Old M5s

[nakulan7]

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3479495.htm


I am fancying one of these, for general pootling and an occassional fun drive. How are these cars for reliability at that age and cost of upkeep? I dont sell and buy cars frequently and will keep for a few years.

Thanks

[Pwig]

Feck, *Checks Wallet*

[angry jock]

Pwig said:

Feck, *Checks Wallet*

What about your Cossie??

[Great Pretender]

nakulan7 said:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3479495.htm


I am fancying one of these, for general pootling and an occassional fun drive. How are these cars for reliability at that age and cost of upkeep? I dont sell and buy cars frequently and will keep for a few years.

Thanks

If you've got a few days, then have a look here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

And be sure to check out the previous six volumes. We talk about the E39 M5 (and its forebears) rather a lot...

If you don't have a few days or even a few hours however, then here's a quick summary:

Run!

OK, don't run, but do bare this one facet in mind: these cars are usually only ever sold when something either breaks or is about to break. Nobody (well, except me perhaps) spends a fortune making them right and then gets rid.

Buying an M5 at the sort of mileage you are considering above is frankly a recepie for trouble. I can guarantee that to make it right, you will spend the purchase price again within the first year; whereupon you'd be better buying a lower mileage car in the first place (albeit with the provisio that it too will still require work).

These are not cheap cars to run. A 911 is probably kinder on the wallet in fact.

A sorted one however... well, there's nothing finer for the money.

[Baz Tench]

The handbrake needs attention for a start .

It looks alright though. It's the later model so you shouldn't have any Vanos worries. Expect high teens to low 20's mpg, but they are fantastic cars and are well documented on here.

Try posting on the M car forum for proper beardy advice.

[Pwig]

angry jock said:

What about your Cossie??

I checked and my wallet was empty

[Triumph Man]

I have to admit I chuckled at the humble folding rear seat being described as a 'through load system' in that advert. Lovely cars, although OP I have to admit when I saw old M5s in the thread title I thought of E28s and E34s!

[Great Pretender]

Triumph Man said:

I have to admit I chuckled at the humble folding rear seat being described as a 'through load system' in that advert. Lovely cars, although OP I have to admit when I saw old M5s in the thread title I thought of E28s and E34s!

Folding seats are a very rare option on the M5 though.

[E30M3SE]

Triumph Man said:

I have to admit I chuckled at the humble folding rear seat being described as a 'through load system' in that advert. Lovely cars, although OP I have to admit when I saw old M5s in the thread title I thought of E28s and E34s!

Isn't standard on BMW 3&5 saloons, it's a cost option so not all M5's will have it, so well worth mentioning in a sales advert.

Like you was expecting E28/34 goodness.

[s m]

Great Pretender said:

Triumph Man said:

I have to admit I chuckled at the humble folding rear seat being described as a 'through load system' in that advert. Lovely cars, although OP I have to admit when I saw old M5s in the thread title I thought of E28s and E34s!

Folding seats are a very rare option on the M5 though.

I thought the through load was the panel that you can see in the photo in the folding seatback ( above centre rest ) i.e. so you can put skis etc through and still carry 2 rear seat peeps?

So that looks like it has folding seats AND through load?

Edited by s m on Friday 30th December 11:56

[Triumph Man]

Great Pretender said:

Triumph Man said:

I have to admit I chuckled at the humble folding rear seat being described as a 'through load system' in that advert. Lovely cars, although OP I have to admit when I saw old M5s in the thread title I thought of E28s and E34s!

Folding seats are a very rare option on the M5 though.

Ah yeah guessed as much, but it was just that they were described as a 'through loading system' rather than just 'has folding rear seats'.

[SWoll]

E30M3SE said:

Isn't standard on BMW 3&5 saloons, it's a cost option so not all M5's will have it, so well worth mentioning in a sales advert.

Yep, and can be very useful so well worth having.

What is going on with the wood trim though, on an M5? Is nothing sacred...

[MattOz]

OP,

I know the guy who owns that bluewater M5 and he's had some lovely BMWs over the years. It's certainly worth a look if you're in the market. The only thing I'd do would be to re-colour the drivers seat as it looks a little worn and feed the rest of the leather. Apart from that, it's a well spec'd car.

Matt

[0a]

A thread on M5s turns into a discussion on folding seats!

[Harry Flashman]

Despite what GP said, my friend bought a superb one from a bloke oop North (I went to see it with him). It was on 100k miles. A year later, still going strong, has needed nothing but routine servicing/maintenance and fuel.

It does like a drink, though. Makes my Morgan look frugal.

[forzaminardi]

The seller is a member here and going by his website in his profile, runs a BMW servicing business. This inspires confidence, why not contact him for more details as to the car's provenance etc.?

[forzaminardi]

Oh, he also has this for sale:- http://www.oscmotorsport.co.uk/sales/car013/sales_...

And oddly enough, this:- http://www.oscmotorsport.co.uk/sales/car003/sales_...

Edited by forzaminardi on Friday 30th December 12:01

Edited by forzaminardi on Friday 30th December 12:01

[Zwolf]

SWoll said:

What is going on with the wood trim though, on an M5? Is nothing sacred...

[E30M3SE]

forzaminardi said:

Oh, he also has this for sale:- http://www.oscmotorsport.co.uk/sales/car013/sales_...

And oddly enough, this:- http://www.oscmotorsport.co.uk/sales/car003/sales_...

Guess that makes him a 'Trader'....... bonus.

[SWoll]

Zwolf said:

SWoll said:

What is going on with the wood trim though, on an M5? Is nothing sacred...

Yep, it looks bloody awful and out of place on every generation then.