Today summed up why E39 M5 ownership is tops.........
Discussion
Had a good weekend of driving/motorcycling pleasure, Ace Cafe Friday night on the Duke and today I had a christening to attend decided I would use the M5, cleaned it to a high standard yesterday ready for the M5 to show its timeless presence.
We duly drove 20 miles to the church nice family drive slow speed using any gear to drive you onwards no rush and you could be in a 530 you would not know its an M5 it felt like a good different exclusive family car, I have owned a E92 3 series and it just does not come close to this 1999 gorgeous M5.
Anyhow I digress, we parked outside of the church pulled out the pram lifted baby from the back door and continued the family day.....
Next was the hog roast and drinks at the golf club again another 20 miles away, friends commented how nice the car was and also the condition which of course you are rightly proud.....
Now the best bit we'd left a part of the pram at the church, now normally you would be high rate at having to drive back to the church to drive back to location of food & drinks, not me I knew she was going to get used properly back to church then to golf club. "You stay here darling, I'll nip back and get it", could not have been easier.
What an awesome tool amazingly quick, no its no motorbike but I really have fallen in love with my M5, I have a private plate but I think the fact its a V Reg makes it look and feel all the better for the condition its in and for how bloody fast it is......So so so happy I brought an E39 M5 I will not touch a new car again.
So in summary it can be used to hop the little ones in the back with the pram etc in the boot, drive like a true family Sunday driver and the minute the kids and better half are out of sight you can beast them and have supercar fun. Brilliant.
If you are debating getting one don't wait, do it!
We duly drove 20 miles to the church nice family drive slow speed using any gear to drive you onwards no rush and you could be in a 530 you would not know its an M5 it felt like a good different exclusive family car, I have owned a E92 3 series and it just does not come close to this 1999 gorgeous M5.
Anyhow I digress, we parked outside of the church pulled out the pram lifted baby from the back door and continued the family day.....
Next was the hog roast and drinks at the golf club again another 20 miles away, friends commented how nice the car was and also the condition which of course you are rightly proud.....
Now the best bit we'd left a part of the pram at the church, now normally you would be high rate at having to drive back to the church to drive back to location of food & drinks, not me I knew she was going to get used properly back to church then to golf club. "You stay here darling, I'll nip back and get it", could not have been easier.
What an awesome tool amazingly quick, no its no motorbike but I really have fallen in love with my M5, I have a private plate but I think the fact its a V Reg makes it look and feel all the better for the condition its in and for how bloody fast it is......So so so happy I brought an E39 M5 I will not touch a new car again.
So in summary it can be used to hop the little ones in the back with the pram etc in the boot, drive like a true family Sunday driver and the minute the kids and better half are out of sight you can beast them and have supercar fun. Brilliant.
If you are debating getting one don't wait, do it!
Nice to hear you are enjoying your new toy.
We went down to Gloucs in ours this weekend. Four up with a kingsize duvet, four pillows, two large holdalls,boots and waterproofs for the kids all fitting into the boot.
They really are great all rounders. The hardest part is being well behaved with the right foot though.
We went down to Gloucs in ours this weekend. Four up with a kingsize duvet, four pillows, two large holdalls,boots and waterproofs for the kids all fitting into the boot.
They really are great all rounders. The hardest part is being well behaved with the right foot though.
CarbonBlackM5 said:
Nice to hear you are enjoying your new toy.
We went down to Gloucs in ours this weekend. Four up with a kingsize duvet, four pillows, two large holdalls,boots and waterproofs for the kids all fitting into the boot.
They really are great all rounders. The hardest part is being well behaved with the right foot though.
Were you sleeping in the car?We went down to Gloucs in ours this weekend. Four up with a kingsize duvet, four pillows, two large holdalls,boots and waterproofs for the kids all fitting into the boot.
They really are great all rounders. The hardest part is being well behaved with the right foot though.
Neil.D said:
CarbonBlackM5 said:
Nice to hear you are enjoying your new toy.
We went down to Gloucs in ours this weekend. Four up with a kingsize duvet, four pillows, two large holdalls,boots and waterproofs for the kids all fitting into the boot.
They really are great all rounders. The hardest part is being well behaved with the right foot though.
Were you sleeping in the car?We went down to Gloucs in ours this weekend. Four up with a kingsize duvet, four pillows, two large holdalls,boots and waterproofs for the kids all fitting into the boot.
