M5 Finally!

Author
Discussion

Beast

368 posts

283 months

Wednesday 11th September 2002
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Derestrictor,
allay your fears - the car is quite simply the best thing on Earth as an all round vehicle.

I've had an '01 car for a year now with no problems. Uses about a ltr of oil every 2k miles and besides that I've done nothing outside of the standard service at 1200 miles (now done 9k) and wash it now & again.

The performance envelope - my overriding impressions were always of the cliff of torque - you can poottle in any gear you like. What's nice as well though is being on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. It's a big old bus, so is not going to be 'that' quick off the line, but once moving, it can destroy just about anything. To me it feels faster on the charge than my Griff - plus it will do it with a full quota of people & luggage, with air-con and music as well.

Truly an incredible piece of machinery....and in the press of late still better(?) than the RS6/Jag/etc - even EVO have changed their mind back again this month...mind you, I would have liked an estate version.

granville

18,764 posts

260 months

Wednesday 11th September 2002
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Beast,

Cheers for your thoughts; alas, the motoring jelly of Japan's soporific crown must needs remain in my charge until such time as sanity prevails and I realise that outrageous depreciation has at least been offset by some utility.

In other words, I'm keeping the sod for a couple of years.

As I've said before, no more an effective driver's tool than a flintock would serve our chaps during Desert Storm II but at what it does well, very well, in fact, i.e. an unseemly turn of speed for something so ungainly whilst serenading those occupant with the soothing of electro-stodge par excellence and flattening lentilista with the silent efficiecny of a perfectly executed SAS grab and run raid amongst the sand dunes of Persia, it has little competition from anywhere.

At least, that's what I'm trying to kid myself with because real acknowledgement of the M5's overall mastery is just too much to concsiously acknowledge. Damn!

Still, I'm off to the continent tomorrow for a few days R&R so it will give the block time to unwind as I practice what I preach across the deserted tarmac of the French highways and byways.

Now then, where's my livre de translation. How do you explain to Gaston le Kepi that old chestnut about not comprendying the km/h versus mph bit?

A bientot, mes amis.

Nils Baker

59 posts

263 months

Saturday 28th September 2002
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Superlighter, I have a 99 M5 and seem to have had the same sort of grief as you,mine has been into the garage 5 times for a total of 5 weeks, they are now going to put in a new ECU in a bid to cure it, If that doesn't work I have told the BMW garage that supplied the car that I shall be pressing for my cash back. The thing that really pissed me off was that they would phone me up and say the car had been fixed and tested, I would pick it up and 500m down the road it would go wrong again, I even had the engine cut out at 100mph in the fast lane of the M27, not at all funny.How much compensation did you get?.

superlightr

12,842 posts

262 months

Sunday 10th November 2002
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N Baker, sorry to hear of your problems. When it cuts out is shxt scary or loses power.

I should have made more of a fuss and got more money.

I got £2000. in the end after saying I dont want a holiday or off another BMW. only cash,

In the end I wanted to just get rid of it, I lost loads on reselling privately. The BMW garage would not touch it. Basterds.

I was having chest pains due to stress and legs were trembling after driving. Im only 32 and fit and healthy, Im a RoSPA driving observer and am a competent driver. I love driving. I hated driving the BMW - Is the car going to stall, go around a corner, suspension fail on every movement of the car is just too much to bear.

Needless to say getting the Porsche was the best thing I did.

My advise is to cut your losses before you lose something more precious. If you have a bad un from my experience it will keep getting bad.

Sorry for negative post.

Please look at my Porshce posts for the positve one.

RWDlover

17 posts

256 months

Thursday 21st November 2002
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Superlightr sorry but I do not believe you have even owned any BMW let alone a new M5.Its ok to dream though.

rv02oao

750 posts

262 months

Friday 22nd November 2002
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I just puchased a 99 M5 (BMW main dealer approved car scheme) and so far (3 weeks) There have been no end of problems with it. It won't go round corners and it uses loads of oil. It had warped discs (now changed) Sounds familar?

How much oil is acceptable? This one uses 1 ltr every 400 / 500 miles?

superlightr

12,842 posts

262 months

Sunday 24th November 2002
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RWDlover, Grow up.

Its not polite on this forum to insult other people especially when you know nothing about them. and even more anoying when you call me a liar.

A graceful apology would be appreciated for an inappropriate post to show your not an ar*e.

sjc

13,878 posts

269 months

Sunday 24th November 2002
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superlightr said: RWDlover, Grow up.

Its not polite on this forum to insult other people especially when you know nothing about them. and even more anoying when you call me a liar.

A graceful apology would be appreciated for an inappropriate post to show your not an ar*e.




craigalsop

1,991 posts

267 months

Monday 25th November 2002
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At least RWDlover(nee Ian Carboy) is consistent in his staunch support of BMWs. See here for more details. Whilst I got many responses from him, he has yet to admit that there could be any problems at all with BMWs...

MEMSDesign

1,100 posts

269 months

Monday 25th November 2002
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I'm glad to see someone picked up where I left off with RWD/carboy. If you ask me, he was a wind up merchant.

Nils Baker

59 posts

263 months

Monday 25th November 2002
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Mine uses about 1ltr every 1000/1500 miles. I haven't had the warped disk problem yet and the last set lasted 25,000 miles of abuse. Interested to hear that yours doesn't go round corners, thats the one thing mine does bloody well, if a little sideways. If your wipers haven't packed up they will, the relay will go, I ahve changed two and they always seem to go at night in pouring rain at high speed....which is nice.

EvoBlade

150 posts

255 months

Wednesday 4th December 2002
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Hi guys. First post here. I own a 2001 M5, which has covered 26k miles now. I have had a few issues with it, but on the whole it is a fantastic car.

Problems first:

1) Clutch is a major weak point. Lost the clutch, and damaged the gearbox and flywheel at 6k miles. BMW replaced it all free, under warranty

2) Faulty built in phone - replaced free

3) Squeaky doors - replaced free

4) Clutch + flywheel went again at 20k miles - replaced FREE

5) Faulty washer

6) CD trim panel in the boot would not close

7) Faulty speaker


OK... The good news is that it is probably the best all round car on the planet. Handling is fantastic, once you make a few modifications to the suspension settings and tyre pressures. Performance is startling, and the power band extends from 2k to 7k rpm which is amazing. Turns in like a smaller car.

Brakes are not very good. I did not try alternate pads (couldn't get them), but I would just put RS19 in them from Pagid. I actually fitted AP 6 pots with RS19 pads all round. Squeaky, but damn fine brakes.

Took the car on track for the first time (I am regular trackday person, but use my 500bhp EVO6 for that ) - and it was awesome. Was even able to overtake a 360 Ferrari. THere was very little between the cars on the straights too. THe traction is huge as well, and the braking (now) is mega.

I always change my cars regularly - and I just don't want to change the m5. I enjoy driving it MORE every day - I love this car. I love it I love it I love it.

Looked at the RS6, Holden etc... the M5 is still the best.

There is only one car turning my eye.. the new SL55, but at the end of the day - the M5 is just too practical. 4 people cruiser when you need it - one person sunday blast car when you need it, load carrier when you need it (it has a load-through facility when you drop the back seats and a big boot), AND tow car - (it has an invisible detachable tow bar). I can tow my evo to track with all the spares I would ever need inside the M5... and cruise at silly speeds with pretty good fuel economy.

Running costs - under warranty, great. I would suspect that outside warranty it will all go horribly wrong! Still, I love it - and will never sell it. Just run it for ever. If it does finally die, I will strip it and turn it into a trackday car

That V8 is so understressed - mine has a Superchips, for 420bhp and 400lb/ft, but still - it could easily deliver more from those 5 litres.

Mine drinks oil a bit, not too much, a litre every 1000 miles at the very most, less than that probably.

I would quite like to lower it a little to reduce the roll as well - only a problem if REALLY pressing on.

If you test drive one, I suggest switching OFF the DSC and ON the Sport mode. I drive like this all the time, wet or dry. The car will not bite you if set up right - unless you push it very very hard.

If you want to slide the car, it is so easy. Basically, this car does everything well, but most of them BLOODY well and some damn fantastically.

Buy one - now

granville

18,764 posts

260 months

Wednesday 4th December 2002
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Evoblade; are you looking for a butler-cum-chauffeur?

I hail you with the mighty hammer of Thor; what a superb descrption of this tantalising, automotive piece de resistance.

But even more intriguing is your (let me get this straight) 500 bhp EVO VI?

Wha..bu..fu..m...urgh...dribb...eh?

HOW? And what the hell is that like to drive? What's been done to the car? Does it work? Is it a UK car? Who did the mods? Can I have it? Please?

In-bloody-sane!!!!!!!

EvoBlade

150 posts

255 months

Wednesday 4th December 2002
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My EVO has a long long past!

It was a UK car, first supplied by Ralliart UK. Supplied as a stage 1 car, with 321bhp.

It has had more mods than I care to remember.

If you look at www.evoblade.com, you will see it in its 420bhp state of tune about 6 months ago. Most recently, it achieved 500bhp and 460lb/ft of torque, weighing it at 1200kgs. I then had some reliability problems, because of a faulty injector - then a badly machined head.

All is being sorted out, but I am going back to a smaller roller bearing turbo for less lag, power should still be around 460bhp/460lbft. Also dropping the car weight to 1100kgs, maybe less. It won't be quite so pretty with all the lovely carbon and flocked dash inside, but it will be a bit more economical to use. It is a trackday only car, and doing 20 odd trackdays a year, it suffers massive repair bills - discs, pads, hubs, clutch, turbo etc etc - it is a bit like doing 70k miles a year on the car in wear and tear!!

It is indescribably awesome. Best time it did on a damp day at Donington was 1m15, which is Porsche Cup car speeds. We reckon 1m12 was on the cards with a drier, warmer day. I think the car will be quicker with the new turbo, as it will spin up around 1000 rpm earlier.

Most of the work now has been done by Veloqx Motorsport, who won the British GTO in their Ferrari 360 NGT cars, first time out in the championship this year.

EvoBlade

150 posts

255 months

Wednesday 4th December 2002
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Oh yes, I am completely MAD by the way!



And my wife has an XKR with 450bhp, APs all round, Nascar sounding exhaust etc etc...

The M5 is still IMHO the most enjoyable car.

granville

18,764 posts

260 months

Thursday 5th December 2002
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EvoBlade said: Oh yes, I am completely MAD by the way!



And my wife has an XKR with 450bhp, APs all round, Nascar sounding exhaust etc etc...

The M5 is still IMHO the most enjoyable car.



I unequivocally approve of your lunacy. Bravo!

superlightr

12,842 posts

262 months

Sunday 8th December 2002
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excellent, you can never have enough power...

futie

649 posts

275 months

Monday 9th December 2002
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Evoblade,

What do you think of the M5 Superchip? Is it really worth it for another 20BHP? I assume they remove the limiter - have you had a go at a top speed run?

Mine's just had a faulty camshaft (could be vanos?) sensor diagnosed - nothing major, but tends to feel like it's running on 7 cyls occasionally. But apart from that it's been fine over the last 6 months. Quite a high mileage one - nearly done 70K now.

superlightr

12,842 posts

262 months

Saturday 18th January 2003
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bad company

18,483 posts

265 months

Monday 27th January 2003
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Bought my M5 in March 2001 Its now done 35,000 miles without a hitch. The driving experience is simply phenominal, performance similar to a TVR with all the comforts of a big saloon.

The only real drawbacks are the costs - group 20 insurance, tyres last around 12,000 miles, around 20 mpg and burns oil, but hey its worth it.

>> Edited by bad company on Monday 27th January 17:15