Ultra high miles E39 M5 - Worth it?
Discussion
Hi All
I am looking at a weekend project car and especially like the E39 M5.
I have seen a car on Autotrader:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Does anyone have views on such a mega miles M5 - could it be a good base for a project, or just a money pit? I would be looking to put up to £3k min into it initially to give it a refresh...Not sure if it would work out less if I pay more for a lower mileage one, as some lower mileage ones are very pricey...
Cheers
I am looking at a weekend project car and especially like the E39 M5.
I have seen a car on Autotrader:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Does anyone have views on such a mega miles M5 - could it be a good base for a project, or just a money pit? I would be looking to put up to £3k min into it initially to give it a refresh...Not sure if it would work out less if I pay more for a lower mileage one, as some lower mileage ones are very pricey...
Cheers
Everyone says buy on condition not mileage. I myself would be cautious of buying a car of these miles having owned one with 129k on it when I sold it and the list of parts it needed replacing, £3k didnt come close.
What about this one?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Still a face lift, a grand more but 60k miles less.....
What about this one?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Still a face lift, a grand more but 60k miles less.....
Could be a money pit ...or a great buy if a load of maintenance on the suspension and running gear has already been done (good to see it's had a clutch). Condition, maintenance & provenance is everything.
If properly serviced and maintained these cars will do a starship mileage. Have a look at this:
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39-m5-e52-z8-dis...
A lot depends on the way the car has been driven and care lavished upon it. If it's been on the red line all the time then the rod bearings will need replacing sooner than later.
A £3k war chest is a very good idea but you may need more if there's engine and body work to do. At that sort of mileage you want to have a very close look at the rear sub-frame bushes, engine & gearbox mounts in addition to the usual suspension and steering arms/bushes. Bear in mind that a simple all round brake replacement job can cost you £800 (much more if you take the OE route!)
If it's had a whole lot of work done already and it drives without fault then it may be a very good buy. An M5 with sub-100k miles may be a less good buy since the seller may be looking to unload due to forthcoming heavy expenditure, mainly suspension related. There seem to be critical mileages when work needs carrying out on the M5 iteration of the E39:
60k miles - front control arms and rear suspension ball/rose joints. (Applies to both my E39s)
80k miles - MAFs, O2 sensors, 4 x CPS, front wheel bearings sometimes, dampers serviceable but definitely losing their edge, thermostat starting to fail (rest of cooling system more robust that other E39s), drop links front and rear. Fuel pump.
120k+ miles - all rear suspension arms. Steering tie rods (inner and outer) - often earlier. Guibo (flex disc). Timing chain tensioner?
140+ miles - careful assessment of subframe bushes, prop centre bearing (maybe earlier?), engine and gearbox mounts.
(Haven't included VANOS checks, diff seals, RMS, leaks from the power steering system and anything consumable like brakes)
You need to judge each car on it's particular physical and mechanical merits, not just what the odometer reads. Assess and buy with care. Be aware that you can sink an unending amount of money into a ropey M5 and still not sort it.
If properly serviced and maintained these cars will do a starship mileage. Have a look at this:
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39-m5-e52-z8-dis...
A lot depends on the way the car has been driven and care lavished upon it. If it's been on the red line all the time then the rod bearings will need replacing sooner than later.
A £3k war chest is a very good idea but you may need more if there's engine and body work to do. At that sort of mileage you want to have a very close look at the rear sub-frame bushes, engine & gearbox mounts in addition to the usual suspension and steering arms/bushes. Bear in mind that a simple all round brake replacement job can cost you £800 (much more if you take the OE route!)
If it's had a whole lot of work done already and it drives without fault then it may be a very good buy. An M5 with sub-100k miles may be a less good buy since the seller may be looking to unload due to forthcoming heavy expenditure, mainly suspension related. There seem to be critical mileages when work needs carrying out on the M5 iteration of the E39:
60k miles - front control arms and rear suspension ball/rose joints. (Applies to both my E39s)
80k miles - MAFs, O2 sensors, 4 x CPS, front wheel bearings sometimes, dampers serviceable but definitely losing their edge, thermostat starting to fail (rest of cooling system more robust that other E39s), drop links front and rear. Fuel pump.
120k+ miles - all rear suspension arms. Steering tie rods (inner and outer) - often earlier. Guibo (flex disc). Timing chain tensioner?
140+ miles - careful assessment of subframe bushes, prop centre bearing (maybe earlier?), engine and gearbox mounts.
(Haven't included VANOS checks, diff seals, RMS, leaks from the power steering system and anything consumable like brakes)
You need to judge each car on it's particular physical and mechanical merits, not just what the odometer reads. Assess and buy with care. Be aware that you can sink an unending amount of money into a ropey M5 and still not sort it.
TheAngryDog said:
Everyone says buy on condition not mileage. I myself would be cautious of buying a car of these miles having owned one with 129k on it when I sold it and the list of parts it needed replacing, £3k didnt come close.
