Wow E39 M5

[LeeE39M5]

Right its my first post so bare with me.

I have been lucky in the fact that I have been able to own an EVO 6, Subaru, R33 GTR, R32 GTR, Astra Turbo but about 4 weeks ago I got rid of my stunning R32 GTR and got into the drivers seat of an E39 M5 and since that day I keep running out of words for the car.

The M5 has done 107K miles and is a pre-face lift but lucky for me BMW replaced the complete engine in 2007 so I have an engine that has only done about 35K miles and I cant believe the car.

Now its not as fast as the GTR's I have had as they were 530 BHP and 435 BHP but it is not a million miles away and the power delivery of the V8 is amazing.

So far in a few weeks I would sum the car up as follows:-

It is not the best at anything but it just about scores 9 out of 10 on every aspect of driving (speed, comfort, handling, looks, power delivery, steering feel and finally electrical toys) I am struggling to think of a car for the price that could come anywhere near the M5 in terms of ownership.

To say I am happy owner is a massive understatement!!!!!!!!

[Adz The Rat]

Great first post!

You will find the E39 M5 is very highly regarded on here, it is pretty much my dream car in fact.

Now get some pics up.

[spareparts]

LeeE39M5 said:

It is not the best at anything but it just about scores 9 out of 10 on every aspect of driving (speed, comfort, handling, looks, power delivery, steering feel and finally electrical toys) I am struggling to think of a car for the price that could come anywhere near the M5 in terms of ownership.

To say I am happy owner is a massive understatement!!!!!!!!

I just picked mine up recently and reckon it's going to be a very hard car to replace! It is a perfect fast floater

[LeeE39M5]

Ah Pics cant be done till I have polished it all up and reconditioned the alloys

Actually I don't suppose anyone knows a good place to get the wheels done?

[CarbonBlackM5]

Welcome to the fold. Mine were done by Pristine Wheels but I think Leptons (think that's spelt right) are the best for M3 and M5 wheels.

[andye30m3]

I'm going to start looking for an E39 M5 shortly, they just seam to do everything I could want a car to do.

If your in essex http://www.lepsons.com/ are not too far away and get very good reviews, I was very happy with the wheels they did for me.

PS: does anyone on here use an E39 M5 on trackdays?

[carlgrz]

I totally agree with your initial thoughts. The E39 M5 isn't the best at anything but as a package it's virtually irreplaceable. Had mine 7 months and love it more every day. For any questions you might have get yer arse over to M5 board where you will find everything you need to know and much more.

[Vixpy1]

LeeE39M5 said:

I have been lucky in the fact that I have been able to own an

Astra Turbo

Made me chuckle that did

[carlgrz]

Vixpy1 said:

LeeE39M5 said:

I have been lucky in the fact that I have been able to own an

Astra Turbo

Made me chuckle that did

Don't knock it. I still miss my Mk1 Fiesta with a red vinyl roof......

[LeeE39M5]

Now thats not fair you must be a editor of a paper

It was a brand new SRI turbo 2002 model lol.

Mind you I only kept it for 4 months until the interior styling finally broke my spirit lol

[Vixpy1]

Yes, they do that

[LeeE39M5]

It was an ok day to day car but very very bland, and although it was about 6.5 seconds to 60 it was a very boring machine really.

Overall I can safely say the M5 is a tad better

[scampbird]

spareparts said:

I just picked mine up recently and reckon it's going to be a very hard car to replace! It is a perfect fast floater

Glad you're enjoying it

[spareparts]

scampbird said:

spareparts said:

I just picked mine up recently and reckon it's going to be a very hard car to replace! It is a perfect fast floater

Glad you're enjoying it

'Tis a great car for the weekend hoon with the family in tow and those winter nights spent polishing and fettling in the garage

[DVandrews]

I was planning to sell my E39 M5 but after using it to tour a few dealerships and after having test driven a number of possible replacements I have decided to keep it another 2 years because it is without doubt the most complete and easily the best car I have ever owned in terms of all round abilities. I have had faster cars, more comfortable cars and more beautiful cars, but it is rare to have such a galactic combination of qualities in the same package. If they still made the E39 M5 I would buy a new one in a heartbeat.

Having sampled the possible repalcements I have fallen in love wioth it's qualities all over again.

Dave

[CarbonBlackM5]

DVandrews said:

I was planning to sell my E39 M5 but after using it to tour a few dealerships and after having test driven a number of possible replacements I have decided to keep it another 2 years because it is without doubt the most complete and easily the best car I have ever owned in terms of all round abilities. I have had faster cars, more comfortable cars and more beautiful cars, but it is rare to have such a galactic combination of qualities in the same package. If they still made the E39 M5 I would buy a new one in a heartbeat.

Having sampled the possible repalcements I have fallen in love wioth it's qualities all over again.

Dave

Nice to hear that you have seen the error of your ways. I have only had mine since April and it has cost me a small fortune to sort out but I still think its great.

[scampbird]

DVandrews said:

I was planning to sell my E39 M5 but after using it to tour a few dealerships and after having test driven a number of possible replacements I have decided to keep it another 2 years because it is without doubt the most complete and easily the best car I have ever owned in terms of all round abilities. I have had faster cars, more comfortable cars and more beautiful cars, but it is rare to have such a galactic combination of qualities in the same package. If they still made the E39 M5 I would buy a new one in a heartbeat.

Having sampled the possible repalcements I have fallen in love wioth it's qualities all over again.

Dave

Agreed, it is an astonishingly good all-rounder. If it was just a bit lighter and the steering had a fraction more feel it'd be perfect. Mine was such a good car to me over the years - surprisingly so, given that when I bought it a lot of people were warning me to expect unreliability. I had nothing of the sort.

[Great Pretender]

Welcome to the fold Lee

I've owned mine for a month also and already its quickly becoming the best car I've ever bought*. Its the Jekyll and Hyde nature of the car that I love; one minute it's a relaxed and refined cruiser, the next its laying 100yard "11s" at the exit of a roundabout.

Brilliant, brilliant machines.

Enjoy.


*Please don't make me regret saying that.

[screwloose]

I'm keen on an M5 but just worry that because they're a big car they are difficult to hustle down a favourite B road. Do they feel a big cumbersome car or is it not far off an M3 in terms of feel?

Sorry to hijack your thread its just I've got a real hankering for one. As you've said everyone thats owned one seems to state they've never owned a better all rounder.

[CarbonBlackM5]

screwloose said:

I'm keen on an M5 but just worry that because they're a big car they are difficult to hustle down a favourite B road. Do they feel a big cumbersome car or is it not far off an M3 in terms of feel?

Sorry to hijack your thread its just I've got a real hankering for one. As you've said everyone thats owned one seems to state they've never owned a better all rounder.

Never driven an M3 so cant comment but the M5 does disguise its weight very well. The stability control gets in the way far too much but when its off slides are easy to control and are progressive.

Its never going to feel like a sports car due to its size and weight but show it a decent A road and its very surprising (not to mention the straights)