Finally In The Position To Buy An M, Which One?? M5 Or M3
Discussion
Limit of budget is 13k, seen a M5 for sale with 54k on, its an 1999 is there many issues with that year? I know there was a facelift in 2000 but presume the tax goes up that year as well.
Also seen a few M3's for that money but is the M5 a more thrilling car and less on the roads, i'm after a interesting car to own for some time now, just sold an E90 320D M Sport and it was soul less and not interesting to own (although looked the part).
The car I buy will be a second car and be loved and cared for without being used a great deal unless for family days out and runs to the Ace Cafe!
Opinions would be appreciated and advice on buying as always would be very helpful.
Also seen a few M3's for that money but is the M5 a more thrilling car and less on the roads, i'm after a interesting car to own for some time now, just sold an E90 320D M Sport and it was soul less and not interesting to own (although looked the part).
The car I buy will be a second car and be loved and cared for without being used a great deal unless for family days out and runs to the Ace Cafe!
Opinions would be appreciated and advice on buying as always would be very helpful.
we are lucky enough to have both here in this houshold - but both cars are used everyday. For a quick blast and smile, take the M3 coupe, blk or grey with black leather!!
But for long distance and trips of length get an M5....post 2001 is fine - tax is the same....
in fact im very close to selling the M5 if you are interested....
But for long distance and trips of length get an M5....post 2001 is fine - tax is the same....
in fact im very close to selling the M5 if you are interested....
drop me a line on email - ortontom@hotmail.com
tax wise mines a 2001 jan, but the 2003 M3 hasnt seen the rise that a post 2006 car would do..
im sure our re-tax for the 2003 m3 was 235 pounds - check here....
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...
tax wise mines a 2001 jan, but the 2003 M3 hasnt seen the rise that a post 2006 car would do..
im sure our re-tax for the 2003 m3 was 235 pounds - check here....
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...
M5 wise that's going to give you loads of choice so take your time and look at as many as possible. I got mine for a good price but its needed discs and pads all round, service and its going in for a clutch. Just bare this in mind when looking at a car near the top of your budget.
Can't comment on the M3 but I would drive both and see what you prefer. I've had my M5 about a month now and its awesome but its far from cheap to run (£85 for a fill up and 17mpg at the moment) but who cares.
If the car you mention is the LeMans blue model see my thread on here about it. I went to view it at auction. I would want some extras for that money and that one had none really.
Can't comment on the M3 but I would drive both and see what you prefer. I've had my M5 about a month now and its awesome but its far from cheap to run (£85 for a fill up and 17mpg at the moment) but who cares.
If the car you mention is the LeMans blue model see my thread on here about it. I went to view it at auction. I would want some extras for that money and that one had none really.
Edited by CarbonBlackM5 on Sunday 16th May 21:16
The tax change date is 23 March 2006, so any E39 M5 will currently cost a maximum of £245 to tax for 12 months. It was changed some time back as the 2001 retrospective taxation was deemed to be unfair.
I've had both an M3 and an M5 and whilst the M3 is a brilliant car, I do actually prefer my M5. There's just something about a fairly sober looking saloon car that can carry 5 people in comfort and yet get a proper wriggle on when required. Love it.
Matt
I've had both an M3 and an M5 and whilst the M3 is a brilliant car, I do actually prefer my M5. There's just something about a fairly sober looking saloon car that can carry 5 people in comfort and yet get a proper wriggle on when required. Love it.
Matt
If you're considering a pre-March 2001 car for the sake of a few hundred pounds per year saved in tax, then an M5 really isn't the car for you. All manner of eye-wateringly expensive parts/repairs and consumables will make such a saving appear to be pocket money. Buy the best looked after example you can and forget about the tax implications. A good example will cost no more than an average 'normal' E39 to maintain (aside from servicing and consumables) but a bad one will ruin you... Tax therefore is academic!
Roan said:
If you're considering a pre-March 2001 car for the sake of a few hundred pounds per year saved in tax, then an M5 really isn't the car for you. All manner of eye-wateringly expensive parts/repairs and consumables will make such a saving appear to be pocket money. Buy the best looked after example you can and forget about the tax implications. A good example will cost no more than an average 'normal' E39 to maintain (aside from servicing and consumables) but a bad one will ruin you... Tax therefore is academic!
Right on the moneyFor your budget a nice post facelift car should be easily to find - avoid the overpriced low mileage examples that some sellers seem to think makes them worth a huge amount of money.
The car was produced in relatively large numbers so supply isn't a problem yet.
Thanks for the advice, i've booked Wed off work i'm looking at a 1999 Model (Reg Nov 99) with 54k on the clock 1 owner and FBMWSH its up for 12,595........
Will take a test drive, the issue with the tax is i'm running an E30 325i and Ducati so to keep the fleet really need to save that extra cash so as to pay for servicing etc.
