E60 / E61 M5 Buyers Guide

[MuZiZZle]

mintyduck said:

Hi,

I'm looking for some M5 help. I've been looking for a while and have seen this example

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

The cost of the car is great but it's more the running costs and at 71k it won't get mondial cover which is a great shame.

Can anyone offer any worldy advice before I go and take a look?

Thanks
Minty

My advice is wait, and get one sub 60k, although mines on 65k with a warranty and I may want rid

Although, summer is coming!

[longintheleg]

My advice is don't be put off by a higher mileage example out of warranty as long as it drives well and feels like it's been well maintained.

You'll find a lot of people throwing huge figures about regarding warranty claims but take this with a pinch of salt.

I've covered nearly 6000 miles in 5 months and the only part that's needed replacing is the clutch position sensor which was £550 all in from CPC. BMW would probably have replaced the gearbox as the DIS throws up a RCOD.

Good luck with your search and buy the one that feels right.

[ecain63]

mintyduck said:

Hi,

I'm looking for some M5 help. I've been looking for a while and have seen this example

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

The cost of the car is great but it's more the running costs and at 71k it won't get mondial cover which is a great shame.

Can anyone offer any worldy advice before I go and take a look?

Thanks
Minty

Avoid! Sounds like a BS 'my mate said' advert!

[jcolley]

What is this "warranty" thing you all speak of?

[longintheleg]

jcolley said:

What is this "warranty" thing you all speak of?

Ha, exactly.

[zainster]

longintheleg said:

My advice is don't be put off by a higher mileage example out of warranty as long as it drives well and feels like it's been well maintained.

You'll find a lot of people throwing huge figures about regarding warranty claims but take this with a pinch of salt.

I've covered nearly 6000 miles in 5 months and the only part that's needed replacing is the clutch position sensor which was £550 all in from CPC. BMW would probably have replaced the gearbox as the DIS throws up a RCOD.

Good luck with your search and buy the one that feels right.

Agreed. Good to get a pre purchase inspection done and that will give you a good idea about the car.

I did this although on a low mileage one and so far after 3 months ownership and just over 2000 miles I've not had a single issue so far but still glad I took out a BMW warranty, for the peace of mind really and that just in case scenario.

[longintheleg]

I've had the touring now for just under 6 months and I've racked up over 6000 miles and to be honest, I've only had to fork out for a clutch position sensor which cost me £550.

I've just returned from a 700 mile round trip to France where I took the car round a twisty track known as Loheac and the car performing faultlessly.

I love it but the track day experience has left me looking at E36 M3 Evo's now which the wife isn't happy about.

One day I'll have both!! Ha.

[Cactussed]

I just discovered that the glass section of the tailgate opens independently to the rest of it.
I am such a eejit!

I've been humming and ha-ing about fitting my exhaust bypass valves and think I've actually decided against it.
Now trying to work out how to get some more intake noise without voiding warranty.

[longintheleg]

Cactussed said:

I just discovered that the glass section of the tailgate opens independently to the rest of it.
I am such a eejit!

I've been humming and ha-ing about fitting my exhaust bypass valves and think I've actually decided against it.
Now trying to work out how to get some more intake noise without voiding warranty.

Hmm, that may prove to be difficult.

Ask BMW if they'll allow you to fit some Evolve Eventuri intakes as they sound pretty amazing. I don't have them but have heard cars that do and if they weren't so expensive, I'd have them on my touring.

[MuZiZZle]

longintheleg said:

Hmm, that may prove to be difficult.

Ask BMW if they'll allow you to fit some Evolve Eventuri intakes as they sound pretty amazing. I don't have them but have heard cars that do and if they weren't so expensive, I'd have them on my touring.

Could you not remove them when it went to BMW?

[longintheleg]

MuZiZZle said:

Could you not remove them when it went to BMW?

Probably but might take a while.

I'm now thinking of selling mine after my first track day outing. I really enjoyed it but it's made me want to get a more nimble car so I'm thinking about getting a E61 535d touring and E36 M3 Evo.

If I could have the M5 and the E36 that would be perfect but my finances won't stretch that far.