They really are great all rounders. The hardest part is being well behaved with the right foot though.
A story involving myself and an M5 as told by the Poet of Schnell DeR!
That sums up IMO just what an e39 M5 is all about,
I was privileged enough to be driving DeRs M5 and this is the tale
A jaunt which took place in an environemnt and in a spirit of appropriate legal rectitude...
I was in the X50 support vehicle and Gandalf Kacher was tasked with the sub light duties.
Now, the 996 interior is a work of true sadism; plastics not good enough to have graced my 1981 Fiat 127 and assembly quality that would render the Mirafiori as but the Lexus.
Trundling along is not an option since the associated trim racket is so appalling (I mean the worst it has ever been my misfortune to endure) that deliverance lies only in full and wholesome levelling of the anvil so that induction in association with the accompanying external road and wind roars may combine to drown things out.
So it was that as autobahnic splendour bade us hither, I slowly eased into a firm 160lph cruise.
Here, the 996 Turbo shows it's mettle, the combination of trick electronic supervision allied to supreme mechanicals, clawing into the tundra as all four paws clawed indominatably through the sweepers.
Emboldened by this harnessed solidity (the car, like it's 993 forbear, feeling quite revolting at lesser velocities) I squeezed some more.
Stunningly, the 'squatular nuggetation,' to borrow from the Dunk 76 Alamanc of Favoured EVOisms, was mesmerising and as I cantered into a perfectly acceptable 175lph, began to forget the car's awfulness in departments governed by men in suits and relish the underpinnings of true, engineering genius. It was, to quote the Reevian Keanuc, "f@cking amazing."
Except for one thing: the blue blob of a TIE Fighter, curiously maintaining a tractor beam busting yardage some way ahead.
It's four canons were just about perceivable and the rear valance seemed devoid of bobble. This was a car from the planet Tron. It was a seven year old, 100k M5.
It was also a complete slight to the known hegemony of The Order of The Holy Roman Teuton and I would not have it. [H Grant]Or so I thought...[/H Grant]
The M5 proceeded to pull away. No, I couldn't believe it, either but it did.
As the roads natural camber and corner ebbed and flowed, this was in many ways GT hooning in it's classical, most rarified form. No other traffic, autobahn-a-calling and man unt machine.
It was also very much a topography bereft of sustained, pure straight and so scphincteromics were a factor, it's true but even so, raw grunt - something the Porker could rarely be accused of lacking - was always going to be a telling injector of decisiveness.
Except it wasn't and it didn't. Instead, the sensible family saloon loped harder, faster and stronger. At 180lph, I removed the towel from my fevered brow and threw it into the passenger footwell and informed Mr Sulu to cool down the dilithium. Only David Grohl screaming on the CD remained to keep me safe from the return of sttus cabina maximum as I gave up and made my way to our prearranged coffee stop.
Here, as I parked next to the ticking splendour of a French registered 4200GT, the custodian of some exceedingly questionable facial hair awaited, standing proudly next to the conveyance in which he had so brutally served up my undoing.
As we considered the sensation of that which had transpired, Captain Middle Earth proceeded to reveal the full extent of the sublime thraper. Let's just say that the guage which measures lph had been breached...it was still gunning but I'm sure it was his sense of magnanimity which brought things back a tad...
Now, let's get something clear. I'm not for one moment suggesting the old bus is faster than an X50 nor as accelerative (certainly from the off/lower speeds) but what I am rejoicing in, is the blatent reality that once up and rolling and once you've thrown in the sorts of 'real world' curves and esses that define continental routiering of the finest order, the significance of that last percentile of uber grunt evaporates and power differentials suddenly seem a lot tighter as chassis balance, damping, handling feel, poise and solidity all rear their head like some Gorgonic light of automotive judgement.
Even then, the ability of the old master to say 'bks' and simply cog drop so as to 'haul ass' out of the more tightening radii, perhaps in 3rd, had me scrabbling for sufficient lyric wax.
Now I know why every single saloon - if not road car - I drive, feels wanting.
I know of nothing else, no other road car with a repertoire so wide yet honed.
My Lord Daz of The West Country, a fellow who has tweaked the nose of hoonstriction here and there, chuckled the knowing chuckle of the man who knows, for about the eight millionth time, last night. "I think they hit the bullseye with that one, mate," is our perennial conclusion and this experience convinced me that in fact, the arrow head did not just pierce the cork in the board's centre, it may indeed have forced it through.
I do not apologise for this perpetual championing: it is my mission to encourage as many PHers as can feasibly afford to stop mincing around and dive on in.
Trust me, it's free fitting...
That sums up IMO just what an e39 M5 is all about,
I was privileged enough to be driving DeRs M5 and this is the tale
A jaunt which took place in an environemnt and in a spirit of appropriate legal rectitude...
I was in the X50 support vehicle and Gandalf Kacher was tasked with the sub light duties.
Now, the 996 interior is a work of true sadism; plastics not good enough to have graced my 1981 Fiat 127 and assembly quality that would render the Mirafiori as but the Lexus.
Trundling along is not an option since the associated trim racket is so appalling (I mean the worst it has ever been my misfortune to endure) that deliverance lies only in full and wholesome levelling of the anvil so that induction in association with the accompanying external road and wind roars may combine to drown things out.
So it was that as autobahnic splendour bade us hither, I slowly eased into a firm 160lph cruise.
Here, the 996 Turbo shows it's mettle, the combination of trick electronic supervision allied to supreme mechanicals, clawing into the tundra as all four paws clawed indominatably through the sweepers.
Emboldened by this harnessed solidity (the car, like it's 993 forbear, feeling quite revolting at lesser velocities) I squeezed some more.
Stunningly, the 'squatular nuggetation,' to borrow from the Dunk 76 Alamanc of Favoured EVOisms, was mesmerising and as I cantered into a perfectly acceptable 175lph, began to forget the car's awfulness in departments governed by men in suits and relish the underpinnings of true, engineering genius. It was, to quote the Reevian Keanuc, "f@cking amazing."
Except for one thing: the blue blob of a TIE Fighter, curiously maintaining a tractor beam busting yardage some way ahead.
It's four canons were just about perceivable and the rear valance seemed devoid of bobble. This was a car from the planet Tron. It was a seven year old, 100k M5.
It was also a complete slight to the known hegemony of The Order of The Holy Roman Teuton and I would not have it. [H Grant]Or so I thought...[/H Grant]
The M5 proceeded to pull away. No, I couldn't believe it, either but it did.
As the roads natural camber and corner ebbed and flowed, this was in many ways GT hooning in it's classical, most rarified form. No other traffic, autobahn-a-calling and man unt machine.
It was also very much a topography bereft of sustained, pure straight and so scphincteromics were a factor, it's true but even so, raw grunt - something the Porker could rarely be accused of lacking - was always going to be a telling injector of decisiveness.
Except it wasn't and it didn't. Instead, the sensible family saloon loped harder, faster and stronger. At 180lph, I removed the towel from my fevered brow and threw it into the passenger footwell and informed Mr Sulu to cool down the dilithium. Only David Grohl screaming on the CD remained to keep me safe from the return of sttus cabina maximum as I gave up and made my way to our prearranged coffee stop.
Here, as I parked next to the ticking splendour of a French registered 4200GT, the custodian of some exceedingly questionable facial hair awaited, standing proudly next to the conveyance in which he had so brutally served up my undoing.
As we considered the sensation of that which had transpired, Captain Middle Earth proceeded to reveal the full extent of the sublime thraper. Let's just say that the guage which measures lph had been breached...it was still gunning but I'm sure it was his sense of magnanimity which brought things back a tad...
Now, let's get something clear. I'm not for one moment suggesting the old bus is faster than an X50 nor as accelerative (certainly from the off/lower speeds) but what I am rejoicing in, is the blatent reality that once up and rolling and once you've thrown in the sorts of 'real world' curves and esses that define continental routiering of the finest order, the significance of that last percentile of uber grunt evaporates and power differentials suddenly seem a lot tighter as chassis balance, damping, handling feel, poise and solidity all rear their head like some Gorgonic light of automotive judgement.
Even then, the ability of the old master to say 'bks' and simply cog drop so as to 'haul ass' out of the more tightening radii, perhaps in 3rd, had me scrabbling for sufficient lyric wax.
Now I know why every single saloon - if not road car - I drive, feels wanting.
I know of nothing else, no other road car with a repertoire so wide yet honed.
