Buying tips for M5

[TVR newbie]

Evening all

I'm looking at buying a M5 for my first family car and wondered if there were any areas/pointers i should look for/avoid? (test drove one today and it takes a lot for me to go wow but once i hit the M button.....WOW!)

My budget is around 30k (25k-35K) so hoping to get a very good example of one for that money. Ideally i want 2006 onwards (was told 2006 was the facelift year? but i could be wrong) and rather it had < 40k miles although if you guys think these cars are still great with > 40k miles pls let me know as I am open to being shown what is best in these cars (i know u wouldn't touch some cars with higher than average mileage for example but then for others it doesn't matter as they get better with more miles)

So anything i should avoid or def look out for?

Much appreciated guys

Dan

[groucho]

Hi Dan, late 2007 was the facelift version. Just check that no major services need doing in the iDrive, it has the running in service around 1200 miles and make sure you get one with the extras you want. Make sure you get the BMW warranty.

I got mine within the upper end of your budget; late 2007, 21000 miles.

[Cemesis]

Early 2005 is cheaper tax (if that interest you).

[M5 Mark]

2005 will save you around £600 a yar in tax as I think the later models are around £800 a year?

Wouldn't let mileage worry you. Mine now on 110,000 miles and as good as new with no problems at all. What IS worth bearing in mind is that if you want the exntended unlimited mileage/age warranty(which only a plank wouldn't want!) then the car MUST have less than 60,000 on it.

[TVR newbie]

cheers guys

i thought it was £400 for > 06 reg on the car tax?

[DeanR32]

@M5 Mark. Have you got BMW warranty on your car with them miles? I thought BMW didn't allow for policies on cars over 100k miles

[ecain63]

TVR newbie said:

cheers guys

i thought it was £400 for > 06 reg on the car tax?

Yeah its £415 a year on my 07 plater!

[sdc77]

Buying tips ..
Theres really only one other than 2007+ and thats only buy from BMW. You shouldnt have any problems. Just hold out for the one with all the options you want. If you are considering using the car a lot and keeping it standard then you may want to consider getting a maintenance package that will cover your brakes discs/pads and clutch (worn) along with all servicing for two years (service inclusive plus)

good luck!

[TVR newbie]

Cheers guys. I am looking at a +2007 model at the weekend although it is a private sell but it comes with a BMW warranty so i'm hoping that is ok. Ideally i'd buy from BMW but they have a real lack of decent models (5 in the 05-56 age but all got around 50k miles and one 08 model) so i have been forced to look privately as i need to get a family car within the next month or so ideally.

You guys agree it should be ok if it has a BMW waranty attached to it? (the owner has only had it 3 months and bought from BMW then but selling due to change in circumstances apparently)

[M5 Mark]

DeanR32 said:

@M5 Mark. Have you got BMW warranty on your car with them miles? I thought BMW didn't allow for policies on cars over 100k miles

it's strange.. IF you take out the annual policy the cost goes up a lot at 60,000 miles and then you can't take it out past 100,000 BUT take out the MONTHLY policy BEFORE 60,000 miles then it is limited to ownership, NO mileage limit or AGE limit. Got mine on 18,000 miles and took the monthly policy out. Does make me wonder how they can possibly make any money at £87 a month! Still they've paid thousands on mine and still do, in this Friday to rpelace PDC all under warranty.

[DeanR32]

Very good to know that. So buying from BMW is a must for warranty reasons? How does it stand if you buy private under 60k? I know there's cars out there with transferable warranties but would that affect the BMW unlimited warranty part of it?

Thanks for replying Mark

[TVR newbie]

I'd be keen to clarify that point as well as looking as private M5 this weekend that has a transferrable 9month warranty in place. If i make it a monthly rolling warranty on expiry i assume i'll be covered like yourself Mark?

I wouldn't touch a private sell with no warranty but as this has 9 months left and it a BMW one it should be good right?

apologies for all the questions - want to make sure i get this right!

[mat205125]

Bookmarked this thread, and interesting to hear replies to the two posts above.

I lack the budget of the OP, and therefore the option of going to a main dealer for a late, low mileage car, however I'm very very tempted with an M5 as a next step on from my M3.

They've fallen tantilisingly close to my reach for purchase, however I'm concerned that running costs could be extremely scary without a BMW warranty

[manand38]

M5 Mark said:

it's strange.. IF you take out the annual policy the cost goes up a lot at 60,000 miles and then you can't take it out past 100,000 BUT take out the MONTHLY policy BEFORE 60,000 miles then it is limited to ownership, NO mileage limit or AGE limit. Got mine on 18,000 miles and took the monthly policy out. Does make me wonder how they can possibly make any money at £87 a month! Still they've paid thousands on mine and still do, in this Friday to rpelace PDC all under warranty.

Have they not questioned all the mods you've had done?

[beemarman]

TVR newbie said:

I'd be keen to clarify that point as well as looking as private M5 this weekend that has a transferrable 9month warranty in place. If i make it a monthly rolling warranty on expiry i assume i'll be covered like yourself Mark?

I wouldn't touch a private sell with no warranty but as this has 9 months left and it a BMW one it should be good right?

apologies for all the questions - want to make sure i get this right!

HI,

You can buy a private car without warranty, and as long as the car has full BMWSH and less than 60k, you can get a BMW warranty on it after buying it. I bought my M6 without warranty, it had 45k miles with Full BMWSH and I was able to have the waaranty put on it after. I currently pay £77 per month for it and as long as I don't change anything the car would be covered for as long as I owe it, If i decide to sell I can transfer the warranty to the new buyer without any issue as long as they keep paying the montly fee then all is good.

[mat205125]

£77 a month seems like remarkable value for money for the piece of mind that the warranty would give.

[Zod]

I wouldn't worry about the facelift. Apart from the rear lights (change to LED), it is utterly invisible outside and inside the changes are no more than gear surround, lower part of central console (addition of 6 memory buttons) and door armrests.

[Gibo993]

Just a point of view, why buy from a dealer if it has the BMW Warranty in place, you are just paying a huge markup, I always buy private and ensure it has a BMW warranty, and good service history, check with BMW Customer Support and they will tell you every time the car has been into a dealer, Service work, warranty work and recalls. all the dealer can offer is a nice cup of tea and thats out of a machine, I would make you a real cup of tea and even a bacon sandwich!!, hell with the £3000 pounds you would be saving you could even afford to take me to a Little Chef for an Olympic Breakfast!!
On my current car a dealer was going to retail the car at £9000 over what they offered the previous owner, now thats a lot of breakfast!!! (can you tell I'm hungry)