[Shaoxter]

longintheleg said:

I'm now thinking of selling mine after my first track day outing. I really enjoyed it but it's made me want to get a more nimble car so I'm thinking about getting a E61 535d touring and E36 M3 Evo.

If I could have the M5 and the E36 that would be perfect but my finances won't stretch that far.

Don't do it!!!
After my first track day outing (at the Ring) it made me never want to sell the car.

If you're doing regular track days then there are plenty of cheaper options like a 328i for starters. You're not going to enjoy ragging around something that's appreciating in price anyway.

[longintheleg]

Shaoxter said:

Don't do it!!!
After my first track day outing (at the Ring) it made me never want to sell the car.

If you're doing regular track days then there are plenty of cheaper options like a 328i for starters. You're not going to enjoy ragging around something that's appreciating in price anyway.

I would start doing them more regularly, perhaps once or twice a month and to be honest, you need to sink more money into a 328 to get it to the same power as an Evo, plus the Nikasil is always a concern.

The M3 will also hold it's value more.

[Cactussed]

Guys
When driving, is there something akin to momentary throttle response lag?
I'm noticing that I feel like I mash the throttle, there's a fraction delay and then it ups and goes.
Anyone else notice this?

[Lost soul]

longintheleg said:

My advice is don't be put off by a higher mileage example out of warranty as long as it drives well and feels like it's been well maintained.

That's easy for you to say

[Shaoxter]

Cactussed said:

Guys
When driving, is there something akin to momentary throttle response lag?
I'm noticing that I feel like I mash the throttle, there's a fraction delay and then it ups and goes.
Anyone else notice this?

No, but then mine is remapped and gives better throttle response.
Which driving mode/gear/revs is this happening?

[gazchap]

Shaoxter said:

No, but then mine is remapped and gives better throttle response.
Which driving mode/gear/revs is this happening?

Yeah, I'd expect that kind of "lag" in D1 or one of the other auto-modes, but in S5 (which, arguably, you really should be driving in all of the time :P) the throttle response should be instantaneous.

[mycool]

I notice a slight lag when in P400 S4 kind of like it takes a big breath then goes.

However, when in P500s S5 then the throttle is like a hair trigger

[ShockDiamonds]

Hi guys,

Haven't posted for a while, but wanted to ask a quick question. I've driven E60s/E61 M5s but never owned one. They simply didn't appeal previously, but that position is starting to change. My F30 320d is due to return to BMW next April or thereabouts, and I'm starting to build a shortlist of what to replace it with. Something older, pokier, more interesting etc...

So, my question. Is it still the case that provided I buy a car with under 60k miles at purchase, and then get it serviced at a dealer (or with OEM parts at my indie), will the cost of the warranty forever be around £1150 per year or £103 pcm or something around there? And within that question, do I actually need to get it serviced at a dealer? Not particularly bothered either way, just doing my homework.

I know the cost shoots up to around £3k or more once above 60k, but the earlier pages of this thread seem to suggest (at least, at the point they were posted) that the cost stays constant provided the car has less than 60k when the warranty is taken out (and I assume has a full dealer history?)

100 quid a month for a warranty I can accept. 300 quid would not be something I'd want to spend only for peace of mind, so looking to clarify it please if anybody is able to assist.

Cheers all. Will stick around now

[Shaoxter]

The warranty will stay the same ONLY if it's the monthly policy. An annual one will go up in price when you renew after it's passed 60k. That's what I did, bought just under 60k and took out a monthly policy. Except I cancelled it after a few months because I found it useless - had one fault diagnosed as an old battery which wasn't covered and another which was under the £250 excess. Car's been fine ever since for the last 2 years!

BTW check the service history carefully and make sure it's complete, they can be all dealer stamps but doesn't mean it will have been serviced on time. Check a recent thread about someone who had a warranty claim rejected for a rod bearing failure because the SH was incomplete!

I think you can get it serviced at an indy using genuine parts but BMW value servicing is available on these cars and not outrageously expensive.

p.s. an E60 M5 didn't appeal previously but a 320d did??