E39 M5 Potential Purchase Advice
Discussion
Hello All,
Just recently sold my Lotus Elise, and in the process of getting my E39 540i for sale as I'm dropping back to running one car. It's taken me a long time to narrow my search and I've ended up looking at the E39 M5 v a Monaro 6.0 VXR.
To be honest I'd be happy to end up with either but from some chats in other places the Monaro looks to be the more financially sensible option, servicing is cheap, there's a great owners community and values seem to be strong but they also seem to prove reliable. The M5 however is the purchase my heart wants to make, I've loved them since the day I first saw one, I adore my 540i, just wish it had more poke and a manual gearbox. Enter the M5. Trouble is I'm hearing/reading about too many people with very expensive bills on them for my liking and my head is saying Monaro. So I wanted to reach out to guys for your experience.
I guess first question is what to pay? I'd like the best car I can get for no more than £14,000, but frankly I'd like to pay less than that and keep some fuel money for a road trip idea I've got. I looked at a supposedly excellent FBMWSH 130k miler at the weekend for £9k and it was a bit crap frankly. I'd like to hope that whatever I do get won't depreciate much, I actually made money on my Lotus and with Monaro values looking good I'm hoping the M5 is similar. It seems that £12/13k is where the good circa 100k or less cars are at, but at that price once I've racked up a good few miles over the next 2 or 3 years will it be worth anything like that?
Could some of current and ex E39 M5 owners please shed some light on the real maintenance and running costs of an E39 M5, and what I need to look for to try and ensure if I buy one it doesn't cost a fortune. I've heard people who have spent £10k in 3 years on maintenance and others who in the same time have only had to pay for 2 minor services. If the latter is more likely then my head can join my heart and a decision be made.
Just recently sold my Lotus Elise, and in the process of getting my E39 540i for sale as I'm dropping back to running one car. It's taken me a long time to narrow my search and I've ended up looking at the E39 M5 v a Monaro 6.0 VXR.
To be honest I'd be happy to end up with either but from some chats in other places the Monaro looks to be the more financially sensible option, servicing is cheap, there's a great owners community and values seem to be strong but they also seem to prove reliable. The M5 however is the purchase my heart wants to make, I've loved them since the day I first saw one, I adore my 540i, just wish it had more poke and a manual gearbox. Enter the M5. Trouble is I'm hearing/reading about too many people with very expensive bills on them for my liking and my head is saying Monaro. So I wanted to reach out to guys for your experience.
I guess first question is what to pay? I'd like the best car I can get for no more than £14,000, but frankly I'd like to pay less than that and keep some fuel money for a road trip idea I've got. I looked at a supposedly excellent FBMWSH 130k miler at the weekend for £9k and it was a bit crap frankly. I'd like to hope that whatever I do get won't depreciate much, I actually made money on my Lotus and with Monaro values looking good I'm hoping the M5 is similar. It seems that £12/13k is where the good circa 100k or less cars are at, but at that price once I've racked up a good few miles over the next 2 or 3 years will it be worth anything like that?
Could some of current and ex E39 M5 owners please shed some light on the real maintenance and running costs of an E39 M5, and what I need to look for to try and ensure if I buy one it doesn't cost a fortune. I've heard people who have spent £10k in 3 years on maintenance and others who in the same time have only had to pay for 2 minor services. If the latter is more likely then my head can join my heart and a decision be made.
Thanks for all the replies so far guys.
I think I need to get a longer test drive in both. Both have things I'm not keen on, but both have different strengths. The part of me that adores my 540i says M5, but the part of my head that loved the Lotus for the looks it got and the noise it made with decat and sports exhaust is making me want the Monaro with a full Wortec system.
I think I need to get a longer test drive in both. Both have things I'm not keen on, but both have different strengths. The part of me that adores my 540i says M5, but the part of my head that loved the Lotus for the looks it got and the noise it made with decat and sports exhaust is making me want the Monaro with a full Wortec system.
Thanks for the advice folks. Picked up a Dec' 00 LeMans Blue M5 (01 MY) on Christmas Eve for a bit of a steal. 119k, heritage leather. Picked it up knowing it needs a new thermostat and a good look at the brake judder, but for the money I paid it'll all come well under budget! Merry Christmas.
TheAngryDog said:
How much did you give for it?
Chasing brake judder might not be as cheap as you hope it is! I'm chasing it at the moment
I'm going to drop it down to my mechanic soon, leave it with him for a week and some money to sort it out.Chasing brake judder might not be as cheap as you hope it is! I'm chasing it at the moment
Today though I'm going to steal bits off the 540i to make the M5 better, got 2 dead parking sensors on the M5 and a broken button on the aircon unit.
If I said what I paid began with a 6 would you hate me?
TheAngryDog said:
Hopefully he will sort it for you cheaply! I know of someone who had it and it was down to how his wheels were fitted!
Poor 540i! lol
Not at all, I paid with a number than began with a 5 last year, but tbh I should've waited longer and paid more, but you know how it is!
We need pics man!
The car has only done 30 miles in the last year so I'm expecting a few issues, did well though considering he wanted £9k!Poor 540i! lol
Not at all, I paid with a number than began with a 5 last year, but tbh I should've waited longer and paid more, but you know how it is!
We need pics man!
Will get a thread up in Reader's rides and post a link here.
Photos and thread here. Easier to keep it all in one place.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
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