My 2nd M-car, E39 M5 again
Discussion
Well, I'm back in another one. I bought one as it turned out very rare spec Imola red M5 in 2017, My first: I was gonna say proper BMW but I forgot the three E38 750's I've had before these haha.
The red one went away to Norway, and I actually managed to make a rather nice profit on it too which was a bonus. Old one below, there is/was a readers thread somewhere on here.
I wasn't really looking for another one but then spring arrived, my mate bought his 4th or whatever it is so I thought, well, another one would do just fine, I'll settle for a cheaper, or less expensive one this time, sadly the times when these were concidered cheap has passed but the current one was reasonably priced anyway, a non car person might think that £12500 for a 20 year old, 120000 mile 4 door BMW is insane but each to their own. I bought the car in april btw.
The car is an April of 2000 production car so it should have the piston rings revised for less oil consumption.
This one sports a mostly uniform coat of resale silver and the guy who specced it new played it safe to say the least so it also has the standard coal mine interior, the embossed leather type, not the nice heritage stripy one.
It does have a few things that my red one didn't have though. Glass sunshine roof, which I could do without tbh, it also has the DSP stereo and some BT device that I have yet to get working, surprisingly good sound produced by the stereo I must admit, there are also split fold rear seats, also a box I would not have checked when specced, they look like crap and they rattle a little but it makes the car alot more practical, and it is also equipped with dual pane glass, THAT I like, makes for a very quiet ride.
Was it without issues you ask?
No, not really, the front window is installed incorrectly so windnoise is galore at high speeds, easily fixed though, I have a slot booked to get it changed and aligned properly.
The wheels area bit ratty, not curbed all that much but worn, so a refurb is in order, there is enough stonechips on the front, looks like it went thru a meteor shower at some point but I don't really care all that much, it looks honest as in non-bent, or resprayed atleast not on the front...
There were paint flaking badly on the rear bumper and one bottom end of a door has had a very wierd respray earlier in it's life but both those were adressed this weekend by my friendly painter who sorted that for me.
The good bits then.
It's stock, apart from facelift headlights it's more or less as it came from the factory.
It's fast, as in very peppy indeed, some vanos bits were adressed earlier, it comes with a massive history folder, it sounds honest in that slight diesel kinda way the pre-facelifts do, it's never ever been driven in the winter, it was very clean underneith when I removed the bumper for paint and rust free, trust me, it's been on a lift and every place an E39 rusts at are spotless on this one.
As with any old car, and perhaps old BMW's in general and old M-cars in particular I reckon there is pretty much no end to the spendage if one were so inclined... and well heeled, I'm neither of those things so I'll try to be on top of what it needs and keep it there.
It was unbelievably dirty when I got it though, took an almighty wash to get it in a somewhat less barnfindy appearance, most pics are from collection day.
Enough waffle.
The red one went away to Norway, and I actually managed to make a rather nice profit on it too which was a bonus. Old one below, there is/was a readers thread somewhere on here.
I wasn't really looking for another one but then spring arrived, my mate bought his 4th or whatever it is so I thought, well, another one would do just fine, I'll settle for a cheaper, or less expensive one this time, sadly the times when these were concidered cheap has passed but the current one was reasonably priced anyway, a non car person might think that £12500 for a 20 year old, 120000 mile 4 door BMW is insane but each to their own. I bought the car in april btw.
The car is an April of 2000 production car so it should have the piston rings revised for less oil consumption.
This one sports a mostly uniform coat of resale silver and the guy who specced it new played it safe to say the least so it also has the standard coal mine interior, the embossed leather type, not the nice heritage stripy one.
It does have a few things that my red one didn't have though. Glass sunshine roof, which I could do without tbh, it also has the DSP stereo and some BT device that I have yet to get working, surprisingly good sound produced by the stereo I must admit, there are also split fold rear seats, also a box I would not have checked when specced, they look like crap and they rattle a little but it makes the car alot more practical, and it is also equipped with dual pane glass, THAT I like, makes for a very quiet ride.
Was it without issues you ask?
No, not really, the front window is installed incorrectly so windnoise is galore at high speeds, easily fixed though, I have a slot booked to get it changed and aligned properly.
The wheels area bit ratty, not curbed all that much but worn, so a refurb is in order, there is enough stonechips on the front, looks like it went thru a meteor shower at some point but I don't really care all that much, it looks honest as in non-bent, or resprayed atleast not on the front...
There were paint flaking badly on the rear bumper and one bottom end of a door has had a very wierd respray earlier in it's life but both those were adressed this weekend by my friendly painter who sorted that for me.
