RE: BMW M5 (E39): PH Buying Guide

[ukwill]

Damn you lot! Have had mine 5yrs (a record for me by some margin) but am currently trying to stop myself from buying a new toy. If I had the garage built I'd have no qualms about keeping it, but the garage isn't going to happen for a while yet.

The e39 m5 is a true great. I'm bloody glad I've been lucky enough to own one. The only problem any e39 m5 owner seems to have, is what to replace it with.

[TheAngryDog]

ukwill said:

The only problem any e39 m5 owner seems to have, is what to replace it with.

This is what I have on my plate right now. Though I need to downgrade due to travel costs etc.

[Lowtimer]

urquattroGus said:

Or buy an x308 xjr instead, preferred that when both were new

To me the two simply don't compete. One is available only in manual form, one only in automatic form. The Jag is really lined up against the Alpina B10 V8S auto, not the M5.

[JayP1]

Sold mine last year to buy a 911 turbo. One of the few cars I've sold that I really miss. Did plenty of long trips in it and have plenty of fond memories. This will be a classic. If I had had a bigger garage I wouldn't have sold mine.

Never let me down and didn't cost me anywhere near the 2-3k suggested in the article to maintain. Having said that I did buy a great example from Munich Legends which had already had vanos replace and was meticulously serviced.

There are a lot of bad cars out there for sale that haven't been loved, so pay a bit extra for a good example at the beginning to avoid expensive suprises later.

[EddieFelson]

Bought mine for £8.2k and sold it for £13k. Made more than selling my 968CS. Great cars, still miss mine.

[RenesisEvo]

TheAngryDog said:

ukwill said:

The only problem any e39 m5 owner seems to have, is what to replace it with.

This is what I have on my plate right now. Though I need to downgrade due to travel costs etc.

I'm finding myself in that situation. I really enjoy mine, but a combination of other circumstances changing, and a need to spend more money on the car to keep it pristine (it's already had 6-7k spent on it over the last 2 years) at a time I need funds elsewhere, means it might be time to let another enthusiast care for it. I think it's a compliment to say I'm considering two cars to replace it, because one simply won't do.

[RWD cossie wil]

I currently own a 996 turbo (tuned to 600ish Bhp), an E46 M3 (supercharged!) & an E39 530d... Call me greedy, but I have a burning desire to own an E39 M5, but really can't justify one unless I sell one of my other "fun" cars.

Can I man maths replacing the 530d with an M5? I do love the E39, even as a diesel auto its a great car with a stunning chassis for its size, the M5 would come close but lose the 2 important features of it as a daily which is the auto box & half decent fuel economy!

[alexwagner]

I've had my E39 M5 for 2 years now and love it to bits.
Not expensive to run ; just had normal affordable servicing. Very dependable.

Pointedly, I sold my E92 M3 to get an E39 M5. I am very happy with the swap because the E39 M5 has much more charm, far better steering and does the whole sporting V8 saloon thing much better. And I got lots of cash out of the swap of course, which is nice.

[13dave]

Had one from new in 2001. Utterly reliable tons of torque and still gives a wow feeling at peak revs. Lovely V8 rumble. Basic road tax too pre April 2001.