F10 M5 as a dialy driver in Scotland?
Discussion
Hi folks,
OK before we start I know the throttle is not an or off switch and all that but was wondering how an F10 M5 would be as a daily driver in my lovely but usually damp and cold stomping ground of Scotland. I have a couple of 4x4s for when it gets really nasty but if I buy one I want to use it regularly.
I had the Jag 5.0 XKR a couple of years ago and to be honest it was a bit of a drag in the wet as it lost traction all the time, even when driving with appropriate care. A lot of this was due to the auto box because it would kick down under relatively mild provocation and then just spin up its rears.
I suspect the M5 would be much more sophisticated in how it manages traction but I'd still be interested to know if anyone else uses an F10 M5 as a daily up here, or in a similar climate. Does the traction light basically remain on most of the time? When traction does go is it progressive and controlled or would I need to keep a stock of clean pants in the glove box?
Can't stretch to the newer X Drive model so RWD it is if I go for it.
The recent RS6 is also very tempting but like the newer M5 it is out of sensible budget so basically a no go for a few more years.
I survived in my 5.0 Chimaera but it was not a daily - mainly because the chassis would have ended up as a brown rusty stain on the garage floor if it got wet regularly!
I know the sensible answer - but am kind of hoping to be persuaded otherwise (much to my wife's annoyance).
TD
OK before we start I know the throttle is not an or off switch and all that but was wondering how an F10 M5 would be as a daily driver in my lovely but usually damp and cold stomping ground of Scotland. I have a couple of 4x4s for when it gets really nasty but if I buy one I want to use it regularly.
I had the Jag 5.0 XKR a couple of years ago and to be honest it was a bit of a drag in the wet as it lost traction all the time, even when driving with appropriate care. A lot of this was due to the auto box because it would kick down under relatively mild provocation and then just spin up its rears.
I suspect the M5 would be much more sophisticated in how it manages traction but I'd still be interested to know if anyone else uses an F10 M5 as a daily up here, or in a similar climate. Does the traction light basically remain on most of the time? When traction does go is it progressive and controlled or would I need to keep a stock of clean pants in the glove box?
Can't stretch to the newer X Drive model so RWD it is if I go for it.
The recent RS6 is also very tempting but like the newer M5 it is out of sensible budget so basically a no go for a few more years.
I survived in my 5.0 Chimaera but it was not a daily - mainly because the chassis would have ended up as a brown rusty stain on the garage floor if it got wet regularly!
I know the sensible answer - but am kind of hoping to be persuaded otherwise (much to my wife's annoyance).
TD
I found my F10 M5 to be quite prone to loss of traction, in damp conditions (Belgium may not be that different to Scotland), easily triggering the traction control if you stepped on it even at higher speeds (the only car I have seen the traction warning flashing above 180 kph). Winter tyres were indispensable.
560 bhp and 680 nm is at the limit for how much a RWD can handle, at least with the F10 chassis, but it doesn't mean that it is not a great daily driver, just that there are traction issues.
560 bhp and 680 nm is at the limit for how much a RWD can handle, at least with the F10 chassis, but it doesn't mean that it is not a great daily driver, just that there are traction issues.
I've done 108k miles in mine as a daily now. Location is Shropshire so whilst not quite as bad as Scotland, it still gets the wet and wind associated with the Western side of the country and we have also had a number of snow episodes in the last few years.
I echo the comment about winters - they should be considered mandatory for running one of these all year round in Scotland. They do substantially limit traction at the dryer/warmer end of the spectrum but are essential in any remotely wintry (snow/ice) conditions.
Summers also drop off substantially approaching 3mm so I generally avoid sweating them until their end of their legal lifespan.
The DCT is great and if you put it in manual mode, it wont change down under load unless you actually utilise the kick-down, nor will it change up on its own even if you are bouncing off the limiter.
Overall a really great car. It certainly can struggle with traction but I think its sufficiently satisfying as an all-rounder, that this doesn't get tiresome to me.
I echo the comment about winters - they should be considered mandatory for running one of these all year round in Scotland. They do substantially limit traction at the dryer/warmer end of the spectrum but are essential in any remotely wintry (snow/ice) conditions.
Summers also drop off substantially approaching 3mm so I generally avoid sweating them until their end of their legal lifespan.
The DCT is great and if you put it in manual mode, it wont change down under load unless you actually utilise the kick-down, nor will it change up on its own even if you are bouncing off the limiter.
Overall a really great car. It certainly can struggle with traction but I think its sufficiently satisfying as an all-rounder, that this doesn't get tiresome to me.
Thanks Guys,
Input much appreciated, and largely what I expected.
What does a set of winters set you back on 20 inch wheels - or is the better idea to get a set of 19" wheels and tyres for winters?
The car I am quietly lusting over has the Competition Pack (not essential for me but the car is local) so I guess 20's are standard on these.
In terms of summer tyres what are recommended? I have seen some discussion about there being a very big difference in traction between even the premium brands.
I guess the other sensible question is what are the alternatives to the F10 M5? I quite like the S6 Avant, but they are rare and less exciting - although probably much more practical for me.
The N/A Merc C63 is also on my "one day" list but I'm guessing it is not quite as up market as the M5 and would suffer from similar traction issues.
At the other end of the spectrum we have the new shape Range Rover, but this is clearly a very very different proposition, albeit a nice one. Reliability puts me off though.
Simply put I fancy something a bit more premium after bouning around it in my Meganne RS 275-Cup S for the last 2 years. Awesome car but a little one dimensional for me these days.
TD
Input much appreciated, and largely what I expected.
What does a set of winters set you back on 20 inch wheels - or is the better idea to get a set of 19" wheels and tyres for winters?
The car I am quietly lusting over has the Competition Pack (not essential for me but the car is local) so I guess 20's are standard on these.
In terms of summer tyres what are recommended? I have seen some discussion about there being a very big difference in traction between even the premium brands.
I guess the other sensible question is what are the alternatives to the F10 M5? I quite like the S6 Avant, but they are rare and less exciting - although probably much more practical for me.
The N/A Merc C63 is also on my "one day" list but I'm guessing it is not quite as up market as the M5 and would suffer from similar traction issues.
At the other end of the spectrum we have the new shape Range Rover, but this is clearly a very very different proposition, albeit a nice one. Reliability puts me off though.
Simply put I fancy something a bit more premium after bouning around it in my Meganne RS 275-Cup S for the last 2 years. Awesome car but a little one dimensional for me these days.
TD
I have an M6 GC and in scotland. Usually in and around glasgow/ayrshire area. It can be a pain sometimes but I have never felt unsafe and I think there is only so much you can ask of RWD nearing 600 bhp.
What I would suggest is changing the tyres, it will be the single biggest improvement you can make. The MP4S tyres are meant to be brilliant in damp colder conditions. I currently have MPSS and will switch to the 4S tyres when a change is due.
Or as others have suggested get a set of winters, 19s can be had on ebay lightly used for 1.5k.
I never bothered with them and I use my car daily. I only parked it up when it snowed for 4 days.
What I would suggest is changing the tyres, it will be the single biggest improvement you can make. The MP4S tyres are meant to be brilliant in damp colder conditions. I currently have MPSS and will switch to the 4S tyres when a change is due.
Or as others have suggested get a set of winters, 19s can be had on ebay lightly used for 1.5k.
I never bothered with them and I use my car daily. I only parked it up when it snowed for 4 days.
Edited by Chamon_Lee on Wednesday 20th March 12:49
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