Has anyone sold an E39 M5 recently?

[TheAngryDog]

Small demographic I know, but has anyone sold an E39 M5 in the UK recently? Did you achieve your asking price? If not, was there a marked difference?

I see there are several for sale currently, some have been for sale for a while, so there must be a reason why they aren't selling. Either they're over priced or over described (combination of the two).

Thanks.

[TheAngryDog]

Thanks Mark. Sounds like you got a decent deal tbh, and I maybe over paid for mine

E36's have been barried up and used as drift cars, I reckon that is helping values of good ones. E39 M5's do not seem to attract the same clientele.

[TheAngryDog]

They're useable, I just think the game has moved on now. Great for the guys who have the time to maintain them properly, but I no longer do. I'm going to arrange a test drive of an F10 M5 soon as that is likely to be my next car after the stop gap.

[TheAngryDog]

eztiger328 said:

Its a great car but for me its just too much age related maintenance + rust, Ive been through it all over the last decade with my 93 e36 320 and then my 99 328 and personally cba anymore.

Also its pricey enough putting a new VANOS on a std S6 let alone doing 2 on the V8.

That's my biggest issue. Mine is starting to go rusty. I could spend a few grand on it to make it worth 8 or 9k at best, or sell it as it is for around 7k, which is less than I paid for it. Run something cheap for a year and then buy an f10 m5.

[TheAngryDog]

Fezzaman said:

OT But given there's a few chronic E39 M5 owners here - how many of you have spent on rust work thus far? Did you take a sledgehammer approach to full on rust proofing of the whole thing with complete piece of mind (is there such a thing?) or go for incremental work? Dare I ask how much it would cost? Maintenance costs for brakes/suspension/cooling even minor engine rebuild/refurb work etc are a known quantity now with plenty of choice for alternatives but this must be the big killer for the ones still on the road where even the very last '03 cars must be starting to rust?

I've not spent anything on rust. My original plan was having the rust cut out and new metal work put in. But as I am 100% going to sell up now there seems to be little point. The money I would spend on that would get me a 5th of the way to an F10 I reckon as I would want the job doing properly.

Depthhoar said:

Summer seems to be the best time to sell, Mike. Would seem that the warmer weather brings out the buyers and therefore better prices for vendors.

We are approaching Summer so hopefully that will lay true for me.

Depthhoar said:

Trust yours won't be burdened with the negative baggage that seems to go with E39 M5s marketed by traders (included traders posing as private sellers) that seems to be the rule in Bucks! (You're moving though..but maybe not out of Bucks?) High Wycombe seems to be Ground Zero for the worst offenders!

I live in Aylesbury, which is close to High Wycombe, but far enough away to not be an issue. Plus I am a private seller and not trade so that should hopefully help.

Depthhoar said:

Even a good one is not a cheap car to run. Feel genuinely sorry for those who bought one - even a good one - not realising the yearly ££££ commitment required keep them running properly. Was never a cheap ownership proposition so it's not surprising that so many appear on the market sans proper maintenance.

I certainly knew at the second attempt lol. I have no doubt that there is no such thing as a cheap to run M5, but at least an M5 in warranty is an easier thing to run.

Depthhoar said:

There's a lot of other cars that can 'best' the E39 M5 in out and out performance. But there are few that are the complete super-saloon driving package: n/a high revving V8, manual gearbox, just enough (but no more) driver aids & a refreshingly simple 'command and control' system. That mature, restrained & svelte shape, too. Recent iterations of the 5 Series M cars are just too bloody massive. Also, just how bloody many M badges are there on the E60 and the F10? Sorry, but exhaust sounds piped in to the stereo system is just not on either. Not ever.

You can disable the exhaust sounds. I agree that the F10 is more in your face than the E39. The E39 is the best looking one after the E28 IMO, but the fact I can buy an F10 with a BMW AUC warranty is a big swing for me. I simply no longer have the time nor the energy to work on cars on a weekend anymore. My (new) wife does like my E39, and I am hoping that she will like the F10 when I go for a test drive in one.

[TheAngryDog]

Fezzaman said:

I can't help but feel with the pricier ones you're buying low mileage and will end up spending on the same stuff as the cheaper cars with higher mileage. Only difference being with the lower mileage one you will have the privilege of being the first to spend on a suspension refresh and vanos refurbs etc to your standard/preference rather than questioning what has (not) been done already and to what extent. E39 M5 has always been a bucket list car for me, but while I would happily spend a grand or 2 maintaining/restoring it every year, I won't tolerate paying insurance companies as much every year because their computer says I'll bin it as I drive off a forecourt. Are they old enough now to be on limited mileage classic car policies?

Yes they do qualify with some companies. Footman James are one of them.