Advice on this M5 for sale
Discussion
Hi folks possibly contemplating buying this after many years in a sierra cosworth. Realise it's a pre facelift anything to look out for in general?
Thanks
Paul
http://www.bealegarage.co.uk/carsforsale.html
Thanks
Paul
http://www.bealegarage.co.uk/carsforsale.html
You need to see evidence of plenty of RECENT money being spent in the service history, and personally I would buy a face lifted car which came out later in 2000 (vanos mods etc)....they are a fabulous car if you buy a good one to start with, but its not difficult to spend 3 or 4 grand on one bringing it up to scratch
The drivers side bolster looks quite worn, you'll probably find some yellow crumbs on the floor under it were the seat padding is crumbling.
There are a couple of cheapish mods added, carbon fibre roundel on the wheel for example, not my taste but probably easily removed.
The interior trim looks like the cheap silver painted stuff, it's not Titan Line or the original wood trim that would have come with Heritage Leather.
Difficult to tell, but looks like it does not have front PDC.
The boot floor is stained, it's impossible to clean the material without it getting matted and looking horrible.
Wheel has no curbing, but is pealing from the inside, bottom right. Probably cheaply refurbished.
Head lights are badly misted up.
Drivers door seal is breaking up.
The car has DSP (rear Nokia subs in the boot), check that it works from all four corners and stays on for more than 2 minuets!
Can't tell from the photos if there is any rust. If you go and look at it then check carefully, some of these cars rust badly especially the boot around the lock and the crease above the number plate, also around various seams on doors and the bonnet, also around the wheel arches, also the sills from the inside out! If you are thinking of buying remove the jacking pads (very easy) and check around them for rust. Also check inside the fuel filler flap at the bottom seam, most E39's rust there.
If driving it, check for vibrations under breaking, could be deposits on the disks (which are expensive) or worn thrust arm bushings and/or other suspension problems, which are expensive! Check the clutch for slippage, floor it in 5th at 60 mph, if possible find out when/if it's been replaced.
Exhaust has lost its chrome plate, or is very dirty.
Gear lever is not original, check if it's illuminated.
Check for service history (and other history), also if possible oil consumption, some of these cars have a big oil habit (1L per 500 miles). See what oil has been used.
Check for a puff of oil smoke on cold start, indicates worn valve guides.
These cars should run quite rich, so it's normal for the exhaust tips to be sooty, if they are pale brown it probably indicates the MAFs are shot, if possible test the hidden OBC menu for L/hour consumption at WOT, if should hit about 140 L/Hour.
Check the dash for missing pixels.
Check the rear view mirror and wind mirrors for auto dipping, also check that the mirrors fold without making a noise and reasonably quickly (5 seconds or less).
To me this looks like a car that's been run on a budget and is over priced.
There are a couple of cheapish mods added, carbon fibre roundel on the wheel for example, not my taste but probably easily removed.
The interior trim looks like the cheap silver painted stuff, it's not Titan Line or the original wood trim that would have come with Heritage Leather.
Difficult to tell, but looks like it does not have front PDC.
The boot floor is stained, it's impossible to clean the material without it getting matted and looking horrible.
Wheel has no curbing, but is pealing from the inside, bottom right. Probably cheaply refurbished.
Head lights are badly misted up.
Drivers door seal is breaking up.
The car has DSP (rear Nokia subs in the boot), check that it works from all four corners and stays on for more than 2 minuets!
Can't tell from the photos if there is any rust. If you go and look at it then check carefully, some of these cars rust badly especially the boot around the lock and the crease above the number plate, also around various seams on doors and the bonnet, also around the wheel arches, also the sills from the inside out! If you are thinking of buying remove the jacking pads (very easy) and check around them for rust. Also check inside the fuel filler flap at the bottom seam, most E39's rust there.
If driving it, check for vibrations under breaking, could be deposits on the disks (which are expensive) or worn thrust arm bushings and/or other suspension problems, which are expensive! Check the clutch for slippage, floor it in 5th at 60 mph, if possible find out when/if it's been replaced.
Exhaust has lost its chrome plate, or is very dirty.
Gear lever is not original, check if it's illuminated.
Check for service history (and other history), also if possible oil consumption, some of these cars have a big oil habit (1L per 500 miles). See what oil has been used.
Check for a puff of oil smoke on cold start, indicates worn valve guides.
These cars should run quite rich, so it's normal for the exhaust tips to be sooty, if they are pale brown it probably indicates the MAFs are shot, if possible test the hidden OBC menu for L/hour consumption at WOT, if should hit about 140 L/Hour.
Check the dash for missing pixels.
Check the rear view mirror and wind mirrors for auto dipping, also check that the mirrors fold without making a noise and reasonably quickly (5 seconds or less).
To me this looks like a car that's been run on a budget and is over priced.
ArmaghMan said:
TheAngryDog said:
Front PDC on these was an option iirc, especially on pre face lift. Rear PDC was an option on early 99 cars as well.
My 99 V reg has the modified VANOS units.
Modified VANOS units?My 99 V reg has the modified VANOS units.
TheAngryDog said:
POORCARDEALER said:
There are 2 VANOS units which on earlier cars can be prone to getting very noisy and its a job running into thousands to sort
Which the accumulator helps to try and prevent, however, a noisy VANOS doesn't mean it's failed.Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff