RE: BMW 550i (E60): Spotted
Discussion
E65Ross said:
But the whole idea of a 5 series is luxury, comfort and taking any possible stress from a journey. Sitting in stop/start traffic with a manual isn't fun by any means.
Auto for any sort of barge, manual for the fun cars in my opinion. It seems 99+% of the car-buying public agree too.
Indeed the modern trend is for the car to do everything. But not everyone sits in stop-start traffic for most of their driving life, or even for large parts of it. I hardly ever do. If I am going into a big city I usually take the train. Auto for any sort of barge, manual for the fun cars in my opinion. It seems 99+% of the car-buying public agree too.
Also, I disagree with you about the idea of a 5-series. If the whole point was luxury, comfort and stress reduction we'd have all bought a Jag or Lexus, or possibly an E-Class. The idea of the 5-series has traditionally been that it's the executive saloon or estate which is still fun to drive.
to3m said:
J4CKO said:
TurboRob said:
Nice car, but £12.5k is good e39 M5 territory and bottom of the e60 M5 market.
Its worth about half that really isnt it.Twelve and a half grand for a leggy, non M 5 series, no ta.
(I'm basing this on having looked at classified ads - so of course, it's possible the cars I've seen advertised don't actually sell! But I assume they do, and at some reasonable fraction of the advertised price, because if they didn't, the posted prices would be generally lower.)
Edited by to3m on Monday 14th January 03:14
So I cant get my head round 12 grand for this, I had some enquiries at seven grand for mine but not many, its a narrow market for aging, complex V8 luxury barges but I had to drop it and drop it until I got interest, and it went to a PHer.
A CLS isnt a 5 series and vice versa but I cant imagine many people would pay 12 grand for that if buyers were scarce for mine 15 or so months ago.
Some of us may value it as a curiosity due to being a manual, but the market, in general doesnt like manuals on big engined luxury cars, its rare because nobody ordered one in that spec, big petrol and a manual in that climate was a bold purchase
s m said:
Vauxhall VXR8
Manual box
Vauxhall VXR8 V8 430BHP | 61000 MILES | FULL | Full Service History https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
Awesome cars. It would also be a f**k ton more reliable too.Manual box
Vauxhall VXR8 V8 430BHP | 61000 MILES | FULL | Full Service History https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
Edited by s m on Sunday 13th January 09:17
I mean, if you manage to break a push rod, 2 valve per cylinder V8, you're doing something very wrong.
trickywoo said:
Pretty much everything the internet said would, oil leaks were the most frustrating though + the front discs liked to judder despite new quality ones being fitted and skimmed on the car and new control arms (I was not abusing them in any way).
This N62 appears to be the least robust modern DOHC V8 you can buy. Truly terrible for oil leaks by anything other than BL standards, several tiresome issues with the coolant system, and the famous valve stem problems. If you spend any time on US motoring forums/websites, where the V8s were sold in far greater numbers, they are quite rightly viewed as junk even by European car standards
Lowtimer said:
172 said:
what kind of weirdo specs. a 5 series with a manual box?
Me, for one. I like manual E39s much more than auto ones. Same for E90s and E60s.soad said:
Not keen on the looks, even if it drives well. Most likely would pick a CLS 55AMG instead...
Yeah, 12 grand gets you into some pretty interesting stuff, I suspect a 55 engine Merc would be more reliable as they are pretty tough compared to the BMW engine (some minor issues with supercharger pumps aside, but cheap to sort) and would be significantly faster. Just depends on whether you absolutely much have a manual.Its even possible to get a 63 engined E or CLS in that price range nowadays.
Manual boxes belong in a more sporty, engaging package. The e60 doesn't fit the bill. Its a great handling car, but works better for cruising, in which case an auto suits it far better. Nothing wrong with a V8/manual setup (so little of them around in anything but a two seater), but not in this case.
Bradgate said:
The E60 was a design statement when it was launched, and it has stood the test of time. Likewise the E85 Z4. Both look so much bolder, more original and more interesting than most of today’s BMWs, which are generic and boring in comparison.
I agree! I wasn't initially a fan at all of the look of the E60 but at least it was a design that stood out and 'said' something. For the most part, I think current BMW designs are too timid in terms of design statements. The E60 has therefore grown on me a little.The E85 Z4 was a great design statement right from the start and one that I loved immediately (and continue to love) so much so that I actually own three of them and only now will I be reluctantly having to sell one due to space constraints having just bought a new car today!
DecMcClure said:
Awesome cars. It would also be a f**k ton more reliable too.
I mean, if you manage to break a push rod, 2 valve per cylinder V8, you're doing something very wrong.
I agree that the engine and transmission are attractive propositions from the point of view of support. But surely the Australian-made bits that aren't shared with things like Corvettes and Camaros are going to be harder to source. Since the factory closed in October 2017, and Peugeot - Citroen took over the smoking remains of Vauxhall, it feels a bit like an orphan car, and will surely be harder than a BMW or Mercedes to keep nice in the long run. I mean, if you manage to break a push rod, 2 valve per cylinder V8, you're doing something very wrong.
derin100 said:
The E85 Z4 was a great design statement right from the start and one that I loved immediately (and continue to love) so much so that I actually own three of them and only now will I be reluctantly having to sell one due to space constraints having just bought a new car today!
I never really liked the looks of my E85 Z4M especially from the front, but recently I've seen a few E85 Z4's out on the road and I've thought they look really good in fairness. The current Z4 is an absolute monstrosity from the pictures/videos I've seen(maybe its better in the metal). Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff