGLowner said:

groucho said:

mercGLowner said:

This one caught my eye:

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/BMW+...

I like the silverstone leather interior. This one doesn't have Logic7 which I would prefer, if I was being picky. I think I would certainly err towards an AUC car though and negotiate myself a two year BMW warranty. The cheapest one on the BMW AUC website was just under £31K. There are some out there with awful wood trim (vice the aluminium/metal trim). The wood is dreadful in my view and definately would be enough to put me off, I couldn't live with it.

Suppose I would buy privately if it had the balance of a BMW warranty.

Edited by mercGLowner on Friday 19th June 19:58

Mine did.

Can you buy a BMW warranty even if you buy privately with some outstanding BMW warranty on the car? If so how much is it?

As long as the BMW warranty is still current it is transferable and you can the continue with it. As to price, I'm not sure. It changes with the mileage. With the documentation supplied with my car, the previous owner paid £750 last November.

Thanks, so you enjoying the M5? Is it all you wanted and expected? What colour and interior did you get? Got a piccie?

[groucho]

It's more than I expected, I'm really impressed. It is Black Sapphire with Black extended leather. As to pictures, after it is professionally valeted tomorrow.

At first I wasn't too keen on the shape, but the more I look at it the more it seems to make sense. Now I think it looks awesome.

[corp]

Awesome cars, running costs are cheaper than an E46 M3 (conditional based servicing, not the inspection 1 and 2 etc). Fuel costs are not an issue if you are looking for a 500+ bhp car. Buy one with an AUC warranty though as any issues can be costly (can be applied to any prestige car).

[Neil.D]

Presumably you have heard of this place? If you haven't, spend several hours here.

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/

[mercGLowner]

Neil.D said:

Presumably you have heard of this place? If you haven't, spend several hours here.

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/

Thanks for that link. Mostly US stuff but still v useful.

[berry100]

Running costs not bad at all...

If the mpg is not an issue then the car is just perfect....yes I do miss mine :-(

For me.....still the best 4 door saloon in the world...even though in design is it now nearly 5 years old!!

Get one.....you won't regret it...ever...

[M5Dave]

mercGLowner said:

groucho said:

mercGLowner said:

This one caught my eye:

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/BMW+...

I like the silverstone leather interior. This one doesn't have Logic7 which I would prefer, if I was being picky. I think I would certainly err towards an AUC car though and negotiate myself a two year BMW warranty. The cheapest one on the BMW AUC website was just under £31K. There are some out there with awful wood trim (vice the aluminium/metal trim). The wood is dreadful in my view and definately would be enough to put me off, I couldn't live with it.

Suppose I would buy privately if it had the balance of a BMW warranty.

Edited by mercGLowner on Friday 19th June 19:58

Mine did.

Can you buy a BMW warranty even if you buy privately with some outstanding BMW warranty on the car? If so how much is it?

Extended warranty prices are quite reasonable as long as the car has done less than 60,000 miles, about £800 per year I think.

Once it goes over 60,000 miles then the prices become stupidly expensive, around £2,200 per year for the comprehesive, zero excess cover.

I suppose that's something you'd need to think about if the car you're looking at already has mid 50k miles on the clock, because, although there are no real horror stories surrounding reliability, there are one or two people on here who have had issues with the gearbox, and would have ended up forking out some fairly serious money had it not been for the warranty.

[mercGLowner]

Thanks for that. There is this one quite close to me at Amari Supercars near Preston:

http://www.amarisupercars.com/index.cgi?action=3&a...

Interlagos Blue, Silverstone leather, 41K and full BMW history. Looks good and has the balance of an extended BMW warranty until Feb 10 (£100 excess). I emailed them some questions and got back the following:


1. Service history Fully BMW Serviced. Dashboard service menu on computer is showing next service due in 7000 mileswith spark plug change due in 36,000 miles. Computer says other routine maintenance (brake fluid and coolant etc) is duein November 2010. The car was 190 point inspected by BMW 2,500 mile ago before the warrantywas extended by another year to February 2010. Total costs 1200gbp but that covers everything on car unlimited mileageuntil next February and is renewable then for another year for 1000gbp. Warranty excess is 100 per claim. Stamps in service book are; Miles : 1253. Date 27 jan 06 15744 date 8 march 07 29513 date 23 jan 08 31976 date 19 march 08 37622 date 22 September 08Plus all spark plugs changed BMW Approved 124 point check on sale and warranty at 39533 miles. 26november 2008

2. Brakes Front pads and discs changed at 37,000 miles. Computer showing 22,000 milese stimated life left. Rear pads and discs all changed at BMW 800 miles ago. Costs 700. Receiptswith history file.

3. Tyres Rears replaced 2,000 miles ago so as new. Fronts replaced around 4,000 miles ago so in good condition.

4. General condition Bodywork very clean. Autoglym professionally valetted weekly by owner Interior is spotless. Cleaned weekly and never smoked in. Mechanically as new. BMW dealer maintained at all times. Regards.



I like it alot but I feel it is too expensive at £31995.

[groucho]

Do they always change the discs with the pads?

[mercGLowner]

Not to my knowledge, discs usually well outlast pads on most other cars. I would have thought 40K miles for discs on a high performance car driven in a 'lively' manner is about right.

[mercGLowner]

groucho said:

Do they always change the discs with the pads?

BTW, how did the professional valet go on your M5?