E39 M5 temptation needed.
Discussion
Donut said:
blindswelledrat said:
Thanks for that. I'm struggling to find an excuse not to 
What does a vanos box do? When you say it tends to get noisy over time what would happen to make it actually need to be changed?
In return for taking the time to impart your knowledge I will give you a little advice for free.
When talking to friends in the pub I would advise you against using phrases like 'internet induced vanos hysteria'. This kind of behaviour is commonly known as 'a TwinCam' and the long term results of this will be drinking alone with noone to say things like that to
What does a vanos box do? When you say it tends to get noisy over time what would happen to make it actually need to be changed?
In return for taking the time to impart your knowledge I will give you a little advice for free.
When talking to friends in the pub I would advise you against using phrases like 'internet induced vanos hysteria'. This kind of behaviour is commonly known as 'a TwinCam' and the long term results of this will be drinking alone with noone to say things like that to
PM me your budget and wants and I'll see what I can muster!
YHM
[quote=dcb
M5 107p a mile
[/quote]
Interesting stat, I'd love to know how they got that !!! (Probably using price from new with depreciation and main dealer service charges)
If that's the case in the last 2+ years that I've had the car it means it's cost me £67k based on the miles I've put on it !!! (+ fuel !!!)
Err I think not, Car cost £23k,with 29k on the clock,there are almost 93k miles on it now (Jan 2001 car.)
Total service expenditure Aprox £1000 (using an Indy, 2 oil services, Insp 1 + Insp 2, Second set of tyres (total £1260),
One full set of pads and discs (£560)
Plus new clutch at 92k miles (£536),
A couple new 02 sensors (approx £250),
Oil at around one litre per 2500 miles (about £350)
Plus about another £1000 on other odds and sods, ( door actuator, passenger seat wiring issue). (Bought with no warranty hence not included in figures)
My calcs mean I've spent in total, including purchase price £27,956, car is probably worth £10k (I dunno??) therefore excluding fuel it's cost me £17,956 for 63k miles or 28.5p per mile excluding fuel.
To me that is value for money as I've enjoyed every single moment I've been in the car.
M5 107p a mile
[/quote]
Interesting stat, I'd love to know how they got that !!! (Probably using price from new with depreciation and main dealer service charges)
If that's the case in the last 2+ years that I've had the car it means it's cost me £67k based on the miles I've put on it !!! (+ fuel !!!)
Err I think not, Car cost £23k,with 29k on the clock,there are almost 93k miles on it now (Jan 2001 car.)
Total service expenditure Aprox £1000 (using an Indy, 2 oil services, Insp 1 + Insp 2, Second set of tyres (total £1260),
One full set of pads and discs (£560)
Plus new clutch at 92k miles (£536),
A couple new 02 sensors (approx £250),
Oil at around one litre per 2500 miles (about £350)
Plus about another £1000 on other odds and sods, ( door actuator, passenger seat wiring issue). (Bought with no warranty hence not included in figures)
My calcs mean I've spent in total, including purchase price £27,956, car is probably worth £10k (I dunno??) therefore excluding fuel it's cost me £17,956 for 63k miles or 28.5p per mile excluding fuel.
To me that is value for money as I've enjoyed every single moment I've been in the car.
seesure said:
Interesting stat, I'd love to know how they got that !!! (Probably using price from new with depreciation and main dealer service charges)
I don't know, but I guess
new purchase price - resale price after three years
plus 36,000 miles of fuel
plus insurance on some average driver for 3 years
plus servicing costs at BMW dealer.
It's not mean to be authorative - just a relative
guide.
seesure said:
One full set of pads and discs (£560)
Phew !
seesure said:
Plus new clutch at 92k miles (£536),
Crikey !
seesure said:
Plus about another £1000 on other odds and sods
Heavens above.
Some folks idea of reasonable expenditure is different
to others. I'd be selling the children, the grand children
and the car for costs like that.
Beyond the usual tyres, petrol and servicing, my BMW
has cost about 300 quid in breakables over 40K miles.
I make that about 2.7K in three years for tyres, petrol, servicing and getting it through the MOT.
Worth every penny and Eurocent.
dcb said:
Heavens above.
Some folks idea of reasonable expenditure is different
to others. I'd be selling the children, the grand children
and the car for costs like that.
Beyond the usual tyres, petrol and servicing, my BMW
has cost about 300 quid in breakables over 40K miles.
I make that about 2.7K in three years for tyres, petrol, servicing and getting it through the MOT.
Worth every penny and Eurocent.
You are right about it being in perspective, I compare the M5 against the wife's Ford ST200, which needs servicing every 10k miles against the M5's 16k, so it does mean that the Ford actually costs more to service over 30k miles. It's recently had a new clutch at £400 so not a lot of difference, pads and discs are also in a similar ball park to the 5er. It does give slightly better mpg (28 for the Ford and 22 for the 5er), all in all when comparing the two - a 2.5litre V6 (remapped to 220bhp) and a 5litre V8 (400bhp)I personally think the later gives better value for money.
Edited by seesure on Thursday 30th November 19:18
Edited by seesure on Thursday 30th November 19:20
I have to say 'Seesure's@ post regarding his assessment of his total costs incurred whilst owning his car, over a very significant number of miles, is actually the most heartening post I've read on the E39 M5 subject! None of those costs actually seem outlandish at all for such a car!
For example, after totally up the cost of parts for 4 new discs, a full set of brake pads plus the labour to install and VAT "£560" doesn't sounds gross at all to me.
Neither does £500 to supply and fit a new clutch on such a car (how much change would one get from a similar manoeurve on a much lesser car?). Neither does £1000 worth of servicing for FOUR services over 64K miles seem at all unreasonable!!!
However, 'DCB' you have again sought to personally take someone apart on the forum! 'Seesure' has accurately assessed the costs he has incurred whilst owning and enjoying his car...and appears happy with them! As actually - given the performance of the car he has enjoyed - I'm sure would not seem unreasonable to most of us car enthusiasts here?
I've checked back on some of your other recent postings...I would have thought that by now you'd have learnt your lesson from the kicking that I gave you on the 'fuel consumption front'? It's clear that you are extremely opinionated and that the ONLY car anyone should own, in your opinion, is your wonderful 530i! It's also clear that most of the time you just don't know what you're talking about...and it's getting boring!
I, as a long-term BMW enthusiast, enjoy reading all the posts here...whether they be about BMWs I have, have owned in the past, would like to own in the future or may only dream of owning. I enjoy hearing other BMW owner's experiences, enjoyment (old and new), woes etc... You on the other hand appear to enjoy nothing more than disparagement of anything other than a 530i. Wonderful as I'm sure it is; it is not the ONLY BMW and most of us are interested in hearing about, driving and owning other models as well!
If 'Seesure' feels £500 for a clutch is reasonable (as actually probably most of would for such a car) then who are you to publicly berate him in such a fashion?...It's just tedious!
If you would need to: "...sell your children and grandchildren..." to field 'Seesure's' running costs then clearly the E39 M5 isn't the car for you! It clearly HAS been "the car for him"...he has enjoyed it and shouldered the costs seemingly willingly...you haven't enjoyed it and profess not to be in a position to shoulder those costs.
So don't express an opinion!
For example, after totally up the cost of parts for 4 new discs, a full set of brake pads plus the labour to install and VAT "£560" doesn't sounds gross at all to me.
Neither does £500 to supply and fit a new clutch on such a car (how much change would one get from a similar manoeurve on a much lesser car?). Neither does £1000 worth of servicing for FOUR services over 64K miles seem at all unreasonable!!!
However, 'DCB' you have again sought to personally take someone apart on the forum! 'Seesure' has accurately assessed the costs he has incurred whilst owning and enjoying his car...and appears happy with them! As actually - given the performance of the car he has enjoyed - I'm sure would not seem unreasonable to most of us car enthusiasts here?
I've checked back on some of your other recent postings...I would have thought that by now you'd have learnt your lesson from the kicking that I gave you on the 'fuel consumption front'? It's clear that you are extremely opinionated and that the ONLY car anyone should own, in your opinion, is your wonderful 530i! It's also clear that most of the time you just don't know what you're talking about...and it's getting boring!
