So, who's hiding all the M5's?

[Frances The Mute]

For the last week, I've been trying to find an E39 M5. I want one that is as late as possible (2002/3) with decent specification (natch) and up to about 80k on the clock.

It seems to be, however, that any late plate example is actually pretty ratty around the edges and only earlier examples have lower mileage. What gives?

Are they getting stashed away by owners that are hoping they'll appreciate in the next few years? Does the E60 scare that many people off that demand for the E39 has soared?
Surely a tuned, 5 litre V8 will have most people running for the hills in the current climate...

[belleair302]

Not many around and not many were actually sold in the later part of the model run. They have fallen to a reasonable level pricewise and good ones are going into long term ownership. Ripe for mods and seriously quick when driven hard, also not silly money to run or repair.

[Frances The Mute]

I know they are in small numbers, but there seems to be a bias to pre-2000 cars being available.

I've found a couple of 2001 cars that are there or thereabouts in terms of spec and mileage that are reasonably within budget, too.
I'd just like to be able to find some from 2002 so that I can compare as many as possible given their tendency differ depending on how they've been treated.

[paul26982]

some one i know has one, sounds amazing and in amazing condition

http://www.vagcars.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=5...

Add reads

Full spec to follow but in a nutshell...

BMW M5 on a 2000 Reg.
143k with full history
Big Fish Rebuild VANOS (Both)
Big Fish Tuned Remap
Full Decat Eisenmann Exhaust (£5500 worth)

Gorgeous car, goes like a bat out of hell. Has a brand new clutch/flywheel and both MAF's.

27mpg on a run.

Yours for £7995 o.n.o

Reason for selling: Don't use her enough anymore

Beast of a car, very very quick. I've got an S8 V10 and the technology and the noise wins me over.

[hornetrider]

Ask the thread

[Great Pretender]

paul26982 said:

some one i know has one, sounds amazing and in amazing condition

http://www.vagcars.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=5...

Add reads

Full spec to follow but in a nutshell...

BMW M5 on a 2000 Reg.
143k with full history
Big Fish Rebuild VANOS (Both)
Big Fish Tuned Remap
Full Decat Eisenmann Exhaust (£5500 worth)

Gorgeous car, goes like a bat out of hell. Has a brand new clutch/flywheel and both MAF's.

27mpg on a run.

Yours for £7995 o.n.o

Reason for selling: Don't use her enough anymore

Beast of a car, very very quick. I've got an S8 V10 and the technology and the noise wins me over.

[wackojacko]

belleair302 said:

, also not silly money to run or repair.

please tell me you didn't mean that .....

[Great Pretender]

hornetrider said:

Ask the thread

I think we're all in tonight.

[paul26982]

Great Pretender said:

whats funny' First time i posted in a while and know why ?

[TheEnd]

The price was also in bold

[Greengecko]

Only 311 were registered between 2001 Q4 and 2003 Q4, might explain why there aren't too many around.

At least according to here http://howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/bmw_m5

[WindsorRob]

I have one (2001 facelift with 94k and FBMWSH) and I think one of the issues is that it's tricky to know what to replace it with so owners that appreciate them, tend to hang onto them So, in my experience when looking for one, a lot of the ones for sale were generally tatty and were being sold by people that didn't really (or couldn't afford) to look after them. Re the laughter at running costs by another poster, I reckon they're pretty reasonable. I'm getting 22mpg on spirited / mixed runs, no spend beyond servicing so far in 13 months and minimal depreciation. Even if it costs me £5k if I have the misfortune of a big bill, that's nowt Vs depreciation on a newer car. People always focus on repair bills and not the £700 + per month that a newer one would lose in value. Just my two penneth.

[plenty]

TBH neither the year nor the mileage are really relevant. The E39 exemplifies the phrase "buy on condition".

[Frances The Mute]

plenty said:

TBH neither the year nor the mileage are really relevant. The E39 exemplifies the phrase "buy on condition".

It does when I want a later spec car and the fact I'll put about 25k a year on it. I don't want to be selling on an M5 with nigh on 150k.

WindsorRob - I think thats a pretty good summary

[Great Pretender]

paul26982 said:

hats funny' First time i posted in a while and know why ?

The price your mate wants for his car made me splatter my milkshake all over the TV.

Nothing to do with you per se

[plenty]

Frances The Mute said:

plenty said:

TBH neither the year nor the mileage are really relevant. The E39 exemplifies the phrase "buy on condition".

It does when I want a later spec car and the fact I'll put about 25k a year on it. I don't want to be selling on an M5 with nigh on 150k.

At 25k miles a year depreciation really isn't your biggest concern unless you have a company fuel card, but my view is that if the car is priced well and well-maintained, selling on a 150k M5 would not be much different to a 130k car. Also - later-spec cars are available from Sep 2000 (X reg).

[ArmaghMan]

BUY ON CONDITION