The good bits then.
It's stock, apart from facelift headlights it's more or less as it came from the factory.
It's fast, as in very peppy indeed, some vanos bits were adressed earlier, it comes with a massive history folder, it sounds honest in that slight diesel kinda way the pre-facelifts do, it's never ever been driven in the winter, it was very clean underneith when I removed the bumper for paint and rust free, trust me, it's been on a lift and every place an E39 rusts at are spotless on this one.
As with any old car, and perhaps old BMW's in general and old M-cars in particular I reckon there is pretty much no end to the spendage if one were so inclined... and well heeled, I'm neither of those things so I'll try to be on top of what it needs and keep it there.
It was unbelievably dirty when I got it though, took an almighty wash to get it in a somewhat less barnfindy appearance, most pics are from collection day.
Enough waffle.
Edited by PowerslideSWE on Tuesday 18th August 11:28
Mr Tidy said:
That looks lovely. 
Although I'll have to confess I think your Imola one looked even better!
But colour is just being picky when it's an E39 M5. I've never had a reason to own one but I think they must be fantastic. Like any proper M car from that era!
I agree, the red one was ace inside and out but not so tastefully modded in places, not my doing.Although I'll have to confess I think your Imola one looked even better!
But colour is just being picky when it's an E39 M5. I've never had a reason to own one but I think they must be fantastic. Like any proper M car from that era!
Silver works but it's not really a fun colour. If I had to choose I'd go oxford green or royal red.
They are fab cars in many ways, still fast, but you have to work a little for the progress, not like a modern turbo car, fun to drive and reasonably agile, they are heavy cars, but you can be a proper hooligan with it, doing smoky long slides if that's your fancy. Somewhat short legged (2000 rpm at 90 km/h) but still capable of proper speeds, my red one managed 295 km/h on gps at close to redline.
PowerslideSWE said:
I agree, the red one was ace inside and out but not so tastefully modded in places, not my doing.
Silver works but it's not really a fun colour. If I had to choose I'd go oxford green or royal red.
They are fab cars in many ways, still fast, but you have to work a little for the progress, not like a modern turbo car, fun to drive and reasonably agile, they are heavy cars, but you can be a proper hooligan with it, doing smoky long slides if that's your fancy. Somewhat short legged (2000 rpm at 90 km/h) but still capable of proper speeds, my red one managed 295 km/h on gps at close to redline.
I can relate to that - I bought a Z4M Coupe last December and you do need to work for progress, but when you get there it's just something else! Silver works but it's not really a fun colour. If I had to choose I'd go oxford green or royal red.
They are fab cars in many ways, still fast, but you have to work a little for the progress, not like a modern turbo car, fun to drive and reasonably agile, they are heavy cars, but you can be a proper hooligan with it, doing smoky long slides if that's your fancy. Somewhat short legged (2000 rpm at 90 km/h) but still capable of proper speeds, my red one managed 295 km/h on gps at close to redline.
PowerslideSWE said:
Oh, i'd love a Z4M, but they are quickly becoming unattainable.
I know, that's why when I saw one at a good price last December I thought I'd just get it while it was still possible. Mind you I'd love to experience an M5 as well - so many cars, so little time (and money)!
Well, it's good to go, the paint is done, had it cut and polished by a friend of mine who is is a 15 year pro in that racket and it turned out great, as great as a 20-year old car that has been painted in a few places can anyway 
, just in time for winter storage aswell, I hope I can drive it another month depending on the weather, i'll garage it before they salt the roads, thats for sure.
I'll change the oil before storage and put it on a set of 17" and i'll try to get the OEM ones refurbed this winter, they really let the car down up close ratty as they are. It haven't had an oil change since late 2018, but probably only 3000 miles driven since, but I'll do it anyway.
There is a few niggles to sort tho, one is that my passenger seat rattles when no one sits in it and it's doing my head in, so that's going to be a project for this weekend.
A few snaps with my potatocam
, just in time for winter storage aswell, I hope I can drive it another month depending on the weather, i'll garage it before they salt the roads, thats for sure. I'll change the oil before storage and put it on a set of 17" and i'll try to get the OEM ones refurbed this winter, they really let the car down up close ratty as they are. It haven't had an oil change since late 2018, but probably only 3000 miles driven since, but I'll do it anyway.
There is a few niggles to sort tho, one is that my passenger seat rattles when no one sits in it and it's doing my head in, so that's going to be a project for this weekend.
A few snaps with my potatocam
Edited by PowerslideSWE on Tuesday 22 September 19:20
Edited by PowerslideSWE on Tuesday 22 September 19:23
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