New E60 M5 owner

[Christy O'Rourke]

Hi all, have been lurking here for almost two years now, but finally took the plunge Friday night and bought a 2005 M5. Irish car, with fully documented service history, receipts to the value of €20k. 110,000 miles which I know is high, but I've always bought cars based on condition, and evidence of a good maintenance regime, rather than mileage. The car is really tight, silverstone blue with black interior. First impressions are exactly what I expected, I'm blown away by the poise and performance. I've owned the usual Subaru/skyline cars in the past so I'm no stranger to power, but this? It's in a different league.
Now, I have a few questions that I'd like to throw out there, firstly, the car has a TV option, but when I access it through the I drive menu, I can't tune in any stations, auto store can't seem to find anything to store, I just get the "snow" effect on the screen. Thoughts?
Secondly, what tires are you guys using? I'll need some by the end of the summer, so I am curious as to what fellow E60/61 owners are using.
My plan with the car is to maintain it myself,( I have a fully kitted out workshop) and want yo know which way to go with regard to diagnostic software, as I know I'll need to code certain parts when and if I need to fit them, again, what are your thoughts?
I'm really looking forward to the next few months as I get to know the beast, have taken on board the comments from users regards lifting off on the throttle during changes, and even in auto, I find the box fine, and easy to use, with none of the lurching, clunking that some people seem to experience. Looking forward to your help, and looking forward to sharing my experience of M5 ownership with you guys!

[anotherdom]

The TV tuner may well be analogue, and so of limited use these days? My E61 M5 came with Vredestein's on. My first experience of these,and so far they've proved a decent tyre - particularly impressive in the wet. The M5board has more of a DIY culture, and plenty of information on the various coding software. Worth joining if you haven't already. Oh, and don't forget your Shell card (other fuels are available, and the V10 provides plenty of opportunity to try them all)!

Dom.

[Christy O'Rourke]

Thanks Dom, I'll include the Vreds in my tyre list, interesting point on the TV tuner, maybe the local stealer can add more clarity tomorrow, although I doubt it.... Regarding the thirst, I came into this eyes wide open, so I've no issue with that aspect of running costs!!!!!

[martin mrt]

I wouldn't think the tuner will be analogue, my 2004 E46 M3 has a digital tuner, with this being a later I drive based car I'd suspect it should have digital also

[ecain63]

Yeah the M5 had digital radio compatibility but I don't think the tv option was so modern. You can get a digital tv module for it though.

[csmith319]

I believe the early ones are analogue and later hybrid (dig and analogue) - the tuner may be labelled 'hybrid' if it is. You can retrofit though.

[Lignumopus]

Christy O'Rourke said:

…..the car has a TV option, but when I access it through the I drive menu, I can't tune in any stations, auto store can't seem to find anything to store, I just get the "snow" effect on the screen. Thoughts?

I had the TV option in my July 2006 model and it was certainly compatible with digital signal.
Telephone BMW Customer Information Department on 0800 325 600, they should be able to tell you based upon your chassis number.

Or, you could go mad and contact 0906 209 0001 [£1 per minute!!] where BMW has a "dedicated team" for details on a particular vehicle's specification!!!

Mind you, in the year I owned the car, I NEVER used it!
You can only watch it when stationary…and when are you going to be stationary in this car FFS
Good luck.
D

[Lignumopus]

Christy O'Rourke said:

…..the car has a TV option, but when I access it through the I drive menu, I can't tune in any stations, auto store can't seem to find anything to store, I just get the "snow" effect on the screen. Thoughts?

I had the TV option in my July 2006 model and it was certainly compatible with digital signal.
Telephone BMW Customer Information Department on 0800 325 600, they should be able to tell you based upon your chassis number.

Or, you could go mad and contact 0906 209 0001 [£1 per minute!!] where BMW has a "dedicated team" for details on a particular vehicle's specification!!!

Mind you, in the year I owned the car, I NEVER used it!
You can only watch it when stationary…and when are you going to be stationary in this car FFS
Good luck.
D

[Christy O'Rourke]

ecain63 said:

Yeah the M5 had digital radio compatibility but I don't think the tv option was so modern. You can get a digital tv module for it though.

Eddie, thanks for this, your thread on M5 Ownership was instrumental in my choice of car, I made sure to check that the clutch and flywheel was recently replaced! I'm so paranoid I'm thinking of dropping the box myself to check the release bearing has been greased sufficiently. How would I check whether the tuner is analogue or digital? Where is it located in the car?

[Shaoxter]

Have you actually been in a situation where you've wanted to use the TV? Bearing in mind that you can only watch it when you're stationary as people have mentioned.

Regarding tyres, the consensus is pretty much the Michelin Pilot Super Sports. Pricey but they also last for a long time according to the internet.

[Cambell]

I had digital TV in my E46 Cabrio, never used it. I don't miss it at all in my E60 M5 as lapses of concentration in it are really to be avoided..

The car had Continental Sport Contact 2's on it when I got it, It now has Michelin Pilot Sport 2's, both are fine. If Michelin Pilot Supersports were available at the time, I'd have fitted them.

Enjoy the car, its a monster ! Bugger the telly, you'll never watch it !!

[Christy O'Rourke]

Thanks for all the replies guys, it's not so much that I want to watch it, it's more that it's about the only thing in the car that doesn't work, and I want to fix it!! The sound of the V10 howling is all I want to hear when I'm in the car, but as I say, it's more the fact that it's not working that bugs me.
Now, I've been busy getting to know the car today, pulled out the air filters, and was reassured to see that they are freshly fitted in line with the service history, and are OEM! The pollen filters were pretty black, so I've changed them out with new ones today, but I now need to reset the service interval for their replacement, as I drive tells me that they were not due for another couple of thousand miles. If you renew service items before the I drive calls for them, how do you reset the due date for replacement , or can this be done at all?
Appreciate your patience, I'm a BMW noob, have been involved with jap stuff, and VW/Audi up to now!