RE: BMW M5 (E39): PH Heroes

RE: BMW M5 (E39): PH Heroes

Author
Discussion

E34-3.2

1,003 posts

78 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Not sure which E55 you are talking about but if it's the one I am thinking..it's an ugly large barge. Was it not only sold as an automatic? Horrible thing...

Rat_Fink_67

2,309 posts

205 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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E34-3.2 said:
Not sure which E55 you are talking about but if it's the one I am thinking..it's an ugly large barge. Was it not only sold as an automatic? Horrible thing...
I interpret his as post as referring to the W211 in 2002. Auto? Yes. Ugly, large barge?? Erm, nope.



I like the E39 M5, but I'd take the Merc too.

njw1

2,053 posts

110 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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akirk said:
njw1 said:
The only car I really regret selling was my e39 M5, I really didn't want to but £2k's worth of bills in a year was too much to justify. I'd love another but I think I've missed the boat now price wise.
£2k is <£170 a month - as they have virtually zero depreciation compare it against a lease deal and it seems fairly cheap you won't even get a golf r for that price, let alone a modern M5 which will set you back between £1k & £2k p/m not p/a

I'm skint though! rolleyesbiggrin

njw1

2,053 posts

110 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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E34-3.2 said:
njw1 said:
The only car I really regret selling was my e39 M5, I really didn't want to but £2k's worth of bills in a year was too much to justify. I'd love another but I think I've missed the boat now price wise.
2k, you're lucky then. That is a small bill for an M5.

I know, after a rather large vanos repair bill I was always worried about it throwing another big bill which I realistically couldn't afford. So head ruled heart and unfortunately (for me!) the car got sold.

njw1

2,053 posts

110 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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anonymous said:
[redacted]


You have sat in an e39?

E34-3.2

1,003 posts

78 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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Rat_Fink_67 said:
I interpret his as post as referring to the W211 in 2002. Auto? Yes. Ugly, large barge?? Erm, nope.



I like the E39 M5, but I'd take the Merc too.
Just the word "Auto" kills it for me. Look wise, I can see why some people like it but it doesn't do anything to me.

BugLebowski

1,033 posts

115 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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This has to be the perfect wheel:tyre ratio. Any larger and they start to look too fragile.

Rat_Fink_67

2,309 posts

205 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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E34-3.2 said:
Just the word "Auto" kills it for me. Look wise, I can see why some people like it but it doesn't do anything to me.
In an everyday shopping car, I feel the same way, but for a large capacity V8, an automatic suits it just fine. Plus there are the shift button on the steering wheel for those wanting to feel more "involved".

Edited by Rat_Fink_67 on Sunday 22 October 16:51

Patrick Bateman

12,143 posts

173 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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Saying 'only' 400bhp is missing the point somewhat when comparing it to modern metal.

It's the breadth of ability that is truly fantastic. There aren't many cars that can be as cosseting when you want and yet completely come alive if you want to grab the thing by the scruff of its neck and actually engage with the car.

selym

9,539 posts

170 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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Patrick Bateman said:
Saying 'only' 400bhp is missing the point somewhat when comparing it to modern metal.

It's the breadth of ability that is truly fantastic. There aren't many cars that can be as cosseting when you want and yet completely come alive if you want to grab the thing by the scruff of its neck and actually engage with the car.
Those that say 400bhp is 'nothing' have probably not even owned a 400bhp car. It's not commonplace to see that level of power in a saloon, even now.

aaron_2000

Original Poster:

5,407 posts

82 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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aaron_2000 said:
God this thread is gonna be a nightmare, I can already see it. Aged very well though, a very well done design for sure.
I called it

Patrick Bateman

12,143 posts

173 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Stats.

Again, somewhat missing the point. I know what I'd rather take out for the sake of a blast on my favourite roads and it wouldn't be the automatic Merc, as ballistic as it may be.

Anyone thinking a button on a steering wheel will solve it for anyone wanting a bit of involvement is kidding themselves.



Edited by Patrick Bateman on Sunday 22 October 17:30

selym

9,539 posts

170 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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Patrick Bateman said:
Thinking a button on a steering wheel will solve it for anyone wanting a bit of involvement is kidding themselves.

Edited by Patrick Bateman on Sunday 22 October 17:27
Which is where the M5 excels I guess - every performance car these days (especially German) does require pushing buttons to feel involved. Even then some cars are just not involving, and I aim that comment squarely at the M135i and it's ilk. I made a similar comment after driving one when they first came out and I was castigated by the owners/fanbois.

V10Ace

301 posts

92 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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"It positively flows - and you sit there, pedal nailed, relishing the heft and gravitas of each passing 1,000rpm with the puckered lips of a man in the middle of an almighty golf swing"

Love this line, quality... it got me to actually act out the mouth movement in real life... and I don't even own an M5 laughbeer

Edited by V10Ace on Sunday 22 October 18:21

Seesure

1,187 posts

238 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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Having bought my first E39 M5 in 2004, and then sorning it in 2014 after adding 200k miles to it, I am driving my 2nd E39 M5 which I bought in 2014 and have since added 60k Mikes on that, I can honestly say they are superb cars in that they do most things well.

Sure there are faster, more nimble etc cars out there, but as an all rounder they tick the vast majority of boxes.

Through loading seats compliment an already large boot, along with radio, TV, cassette, cd, Nav and phone mean they were never short of gadgets.

Heated fully electric seats, electric rear sun shade, electric adjustable steering column, moon/sun roof are some of the standard features and options.

I personally like the fact that the car is easy to drive at whatever speed you want to go and is pretty competitive in the traffic light grand prix. The linear way in which speed and power is delivered means licence losing speeds can be achieved in a calm and collected manner without it all being frenetic.

It's a proper 5 seater that goes about its business in a pretty low key manner.

On both cars that I've had I've probably spent about £2k a year on average on both consumables and general maintenance.

The reality of problems in my experience is that they are a lot more robust and less likely to problems than Internet folklore would have you believe..

Love them or hate them the E39 M5 was a truly special car and had some excellent advertising. ... think BMW films "The Star" and the "Jet Car" advert made before it was a crime to show cars driving fast. ...


anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
We'll have to disagree on this one. In the real world, let alone on a track, you'd have to be a very confident pedaler indeed to keep up with a decently driven M5 in an E55. Sure, the on paper numbers are close, but in the real world, there is, ime, a massive gap between the M5, which even with it's frankly average steering, shrinks around you and says "come on then, lets go" and the rather wallowy old hecktor that is the E55 which would rather just rocket down the straights (interspersed by massive gaps as the transmission wafts slowly (but smoothly) from cog to cog) and gets all out of sorts in the twisties.

Rat_Fink_67

2,309 posts

205 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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Patrick Bateman said:
Stats.

Again, somewhat missing the point. I know what I'd rather take out for the sake of a blast on my favourite roads and it wouldn't be the automatic Merc, as ballistic as it may be.

Anyone thinking a button on a steering wheel will solve it for anyone wanting a bit of involvement is kidding themselves.



Edited by Patrick Bateman on Sunday 22 October 17:30
In your opinion of course. Because someone thinks an auto suits a character of a car better than a manual doesn't mean they are kidding themselves. There is no right or wrong answer, you just go with your preference. Alpina sold plenty of B10s off the back of people wanting an automatic option. Like i said before, I like the E39 M5 (although my favourite is an E34), but I wouldn't judge any of it's rivals purely by transmission type. Just as I don't think a Lotus Carlton would suit being an auto, I think the E55 is perfectly matched to being torque converter equipped. And in my experience there's no lack on involvement in a (conservatively estimated) 469bhp saloon when the pedal goes to the floor.

only1ian

684 posts

193 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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Iceicebaby1980 said:
Thought Alpina b10s were going for about 10k with similar miles and full service history ?

Edited by Iceicebaby1980 on Sunday 22 October 11:34
The b10 4.6 and the later b10 s with the 4.8 are different beasts! Alpina really nailed it with the later B10 in my book.

323ti

128 posts

120 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
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My dad bought a Carbon-black one new in '98. He was coming out of a manual 993 Carrera 4S, which looked fantastic but was quite an underwhelming drive, and could stay nowhere near the (standard) Nissan 300ZX TT that I was driving at the time. Which could very well be the reason he chopped it in for the M5.
I remember thinking 400hp would be rocket-ship fast but it left me - and my dad - surprisingly cold.
It felt heavy and soft, with dreadfully disconnected steering feel and a muted engine noise.
And subsequently didn't last until the end of the year. I have never looked at them ever again.

selym

9,539 posts

170 months

Sunday 22nd October 2017
quotequote all
323ti said:
My dad bought a Carbon-black one new in '98. He was coming out of a manual 993 Carrera 4S, which looked fantastic but was quite an underwhelming drive, and could stay nowhere near the (standard) Nissan 300ZX TT that I was driving at the time. Which could very well be the reason he chopped it in for the M5.
I remember thinking 400hp would be rocket-ship fast but it left me - and my dad - surprisingly cold.
It felt heavy and soft, with dreadfully disconnected steering feel and a muted engine noise.
And subsequently didn't last until the end of the year. I have never looked at them ever again.
Standby for someone - probably an owner - to tell you that there was something wrong with the car or worse; your dad and you can't drive!!