Having to part with my E92 M3
Discussion
After a year I'm having to part with my E92 M3, due to a family addition (a rather large Chocolate Labrador!). My little DS3 I use for work isn't up to the job, so my better half has advised I need to 'consolidate' down to one car! So I'm thinking of an E60 M5 touring, practical enough to get the dog in the boot but still a bit of fun.
I'm thinking of a slightly older one, around 2007/08 and not knowing too much about the E60 with it's monster V10 I thought I'd ask advice from the experts as what to look out for and any potential pitfalls. What might the running costs be like compared to the M3 (I'll be running just this car rather than the DS and the M3 so 25k per year!).
Piccy of my departing M3
I'm thinking of a slightly older one, around 2007/08 and not knowing too much about the E60 with it's monster V10 I thought I'd ask advice from the experts as what to look out for and any potential pitfalls. What might the running costs be like compared to the M3 (I'll be running just this car rather than the DS and the M3 so 25k per year!).
Piccy of my departing M3
Any reason you're not just swapping the DS3 for a "dog car"? Lets face it, the dog's not going to thank you if you drive the M5 like a loon with it in the back anyway so surely a boggo estate will do for dog duties?
gaz1234 - M3 is up on the classifieds for £36k. 
AyBee - I had the same thought! However the wife is telling me the M3 spends too much time in the garage under the dust cover and I should get the one car that does it all that I still like driving on a daily basis. It's a tough call as I love the M3 (i fitted a set of Eisenmann sport exhausts to it so it sounds awesome!) but with the weather being so bad I just haven't taken it out too much. I have a long commute (80 mile round trip), hence the DS3, so if I did go to one car it's needs to combine practicality (for dog, kids et al) and fun factor. I also wanted to extract a bit of cash from the change, hence the maybe older and cheaper (at least to buy) M5. I'll be doing 25k a year so don't want anything that will depreciate too much due to the miles. I had also toyed with idea of an B8 S4 Avant (maybe with a revo technik remap
AyBee - I had the same thought! However the wife is telling me the M3 spends too much time in the garage under the dust cover and I should get the one car that does it all that I still like driving on a daily basis. It's a tough call as I love the M3 (i fitted a set of Eisenmann sport exhausts to it so it sounds awesome!) but with the weather being so bad I just haven't taken it out too much. I have a long commute (80 mile round trip), hence the DS3, so if I did go to one car it's needs to combine practicality (for dog, kids et al) and fun factor. I also wanted to extract a bit of cash from the change, hence the maybe older and cheaper (at least to buy) M5. I'll be doing 25k a year so don't want anything that will depreciate too much due to the miles. I had also toyed with idea of an B8 S4 Avant (maybe with a revo technik remap
Gorgeous looking M3 OP 
I love the M5 Touring loads & the thought of a V10 just adds to it but I would have thought fuel bills could hurt with the miles you do.
I consolidated too I got rid of my Z4MR & 520d Touring to buy the M3...but I do sometimes wish I had a toy in the garage though as the M3 is a tiny bit too ordinary when you use it daily...you just can't win!
I love the M5 Touring loads & the thought of a V10 just adds to it but I would have thought fuel bills could hurt with the miles you do.I consolidated too I got rid of my Z4MR & 520d Touring to buy the M3...but I do sometimes wish I had a toy in the garage though as the M3 is a tiny bit too ordinary when you use it daily...you just can't win!
shoes1967 said:
AyBee - I had the same thought! However the wife is telling me the M3 spends too much time in the garage under the dust cover and I should get the one car that does it all that I still like driving on a daily basis. It's a tough call as I love the M3 (i fitted a set of Eisenmann sport exhausts to it so it sounds awesome!) but with the weather being so bad I just haven't taken it out too much. I have a long commute (80 mile round trip), hence the DS3, so if I did go to one car it's needs to combine practicality (for dog, kids et al) and fun factor. I also wanted to extract a bit of cash from the change, hence the maybe older and cheaper (at least to buy) M5. I'll be doing 25k a year so don't want anything that will depreciate too much due to the miles. I had also toyed with idea of an B8 S4 Avant (maybe with a revo technik remap
The fuel is going to keep on kicking you though if you're doing 80 miles a day in an M5 
Get something boring for dog and commute (Passat diesel? ) and keep the M3, it's too gorgeous to let go I love my e61 M5 touring. It looks amazing , toys everywhere , and then you stretch its legs and it blows you away.
I cant get it to return above 15mpg, town driving , mainly my wife driving so not going crazy.
If you can afford that then i couldnt recommend it highly enough but even the the most manly, man maths would say buy something else for the commute.
The M5 is a worthy more practical replacement for your M3- you will just have to buy something else too, which might defeat the object of the excercise.
Also you must buy the extended bmw warranty , circa 1k a year.
I cant get it to return above 15mpg, town driving , mainly my wife driving so not going crazy.
If you can afford that then i couldnt recommend it highly enough but even the the most manly, man maths would say buy something else for the commute.
The M5 is a worthy more practical replacement for your M3- you will just have to buy something else too, which might defeat the object of the excercise.
Also you must buy the extended bmw warranty , circa 1k a year.
wattsm666 said:
You will be filling up every 3 days in an M5, which will become tiresome!
At 80 miles per day you will be filling up every other day.As much as I loved my M5 it spent way too much time getting fixed and having heard from the current owner recently, apparently it went through its entire life getting serviced, repaired and mended.
You will love the stonking rolling acceleration, heads up display and the sound, but will hate the lardiness and the small petrol tank.
Make sure it had the running in service done and make sure you can have it under BMW warranty, then you will be ok, but personally I would now look for something more modern and less motorsport focused (such as the latest Audi S4 estate) due to the weight range you will now be operating at. In retrospect I found the whole having a formula one chassis under a heavy body a bit pointless and a more economical, less track focused car would have done just as well if not better.
Edited by isee on Tuesday 16th April 15:06
Spuffington said:
Or see if you can track down a 550i Touring? No //M car but no slouch either. Just trying to find one might be the issue. I know crazyhorse has his for sale....
But I'd have thought a more practical proposition than running an M5 for 25k pa unless money is no object.
don't think its a money no object situ given OPs plugging of old car. But do think for the situation would be much better off keeping m3 and buying an old 530d touring for the commute and dog duties.But I'd have thought a more practical proposition than running an M5 for 25k pa unless money is no object.
Think about it. Huge money save on commute. Not crossing bid offer and taking risk of lemons premium. Keep the fun car for the weekend hoons
gaz1234 said:
eddie will fill you in.
You rang!!http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
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