BMW M5/M6 (E60/E63): PH Buying Guide
Very far from perfect, but we won't see its like again - here's how to buy a V10 M car
Mmm, bronze
Just like the car itself, it's complex. When it was launched in 2005, the E60 M5 was shocking; outrageously different from what had gone before. No more woofly V8, but instead a 10-cylinder motor that sounded rather coarse at idle and glorious at full tilt. The M6 coupe and convertible that arrived the following year were just as swift. The M5 Touring, the first and so far only M5 wagon offered in right-hand drive, came in 2007, but all models divided opinion.
Why? The SMG 2 gearbox used in all three models, which had no less than 11 settings for how fiercely it would fire through its seven ratios. The automated manual was also not always the easiest to live with when you weren't going gangbusters. And then the reliability issues cropped up. Not what you expected with a near-new BMW, and the reason that the USA was offered a six-speed manual alternative which never made it to the rest of the world.
A 2006 fix with the SMG 3 'box sorted most of these woes, but the exotic V10 also started eating its con-rod bearings. And there were electrical glitches to contend with too.
Where your money goes (and will continue to)
A facelift in 2007 brought LED indicators, daytime running lights and adaptive cornering illuminations, along with some tweaks to cabin comfort. Even so, this generation of M5 and M6 has not enjoyed the strongest residual values, hence that £11,000 entry price for an M5 saloon at the time of writing. You'll need £1,000 more for the M6 in coupe form, while the convertible gets going at £18,000. Rarest and most coveted of the lot is the M5 Touring, and you'll pay upwards of £20,000 for that privilege. Each offers astonishing pace and handling in a car with great everyday practicality. However, you will need to factor in a large contingency budget - don't say you've not been warned.
PHer's view:
"In terms of reliability it has been faultless. I've read plenty of nightmare stories on the forums so I've had the BMW warranty in case of anything untoward."
SB
Buying Guide contents:
Introduction
Powertrain
Rolling chassis
Body
Interior
At a glance
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Great engine when it works (apart from 13 mpg), shame about the rest of it.
A car I'd love to drive but hate to own.
He liked a lot of the time, but it left him stranded twice with various electrical problems that effectively put the car into full on sulk mode.
He was a well off guy but even he got annoyed with the mpg, in particular the range. Complained he was foverever filling it up. The minute the warranty ran out he chopped it in, took a bath on the depreciation but said that whilst he was pleased he'd owned it he'd not do it again or recommend it to others.
So not the most flattering review really. Can't say I'm that drawn to them. My interest in the M5 peaked at the e39 and I'd rather throw money into a good one of them than an e60.
All these german cars are getting more and more expensive to run as the years roll past.
Bargain barge to buy, arm and a leg and a kidney to run.
Having said that, worthwhile buying one for a Q car track day weapon and if it goes pop do a runner whilst they are still putting it on the car transporter and cleaning the track.
Real men own one of these and an RX7.
https://www.gilescooperautomotive.co.uk/bmw-m6-5.0...
I loved it but hated the fuel economy. How a slippery shaped car with an engine that's big but not 7.0 Dodge Viper size big can be so bad. But the engine is a gem, the gearbox is great when you learn how to get the best out of it.
I missed it the second I sold it.
I'm sure there are people spending that on leasing a diesel 3- or 5-series.
As for the fuel economy. The trip computer suggested an average of 15-16mpg rising to 18mpg on a motorway cruise. Range was poor, you'd have to plan on stopping every 200 miles. From memory, the 'distance to empty' gauge would stop displaying with a decent percentage of fuel remaining so you'd have to be brave to push the limit.
That said, you'd get in the habit of stopping for fuel at the start of any journey of any length, I think the only journey where I had to stop again before getting to the destination was the trip to Le Mans.
I'm used to a car that needs constant attention but the faults I've read here are eye-watering. I had been tempted by this:http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...
The pre-March 2006 cars are over £200 p.a. cheaper for VED but that pales into insignificance at what appear to be several bugs in the early ones. I think I'll give it a miss... for now.
Then I read the thread of comments.
Everybody's saying these things are a massive risk. Fair enough. It's a 500bhp monster. It's going to be highly-strung. It's going to be expensive to run. It's going to break.
Except my 2010 Jaguar XKR isn't. 0-60 in 4.6s. 21mpg. 503 bhp. Perfectly reliable. No Achillies heel. No Vanos, no fragile gearbox. Different body style and practicality, of course, but why does the BMW deserve the love? Jaguar managed to do everything the BMW does but with none of the hassle or expense.
I don't get it. XFR?
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?sort=price-...
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