Do I really need a E39 M5?
Discussion
Okay, this is sort of a what car thread, but bear with me
The other half and I are looking to replace our Works Cooper S with something more GT-like for occasional Euro trips and relaxing motorway hooning. I had a short list of 993 Porsche, Nissan 350Z and E39 M5. Girlfriend proves why she's great and says that she wants the M5.
I start to look into it, and make servicing sums and begin to wonder if it's necessary...
It would only get about 5-8k miles a year. I have a commuting car and a track day car so it only needs to be comfortable, fun and luxurious.
Why not just get a 540 / 535 I think....
What are the servicing savings like as a pro against the con of not having M on the steering wheel?
Raify][footnote said:
What are the servicing savings like as a pro against the con of not having M on the steering wheel?
All the Sport E39's have an M on the steering wheel anyway.The problem with the 535/540 is the steernig - it's recirculating ball which ruins the feel. Now, this is the same with the M5 but it has a different steering box to sort this issue.
What about a 530i? Performance wise it's very similar to the 535i - it's only 15bhp down - yet it has rack and pinnion steering. The 530i Sport looks like an M5 and has the M badge on the wheel
From a previous post towards the end of 2005.
To sum up the work that the M division does to their cars as a bit of engine work, bling wheels and 4 exhaust pipes. What they do is so much more than this and it varies from the subtle to the extreme.... I guess the most fundamental points are as follows:
1) Handling and chassis balance - the '5 is a good car to start with, but the M division takes the raw shell and makes changes to it. It is not just a case of adding an engine to it! The suspension is significantly stiffer, balance is improved and many components of the suspension itself are bespoke to the M cars.
2) Engine - as I made the comment before, the M5 has 1/3 more BHP. Ok, so the torque figures are roughly similar, but the engines are totally different. The M5 can hit 60 in 5.2 (or 5.1 depending on which source you look in) while a manual 540i is 6 (6.2 for the Auto). To have a difference of 0.5 second is impressive, but to have nearly 1 second is a huge difference. It gets worse when we are talking 0-100 - the M5 is 11.4 while the 540 is around 15 (16 for the auto). Thats quite a difference - although the 540i is no slouch...
3) General characteristics - as mentioned on the other thread, the M-button was pioneered with the E39. It is a dramatic difference in characteristics with it pressed or not. The system changed many aspects of the car and gives it a jeckle and hyde persona - but on your request. This might not sound like much - but ability to control the performance was new, but is increasingly common. BMW's M division is the best at it at the moment.
As others have mentioned, to compare an M5 and a 540i is like chalk and cheese - even if they may sound similar. Just try driving both and you will realise they are vastly different cars....
To sum up the work that the M division does to their cars as a bit of engine work, bling wheels and 4 exhaust pipes. What they do is so much more than this and it varies from the subtle to the extreme.... I guess the most fundamental points are as follows:
1) Handling and chassis balance - the '5 is a good car to start with, but the M division takes the raw shell and makes changes to it. It is not just a case of adding an engine to it! The suspension is significantly stiffer, balance is improved and many components of the suspension itself are bespoke to the M cars.
2) Engine - as I made the comment before, the M5 has 1/3 more BHP. Ok, so the torque figures are roughly similar, but the engines are totally different. The M5 can hit 60 in 5.2 (or 5.1 depending on which source you look in) while a manual 540i is 6 (6.2 for the Auto). To have a difference of 0.5 second is impressive, but to have nearly 1 second is a huge difference. It gets worse when we are talking 0-100 - the M5 is 11.4 while the 540 is around 15 (16 for the auto). Thats quite a difference - although the 540i is no slouch...
3) General characteristics - as mentioned on the other thread, the M-button was pioneered with the E39. It is a dramatic difference in characteristics with it pressed or not. The system changed many aspects of the car and gives it a jeckle and hyde persona - but on your request. This might not sound like much - but ability to control the performance was new, but is increasingly common. BMW's M division is the best at it at the moment.
As others have mentioned, to compare an M5 and a 540i is like chalk and cheese - even if they may sound similar. Just try driving both and you will realise they are vastly different cars....
