20,000 miles a year in an E39 M5. Man-maths. Am I mental?
Discussion
I'm just doing some idle man-maths really, but curious to see what the PH collective thoughts are.
I currently run a 2006 Impreza WRX wagon (with Prodrive pack) as my daily. I do about 20k a year, split pretty much half and half between ‘personal’ mileage (driving to the office, the usual SD&P kind of thing) and work mileage – visiting customer sites, usually 1-3 hour journey time on motorways, generally outside of rush-hour. I spend very little time driving in traffic.
I also have an old Westfield SEI which I use for a bit if fun, plus the occasional track day. However it has been off the road now for almost six months, which is a little frustrating, but at the same time I find that I’m not missing it all that much.
I’ve always admired the E39 M5, and having had a vanilla E39 in the past I love the long distance capability and general layout of the car. The idea of having that along with a stonking great V8 is rather appealing, and having looked around a few at recent PH meets – as well as the recent coverage they’re getting on here – I find myself drawn to them more and more.
A bit of fag-packet maths suggests that is I sell the Subaru and the Westy I’d have potentially up to about £12k – let’s say £10k to be safe. Obviously there’s no point in hunting out an immaculate low-mileage example if I’m going to be whacking 20k miles a year on it, so I’ll try and find a ‘well used but honest’ example that I won’t feel too guilty about using every day. I do at least have a garage to keep it in.
In my mind I can get a reasonable car for £9-10k and then keep hold of about £2k a year for borkage fund. I wouldn’t track it (I’d probably buy a cheapy MR2 for track-days) and I’d keep on top of servicing, but I do rely on my everyday car and it would need to be a reliable daily prospect. I can swallow the occasional last-minute hire car if something goes wrong, but I certainly don’t want to make a habit of it! I’d need to find a good local-ish specialist around the Bucks/Oxfordshire region.
Petrol costs don’t concern me *too* much, I currently average around 25mpg on Super in the Impreza. I’m sort of assuming the M5 would be fairly similar overall (worse on the day-to-day stuff but perhaps slightly better on a run). Do they need to be run on Super Unleaded as well?
I’ve considered other V8 derivatives, but the 540 isn’t special enough and I absolutely don’t want an auto so the Alpinas are out.
Sorry if this is a little bit rambly, I'm just musing really at this stage. Part of me thinks it’s an insane idea, and part of me thinks the opportunity for an affordable E39 M5 won’t be around for much longer. What do you think?
I currently run a 2006 Impreza WRX wagon (with Prodrive pack) as my daily. I do about 20k a year, split pretty much half and half between ‘personal’ mileage (driving to the office, the usual SD&P kind of thing) and work mileage – visiting customer sites, usually 1-3 hour journey time on motorways, generally outside of rush-hour. I spend very little time driving in traffic.
I also have an old Westfield SEI which I use for a bit if fun, plus the occasional track day. However it has been off the road now for almost six months, which is a little frustrating, but at the same time I find that I’m not missing it all that much.
I’ve always admired the E39 M5, and having had a vanilla E39 in the past I love the long distance capability and general layout of the car. The idea of having that along with a stonking great V8 is rather appealing, and having looked around a few at recent PH meets – as well as the recent coverage they’re getting on here – I find myself drawn to them more and more.
A bit of fag-packet maths suggests that is I sell the Subaru and the Westy I’d have potentially up to about £12k – let’s say £10k to be safe. Obviously there’s no point in hunting out an immaculate low-mileage example if I’m going to be whacking 20k miles a year on it, so I’ll try and find a ‘well used but honest’ example that I won’t feel too guilty about using every day. I do at least have a garage to keep it in.
In my mind I can get a reasonable car for £9-10k and then keep hold of about £2k a year for borkage fund. I wouldn’t track it (I’d probably buy a cheapy MR2 for track-days) and I’d keep on top of servicing, but I do rely on my everyday car and it would need to be a reliable daily prospect. I can swallow the occasional last-minute hire car if something goes wrong, but I certainly don’t want to make a habit of it! I’d need to find a good local-ish specialist around the Bucks/Oxfordshire region.
Petrol costs don’t concern me *too* much, I currently average around 25mpg on Super in the Impreza. I’m sort of assuming the M5 would be fairly similar overall (worse on the day-to-day stuff but perhaps slightly better on a run). Do they need to be run on Super Unleaded as well?
I’ve considered other V8 derivatives, but the 540 isn’t special enough and I absolutely don’t want an auto so the Alpinas are out.
Sorry if this is a little bit rambly, I'm just musing really at this stage. Part of me thinks it’s an insane idea, and part of me thinks the opportunity for an affordable E39 M5 won’t be around for much longer. What do you think?
