Buying an M5. Advice please

[L888DER]

I am thinking of buying an M5 £25K-£28K. What are the must hav's and what should i be aware of.

Thanks

[Jazzer]

Hi!

The BMW warranty is essential.....don't buy one without it! (TOP TIP!!)

Drive several, as there is a degree of variability in feel and quality.

Servicing is condition-based.....you can check service requirements in the i-drive......pay particular attention to the condition of pads and discs, as it's common for owners to get shot of cars like these when a big bill is looming.

Check work done on the car by chatting to BMW Customer Services......very helpful

Tyres are expensive.....Michelin PS2s are by far the best tyres for this car.....run a mile if it's on cheap rubber!

Post March 06 cars come in to the higher road tax bracket...£435 annually

Nice options....multi-functional seats, logic 7, bluetooth/telematics, heated rear seats, full leather looks lovely (£5K option), but the extended leather is fine....extended voice control is really useful

Happy hunting!

[M5 Mark]

As Jazzer says, the warranty is a must, forget any other brand, go BMW/Mondial all the way. As for the extras depends on what you want. Took me 6 months to find the right car, but I feel if I had settled for a lesser spec I would always be wondering!

For me essentials were;
Active seats
Logic 7
HuD
Alacantre head lining
full extended leather
Sun roof
Voice command

Some others are a nice touch like TV, active headlights radar cruise control etc, but I guess most tihngs with the above spec would have had every option added anyway.

[L888DER]

thanks for the replies...... i am not one to thrash the M5 but can it handle it? ie could i be buying 27K worth of trouble?

[996 sps]

Just my opinion but why not buy a mint E39 M5 and save some cash for another toy........

[L888DER]

to be honest myself and the wife recently had Twins. i have had the lotus's and a boxter etc but they are all gone. I now drive a diesel megane as a work cimmute care and the wife has a family 4x4.

My two choices for a third card are a 996 C4S or M5. Yes i could go and get another exige S but i want something rapid that can be used by the 4 of us.....

[M5 Mark]

OH yes it can handle it! It's freaky how well the beast handles! I've tracked mine a fe times and it does get driven hard. Had it since 18000miles and now on 94000! No major problems at all. All repairs except clutch have been under waranty

[L888DER]

And how much does a clutch set you back??

would you recommend it.... is it your only car?

[humpbackmaniac]

996 sps said:

Just my opinion but why not buy a mint E39 M5 and save some cash for another toy........

Based on your user name, great minds think alike 996.

I went out to buy an E60. Came home (well within a week but for dramatic effect came home) with a tidy E39 £9k, a 999s Track bike £5.5k and a new 2008 Hayabusa £9k. And a £3k war chest for E39 related emergencies, the rest went on crap like an Oak Dinner Table bloody women getting in my wallet!

But the point is you can get a presentable car, I spent a further £219 on an M5 number plate to hide age, and lots of smiles for the price of an E60.
They are Awesome the acceleration above 100 leptons is second to nothing below 100k but be sure you want one, I could Just and I mean JUST afford one and if I had stretched to buy it I would be worrying about the odd rattle, hard braking, fast launch's knowing that I could afford to fix her if she breaks.

[CarbonBlackM5]

L888DER said:

And how much does a clutch set you back??

would you recommend it.... is it your only car?

E39 M5 Clutch cost me £721.00 fitted by BMWorx. Clutch kit is only £293+VAT its just the labour that bumps it up.

[996 sps]

humpbackmaniac said:

996 sps said:

Just my opinion but why not buy a mint E39 M5 and save some cash for another toy........

Based on your user name, great minds think alike 996.

I went out to buy an E60. Came home (well within a week but for dramatic effect came home) with a tidy E39 £9k, a 999s Track bike £5.5k and a new 2008 Hayabusa £9k. And a £3k war chest for E39 related emergencies, the rest went on crap like an Oak Dinner Table bloody women getting in my wallet!

But the point is you can get a presentable car, I spent a further £219 on an M5 number plate to hide age, and lots of smiles for the price of an E60.
They are Awesome the acceleration above 100 leptons is second to nothing below 100k but be sure you want one, I could Just and I mean JUST afford one and if I had stretched to buy it I would be worrying about the odd rattle, hard braking, fast launch's knowing that I could afford to fix her if she breaks.

Sums it up nicely mate, yep had various new BMW's and suddenly realised for the money I was forking out could have a mint supercar (obviously now 11 years old) and a SPS Ducati, love em both! Oh and an E30 325I also great fun.......