Green on green e39 M5 - intergalactic mileage
Discussion
Evening all, I'm a bit late starting this this thread. I've recently picked up a 2000 E39 M5 finished in Oxford Green with green heritage leather interior.
By no means a garage queen... she's been around the block...
....two hundred thousand times!
I went into it with my eyes wide shut and I left my senses on the kitchen table before I left the house.
I've managed a few days driving, and it mostly all works, sort off.
It's been a while since I had an M car and I've missed it terribly, I can't believe I waited this long to get back into an M5 - it's amazing!
There was a lot of paperwork with the car, lots of bills to wade through, most of it good and then there was a heart stopping moment... a bill from a certain herr Bongard in Adenau..
That nearly floored me.. "Oh...tits.. its been rolled at Brunchen!! " thankfully a quick google later and it turns out it was a coolant leak tens of thousands of miles ago so that was panic over.
With all of the scare stories of things falling and monsterous ownership costs I drove it very very carefully for a few days. Every rattle, squeak, knock and thud had me picturing £10notes flying out of my wallet like Bats at dusk.
So I figured I'd get it looked over and work out if I'd bought a pup.. off to my local bmw specialist.
Couple of hours later I get the call.. it starts with "are you sitting down" .... arse! This isn't going well.
" on the whole it's a good car, just some age related things that need to be looked at"
What came next sounded like he was just reading a list of every part that's needed to build a new car..
... almost
So I figured in for a penny in for a pound.. the engine and gearbox are all good.. it's just everything else around them!!
So new bushes all round - ALL round.
New brake lines - while the rear subframe is off
New gearbox mounts
Diff oil change - as they fix the leak
New pads and disks
New tyres
Refurb wheels
Redo the crap fix on the jacking points
New locking wheel nut
Calliper rebuild
.... and then I'll sort out bits of trim and stuff...
By no means a garage queen... she's been around the block...
....two hundred thousand times!
I went into it with my eyes wide shut and I left my senses on the kitchen table before I left the house.
I've managed a few days driving, and it mostly all works, sort off.
It's been a while since I had an M car and I've missed it terribly, I can't believe I waited this long to get back into an M5 - it's amazing!
There was a lot of paperwork with the car, lots of bills to wade through, most of it good and then there was a heart stopping moment... a bill from a certain herr Bongard in Adenau..
That nearly floored me.. "Oh...tits.. its been rolled at Brunchen!! " thankfully a quick google later and it turns out it was a coolant leak tens of thousands of miles ago so that was panic over.
With all of the scare stories of things falling and monsterous ownership costs I drove it very very carefully for a few days. Every rattle, squeak, knock and thud had me picturing £10notes flying out of my wallet like Bats at dusk.
So I figured I'd get it looked over and work out if I'd bought a pup.. off to my local bmw specialist.
Couple of hours later I get the call.. it starts with "are you sitting down" .... arse! This isn't going well.
" on the whole it's a good car, just some age related things that need to be looked at"
What came next sounded like he was just reading a list of every part that's needed to build a new car..
... almost
So I figured in for a penny in for a pound.. the engine and gearbox are all good.. it's just everything else around them!!
So new bushes all round - ALL round.
New brake lines - while the rear subframe is off
New gearbox mounts
Diff oil change - as they fix the leak
New pads and disks
New tyres
Refurb wheels
Redo the crap fix on the jacking points
New locking wheel nut
Calliper rebuild
.... and then I'll sort out bits of trim and stuff...
Bearing in mind buying a car with probably half that mileage you ( or most definitely I) might be thinking of doing much the same work, I'd say that's most likely a bargain. Caveat being I have no idea how much you paid for it of course;)
Love Oxford Green and these cars. Get it back to Adenau I say in full health.
Love Oxford Green and these cars. Get it back to Adenau I say in full health.
If you're looking for stockish ride comfort, better body control (than the inevitably knackered stock dampers), a slight drop in height, then the Bilstein B8 + Intrax springs combo is rated very well (all available from Evolve, but you can save ~£150 by buying the dampers elsewhere).
I've got ST XA coilovers on mine, and with them approaching their softest settings they're fine, but I do kind of wish I'd gone down the B8 + Intrax route as it's a daily and I don't make use of the adjustability.
I've got ST XA coilovers on mine, and with them approaching their softest settings they're fine, but I do kind of wish I'd gone down the B8 + Intrax route as it's a daily and I don't make use of the adjustability.
Nurburgsingh said:
Very nice Pottman!!
Ok so today's dilemma has been KW or Bilstein ?
What have others done ?
Mine has new Bilstein B14 (PSS9?) the fixed rate ones and strangely enough I find them a little too stiff at high speeds on un-even surfaces, especially in the rear.Ok so today's dilemma has been KW or Bilstein ?
What have others done ?
Driven in town or at a non-lunatic speeds they are great however, very compliant and not un-comfortable. Mine is very close to stock ride height, maybe 1cm lower. The car is on 19's however which may contribute to the bumpiness having lower sidewall tyres.
As I said in the other thread, the colour combo is just bhing, and a very brave buy at those miles, mine is at 88.000 and it makes me nervous of impending doom
Edited by PowerslideSWE on Friday 15th September 14:24
I do like Oxford green, but it has to be kept swirl free as it can look very tired. But when it's well looked after I think it's stunning.