This 99 Model is the silverstone blue not sat nav etc but states a mint example, this car will be on my drive and used as a second car for runs and holidays with the family......
Any more thoughts on price of this car and faults or recalls would be greatly appreciated.
Will take a test drive, the issue with the tax is i'm running an E30 325i and Ducati so to keep the fleet really need to save that extra cash so as to pay for servicing etc.
This 99 Model is the silverstone blue not sat nav etc but states a mint example, this car will be on my drive and used as a second car for runs and holidays with the family......
Any more thoughts on price of this car and faults or recalls would be greatly appreciated.
Thats crazy money. When I was looking I wasnt bothered about Sat Nav but the car I went for is fully loaded so I see it as a bonus. However, when spending that kind of money I would at least want SAT Nav.
Bare in mind that if the car needs a service, any discs or pads or tyres etc etc you are going to need to spend more. I would look at a car that needs for nothing or one that is less money but leaves room to spend some on it.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/detail.asp?...
I viewed this, no Nav but had heritage leather. Drove really well and was very tidy, needed some paint work and the alloys refurbed and a service but its an example of what you can buy and then bring up to an excellent standard.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/1691142.htm
I know its sold but this is an excellent example of what your money would buy.
Buy on condition and not mileage. Mine has 165K on the clock and it was in better condition than all the other I went to see (inc the sub 60K example at the Auction).
I found a number of cars were not being looked after due to the cost of running them, hence why they were being sold.
Bare in mind that if the car needs a service, any discs or pads or tyres etc etc you are going to need to spend more. I would look at a car that needs for nothing or one that is less money but leaves room to spend some on it.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/detail.asp?...
I viewed this, no Nav but had heritage leather. Drove really well and was very tidy, needed some paint work and the alloys refurbed and a service but its an example of what you can buy and then bring up to an excellent standard.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/1691142.htm
I know its sold but this is an excellent example of what your money would buy.
Buy on condition and not mileage. Mine has 165K on the clock and it was in better condition than all the other I went to see (inc the sub 60K example at the Auction).
I found a number of cars were not being looked after due to the cost of running them, hence why they were being sold.
996 sps,
Quinten is bang on the money. £12.5k is a large amount of money to spend on a non-nav, pre-facelift car, regardless of mileage. You should be able to purchase a very nice late facelift car for that kind of money. It may have a few more miles on the clock, but that's not really a big deal with the M5. Put it another way. My 2002 facelift M5 has 79k on the clock with FBMWSH and has nav, DSP etc. If I could get the kind of money you're looking to spend on the '99 car for it, I'd be more than happy! The only problem is that it's currently not for sale
I'd be thinking very hard before spending any more than about £9k on the car you describe.
Matt
Quinten is bang on the money. £12.5k is a large amount of money to spend on a non-nav, pre-facelift car, regardless of mileage. You should be able to purchase a very nice late facelift car for that kind of money. It may have a few more miles on the clock, but that's not really a big deal with the M5. Put it another way. My 2002 facelift M5 has 79k on the clock with FBMWSH and has nav, DSP etc. If I could get the kind of money you're looking to spend on the '99 car for it, I'd be more than happy! The only problem is that it's currently not for sale
I'd be thinking very hard before spending any more than about £9k on the car you describe.
Matt
I would concur with the above. I bought my 2001MY (although late 2000 registered) facelift M5 (Individual, no less) with 97,000 miles for less than £9k. There are plenty of examples of post-facelift, well-maintained cars out there - don't be one of the masses and believe that at 100,000 miles all cars fall apart - buy on condition and provenance only. I personally would always have the facelift car at 100,000 miles rather than the pre-facelift at 50,000 miles because of the supposed VANOS fix, piston rings, front PDC, updated headlights etc.
Roan said:
I personally would always have the facelift car at 100,000 miles rather than the pre-facelift at 50,000 miles because of the supposed VANOS fix, piston rings, front PDC, updated headlights etc.
Having just forked out a not inconsiderable sum to have both Vanos units (inc. solenoids and gears) stripped and rebuilt on my M5 I can, unfortunately, say facelift cars are not immune from Vanos issues 
However, it's now back to being the best car in the world
Chaps many thanks for your advice as you really have saved me some dosh here, i'm going to be a higher mileage car with FBMWSH and save the monies to go towards alloy referb etc.
I'll go for a facelift model as well, again much appreciated and if you see or hear of a good car i'm ready to go........so let me know......pics up soon hopefully.
I'll go for a facelift model as well, again much appreciated and if you see or hear of a good car i'm ready to go........so let me know......pics up soon hopefully.
It took me 5 months of searching to find a really nice E39 M5 and my budget was a little higher than yours...maybe I paid too much in the end but did find one perfect spec/colour and mileage and still under BMW warranty. They do exist but I think the really good examples are becoming rare. That silver 2001 model with 100k for £9200 is a bargain though!
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