I, as a long-term BMW enthusiast, enjoy reading all the posts here...whether they be about BMWs I have, have owned in the past, would like to own in the future or may only dream of owning. I enjoy hearing other BMW owner's experiences, enjoyment (old and new), woes etc... You on the other hand appear to enjoy nothing more than disparagement of anything other than a 530i. Wonderful as I'm sure it is; it is not the ONLY BMW and most of us are interested in hearing about, driving and owning other models as well!
If 'Seesure' feels £500 for a clutch is reasonable (as actually probably most of would for such a car) then who are you to publicly berate him in such a fashion?...It's just tedious!
If you would need to: "...sell your children and grandchildren..." to field 'Seesure's' running costs then clearly the E39 M5 isn't the car for you! It clearly HAS been "the car for him"...he has enjoyed it and shouldered the costs seemingly willingly...you haven't enjoyed it and profess not to be in a position to shoulder those costs.
So don't express an opinion!
Edited by derin100 on Thursday 30th November 20:43
at that rant. 
Just can't seem to find the right one for my meagre budget!had one 4 years now driven 120k and it has 160k on the clock. It has proved to be both the best and the worst car I have owned. It is not cheap to own but then again spread over the miles probably works out quite reasonable per mile (not near £1 a mile that's for sure). Some of the things that can go wrong are stupid beyoind all reason and highlight a company that has cut corners in outsourcing parts. For example, the mirrors have all been replaced - 2 each side, TWICE and the interior mirror for leaking the crystal that makes it autodim and the mirrors for failing to elevate. These are £700 each. Also the radio looses pixels, as does the instrument both of which have been replaced - as has the CD player and several small trim components. Now, the hard stuff. Vanos units are important and when failing make it sound like a tractor. Thay are ecxpensive to replace and yes, £5 - 6k is not unreasonable for both sides. The management system on mine when haywire last year and was replaced, as was the S/W bus for teh drive-by-wire throttle. It eats ABS sensors for breakfast - driving through deep puddles can damage them and the rear ARB bushes are not the best. The overall warranty bill for mine has been in excess of £17,000 in 4 years. Yep, 17 it's not a typo.
But good bits, it pulls like a train, does 9mpg on decent blat , sounds amazing with a tubi runnmore + fitted, can keep up with most things, does great slides as it's a big heavy olde thing! Dunlop PS9000 last ages (30K+) fuel consumption is 20ish and the comfort is very very good. Can drive it lazy when you are tired, like a loon when you are not and its quite forgiving of your mistakes. Can handle stupid speeds all day and is quiet and refined enough to do a 500 mile journey and feel quite awake at the end.
BMW dealers rob you blind for servicing though some run sales eg. one dealer near LHR is currently running 25% off M5 servicing until next March. Some are still under warranty - mine expires at the end of March next year so I am rather hoping the engine goes bang in a big way before then as BMW will fit a nice new one for free. Have to say the warranty scheme is/was flippin amazing. Everything I mentioned as having failed was picked up by the extended waranty.
Would I have another one? Yes. Compared to the new M5 with its stupid weak and unreliable SMG then I think this is the better car - obvious faults included.
It does not seem to attract wan*er drivers like other cars do though watch out for the to**ers in the 316 and 320d repboys who just have to pass you .. on the inside... at 100.. If you can live with that and the big servicing bills, and the fuel costs and the t
ts then yep, get one. Lots of techie help around. Most at M5board.com are OK, but there are some yanks there with some real insecurity issues - that's for sure.
Of course, there is an alternative you know. It's called an Alpina B10 V8 S and it's rather nice. Or the Alpina B5 which is nicer still and makes the M5 seem highly strung....
the choice, as they say... is yours!
