Do I really need a E39 M5?
Discussion
There are 540i manuals around - I'd sugges that with your current fleet this would be perfectly acceptable for wafting around motorways.
I believe it is possible to retro-fit the M5 steering to a 540i - there's a chap over on BMW5 doing it to his 540i touring.
To repeat what has been said in threads before, if you want an E39 that isn't an M5, I'd go for the 530i or 540i - ignore the 535i. Fuel consumption is on par with a 540i, but preformance is similar to a 530i.
Bear in mind though that no-one really needs an M5. It's a decision made with the heart, not the wallet.
I believe it is possible to retro-fit the M5 steering to a 540i - there's a chap over on BMW5 doing it to his 540i touring.
To repeat what has been said in threads before, if you want an E39 that isn't an M5, I'd go for the 530i or 540i - ignore the 535i. Fuel consumption is on par with a 540i, but preformance is similar to a 530i.
Bear in mind though that no-one really needs an M5. It's a decision made with the heart, not the wallet.
pitsnow said:
The only benefit of a M5 over a 530 sport is the added grunt for the few occasions you want to go mad. However, how many times can you do this with the current traffic situation?
Both cars have the same top speed, slightlydifferent acceleration to let's say 90 mph
and one of them might be slightly better in
the corners.
I'd guess they are within 10-20% of each other.
For this, expect running costs to double or triple
with the M5. Lots of bits on it are M5-only and
the 530 has 7 mpg better than the 540, so against
the M5 I'd guess 10-12 mpg.
If you treat the M5 gently, which you won't.
Your money, your choice on the price / performance
curve.
Personally, I've go for the 530. Any 150 mph
chariot isn't going to have too much trouble
in a 70 mph country where the highest road
is only 2,000 feet or so and the temperature
range is about -5C to 20C for 99% of the time.
Don't be swayed. Buy the m5.
Who cares about whether a 540 or 535 or 530 can give similar thrills.
Its about so much more than that. They are ridiculous value at the moment, i'm getting one in the next few months when I finally decide on what bloody colour I want!
Why didn't they make more anthracite ones?!!!
Who cares about whether a 540 or 535 or 530 can give similar thrills.
Its about so much more than that. They are ridiculous value at the moment, i'm getting one in the next few months when I finally decide on what bloody colour I want!
Why didn't they make more anthracite ones?!!!
I still like mine...most of the time. After 160k I can take it or leave it...until the engine is nice and warm and then sometimes, just sometimes the DSC goes off and the roads around the south coast become slightly more interesting (Not the M23 / A23 as they are loaded with unmarked policemen on revenue stream duties..) Not sure if I would get one again but it's hard to think of a serious (cheapish) replacement. I've never been one to throw away money on new cars and the M5 always seemed like a pretty decent s/h bargain but they can come with big bills and some bits are not cheap. The thing that does if for me is the true split personality. It does not have to be loud or lairy, it does not have to be taken sideways around corners at stupid speeds, it does not have to be driven within a scrags scrotum of the hedge...but it can..when you want it to be. And that's the best bit. And now they're cheap as chips, if you indeed do wrap it around a tree or hedge or something else, learn from the experience and with the change in your pocket go out and buy another one....In that sense, it's a real easy choice.
TIGA84 said:
Don't be swayed. Buy the m5.
Who cares about whether a 540 or 535 or 530 can give similar thrills.
Its about so much more than that. They are ridiculous value at the moment, i'm getting one in the next few months when I finally decide on what bloody colour I want!
Why didn't they make more anthracite ones?!!!
Seconded,Id also add that the M5 also shares no resemblence to the 530i in terms of handling,the sports ect feel very leaden compared to the dynamics of the M5 which is soooo vastly diffetent- the only commonality is the body shape. Who cares about whether a 540 or 535 or 530 can give similar thrills.
Its about so much more than that. They are ridiculous value at the moment, i'm getting one in the next few months when I finally decide on what bloody colour I want!
Why didn't they make more anthracite ones?!!!
s62 said:
dcb said:
Both cars have the same top speed, slightly
different acceleration to let's say 90 mph
and one of them might be slightly better in
the corners.
I'd guess they are within 10-20% of each other.
Christ!! You have no idea what you are talking about!different acceleration to let's say 90 mph
and one of them might be slightly better in
the corners.
I'd guess they are within 10-20% of each other.
I can't see the problem.
While an M5 has superior acceleration, let's
not forget that the acceleration comes at the cost
of a fuel stop far far far more often
than any other five series.