Do it.....just do it.
Your budget is sensible. 26mpg at motorway cruise speeds is achievable but below 19mpg when you're 'on it'. £2k bork fund is wise. The car will handle 20k miles per year with ease - examples with 200K+ miles not uncommon.
Generally speaking, they're robust and reliable but you need to keep the suspension in good fettle for optimum handling/ride. They have twice the number of engine management sensors as 6 cylinder E39s and performance can suffer as they age/degrade, often imperceptibly and occasionally without eml warnings. Don't believe the internet forum VANOS doom-mongers either: the sky will not fall in if the VANOS is a little noisy for 20 seconds at at start up. ('Chocolate' rod bearings is another internet myth this car is saddled with.)
Just make sure you buy a good one that's already had plenty spent on it over and above regular servicing. There are many out there that flatter to deceive, even those with top money price tags.
(edit for typo)
Your budget is sensible. 26mpg at motorway cruise speeds is achievable but below 19mpg when you're 'on it'. £2k bork fund is wise. The car will handle 20k miles per year with ease - examples with 200K+ miles not uncommon.
Generally speaking, they're robust and reliable but you need to keep the suspension in good fettle for optimum handling/ride. They have twice the number of engine management sensors as 6 cylinder E39s and performance can suffer as they age/degrade, often imperceptibly and occasionally without eml warnings. Don't believe the internet forum VANOS doom-mongers either: the sky will not fall in if the VANOS is a little noisy for 20 seconds at at start up. ('Chocolate' rod bearings is another internet myth this car is saddled with.)
Just make sure you buy a good one that's already had plenty spent on it over and above regular servicing. There are many out there that flatter to deceive, even those with top money price tags.
(edit for typo)
Edited by Depthhoar on Wednesday 29th April 16:53
IF you can find the right car, 20,000 miles a year is no problem for an E39 M5, I did it for 5 years before retiring her from daily duties. The running costs are high, not just petrol but other consumables like brakes, clutch, rear diff seals, tyres etc. all carry 'M' tax, but as long as you find a sound car to start with and stay on top of the maintenance they can be very reliable. Mine has never left me stranded (touch wood!).
Electrics can be an issue, but as many are shared with standard E39's they can generally be cheaply repaired or replaced.
They are heavy cars, so suspension takes a pounding and will need refreshing every 75-100k miles.
Don't be put off with stories of rod bearings and VANOS, both can fail, but are not as big an issue as some make out. VANOS units can be rebuilt by a specialist.
Electrics can be an issue, but as many are shared with standard E39's they can generally be cheaply repaired or replaced.
They are heavy cars, so suspension takes a pounding and will need refreshing every 75-100k miles.
Don't be put off with stories of rod bearings and VANOS, both can fail, but are not as big an issue as some make out. VANOS units can be rebuilt by a specialist.
Hahaha, thanks for your input guys. Certainly sounds like this could be a goer, the temptation is too much to resist! Nothing will happen overnight though as I need to get the Westfield into sale-worthy condition first (and get a few well-deserved trackdays under my belt after a winter of upgrades!) but I will probably start looking towards the end of the summer and see what's around 
These cars are totally imperious for motorway work, very refined and effortless torque/power, so you'll get out at the other end as fresh as a daisy.
Probably won't be as much fun as your Subaru once off the motorway network, though. The M5 is a not a sports car, it's a GT. It handles exceptionally well for what it is, but that happens to be a saloon car designed 20 years ago.
I think it's recommended to use Super unleaded, yes.
Probably won't be as much fun as your Subaru once off the motorway network, though. The M5 is a not a sports car, it's a GT. It handles exceptionally well for what it is, but that happens to be a saloon car designed 20 years ago.
I think it's recommended to use Super unleaded, yes.
Edited by Hereward on Thursday 30th April 20:41
I did it for 5 years and 100000 miles.
No regrets. Yes they like a drink. Tyres are stupid money etc etc but they are solid cars. Mine cost me £ 4 k in depreciation each over 5 years and 100000 miles. Probably would have been less but I just traded them in!
If you see a nice imola red one come up for sale in NI that'll be mine.
No regrets. Yes they like a drink. Tyres are stupid money etc etc but they are solid cars. Mine cost me £ 4 k in depreciation each over 5 years and 100000 miles. Probably would have been less but I just traded them in!
If you see a nice imola red one come up for sale in NI that'll be mine.
I feel like I never shut up about this but tyres aren't that bad really-
http://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/michelin/pil...
http://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/michelin/pil...
Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff