E39 M5 Service History Thoughts
Discussion
First time in this part of the forum. I'm considering the purchase of an E39 M5 
that is still covered by BMW Warranty and that has been serviced as follows, all at BMW main agents to date:
Date first registered: Dec 2002
Running–in check: Feb 2003 / 4,591 miles
Oil service: Apr 2004 / 24,600 miles
Inspection I, microfilter & Brake fluid: Jan 2006 / 34,237 miles
Oil service, microfilter, coolant & brake fluid: Aug 2008 / 42,474 miles
Coolant & brake fluid: June 2011 / 47,707 miles
Inspection II, microfilter, brake fluid & bodywork Mar 2013 / 56,654 miles
Just about to have an Oil service @ 68,000 miles
What would you think of the above? I had a slight reservation about the length of time until the running-in oil was changed and the time between services, however if servicing based on the on board indicator I guess the time is not considered and it is mileage based?
Warranty expires in September but can be extended of course (£1,614/12m comprehensive)
Thoughts welcomed please!
that is still covered by BMW Warranty and that has been serviced as follows, all at BMW main agents to date:Date first registered: Dec 2002
Running–in check: Feb 2003 / 4,591 miles
Oil service: Apr 2004 / 24,600 miles
Inspection I, microfilter & Brake fluid: Jan 2006 / 34,237 miles
Oil service, microfilter, coolant & brake fluid: Aug 2008 / 42,474 miles
Coolant & brake fluid: June 2011 / 47,707 miles
Inspection II, microfilter, brake fluid & bodywork Mar 2013 / 56,654 miles
Just about to have an Oil service @ 68,000 miles
What would you think of the above? I had a slight reservation about the length of time until the running-in oil was changed and the time between services, however if servicing based on the on board indicator I guess the time is not considered and it is mileage based?
Warranty expires in September but can be extended of course (£1,614/12m comprehensive)
Thoughts welcomed please!
There'll be lots of tutting and sucking of teeth about the "missed" running-in service. It should have been done at 1,200 miles, ideally.
However, the fact is the car is now 13 years old and has done nearly 70k miles since then.
Buy on its current condition, don't worry too much about its past. The important things to concern yourself with now are the suspension components, brakes, clutch, fuel lines, brake lines and corrosion.
However, the fact is the car is now 13 years old and has done nearly 70k miles since then.
Buy on its current condition, don't worry too much about its past. The important things to concern yourself with now are the suspension components, brakes, clutch, fuel lines, brake lines and corrosion.
Edited by Hereward on Tuesday 26th April 21:34
It's missed a service between the running in and first oil too. It's laughable that a car that cost so much can be driven for thousands of miles needing a service with a big red light on the dash.
How much is it? It's been so long since the missed services it matters little now but a perfectionist will care.
How much is it? It's been so long since the missed services it matters little now but a perfectionist will care.
Griffit said:
£17k - I may be that perfectionist...
Should mention duplicate service book as original lost too though with stamps.
If buying 'for investment': then yes, a future potential buyer will use the late first service and the duplicate service book as leverage for a lower price. (As a potential buyer I know I would!)Should mention duplicate service book as original lost too though with stamps.
Edited by Griffit on Tuesday 26th April 22:24
Buying the car to actually drive it: if the service history checks out OK on the BMW digital database, then just forget about what are minor service discrepancies. If the engine was going to explode it would probably have done so by now.
Warranty? Literally a lottery. May turn out to be a God-send, or money flushed down the toilet. A lot depends on the depth of your pockets and your views on risk. If it were me I'd spend the first year's £1600 premium on some preventative maintenance. As others have mentioned, there's a whole raft of potential work (aka ££££s) that might need doing to keep the car performing in the way BMW intended, to say nothing of corrosion related issues.
The car you're considering is reaching a mileage where all the running gear may be fine right now but could require really expensive maintenance work in the next 20k miles or so. It is entirely possible that a well-fettled 90k mile car would be a better buy - and better financial proposition - than a lower mileage model which has had little more than regular fluids and filter changes.
If you're anything like other E39 M5 owners on here you'll just buy the car, spend a King's ransom maintaining it...and let the Devil take the hindmost! We're all hopeless romantics addicted to one of the best experiences of V8-ness it's possible to have!
For reference. I bought a 78k mile minter a while back and spent £3k on it in the following month. And the heavy spending continues unabated.
Regrets?
None.
I just dont get this constant idea that the e39 requries constant heavy spending, perhaps the minter wasnt such a minter?
Again, touching wood, all mine has cost has been brakes (once), servicing and tyres. Tahts it. I've had the bushes done, the suspension is still very good and the bodywork tip top. But I do agree that you would be much better using the 1600 for work to the car rather than insurance should you need it, oh and there will be wriggling about if trying to claim.
Thinking back I made one warranty claim and that was for a failed rear PDC sensor and controller. Both of which I could buy for considerably less than 1600!
Again, touching wood, all mine has cost has been brakes (once), servicing and tyres. Tahts it. I've had the bushes done, the suspension is still very good and the bodywork tip top. But I do agree that you would be much better using the 1600 for work to the car rather than insurance should you need it, oh and there will be wriggling about if trying to claim.
Thinking back I made one warranty claim and that was for a failed rear PDC sensor and controller. Both of which I could buy for considerably less than 1600!
PH XKR said:
I just dont get this constant idea that the e39 requries constant heavy spending, perhaps the minter wasnt such a minter?
Absolutely understand your reasoning based on the brief evidence of what I posted above. 
I drove many E39 M5s before buying the one I now own, some were just OK, quite a few had tired suspension and the usual hint of shimmying and/or slight juddering - quirks common to many E39s. One tramlined so badly it was comical! Some of the owners accepted these driving traits as normal/acceptable, something I found strange! I have to admit to being completely anal when it comes to the way my cars perform but know many others have a more relaxed view. The one I bought drove well, had brilliant provenance, immaculate bodywork and a thick folder of service/maintenance receipts.
I wanted an E39 M5 for its well documented super-saloon balance of performance and handling. It seems to me if you want this (and, critically, want to keep it that way) then you really have no option but to spend. Almost certainly I needn't have spent £3k on it immediately and it would have driven reliably up and down motorways and to the shops without knocking or banging from the suspension, or with any other mishap for that matter.
But it's a performance car and to keep its performance edge I feel you need to spend.
That's my take on M car ownership. A 'white goods' car it is not.
To illustrate, my car is at 84k miles now and fairly recently I replaced all the dampers and associated hardware on the car with BMW OE stuff. It totally transformed the ride/handling balance. The old dampers weren't leaking but they had lost a fair amount of their original damping effect. Some owners probably wouldn't have noticed the gradual deterioration. My spannerman reckons I should eBay the old dampers as he thinks there's still loads of life in them!
As a reasonably long term TVR owner (9 years) I see the same thing happen. I have a wedge of receipts from a dealer used by previous owner (a surgeon) for everything from fuses and bulbs to more substantial works; mainly servicing with extras. In comparison I've barely had any work done but did start noting handling deterioration and with flaky powdercoat on the chassis went the whole hog with body-off chassis refurb and new bushes, dampers, drop links etc throughout. The transformation was very noticeable and I wish I had replaced more suspension parts sooner and had the benefit for longer.
Sometimes about personal preference than outright need perhaps...
Sometimes about personal preference than outright need perhaps...
PH XKR said:
But e39 >>>> e60
I get what's posted above and will be replacing shocks with oe at some point for similar reasons. If I had extended the warranty for 4 years I would be 7k down... That's four discs, shocks, bushes and a glass out respray!
Agreed - Bork factor and manual/smg differences make them rather apples and pears for now at least - watch E60 values soar as the last NA M5 in future...!I get what's posted above and will be replacing shocks with oe at some point for similar reasons. If I had extended the warranty for 4 years I would be 7k down... That's four discs, shocks, bushes and a glass out respray!
Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff