Ive decided to sell both my cars and get just the one, mainly because I barely drive these days and fancy getting one 'better' car....

Anyway I will have a budget of around 15k and was going to bite the bullet and get a Range Rover Sport (diesel one). However having seen the prices of E60 M5's etc I'm reeeally tempted to get one. I'm aware that they aren't the cheapest to run or maintain but with the mileage I do its fine. What i'd like to know is am I better getting one with slightly higher mileage (60k+) that has had things like clutch etc already replaced or get the lowest mileage one I can find? Also what do they fail on and what is the general fuel consumption like? (I'm presuming mid teens?). The only driving I really do is a 100 mile round trip to the missus' (all dual carriageway!)

Thanks!

 

I looked at a few e60's before buying my e39 bud. They suffer with quite a lot of issues like MSG pumps and also oil pumps too. The fuel consumption is early teens and the build quality is shite!
They are about the price of a really decent e39 as they are perceived to be the worst m5 built by bmw, and the e39 is believed to be the best.

I wasn't impressed with the build or ride of the e60, but boy do they go well!

 

If you tell like the e60 shape, then try the 535d m sport! Awesome car!

 

Cheers for that, is the build quality really that bad?! I've had an E90 BMW and thought it was ok? I do like E39's but ideally would like something a bit newer....

Chris

 

A mate of mine had one and it had a few problems, he moved it on quite quickly and got a 911 turbo. The 911 is the bollox! It's got a few bits done and is crazy fast!

 

Problems with the e60 m5's are rare ive had mine 2 years now and only had to replace the vanos solenoids on the left bank (£700) but was done under warranty. fantastic car most things on the road cant touch it even some superbikes struggle especially on dual cariageways and motorways and even better with the tc off lol better off buying one with about 40k miles on it just make sure tyres and brakes are decent when you buy one best car ive ever owned mate

 

E39's are nicer to drive. But, they are getting on. E60's are FAST when thrashed, especially at the top. Expensive to maintain, but i'd say build quality is good - it's just they are very complex.

Rick

 

I really didn't think that the E60 M5 was that fast.... Yes it has 500bhp, but it weighs two tonnes! Power to weight = 250ish bhp/tonne, not that mega really?

For what it is it's a pretty epic car, don't get me wrong, but for me it has a confused identity. Mega bucks to fix if they go wrong, lots of clutch & gearbox problems reported with gearboxes costing 7k+ to fix! Coupled to hideous fuel economy, being very heavy but having that amazing engine, what do you do?

Too expensive for most people to run day today, a bit bigness& heavy to be kept for a weekend car?

I would love one, but I can't find a use for one at the ownership costs.

A tidy E39 M5 would probably get my vote as at least you get a proper gearbox!

 

1st/2nd gear type stuff they aren't epic. But once you're at motorway speed, not much will keep up.

 

Id rather go for a V10 RS6

 

£30k minimum... twice the price of an M5...

 

I wouldn't even consider one without a BMW warranty I've been tempted for years but the repair costs are mental. You'll find alot of them get moved on near 60k as the warranty goes from around £1000 to £2600 a year I was told.

 

As someone else said above 535d M-sport been reviewed as one of the best cars on the road, has just about everything an M5 has and with a little ecu work your talking stupid power, though for a diesel there pretty stupid as standard.

 

M6 far more interesting car in my opinion... stretch to one of those if you can.

People that say M5 and M6 aren't fast really haven't driven one properly.

FAST cars.

 

As what lee says they are fast , yous only hear the bad stories we look after plenty that are good cars , yes they suffer from faults but what car dosent ! buy the right car & you will love it

 

i agree with all the above, yes you do get good and bad with all cars, but with so little of them on the road, and so many problems being heard of, you cant help but wonder......

i put a 2 year warranty with warranty direct onto my 2003 e39 for £343 all in......

the e60 m5 was £986.....PER YEAR!!!!


when i asked the guy why, he said the warranty costs are calculated from the average cost of a repair per claim against that particular model of car!!!

great overall package, but not built as well internally, but yes... one EPIC engine....

but only when thrashed!


911 matey . the only answer!

 

Agree it is a great engine, but there's alot of other issues with them (non engine related), I'm not saying that to put you off, but they're not reliable cars, just so you don't go getting the wrong idea lol.
Rule of thumb is buy an 07 car, nothing before that, and DO NOT for FFS not have a warranty, you're absolutely off your trolley owning one of these without it.
At the price they command it's a very hard car to resist.

 

Makes more power and torque than the V8 does everywhere. You dont need to thrash it. Its just fun to and its KEEEEEEPS reving....

I've driven a remapped 535d and M5 back to back... the torque converter box and diesel power delivery actually felt better though pottling around.. and suited big 5 door boring taxi look better I think!

if you want the V10... M6 at least it kinda pretends to be sporty.

Renton was recently selling an amazing one owner from new M5 for a mate of mine. 27k miles... and couldnt get 18k for it! amazing car for the cash really. Do nothing for me really. M6 convert though... would be good to smoke about in. Been looking at few times at those.

 

Cheers guys for the tips, totally forgot about M6's, they do certainly look the part! Budget is fairly flexible. Saying that would be nice to try a 535d, if I can get similar fun out of something 2/3 the price and cheaper running costs its a no brainer!

 

If you buy 1 make sure it has a full BMW warranty in place just incase you need it....



Steve

 

steve..... i couldnt have put it better myself!