But good bits, it pulls like a train, does 9mpg on decent blat , sounds amazing with a tubi runnmore + fitted, can keep up with most things, does great slides as it's a big heavy olde thing! Dunlop PS9000 last ages (30K+) fuel consumption is 20ish and the comfort is very very good. Can drive it lazy when you are tired, like a loon when you are not and its quite forgiving of your mistakes. Can handle stupid speeds all day and is quiet and refined enough to do a 500 mile journey and feel quite awake at the end.
BMW dealers rob you blind for servicing though some run sales eg. one dealer near LHR is currently running 25% off M5 servicing until next March. Some are still under warranty - mine expires at the end of March next year so I am rather hoping the engine goes bang in a big way before then as BMW will fit a nice new one for free. Have to say the warranty scheme is/was flippin amazing. Everything I mentioned as having failed was picked up by the extended waranty.
Would I have another one? Yes. Compared to the new M5 with its stupid weak and unreliable SMG then I think this is the better car - obvious faults included.
It does not seem to attract wan*er drivers like other cars do though watch out for the to**ers in the 316 and 320d repboys who just have to pass you .. on the inside... at 100.. If you can live with that and the big servicing bills, and the fuel costs and the t
ts then yep, get one. Lots of techie help around. Most at M5board.com are OK, but there are some yanks there with some real insecurity issues - that's for sure. Of course, there is an alternative you know. It's called an Alpina B10 V8 S and it's rather nice. Or the Alpina B5 which is nicer still and makes the M5 seem highly strung....
the choice, as they say... is yours!
Can't speak for the E39.... but buying my first E34 in 2002 and second in 2003 were best car buying choices I'd made.....
Costs over the time I don't think have been more than I'd have had if I'd been running any other car of a similar age & mileage and I can't think of another car that gives the bang per buck you get from an M5 as well as the practicality that's there when you need it......
1100kms in a day trips have been a regular feature without issue.
Long runs on unrestricted euro roads at over 120mph for hours on end not an issue
The only thing I'm NEVER doing in the M5 again is moving a live pig
Costs over the time I don't think have been more than I'd have had if I'd been running any other car of a similar age & mileage and I can't think of another car that gives the bang per buck you get from an M5 as well as the practicality that's there when you need it......
1100kms in a day trips have been a regular feature without issue.
Long runs on unrestricted euro roads at over 120mph for hours on end not an issue
The only thing I'm NEVER doing in the M5 again is moving a live pig
bloody thing escaped from the field and we hadn't noticed. We were driving though the village on our way out for the evening when the Mayors wife flaggged us down.... it was in her flower garden....
Pigs aren't generally the most cooperative beasts and after many attempts at coaxing her the 1/2 mile back to the house we figured it would be easier and quicker to put her in the back and drive her home.
Took four of us to get her in the back for the trip.... locals very amused by the whole affair. Electric fencing ensures there will be no repeats of Babe in the BM
Pigs aren't generally the most cooperative beasts and after many attempts at coaxing her the 1/2 mile back to the house we figured it would be easier and quicker to put her in the back and drive her home.
Took four of us to get her in the back for the trip.... locals very amused by the whole affair. Electric fencing ensures there will be no repeats of Babe in the BM
mondeoman said:
Get a good one and you should have no problems.
I had a pup of a one. M5 E39 Abolute pile of falling apart and dangerous shite. All covered by warranty but my worst car todate. Hate to think what it would cost outside also did not trust it to get me anywhere safely - my knees trembled it was that bad. So it went pronto.
see 'M5 Finally' about 5 years ago. in the search for a full breakdown.
Put me off BMW's in a big way. (cars that have suspension that breaks on you and you almost crash tend to do this, as does petrol leak in the engine, vanos failues and loss of power when you need it at a junction/overtaking, abs, MAS, etc etc etc...
superlightr said:
granville said:
SuperlightR said:
Abolute pile of falling apart and dangerous shite.
Oh, come on.
hence the search link perhaps........
I know 4 people with such cars, 2 very well. NONE have had a fraction of the problems you experienced.
I'm afraid you had these problems 5 years ago, nobody else on PH since has had major issues with one, and yet, every time you're like a scratched record. You had one that was poor quality-wise, ergo, they're all shit.
Well, sorry, but I think Granville was disagreeing with you.
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