Edited by belleair302 on Thursday 7th February 23:49
Out!!
From the other M5 servicing threads I've looked at, and advice from friends (plus owning a breadvan) I was thinking that considering a potential £2k a year would be prudent. £1k ish if nothing goes wrong.
Now obviously this is for normal 10-12k miles a year use. I presume more occasional use would see the servicing costs fall....
The trouble with getting something less fast, is that it just starts to become a waftmobile. I might as well buy my old Omega back for that....
I'm convicing myself to get the M5 again.
Now obviously this is for normal 10-12k miles a year use. I presume more occasional use would see the servicing costs fall....
The trouble with getting something less fast, is that it just starts to become a waftmobile. I might as well buy my old Omega back for that....
I'm convicing myself to get the M5 again.
I have both an E39 530M sport and an E39 540SE.
As far as the drivers car choice goes between the 2 of them, the 530 wins hands down.
The 540 is a nice cruiser but now were near as “agile” as the 530.
As mentioned before, the steering is the worst part on the 540.
I bought the 540 recently to do long trips between home and work. This it does with ease and comfort.
As far as do you need an M5, this you have to answer yourself.
By having a track car, I can’t see why you would need one.
The only benefit of a M5 over a 530 sport is the added grunt for the few occasions you want to go mad. However, how many times can you do this with the current traffic situation?
You are far better of to get your speed fix from your track day car.
Granted, the M5 will also have a lot more street cred, but this is only an inportant issue for the vain.
As far as the drivers car choice goes between the 2 of them, the 530 wins hands down.
The 540 is a nice cruiser but now were near as “agile” as the 530.
As mentioned before, the steering is the worst part on the 540.
I bought the 540 recently to do long trips between home and work. This it does with ease and comfort.
As far as do you need an M5, this you have to answer yourself.
By having a track car, I can’t see why you would need one.
The only benefit of a M5 over a 530 sport is the added grunt for the few occasions you want to go mad. However, how many times can you do this with the current traffic situation?
You are far better of to get your speed fix from your track day car.
Granted, the M5 will also have a lot more street cred, but this is only an inportant issue for the vain.
Thanks for the info pitsnow. I know what you're saying, the M5 would barely stretch its legs where I live in the south east. I had the same problem with the Z3MCoupe.
But, this car would become the highest value one that my girlfriend and I own so there's no reason it shouldn't be special. Hence the other possibles 993 and 350Z.
If the 530 / 540 could be nearly as good as the M5 without the vanos / warranty complications, then it makes sense.
But, this car would become the highest value one that my girlfriend and I own so there's no reason it shouldn't be special. Hence the other possibles 993 and 350Z.
If the 530 / 540 could be nearly as good as the M5 without the vanos / warranty complications, then it makes sense.
I would suggest that if you really dont want one, then dont. Yes the car is a fantastic all rounder and impresses me all the time, if you dont truly want one then dont bother.
If you already have a track car, a commuter then yes, perhaps a 540 may be better for you. I have mine to do a bit of everything and it is my only car.
If you already have a track car, a commuter then yes, perhaps a 540 may be better for you. I have mine to do a bit of everything and it is my only car.
Neil.D said:
I would suggest that if you really dont want one, then dont. Yes the car is a fantastic all rounder and impresses me all the time, if you dont truly want one then dont bother.
If you already have a track car, a commuter then yes, perhaps a 540 may be better for you. I have mine to do a bit of everything and it is my only car.
Excellent. That's solved it then. Thanks.If you already have a track car, a commuter then yes, perhaps a 540 may be better for you. I have mine to do a bit of everything and it is my only car.
I decided against buying E39 M5 last year due to the unacceptably long list of things which can and often do go wrong with the cars. These include, diffs, vanos units, warped discs, MAFs, suspension bushes, amongst other things. The auto box is unsuitable for you but I chose the Alpina B10 V8S instead.
The e39 M5 is a fantastic car but buy one with your eyes open if you plan to run the car without an BMW warranty.
The e39 M5 is a fantastic car but buy one with your eyes open if you plan to run the car without an BMW warranty.
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