E60 M5 V10 (and Toyota iQ daily)
Discussion
Back in 2004-2005 me and my old man used to test drive cars and he would pretend we were in the market for one, just so I could get my fix. What a legend he is. Over these 2 years we test drove (in order) a C5 RS6 Avant, E46 M3, W211 E55 AMG and finally an E60 M5 in 2005.
Head to the year 2022 and I'm now 32 and have owned an E55 a couple of years ago, along with lots of other interesting yet reasonably affordable metal including a Saxo VTS, Mk1 Focus, LS400, Saab 9-5 Aero, Ph1 Clio 172, 2x Saab 9000 Aeros, more recently a pre-LCI 530d and finally an LCI 535d.
The E60 M5 would, money-no-object, be in my top 10 car garage, so to be able to own one for under £20k presents an incredible opportunity.
I've been looking at them for the last 6 months, test driving 8 in total. I am fully aware of the potential pitfalls of ownership, which is why I have done my research.
The perfect car would need to be under 80k miles, have the rod bearings and throttle actuators done by a specialist, regular meticulous servicing and the more mundane chassis components seen to. Some I test-drove were brilliant but had the bare-minimum servicing work done, whereas others had annoying electrical faults.
Roll on to March this year and I stumbled upon a Sapphire Black E60 M5 on 73k miles, rod bearings and throttle actuators done along with brakes done all in the last 2 years. I believe it's an LCI as it has the updated iDrive and speedometer, however it has a pre-LCI gearknob so I wonder if it was released while BMW were phasing in the updates.
Anyway, I collected it yesterday and am in love! The engine is smooth yet violent, it averages 15 mpg, always running on Shell V-Power and me and a friend (who owns an E92 M3) went for a blast yesterday around the Vale of Belvoir and WOW what an engine.
To offset my carbon footprint (and minimise financial ruin), I have a Toyota iQ which is the antithesis of the M5; phenomenal turning circle, 55 mpg everywhere and incredibly cheap to tax and insure.
It runs lovely, did show an engine warning - low power error code briefly, which has since disappeared so as a precaution I have ordered a diagnostic device for it off Amazon and will be going in for a check with my local specialist next week (who already works on 3 other E60 M5s and worked on my 530d and 535d). I will also only be using the M5 for longer journeys and will allow the engine to reach full operating temperature before applying full throttle and M mode.
Anyway, plans are road trips to Wales, a BMW owners' event and the Nürburgring this summer.
Onwards!
Head to the year 2022 and I'm now 32 and have owned an E55 a couple of years ago, along with lots of other interesting yet reasonably affordable metal including a Saxo VTS, Mk1 Focus, LS400, Saab 9-5 Aero, Ph1 Clio 172, 2x Saab 9000 Aeros, more recently a pre-LCI 530d and finally an LCI 535d.
The E60 M5 would, money-no-object, be in my top 10 car garage, so to be able to own one for under £20k presents an incredible opportunity.
I've been looking at them for the last 6 months, test driving 8 in total. I am fully aware of the potential pitfalls of ownership, which is why I have done my research.
The perfect car would need to be under 80k miles, have the rod bearings and throttle actuators done by a specialist, regular meticulous servicing and the more mundane chassis components seen to. Some I test-drove were brilliant but had the bare-minimum servicing work done, whereas others had annoying electrical faults.
Roll on to March this year and I stumbled upon a Sapphire Black E60 M5 on 73k miles, rod bearings and throttle actuators done along with brakes done all in the last 2 years. I believe it's an LCI as it has the updated iDrive and speedometer, however it has a pre-LCI gearknob so I wonder if it was released while BMW were phasing in the updates.
Anyway, I collected it yesterday and am in love! The engine is smooth yet violent, it averages 15 mpg, always running on Shell V-Power and me and a friend (who owns an E92 M3) went for a blast yesterday around the Vale of Belvoir and WOW what an engine.
To offset my carbon footprint (and minimise financial ruin), I have a Toyota iQ which is the antithesis of the M5; phenomenal turning circle, 55 mpg everywhere and incredibly cheap to tax and insure.
It runs lovely, did show an engine warning - low power error code briefly, which has since disappeared so as a precaution I have ordered a diagnostic device for it off Amazon and will be going in for a check with my local specialist next week (who already works on 3 other E60 M5s and worked on my 530d and 535d). I will also only be using the M5 for longer journeys and will allow the engine to reach full operating temperature before applying full throttle and M mode.
Anyway, plans are road trips to Wales, a BMW owners' event and the Nürburgring this summer.
Onwards!
Edited by Limited100 on Saturday 9th April 23:55
Do love these, been keeping up with TheAngryDog's thread for what feels like years now so nice to see another one starting up!
CarPrintGuy said:
me and a friend (who owns an E92 M3) went for a blast yesterday around the Vale of Belvoir and WOW what an engine.
