RE: The Brave Pill: BMW M5 (E39)
Discussion
article said:
Anyone looking to speculate on the E30 will find that ship has already sailed, picked up passengers in France and Ireland, struck an iceberg south-east of Newfoundland, sunk with the loss of 1,500 lives and then been immortalized with a block-busting film containing tasteful nudity from an Oscar-winning British actress.
I know i shouldn't have, but that ^^ made me laugh far more than it should have done...... ;-)Why does everyone always mention 20 year old cars as "Brave Pills"? They are old well documented cars that in the grand scheme of things are not that difficult to fix and maintain. All major and minor issues can be found on the internet and fixed by any keen home mechanic. Also due to their age replacement used parts for the M parts of the car can be found for reasonable money.
Ah, the E39 M5... <eyes get misty>
I went through a period of being a huge fan of BMW M cars. Started with an E34 M5, then a E39 M5 (same Silverstone colour, but caramel interior), then E46 M3, then, as the family grew, an E34 M5 touring (why did I sell that!?) then E60 M5 touring...
The E39 M5 is truly great, felt like muscle car in a discrete saloon body - truly amazing - however the E60 M5 was much more dynamic (engine and handling) and could disguise its mass so much better. The SMG is a non issue - in fact it’s just delightful when pushing. I couldn’t pick my favourite M5, but it would be between those two. I guess if wallet damage is a concern I’d definitely er on the side of the E39.
My favourite M-car, though, was the E46 M3, but much more challenging to fit the family in that!
I went through a period of being a huge fan of BMW M cars. Started with an E34 M5, then a E39 M5 (same Silverstone colour, but caramel interior), then E46 M3, then, as the family grew, an E34 M5 touring (why did I sell that!?) then E60 M5 touring...
The E39 M5 is truly great, felt like muscle car in a discrete saloon body - truly amazing - however the E60 M5 was much more dynamic (engine and handling) and could disguise its mass so much better. The SMG is a non issue - in fact it’s just delightful when pushing. I couldn’t pick my favourite M5, but it would be between those two. I guess if wallet damage is a concern I’d definitely er on the side of the E39.
My favourite M-car, though, was the E46 M3, but much more challenging to fit the family in that!
Arsecati said:
What is it with PH writers now, that they have to 'overwrite' every article and cram in so much fluff, you need to go back 2 lines every paragraph to try work out what it was they were actually saying?
'Oxide-flaked pachyderm', 'rot', 'tinworm', 'grot'....... Is it really necessary to squeeze in 4 different terms for rust in to just 2 sentences?? It's like the writers have something to prove - just stop it, it's tiresome and annoying!!! >
Agreed. Over the last year the writing's gone from acceptable with a couple of errors to so flowery it's almost effete. Sometimes it's so motor-journal-cool it's painful to read. Writers - it's not a thesaurus-waving competition FFS!'Oxide-flaked pachyderm', 'rot', 'tinworm', 'grot'....... Is it really necessary to squeeze in 4 different terms for rust in to just 2 sentences?? It's like the writers have something to prove - just stop it, it's tiresome and annoying!!! >
Examples at this end of the market make more sense to me than overpriced lower mileage ones, provided the maintenance has been kept up.
There's still a lot to keep on top of - bodywork being perhaps the main one.
Rod bearings are another, some owners get them done, others don't bother but a failure - though reasonably rare - has the potential to write off the engine. What makes them go is difficult to pin down but lots of trips to the redline and not letting the oil temperature warm up before exercising the engine don't help.
There's still a lot to keep on top of - bodywork being perhaps the main one.
Rod bearings are another, some owners get them done, others don't bother but a failure - though reasonably rare - has the potential to write off the engine. What makes them go is difficult to pin down but lots of trips to the redline and not letting the oil temperature warm up before exercising the engine don't help.
BigChiefmuffinAgain said:
I actually thought the sat nav was pretty good ( in facelift guise )
It is a 20 yr old car though and modern cars are simply better....
Agree, had it in a E38 and it was fine.It is a 20 yr old car though and modern cars are simply better....
Problem with nav is that it's out of date immediately. The Nav in my 5 year old CLS is, as it goes, fine but I never use it because Waze just does it better.
TheAngryDog said:
tomsugden said:
Should be fine with an aftermarket warranty.
Too old to get any decent warranty now. I couldn't get one on either of mine, or my E60. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Sounds like a good car at a very fair price but just to calm it down a bit. If you are risk adverse may be worth budgeting for new timing chains and rod bearings just in case. Also front Jacking points are not unknown to have rust. If you are up for taking half a brave pill buy it now while you can. Every bit as good as all of the hype. I have owned mine for 16 years and have not got fed up yet.
They are great cars, but owning one and keeping it in fine fettle is like death by a thousand cuts.
I've got one and over the years have had to do rod bearings, heater blower fan (dash out), final stage resistor, extensive rust work, loads of suspension, refurbed the rear view mirror (M-specific), fix the steering shimmy, failed pixels, jammed CD changer, the list goes on. It's just failed its MOT on a headlight adjuster and its a later one, so the headlight can't be baked open.
Now sat forlorn and one-eyed on my driveway. Still love it though and at the end of the day its an old, complicated car.
I've got one and over the years have had to do rod bearings, heater blower fan (dash out), final stage resistor, extensive rust work, loads of suspension, refurbed the rear view mirror (M-specific), fix the steering shimmy, failed pixels, jammed CD changer, the list goes on. It's just failed its MOT on a headlight adjuster and its a later one, so the headlight can't be baked open.
Now sat forlorn and one-eyed on my driveway. Still love it though and at the end of the day its an old, complicated car.
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