Discussion
My business partner currently drives a Vauxhall Vectra Diesel and due to an extra addition to the staff it was decided that the newbie would have the Vectra and he would get a BMW 318 or similar as his company car. Now, he has always wanted an M3 or M5 but could never bring himself to part with the readies. So we go down to the local dealership to sort out the details for the 318 and I spot a brand new M5 out the back, turns out it had arrived the previous day and was to be the dealer demonstrator. However as it had yet to be registered as a demo it was available to buy (wouldn't be available for another 4 months, had it been a demo).
So I set about the task (Jokingly) of persuading my mate to purchase the car, funny thing was this time he didn't take much convincing. He bought it on the spot - Good for him! Now looking forward to swapping the Cerb on occasion - fantastic!
Any M5 owners here and any advice/tips/probs/running in info?
So I set about the task (Jokingly) of persuading my mate to purchase the car, funny thing was this time he didn't take much convincing. He bought it on the spot - Good for him! Now looking forward to swapping the Cerb on occasion - fantastic!
Any M5 owners here and any advice/tips/probs/running in info?
These cars are in very different price brackets!
r at every opportunity!!! WOW - nice motor. Had one of them blow past me in Norfolk - amazing to watch as it went past (must've been doing about 120 at the time), totally composed, no hassle, just whooosh!! Superlightr - bloody hell!
I've been seriously mulling over the viability of trading in my daily commuto-barge (Lexus LS430) for an M5 because I thought it might give me a better combo of stress-free queue navigation and rip-snorting hellfire when the fast-lane blockers moved over...
I'm amazed at your probs - please tell me more (plus your overall driving impressions [i.e. refinement and build, not just it's balls!])
Cheers.
I've been seriously mulling over the viability of trading in my daily commuto-barge (Lexus LS430) for an M5 because I thought it might give me a better combo of stress-free queue navigation and rip-snorting hellfire when the fast-lane blockers moved over...
I'm amazed at your probs - please tell me more (plus your overall driving impressions [i.e. refinement and build, not just it's balls!])
Cheers.
Derestricor - try the GS430 if you want a (possible) alternative to the M5 - 280 hp, 0-60 in 6.3, limited to 155 and there's a company in Dagenham (Torque Developments?) that import turbo/supercharger kits for the majority of Lexus models...
Tried one about a year ago and was quite impressed with its progressability......
Tried one about a year ago and was quite impressed with its progressability......
Cheers for that, MM - ramping up the luxo-barges eh? I must say, the sheer quality of the LS is what drew me to it, especially as a refuge after the manic but flimsy 1100rpm cycle known as EVO VII-dom.
The GS430 is supposed to be more driver focused but it's suspension is still, as Clarkson would put it, straight from the school of Houston dentistry. I'm not sure there's much in it 'twixt GS and LS430s in real situations and if I'm gonna be in lard, I'd rather be full in polyunsaturate than Flora 'limpo da wrista.'
If I were going to ditch the refridgerated, butt-massaging, elctro-hydraulic audiophile heaven of the Japo-bunker, the M5 APPEARED to be the only serious real world alternative. BUT, whacking a f***k off great blower or something under the barge's bonnet might just be the antidote. Dribble.
The GS430 is supposed to be more driver focused but it's suspension is still, as Clarkson would put it, straight from the school of Houston dentistry. I'm not sure there's much in it 'twixt GS and LS430s in real situations and if I'm gonna be in lard, I'd rather be full in polyunsaturate than Flora 'limpo da wrista.'
If I were going to ditch the refridgerated, butt-massaging, elctro-hydraulic audiophile heaven of the Japo-bunker, the M5 APPEARED to be the only serious real world alternative. BUT, whacking a f***k off great blower or something under the barge's bonnet might just be the antidote. Dribble.
Im sure it was a lemon. It was bound to happen to me one day as Ive been very lucky with all other cars I have owned.
But as my first BMW and M5, unfortunatly lots of problems. I think it was 6 hire cars over 7 weeks of total repairs (at the garage being or waiting for repairs)
Failed vanos - common fault so I learn now but x 3 times to fix over 3 months.
Leaky O rings part of vanos I understand
various failed sensors leading to loss of power, stalling whilst driving,
wheel sensor failure loss of ABS DSC etc
leaky fuel injector. petrol all over engine. (should of taken up smoking) new injector
new fuel pump
new cats - two of.
warped front discs
trim falling off
buttons sticking
this was over a 9 month period every month a fault was fixed and then something new.
bonnet release failing
Wheel alignment checks as not going round corners corectly.
new rear suspension as movement somewhere (thus not consistant cornering)
and the final straw the rear the anti roll bar breaking whilst driving. - not fun I can bloody well say.
and a few other minor things. But when the car stalled whilst driving x 3 and loss of 95% power whilst driving ie safety matters this does not endeer me to BMW. (plus the anit roll bar breaking.)
