BUYING AN E60 M5, WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?

[tomvcarter]

Hi, Im close to making the decision to buy an E60 M5, can anyone point out things to be aware of, avoid, or must haves on the car?

[dazren]

A [CAPS LOCK] key.

[Neil.D]

dazren]A [CAPS LOCK said:

key.

LOL

Tom.

Register here http://m5board.com/ and for the love of God - search.

Many UK users embarass themselves by not doing so, there is hours of reading for buying the E60.

Why the change of heart by the way? I thought you didn't like the E60 not so long ago

[tomvcarter]

Neil.D said:

dazren]A [CAPS LOCK said:

key.

LOL

Tom.

Register here http://m5board.com/ and for the love of God - search.

Many UK users embarass themselves by not doing so, there is hours of reading for buying the E60.

Why the change of heart by the way? I thought you didn't like the E60 not so long ago

a baby boy...(4 doors)
i still think that the M5 is an ugly car compared to the M3, but have been looking into it due to the 4 door aspect, and the performance has won me over... or do you think it woudl be a mistake?!

[rassi]

tomvcarter said:

i still think that the M5 is an ugly car compared to the M3, but have been looking into it due to the 4 door aspect

E90 M3?

Edited by rassi on Tuesday 24th November 18:00

[bennno]

tomvcarter said:

Hi, Im close to making the decision to buy an E60 M5, can anyone point out things to be aware of, avoid, or must haves on the car?

Only thing to be aware of is that the replacement 5 series will mean it depreciates heavily, it has a horrible gearbox. My suggestion is that a 6.2L VXR8 is more fun, cheaper to run and £23k brand new.

bennno

[gilford]

What is your budget?

Don't listen to the guy above, the new M5 won't be out until late 2012 so no need to panic just yet

[bennno]

The new shape 5 is out before then, any nearly new M5 will drop like a stone from that point.

The gearbox is shocking and the engine sounds like a Diesel at idle.

The C63AMG is a better car for a £40k budget, or as before a VXR8 at £20k is a hoot.

bennno

[tomvcarter]

gilford said:

What is your budget?

Don't listen to the guy above, the new M5 won't be out until late 2012 so no need to panic just yet

£30,000k, i agree i dont think that depreiation is a factor yet, its come along way already!

i had the SMG in the E46 M3 is there any difference in the M5?

[tomvcarter]

bennno said:

The new shape 5 is out before then, any nearly new M5 will drop like a stone from that point.

The gearbox is shocking and the engine sounds like a Diesel at idle.

The C63AMG is a better car for a £40k budget, or as before a VXR8 at £20k is a hoot.

bennno

I would be more worried about the depreciation of the AMG, they fall horribly fast.`
And the brand snob in me wont let me drive a Vauxhall...

[bennno]

Go to Brooklands and have a few laps in a C63 before you decide, its an awesome car.

Look past the badge, I've had Ferrari's and Porsche and the VXR8 is a belter for the money. Go and drive one with sports exhaust and a manual box.

Bennno

[gilford]

£30k, a couple more and you could have mine

I had a CSL for a couple of years, the SMG is better on the M5 allbeit a little slower change. S6 in the summer is a hoot but I would not recommend it in this weather

[tomvcarter]

Woudl it be a mistake to buy private?

[bennno]

tomvcarter said:

Woudl it be a mistake to buy private?

Not if its under a BMW warranty, you get a dealer to inspect it and its at least £3k under the comparable dealer price.

[gilford]

Not at all! In my opinion it is a mistake to buy from a $tealer!

Simple scenario........

2005 M5 be it in perfect nick or hammered within an inch of its life is £X trade in at a dealer. A service and a new set of rear tyres and it is on the forecourt with 12 months warranty @ £32K

2005 M5 for sale privately, perfect condition with renewed warranty for 12 months. You can go to the owners house and get a feel for them, ask them about history and servicing, see how they have taken care of the car etc without a YTS person spending hours masking faults.....

Dont get me wrong, you can get some good cars at main dealers, but they buy cheap and sell high because that is what they do, they MAKE MONEY.

A private sale is USUALLY your average joe like you or me just shifting a car on to get another. You can get a good feel of what the cars life has had with its owner within 10 minutes in my opinion.

This is just the way I work, you may be different. I have bought most of my cars privately but like you, when I was buying my first 911 a couple of years ago thought it would be better from a main dealer and boy was I wrong! I had nothing but trouble for the first month because the OPC masked a lot of problems to get the car out that months to make the figures look better!

Just something for you to think about

[tomvcarter]

gilford said:

Not at all! In my opinion it is a mistake to buy from a $tealer!

Simple scenario........

2005 M5 be it in perfect nick or hammered within an inch of its life is £X trade in at a dealer. A service and a new set of rear tyres and it is on the forecourt with 12 months warranty @ £32K

2005 M5 for sale privately, perfect condition with renewed warranty for 12 months. You can go to the owners house and get a feel for them, ask them about history and servicing, see how they have taken care of the car etc without a YTS person spending hours masking faults.....

Dont get me wrong, you can get some good cars at main dealers, but they buy cheap and sell high because that is what they do, they MAKE MONEY.

A private sale is USUALLY your average joe like you or me just shifting a car on to get another. You can get a good feel of what the cars life has had with its owner within 10 minutes in my opinion.

This is just the way I work, you may be different. I have bought most of my cars privately but like you, when I was buying my first 911 a couple of years ago thought it would be better from a main dealer and boy was I wrong! I had nothing but trouble for the first month because the OPC masked a lot of problems to get the car out that months to make the figures look better!

Just something for you to think about

awsome thanks!
What about non BMW dealers? even worse?
And does anyone know a good person to check out M cars before i decide to buy?

[gilford]

Its all to do with trust, do a search on here if you find a decent one in an Indy, it will soon flag up if they are a bit dodgy

BMW will take a look at a car for you if you are happy to pay their hourly rate, but like I have said if you are buying privately, the deal is good and the current owner "feels right" then if it has warranty on it I cant see any issues?

Obviously do the usual HPI checks, and if I were you steer clear of e bay!

[tomvcarter]

gilford said:

Its all to do with trust, do a search on here if you find a decent one in an Indy, it will soon flag up if they are a bit dodgy

BMW will take a look at a car for you if you are happy to pay their hourly rate, but like I have said if you are buying privately, the deal is good and the current owner "feels right" then if it has warranty on it I cant see any issues?

Obviously do the usual HPI checks, and if I were you steer clear of e bay!

i had a look at ebay... amlost all the M5's have the words CAT D hidden in the text!

[gilford]

I've sent you an e mail Tom

[Skrambles]

bennno said:

tomvcarter said:

Woudl it be a mistake to buy private?

Not if its under a BMW warranty, you get a dealer to inspect it and its at least £3k under the comparable dealer price.

+1 on the need for BMW warranty and dealer inspection, if you go for a private purchase (as there is a lot than can go wrong with these cars, for no apparent reason)