Which almost certainly makes it a far slower car than
something like a 530D, which will sit at 130-150 mph
all day and only needs a fuel stop
half or a third as often as an M5.
dcb said:
s62 said:
dcb said:
Both cars have the same top speed, slightly
different acceleration to let's say 90 mph
and one of them might be slightly better in
the corners.
I'd guess they are within 10-20% of each other.
Christ!! You have no idea what you are talking about!different acceleration to let's say 90 mph
and one of them might be slightly better in
the corners.
I'd guess they are within 10-20% of each other.
I can't see the problem.
While an M5 has superior acceleration, let's
not forget that the acceleration comes at the cost
of a fuel stop far far far more often
than any other five series.
Which almost certainly makes it a far slower car than
something like a 530D, which will sit at 130-150 mph
all day and only needs a fuel stop
half or a third as often as an M5.
Remove the limiter and they differ alot.
"slightly different acceeleration to let´s say 90mph" is not
a fact at all. If you really think so - set up a race between
the two cars. Then come back to us.
"one of them might be slightly better in the corners" is not a
fact either. Do a comparison test with 2 stock cars and then
come back to us.
"I´d guess they are within 10-20% of each other" is a guess/conclusion
that is based on your lack of knowledge/experience.
dcb said:
s62 said:
dcb said:
Both cars have the same top speed, slightly
different acceleration to let's say 90 mph
and one of them might be slightly better in
the corners.
I'd guess they are within 10-20% of each other.
Christ!! You have no idea what you are talking about!different acceleration to let's say 90 mph
and one of them might be slightly better in
the corners.
I'd guess they are within 10-20% of each other.
I can't see the problem.
While an M5 has superior acceleration, let's
not forget that the acceleration comes at the cost
of a fuel stop far far far more often
than any other five series.
Which almost certainly makes it a far slower car than
something like a 530D, which will sit at 130-150 mph
all day and only needs a fuel stop
half or a third as often as an M5.
The M5 gets a second wind at 140mph and you simply cannot have driven one if you are trying to compare a car which is twice as powerful as the other and will crack your 90mph comparison wide open by 15-20 car lengths.
Do I really NEED a E39 M5?
No, you don't need an M5. No one does. If you just need a car for transport buy a small diesel from Honda. Gets you from A to B reliably. Do you want one though? I think the answer to that is yes otherwise you wouldn't be posting here, you wouldn't know what an M5 is and your preference for cars would sound like 'a silver one'!
Have you ever heard anyone say 'I bought an M5 but I wish I had bought a 530 instead'?
I've just been driving up and down the motorway (M4) for the past couple of weeks in mine and at 80 with the cruise in it has averaged just over 26mpg, which is better than my AMG merc and my Griffith 500 so the fuel consumption isn't as bad as you might think.
Yes there is potential for big bills, but just do a search for '330d 530d and blown turbo' and you will find that there are very big bills to be had there too.
If you want one and can afford it, get one, you will not regret it (IMHO)!
No, you don't need an M5. No one does. If you just need a car for transport buy a small diesel from Honda. Gets you from A to B reliably. Do you want one though? I think the answer to that is yes otherwise you wouldn't be posting here, you wouldn't know what an M5 is and your preference for cars would sound like 'a silver one'!
Have you ever heard anyone say 'I bought an M5 but I wish I had bought a 530 instead'?
I've just been driving up and down the motorway (M4) for the past couple of weeks in mine and at 80 with the cruise in it has averaged just over 26mpg, which is better than my AMG merc and my Griffith 500 so the fuel consumption isn't as bad as you might think.
Yes there is potential for big bills, but just do a search for '330d 530d and blown turbo' and you will find that there are very big bills to be had there too.
If you want one and can afford it, get one, you will not regret it (IMHO)!
The one thing that everyone seems to have overlooked is price. What does a E39 M5 cost - £12k upwards? E39 540 manuals are available from less then £3k.
I'm not disputing that a M5 is a better drive than a 540, and if you have the funds for a M5 then go for it, they're terrific cars.
But you can get a 540 for a third of the price and they are certainly not a third of the car. Running costs will be a lot cheaper too.
Looking at it another way, you could have a 540 and an Elise for the price of a M5 - and I doubt the running costs would be much more.
I'm not disputing that a M5 is a better drive than a 540, and if you have the funds for a M5 then go for it, they're terrific cars.
But you can get a 540 for a third of the price and they are certainly not a third of the car. Running costs will be a lot cheaper too.
Looking at it another way, you could have a 540 and an Elise for the price of a M5 - and I doubt the running costs would be much more.
stringbag said:
Good point.
Did you see the running report on EVO's elise? It cost them a fortune - can't remember the details but it just goes to show how any car can cost big money. Like the elise though - good motor.