My Lord Daz of The West Country, a fellow who has tweaked the nose of hoonstriction here and there, chuckled the knowing chuckle of the man who knows, for about the eight millionth time, last night. "I think they hit the bullseye with that one, mate," is our perennial conclusion and this experience convinced me that in fact, the arrow head did not just pierce the cork in the board's centre, it may indeed have forced it through.
I do not apologise for this perpetual championing: it is my mission to encourage as many PHers as can feasibly afford to stop mincing around and dive on in.
Trust me, it's free fitting...
Edited by tdm34ds on Wednesday 28th July 13:30
Edited by tdm34ds on Wednesday 28th July 13:49
just read this read and it made me very sad........a couple of years ago i was torn between a TVR Chimaera, a Z3m and an e39 M5. I discounted the Z3m so it was down to the M5 and the TVR. I love M5's and dreamt of owning one but i went for the TVR because it was a convertible and i thought it would be stupidly fast, plus i could buy an M5 in a year or so.
Well, what a mistake that was! 2 years down the line, still smarting from the 'TVR experience' and with a baby on the way means i will probably never own an M5 and share your experiences. I will just have to make do with looking at the red M5 i see most evenings driving past my house
Well, what a mistake that was! 2 years down the line, still smarting from the 'TVR experience' and with a baby on the way means i will probably never own an M5 and share your experiences. I will just have to make do with looking at the red M5 i see most evenings driving past my house
I've had mine almost a year now and it still makes me smile every time I drive it. 
It's tested my patience occasionally with a few electrical gremlins that took a while to locate and fix. Oh, and yes, I was one of the unlucky souls who have suffered Vanos issues (God bless Phil Crouch!), but all that is totally forgotten once you're behind the wheel on an empty road. I really can't add too much to the plaudits above other than it's the best car I've ever driven let alone owned. I'd thoroughly recommend one.... so long as you have access to funds for the odd unexpected (possibly large) bill.
@ 113,000 it sailed through it's MOT last week and I'm treating it to a front end respray and sorting out a couple of rust spots at the back next week then it'll be back to it's glorious understated best!
It's tested my patience occasionally with a few electrical gremlins that took a while to locate and fix. Oh, and yes, I was one of the unlucky souls who have suffered Vanos issues (God bless Phil Crouch!), but all that is totally forgotten once you're behind the wheel on an empty road. I really can't add too much to the plaudits above other than it's the best car I've ever driven let alone owned. I'd thoroughly recommend one.... so long as you have access to funds for the odd unexpected (possibly large) bill.
@ 113,000 it sailed through it's MOT last week and I'm treating it to a front end respray and sorting out a couple of rust spots at the back next week then it'll be back to it's glorious understated best!
Just over a year on mine too, (2001, 107k Miles) also LeMans Blue, took it on a roadtrip to Cardiff at the weekend, fully laden 80mph cruise and 28.5mpg returned, well happy with that, everyone is extreme comfort and when we got there it was great driving though the hilly roads, the V8 sounds awesome.
Not the fastest car i've owned, but certainly the most versitile, i, my mrs, and my friends, completely love it.
Thanks
Matt
Not the fastest car i've owned, but certainly the most versitile, i, my mrs, and my friends, completely love it.
Thanks
Matt
CarbonBlackM5 said:
Nice to hear you are enjoying your new toy.
We went down to Gloucs in ours this weekend. Four up with a kingsize duvet, four pillows, two large holdalls,boots and waterproofs for the kids all fitting into the boot.
They really are great all rounders. The hardest part is being well behaved with the right foot though.
Not Wooten per chance???We went down to Gloucs in ours this weekend. Four up with a kingsize duvet, four pillows, two large holdalls,boots and waterproofs for the kids all fitting into the boot.
They really are great all rounders. The hardest part is being well behaved with the right foot though.
If so you were spotted...
http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=5...
Seesure said:
CarbonBlackM5 said:
Nice to hear you are enjoying your new toy.
We went down to Gloucs in ours this weekend. Four up with a kingsize duvet, four pillows, two large holdalls,boots and waterproofs for the kids all fitting into the boot.
They really are great all rounders. The hardest part is being well behaved with the right foot though.
Not Wooten per chance???We went down to Gloucs in ours this weekend. Four up with a kingsize duvet, four pillows, two large holdalls,boots and waterproofs for the kids all fitting into the boot.
They really are great all rounders. The hardest part is being well behaved with the right foot though.
If so you were spotted...
http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=5...
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