What about this one?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Still a face lift, a grand more but 60k miles less.....
Yes I did see that M5 too What about this one?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Still a face lift, a grand more but 60k miles less.....
Depthhoar said:
Could be a money pit ...or a great buy if a load of maintenance on the suspension and running gear has already been done (good to see it's had a clutch). Condition, maintenance & provenance is everything.
If properly serviced and maintained these cars will do a starship mileage. Have a look at this:
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39-m5-e52-z8-dis...
A lot depends on the way the car has been driven and care lavished upon it. If it's been on the red line all the time then the rod bearings will need replacing sooner than later.
A £3k war chest is a very good idea but you may need more if there's engine and body work to do. At that sort of mileage you want to have a very close look at the rear sub-frame bushes, engine & gearbox mounts in addition to the usual suspension and steering arms/bushes. Bear in mind that a simple all round brake replacement job can cost you £800 (much more if you take the OE route!)
If it's had a whole lot of work done already and it drives without fault then it may be a very good buy. An M5 with sub-100k miles may be a less good buy since the seller may be looking to unload due to forthcoming heavy expenditure, mainly suspension related. There seem to be critical mileages when work needs carrying out on the M5 iteration of the E39:
60k miles - front control arms and rear suspension ball/rose joints. (Applies to both my E39s)
80k miles - MAFs, O2 sensors, 4 x CPS, front wheel bearings sometimes, dampers serviceable but definitely losing their edge, thermostat starting to fail (rest of cooling system more robust that other E39s), drop links front and rear. Fuel pump.
120k+ miles - all rear suspension arms. Steering tie rods (inner and outer) - often earlier. Guibo (flex disc). Timing chain tensioner?
140+ miles - careful assessment of subframe bushes, prop centre bearing (maybe earlier?), engine and gearbox mounts.
(Haven't included VANOS checks, diff seals, RMS, leaks from the power steering system and anything consumable like brakes)
You need to judge each car on it's particular physical and mechanical merits, not just what the odometer reads. Assess and buy with care. Be aware that you can sink an unending amount of money into a ropey M5 and still not sort it.
Interesting points - thank youIf properly serviced and maintained these cars will do a starship mileage. Have a look at this:
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39-m5-e52-z8-dis...
A lot depends on the way the car has been driven and care lavished upon it. If it's been on the red line all the time then the rod bearings will need replacing sooner than later.
A £3k war chest is a very good idea but you may need more if there's engine and body work to do. At that sort of mileage you want to have a very close look at the rear sub-frame bushes, engine & gearbox mounts in addition to the usual suspension and steering arms/bushes. Bear in mind that a simple all round brake replacement job can cost you £800 (much more if you take the OE route!)
If it's had a whole lot of work done already and it drives without fault then it may be a very good buy. An M5 with sub-100k miles may be a less good buy since the seller may be looking to unload due to forthcoming heavy expenditure, mainly suspension related. There seem to be critical mileages when work needs carrying out on the M5 iteration of the E39:
60k miles - front control arms and rear suspension ball/rose joints. (Applies to both my E39s)
80k miles - MAFs, O2 sensors, 4 x CPS, front wheel bearings sometimes, dampers serviceable but definitely losing their edge, thermostat starting to fail (rest of cooling system more robust that other E39s), drop links front and rear. Fuel pump.
120k+ miles - all rear suspension arms. Steering tie rods (inner and outer) - often earlier. Guibo (flex disc). Timing chain tensioner?
140+ miles - careful assessment of subframe bushes, prop centre bearing (maybe earlier?), engine and gearbox mounts.
(Haven't included VANOS checks, diff seals, RMS, leaks from the power steering system and anything consumable like brakes)
You need to judge each car on it's particular physical and mechanical merits, not just what the odometer reads. Assess and buy with care. Be aware that you can sink an unending amount of money into a ropey M5 and still not sort it.
TheAngryDog said:
What about this one?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Still a face lift, a grand more but 60k miles less.....
Hmm...that's a High Wycombe car: loads of posts on other forums about kerbside dealers in BMWs in this town. The website name changes but they use the same backdrop year after year for the photos of the vehicles they're trying to punt on! http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Still a face lift, a grand more but 60k miles less.....
More here:
http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/88080-what-is-it-wit...
(Mike, didn't you post something about this last year?)
Depthhoar said:
TheAngryDog said:
What about this one?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Still a face lift, a grand more but 60k miles less.....
Hmm...that's a High Wycombe car: loads of posts on other forums about kerbside dealers in BMWs in this town. The website name changes but they use the same backdrop year after year for the photos of the vehicles they're trying to punt on! http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
Still a face lift, a grand more but 60k miles less.....
More here:
http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/88080-what-is-it-wit...
(Mike, didn't you post something about this last year?)
I think I will be back in the market for an M5 later in the year but I will be looking for a low miler with bills.
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