I did - although I recall they got completely ripped off by having the head gasket done at a main dealerDid you see the running report on EVO's elise? It cost them a fortune - can't remember the details but it just goes to show how any car can cost big money. Like the elise though - good motor.
I've done 35k miles in my Elise and in that time on servicing, repairs, brakes and tyres I reckon it's cost me less than £2.5k.
A few weeks ago I did consider swapping my 540-6 and Elise for a M5. But now that the sun is starting to make an appearance I'm glad I didn't.
I decided that I needed an E39 M5 when a Ring Taxi overtook me in 2002. Roll the clock on 3 years and I'm test driving a PHers M5 around Bruntingthorpe. Deal done and I'm having the car when the PHers new E60 M5 arrives.
Had the car 33 months now and done 18k miles, including ReimsHoon06 and TartanHoon07. Other than doing a clutch (lasted 60k miles) and upgrading the brakes all round, when the discs and pads needed doing anyway, it's cost very little to run.
Having said that if any big bills arise I'll have to pay them, there is no way I'm giving up my car.
The only downside is the potential for large repair bills. Don't buy if your wallet won't be able to cope. Not a car you buy with your last few £'s or on a budget.
Had the car 33 months now and done 18k miles, including ReimsHoon06 and TartanHoon07. Other than doing a clutch (lasted 60k miles) and upgrading the brakes all round, when the discs and pads needed doing anyway, it's cost very little to run.
Having said that if any big bills arise I'll have to pay them, there is no way I'm giving up my car.
The only downside is the potential for large repair bills. Don't buy if your wallet won't be able to cope. Not a car you buy with your last few £'s or on a budget.
dazren said:
I decided that I needed an E39 M5 when a Ring Taxi overtook me in 2002. Roll the clock on 3 years and I'm test driving a PHers M5 around Bruntingthorpe. Deal done and I'm having the car when the PHers new E60 M5 arrives.
Had the car 33 months now and done 18k miles, including ReimsHoon06 and TartanHoon07. Other than doing a clutch (lasted 60k miles) and upgrading the brakes all round, when the discs and pads needed doing anyway, it's cost very little to run.
Having said that if any big bills arise I'll have to pay them, there is no way I'm giving up my car.
The only downside is the potential for large repair bills. Don't buy if your wallet won't be able to cope. Not a car you buy with your last few £'s or on a budget.
Exactly, some will need money spending, some wont. All luck and how the're treated. Had the car 33 months now and done 18k miles, including ReimsHoon06 and TartanHoon07. Other than doing a clutch (lasted 60k miles) and upgrading the brakes all round, when the discs and pads needed doing anyway, it's cost very little to run.
Having said that if any big bills arise I'll have to pay them, there is no way I'm giving up my car.
The only downside is the potential for large repair bills. Don't buy if your wallet won't be able to cope. Not a car you buy with your last few £'s or on a budget.
I would imagine the 335d + 335i will require big money once they are out of warranty.
They are amazing cars, still ahead of so many new cars made these days.If you got one you wouldn't regret it but unless you have money to burn you may begrudge any unexpected bills.
It's also a sensible choice for leading students of tuba.
I've only recently taken to unecessary yet broadly constant throttle blippage. Why drive steadily within a speed limit when you can persistently blip-and-drop, blip-and-drop?
It achieves nothing but feels oddly satisfying and if you time it right, barks with a sharpness which can approach those of a current V10 M's box during the same.
It's probably killing the clutch but wtf? After all, we are not communists...
I cleaned mine with Meguiars goo and did the full four bucket and fifteen accoutrements routine and keep taking in the profile from my orifice window right today, an unequivocal ode to aesthetic perfection, wrought from steel.
You have to keep on top of wheel weights and geometry but that's about it. I ckeck the oil but despite 3/4 of a litre t'other day, it sips with what seems to be atypical parsimony.
Forget the -ves and get weaving because soon enough, cars like these will be a distant memory.
I've only recently taken to unecessary yet broadly constant throttle blippage. Why drive steadily within a speed limit when you can persistently blip-and-drop, blip-and-drop?
It achieves nothing but feels oddly satisfying and if you time it right, barks with a sharpness which can approach those of a current V10 M's box during the same.
It's probably killing the clutch but wtf? After all, we are not communists...
I cleaned mine with Meguiars goo and did the full four bucket and fifteen accoutrements routine and keep taking in the profile from my orifice window right today, an unequivocal ode to aesthetic perfection, wrought from steel.
You have to keep on top of wheel weights and geometry but that's about it. I ckeck the oil but despite 3/4 of a litre t'other day, it sips with what seems to be atypical parsimony.
Forget the -ves and get weaving because soon enough, cars like these will be a distant memory.
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