I assume by 'Green on Green' you mean it ha the 'English Green' seats, if so that's pretty rare, only 16 UK cars, 11 with standard Heritage and 5 with full leather.
Looks like it's got the old black dial cluster too, if all the pixels are working then that's a nice and rare thing to have.
I assume by 'Green on Green' you mean it ha the 'English Green' seats, if so that's pretty rare, only 16 UK cars, 11 with standard Heritage and 5 with full leather.
Looks like it's got the old black dial cluster too, if all the pixels are working then that's a nice and rare thing to have.
TBH the mileage wouldn't worry me. They are now a 20 year old design.
That repair list doesn't look too bad either. Many E39s will need a number of new bushes by now if they are to be driven, irrespective of mileage.
The colour is a lovely choice.
FWIW the subframe bushes in my E46 M3 were shot at half of those miles. Just changing them for Poly items from SuperPro has transformed the car. It is one of the few night and day difference chances that I have done to the car.
BTW, is that you Lali? If so how are you keeping? Do you still go down to Kevin and his lads on a few occasions?
That repair list doesn't look too bad either. Many E39s will need a number of new bushes by now if they are to be driven, irrespective of mileage.
The colour is a lovely choice.
FWIW the subframe bushes in my E46 M3 were shot at half of those miles. Just changing them for Poly items from SuperPro has transformed the car. It is one of the few night and day difference chances that I have done to the car.
BTW, is that you Lali? If so how are you keeping? Do you still go down to Kevin and his lads on a few occasions?
Love this, really nice to see the investment being made!
Oxford Green is my favourite colour on these, a couple of years ago I was offered a late facelift in OG with Caramel Heritage Leather. Unfortunately the timing was all wrong, I still regret it now! I am still tempted, if the right car comes up.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Cheers.
(P.S if you ever consider selling it let me know)
Oxford Green is my favourite colour on these, a couple of years ago I was offered a late facelift in OG with Caramel Heritage Leather. Unfortunately the timing was all wrong, I still regret it now! I am still tempted, if the right car comes up.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Cheers.
(P.S if you ever consider selling it let me know)
CB 987 said:
Love this, really nice to see the investment being made!
Oxford Green is my favourite colour on these, a couple of years ago I was offered a late facelift in OG with Caramel Heritage Leather. Unfortunately the timing was all wrong, I still regret it now! I am still tempted, if the right car comes up.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Cheers.
(P.S if you ever consider selling it let me know)
PM me if you are serious ....Oxford Green is my favourite colour on these, a couple of years ago I was offered a late facelift in OG with Caramel Heritage Leather. Unfortunately the timing was all wrong, I still regret it now! I am still tempted, if the right car comes up.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Cheers.
(P.S if you ever consider selling it let me know)
So I've been doing some more digging... and it looks like there used to be a way to fit Porsche calipers on e39's...
https://www.zeckhausen.com/catalog/index.php?cPath...
Anyone know anything about it? Anyone got them fitted in their car?
I've got a spare set of Porsche brakes so this would be a massive cost saving over an AP or similar kit
https://www.zeckhausen.com/catalog/index.php?cPath...
Anyone know anything about it? Anyone got them fitted in their car?
I've got a spare set of Porsche brakes so this would be a massive cost saving over an AP or similar kit
RS Grant said:
Love an E39 M5, will be keeping an eye on this thread.
It's great to see one wearing it's miles so well too; that leather on the drivers seat might look a little used, but nothing like you might expect the leather in a car with 220k+ miles to look.
Cheers,
Grant
A number of high milers generally are people who IME tend to take care of them ; after all, the car is necessary to them .It's great to see one wearing it's miles so well too; that leather on the drivers seat might look a little used, but nothing like you might expect the leather in a car with 220k+ miles to look.
Cheers,
Grant
That and I have a suspicion and a few lower mileage cars don't wear their miles as well for a reason but I am cynic .
The picture makes it look worse than it is. It truly is in exceptional condition for the mileage. It's worn much much better than my newer 1 series leather.
As for the brace pills.. well I figure if it's got to 220k miles then anything that has gone wrong must have been replaced to get it this far!?
Was looking at the jacking points with the garage yesterday. It's going to go off to the body shop to have them sorted and then I'll get the underside treated to make sure it's ready for its winter driving.
Oh... Does anyone know if the E39M5 and E36M3 had the same/similar front brake set up? I think I've got a line on some brackets designed to fit Porsche calipers to an M3.
I'll keep you all posted either way
As for the brace pills.. well I figure if it's got to 220k miles then anything that has gone wrong must have been replaced to get it this far!?
Was looking at the jacking points with the garage yesterday. It's going to go off to the body shop to have them sorted and then I'll get the underside treated to make sure it's ready for its winter driving.
Oh... Does anyone know if the E39M5 and E36M3 had the same/similar front brake set up? I think I've got a line on some brackets designed to fit Porsche calipers to an M3.
I'll keep you all posted either way
Edited by Nurburgsingh on Sunday 17th September 17:28
I don't believe they do, the calipers are different as well (they're big buggers on the M5). The general consensus appears to be that you'd need some monster brakes from a 911 or Cayenne to get the same pad area, but it's not an area of expertise. More popular seems to be fitting Porsche brakes to the rear as a less expensive rear BBK to match a 'proper' front BBK.
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