 

Chris, my advice is this......test one first, the gearbox is horrific driving slow, mpg is very very bad, sounds like a diesel quick cars when you stoke them up drive them slow and not nice. Get a sports exhaust and flat out they sound amazing tubi rumour but be aware its very very loud!
Another tip get a 2005 if u must have one and pay cheaper tax 2006 on and its in the £450 bracket as is all M6's
In all honesty with 15k i really dont know what i'd choose now having had most of the budget supercars. Audi rs6 is nice at 8k. Sl55 amg again nice at around 15k. If honest my S600 at 6k would wipe the floor with the lot on straight line performance. Difficult choice. Maybe an M3 CSL if cheap enuff as i'd more look for holding value.

 

audi s8, you can get one for that sort of money, v10, carbon ceramic brakes and don't need the same servicing as an m5.
the one with the Lambo engine, mmmmmm, nice!

 

Thanks chaps, I have been reading up and watching this and that, and they say they are shite to drive when slow.... Perhaps I could be better off with a 535d and some money in the bin?!

Phil - I love my Sl500 and would love an SL55 but really fancy a change away from a 2 seater for now. I'd like to buy a Maserati Granturismo next year so want just the one car for now so I can save a bit!

 

with a 100 mile round trip in an m5 you will need to fill up on the way home
stupidly small tank and have seen 90 miles to a full tank
m5 sounds like an old diesel on idle but my god they sound superb when opened up

 

Nothing under £20k..... Need to have £23-25k budget for something good that'll hold its ££, the main reason I bought mine to hold £££ until I get a 997 Porsche

 

Know this is an M5 thread, but.....

Something else to consider in that price range, similarly powerful, prestige and just as good.....

Jaguar XFR 5.0l supercharged v8.

Cooler than an m5 imho, plus you can be a bit caddish

Go long on the a

Ive got a jaaaaaaag

 

They are waaaaay more expensive that an 05 plate M5 though.
If they were the same price i'd have one over the E60 without giving it a second thought.

 

Always remember, the M5 was a £60-70,000 motor new, so expect to maintain a car of that expense.

 

How about something different altogether like a Camaro or a Mustang?

 

I would LOVE a Camaro but still 30k+ I believe. Not a fan of Mustangs!! I think i'm going to test a 535d, seems that 10/11k will get a good one, leaves a bit of dollar for a remap, then I may be able to keep my DC5 for trackdays as well!

 

perfect

 

Chris

Take out a remapped 535D mate........Awesome cars and money in the bank.....simples

 

Rs6 is a good car, but I sold mine and went for the m5 purely for the driving pleasure. Rs6 is auto, and4wd so quite boring if I'm honest. They also look dated now I think.

The jag is a cool shout too!

535d m sport remapped bud, and you will love it!

 

If you own an E60 M5 there is so much false info on this thread!.
Pre 07 cars usually have a better base spec to begin with, if you want one skip this thread and look at the pistonheads buyers guide that has input from owners.
It's not the type of car you can drive for 20 mins and come to a conclusion, I done this at first and didn't think it was that fast.
I was not going to buy one due to all the hear say problems, but the truth is they a pretty good. Get one with under 60k and fully comp mondial warranty will be £85 a month or less.
Had myne for 6months now and must say its excellent, for driving experience you just can't compare a diesel to a 5ltr V10 petrol. Had a remapped 530d prior and it's just totally different.
Sure there are faster cars out there, but nothing I've been up against so far has gone past me!

 

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/t...?t=1076816&d=0

 

I wouldn't say it's false info, everyone on this thread seems to have a knowledge of them through being an enthusiast or has driven, owned, been in one. It doesn't hurt to get the opinion of a wider audience. Capable cars, but they're not new anymore, they will break, that's life.

 

As we all know all cars can have issues, more so if you buy a bad one. You will get a good one for 16k, most people opinions are formed from reading a horror story on the Internet. If I want to buy something I listen to owners and specialist that see these cars day in day out.
For some reason people think they break every 5 mins and bankrupt the owner!.
With the mondial warranty you don't have to use a main dealer either, specialist is fine so long as genuine parts are used (which most do).
I took a BMW tech with me to buy myne for peace of mind.
I guess it's personal preference but I drive myne to work in full auto mode in setting 2 on the gearbox and its great, relaxed drive. Then in M mode it's setup for s6 paddle shift.
I get 220 miles from a tank of fuel with mixed driving and usually average 18mpg, my 530d was 30mpg average and with super unleaded being about the same as diesel I didn't see it being a massive deal for a 5ltr car.
Only other thing to factor in is oil, they do use oil and it has to be the proper castrol edge stuff which isn't always in the shops so best to stock up on the stuff and always carry 1 ltr in the boot.
Try and get full leather, not to be confused with extended leather, it transforms the interior as it includes leather dash and door cappings, with out it you the interior is boring and its like being sat in a 530/535d etc. this was a 5k option and I would not own one without it.

 

^ Good advice.
TBH I wasn't considering an E60 at all, but recently due to prices I have been thinking of chopping in the E39. I know what you mean about the leather, it's a completely different car inside! I do worry about fuel though as I average 17-18mpg at the moment so it certainly won't be better than that haha!

Interlagos is the daddy.....hmmm.

 

I have an e60 m5 (2007) best car i have ever had , takes me the wife and 3 kids and all the luggage in the boot when we went on holiday.
I have had it a year and apart from the smg and diff service (cost at bmw was £300) and 1 litre of oil its cost me ZERO in repairs etc.

OK fuel consumption around town hovers around the 10 mpg mark on a long round it will do around 20-22mpg

I have had nothing break or fall apart from shoddy workmanship, i have had it remapped (now 535bph) and have a decent exhaust on it.

As mine has only 54000 miles i did take out a warranty direct policy which covers wear and tear (car under 6 years old) 13months cover was £780.

Oh colour of mine is Silverstone II