E39 M5 - buying advice

[MrBenn]

I'm thinking about getting one of these, only just started to research them but might try and take a look at a few over the weekend. Any advice appreciated.
Cheers
Alex

[pacerpete]

Best advise is avoid all the sub 6k scrap. Low owners, total detailed history and lots of recent big bills are what you are looking for. Regular big bills include clutch/flywheel (marginal even when new) brakes, A/C issues, rusty brake and fuel pipes, cam sensors,oil leaks, MAFs, misc suspension balljoints and bushes etc etc. These are a very complex car that have now descended into the realms of council keepers. A year or so of neglect can be enough to generate a 3-4k hitlist very easily

They are a very serious thing but I personally find them a bit antiseptic and more akin to a 540 with extra beans than a M car to drool over.

Hows the red turd ?

[Kos]

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 99&start=0

[Kos]

Hi,

Ah, the E39 M5,.

When running correctly, then really nice everyday car, but
that was not often enough for me.

2001 24,000 miles, extended BMW Warranty, spent fortunes on
Suspension, AP's, ARB's, Bushings etc trying to make it do
what it alleges on the tin.

Big problems with them are Vanos, seems to let go without warning
unlike S50/S54 engines, Cam Position Sensors, even a smidge of
Oil on them and the ECU goes straight to default and so you limp
home, yet again.
Try changing the CPS on the Bank 2 exhaust, should occupy
your week end.

Servo Tronic Steering, you would get more feed back
from a Mute, and when it goes wrong, very expensive.

Will rip standard rear ARb brackets off the first roundabout you
go around.

Very prone to dirty MAF's which always throw a Hard Code
and its that lovely limp home again.

Make sure you have a double garage, as you require one bay
for the car and the other for all the free glasses you will
get with all the fuel it uses.

Get's quite amusing when cars passing you wonder why the owner
of a M5 would only be doing about 40mph, down hill.

All in all about the Worst M Car I have ever owned, and if you think
I was unlucky, they go buy one, and you will get the 'T' Shirt as well.

The loan M5 that the dealer would provide, broke down on several
occasion for similar reasons, so at least your assurred of good old
German consistancy.

Go buy an E39 540i Manual, put in slightly higher rear diff, fit
M5 ARB'S, Fit stiffer, not shorter front springs,
Uprate the front Wishbone bushes, renew the
steering rod ends, and fit 9.5j wheels/275 tyres all around with
and you will have a car that will almost
equal an M5 in every department, apart from top end speed.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[MrBenn]

Thanks gents, glad I asked, I don't think I want one anymore.

Pete - The red turd has seen very little use in the last couple of months, need to finish off a few last bits and pieces and start advertising it. Hows your s50'd turd?

[mk1junkie]

If you want to follow the advise above and buy a E39 540i I just happen to have one for sale