I'm Grantham so this is more or less my back garden; you local? Love to have a look and listen if you're over this way again d_a_n1979 said:
That's a stunning car; superb buy & well done 
My absolute Q car is the E61 M5 touring and I'd love one... Drivetribe had theirs to Mr Vanos yesterday on Youtube, worth watching
Thank you, yes looking forward to seeing Mike's progress with the E61, I believe he got it for a steal!My absolute Q car is the E61 M5 touring and I'd love one... Drivetribe had theirs to Mr Vanos yesterday on Youtube, worth watching
MikeM6 said:
Lovely thing that mate, good job you also joined a V10 victim support group already 
Cheers Mike m8, yeh it's come in very handy, like a live Whatsapp data feed for the impending errors! Christ it drinks, just deleted £30 in half an hour. Back to the iQ for a couple of days methinks!Brett748 said:
Enjoy OP!
I know this exact feeling. Ever since watching Top Gear in 2008 I’d wanted a W204 C63 and I made the purchase 18 months ago.
I’ve always wanted an E60 too but truth be told I’m not brave enough. I’m sure you won’t regret it though, special car.
Awesome bet the C63 is huge fun and that noise! Bet it's a fair bit more efficient than this ITB'd M5 and all.I know this exact feeling. Ever since watching Top Gear in 2008 I’d wanted a W204 C63 and I made the purchase 18 months ago.
I’ve always wanted an E60 too but truth be told I’m not brave enough. I’m sure you won’t regret it though, special car.
Andy665 said:
I have been brave in the past with an S Type R, CL 500, numerous Alfas and currently a Tuscan but never been brave enough to go E60 M5
Will follow with interest and looks like you have done your research and been patient
Thanks Andy, Tuscan is pretty brave although I hear those still running have long-since been sorted. If you ever fancy a transition to M5 I've always admired the Tuscan.Will follow with interest and looks like you have done your research and been patient
Love the M5 OP, I loved my E63 M6, I also have a E60 (diesel), so those combined make a great car.
Yours is not a LCI, the headlights/tailights are different, the door cards, ect.
My M6 was pretty much trouble free apart from actuators, which only cost £700 or so. F1 style engine/gearbox in sensible BMW body made an interesting car for sure!
Yours is not a LCI, the headlights/tailights are different, the door cards, ect.
My M6 was pretty much trouble free apart from actuators, which only cost £700 or so. F1 style engine/gearbox in sensible BMW body made an interesting car for sure!
Limited100 said:
Cheers Mike m8, yeh it's come in very handy, like a live Whatsapp data feed for the impending errors! Christ it drinks, just deleted £30 in half an hour. Back to the iQ for a couple of days methinks!
Yeah it can really put the superunleaded away mate, I'm lucky in that I live in rural Lincolnshire so have plenty of empty roads to enjoy. This does however mean I can empty a full tank of petrol is just over 100 miles 
I have once seen 27mpg out of it though.
Main thing is to enjoy it whilst we still can
Good on you. Superb purchase. I had an E92 M3 for 6k miles and drove a friends M5 V10 for a bit - epic engine. I sold the M3 and bought a 550i manual, a very different engine to the V10 and more in line with the S62 in my E39, which I loved. Has the high pressure Vanos line been sorted on yours? Please keep us updated!
e28525e said:
Good on you. Superb purchase. I had an E92 M3 for 6k miles and drove a friends M5 V10 for a bit - epic engine. I sold the M3 and bought a 550i manual, a very different engine to the V10 and more in line with the S62 in my E39, which I loved. Has the high pressure Vanos line been sorted on yours? Please keep us updated!
Thank you, yes I went out in my friend's E92 M3 a couple of weeks back, much different in character to the M5, still very fast. Vanos isn't an issue on this model year I've been told.Took my dad out in the M5 last night and after powering through 3rd, 4th and a bit of 5th he says 'yeh I get the point' haha. He isn't into cars like me, more football but it's still cool to see his reaction.
Car has literally just been serviced by previous owner and has brand new tyres and brakes so other than the error code and remorseless fuel consumption it's all good.
MikeM6 said:
Yeah it can really put the superunleaded away mate, I'm lucky in that I live in rural Lincolnshire so have plenty of empty roads to enjoy. This does however mean I can empty a full tank of petrol is just over 100 miles
I have once seen 27mpg out of it though.
Main thing is to enjoy it whilst we still can
Yes they seem to have quite the 'range' of economy, with some touring ability but also the ability to delete the fuel.I have once seen 27mpg out of it though.
Main thing is to enjoy it whilst we still can
In my job we recently shot a Carrera GT in rural Lincolnshire, near Louth. Would like to do some drive-bys with both V10s in situ!
Not the weather for it but enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbcWgbTNvX0
alec.e said:
Love the M5 OP, I loved my E63 M6, I also have a E60 (diesel), so those combined make a great car.
Yours is not a LCI, the headlights/tailights are different, the door cards, ect.
My M6 was pretty much trouble free apart from actuators, which only cost £700 or so. F1 style engine/gearbox in sensible BMW body made an interesting car for sure!
Thank you, yes sounds like a 'pre-LCI with start button' edition according to my S85 victim support group.Yours is not a LCI, the headlights/tailights are different, the door cards, ect.
My M6 was pretty much trouble free apart from actuators, which only cost £700 or so. F1 style engine/gearbox in sensible BMW body made an interesting car for sure!
That's an excellent ownership experience for you then.
Is it normal that the car takes a good 20 minutes of light throttle not taking it past 2k revs until it reaches 100C oil temperature? (At which point I use full throttle?), or could it need new thermostats?
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