This was via the approved scheem for a 2 yr car when I got it. !! under 35000 miles.
car has gone now and I am confident it is now actually fixed as before it was sold nothing went wrong for about 2000 miles. It even has the new M5 engine software installed now.
It was all covered under warranty and the new owner has the balance of the extended warrenty ie for a further 2 years. I even got cash compensation from BMW GB for the hassle and stress.
So sorry, not a fan of M5's at the moment. Although when it worked it was very fast mid to upper range, not a nimble car but could hold its own and was comfortable whilst waiting for BMW assist and it did look good.
I thought it was good in the wet as well. Although it is a heavy car and the brakes have to work hard at times.
When the suspension was fixed it did go round corners better !! just my confidence and nearves was shot by then.
Despite the above Im sure if you get a good one it is lots of fun. When im older and memory has faded I may consider another BMW. Porsche have got my cash and is earning my loyalty at moment.
:smile:
>> Edited by superlightr on Wednesday 17th July 23:04
>> Edited by superlightr on Wednesday 17th July 23:09
But as my first BMW and M5, unfortunatly lots of problems. I think it was 6 hire cars over 7 weeks of total repairs (at the garage being or waiting for repairs)
Failed vanos - common fault so I learn now but x 3 times to fix over 3 months.
Leaky O rings part of vanos I understand
various failed sensors leading to loss of power, stalling whilst driving,
wheel sensor failure loss of ABS DSC etc
leaky fuel injector. petrol all over engine. (should of taken up smoking) new injector
new fuel pump
new cats - two of.
warped front discs
trim falling off
buttons sticking
this was over a 9 month period every month a fault was fixed and then something new.
bonnet release failing
Wheel alignment checks as not going round corners corectly.
new rear suspension as movement somewhere (thus not consistant cornering)
and the final straw the rear the anti roll bar breaking whilst driving. - not fun I can bloody well say.
and a few other minor things. But when the car stalled whilst driving x 3 and loss of 95% power whilst driving ie safety matters this does not endeer me to BMW. (plus the anit roll bar breaking.)
This was via the approved scheem for a 2 yr car when I got it. !! under 35000 miles.
car has gone now and I am confident it is now actually fixed as before it was sold nothing went wrong for about 2000 miles. It even has the new M5 engine software installed now.
It was all covered under warranty and the new owner has the balance of the extended warrenty ie for a further 2 years. I even got cash compensation from BMW GB for the hassle and stress.
So sorry, not a fan of M5's at the moment. Although when it worked it was very fast mid to upper range, not a nimble car but could hold its own and was comfortable whilst waiting for BMW assist and it did look good.
I thought it was good in the wet as well. Although it is a heavy car and the brakes have to work hard at times. When the suspension was fixed it did go round corners better !! just my confidence and nearves was shot by then.
Despite the above Im sure if you get a good one it is lots of fun. When im older and memory has faded I may consider another BMW. Porsche have got my cash and is earning my loyalty at moment.
:smile:
>> Edited by superlightr on Wednesday 17th July 23:04
>> Edited by superlightr on Wednesday 17th July 23:09
quote:
Have you thought about a Holden HSV? For the same price as an M5 you could get the supercharged job with 500 BHP and a cracking V8 soundtrack? Plus it's different, i.e. nobody will know what it is...
Hey FB - that's the ticket, a bit of lateral thinking; superb - cheers!
However, isn't the interior a bit Vauxhall Chevette for 50 big 'uns?
Mind you, FIVE HUNDRED BHP? Holy beef flavoured Space Raiders! That's INSANE...where can I discover more?
quote:
Touble is most people will think it's just a maxxed up Omega!
I tend to agree. I saw one once and it looked sort of middle of the road, in a kind of American Lincoln Super Pulsar ZX, nonedescrpt kinda way. But isn't that part of the attraction? Massively anonymous but with preposterous urge sufficient to make Cozeh man question his own virility and make pitiful excuses to his bird, Shaz?
quote:
Touble is most people will think it's just a maxxed up Omega!
But that's the beauty of it !!!!
That way you'll get the MaxPower brigade behind you trying to intimidate you with their Nova's and Calibra's... And you can leave them ina cloud of tyre smoke which by the time is cleared you'll be gone !!!!!!
quote:
I have a 2000 M5. Its a bit of a machine. Its incredibly comfortable, reliable and not to mention fast! As I live in Germany I have the opportunity to travel to and from work at 240 km/h each day and this is not even pushing it!Best car I have ever owned...
Deester...
Deester - please describe, in painful detail, your driving impressions. I'm having a hard time finding anybody who wants talk about the M5 which I'm currently assessing. I want your full opinions on the 'performance envelope!'
Cheers.
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