Stupid fancies of mine, volume 1...

[oktapod]

A 2000-era M5 with the 5.0 V8. I see a few around £8k, which is my upper budget for the car-swap.

Would this be a monumentally stupid idea for a guy who isn't exactly flush with the cash?

I've wanted one since I were knee high to a grasshopper, and I know the servicing will cost more than the interest on my house, but daft notions are as daft notions is, and I still keep an eye on the old autotrader website from time to time...

How reliable is a 2000-ish M5? Are the servicing costs really that high? Would I end up in a world of (financial) pain if I gave in to my long-suppressed youthful fancies and bought one?

Just navel gazing of a Sunday afternoon, I admit, and the wife hates the idea of a 'huge car' like a 5-series anyway, but (a) it has doors for the back, (b) it's roomier than a 330, (c) it's quick enough to satisfy my youthful fancy for a brute-ish beemer, and (d) I really want one anyway...

john

PS. Met a 928 GT owner today through a mutual friend. Had a sit in the car, very nice. I wonder how liveable one of those would be... ho hum, that might have to wait until Fancies volume 2... ;-)

[ipwn]

oktapod said:

I see a few around £8k, which is my upper budget for the car-swap.

a guy who isn't exactly flush with the cash?

Sums it up.

[Neil.D]

As above. Bills come along without much warning. Not all are desperatly essential but putting them off is storing them all up for time to come. Before you know it you will have a total dog of a car that no one will ever buy off you.
Oil, tyres, brakes, um, oh and fuel can be consumed at an alarming rate.

Speaking from experience, find one that has had recent consumables, from clutch, brakes, tyres, service, tax, MOT etc and have at least a year of trouble free motoring. The only thing that will need replacing will be the things you break yourself! Like I say, speaking from experience!

Neil.D

[Crombers]

As long as you have a couple of grand set aside for bits and pieces you should be alright.

Ultimately it depends on whether you want an M5 with the intention of keeping it in 'as new condition' which costs money, or whether you're only prepared to pay for mechanical failure in order to keep it going.

Many owners only expect to pay for mechanical failure which is why so many examples are leggy and worth comparatively little. Proper maintenance = deep pockets.

[sparks_E39]

I would buy a late E39 540 sport instead, much more reliable, nearly as quick, much less costly and look pretty much the same too, also you will get a top condition 2003 model for your money rather than a leggy M5.