e39 M5.....

[beautymeanswheels]

Looking at a prefacelift e39 M5 which I may be looking to buy. However there are a few issues that the car has....

1. The engine management light is on. The owner says that the car drives perfectly fine and does not lose power at all. He told me that He had the car put on a diagnostics and it was the camshaft sensor/inlet camshaft sensor (whatever it's called!). Now most of teh time this would be a case of alarm bells ringing and me losing interest but coudl it just be a sensor? Surely f it was serious teh car wouldn't drive as well?!

2. There is slight juddering when braking. Owner says he replaced disks and pads recenmtly but problem has persisted.


Prices is fairly good nad has service history. There is slight rattle on start up from vanos unit but I have been told this is common with pre facelift m5s and nothing too serious if the rattle goes soon after starting and is not there when the engine is warm...

Run a mile? Or make an offer?

[e301988325i]

Smacks of a lack of maintanance and he's selling up because he can't follow through on the running costs. . . Brake judder could be track rod ends or crap on the hubs, slightly seized calipers. Sounds like there's £500+ worth of issues straight away to me. If it's just a £50 sensor then why not get it changed before sale, probably because he know's it's only worth fitting a £150 genuine BMW jobbie.

[pacerpete]

Smacks of a lack of maintanance and he's selling up because he can't follow through on the running costs. . . Brake judder could be track rod ends or crap on the hubs, slightly seized calipers. Sounds like there's £500+ worth of issues straight away to me. If it's just a £50 sensor then why not get it changed before sale, probably because he know's it's only worth fitting a £150 genuine BMW jobbie.

+100 !


I am guessing it has not got a years rent and matching Michelins........

[bss325i]

Inlet camshaft sensors are quite common on S62's.

Brake reaction bushes aka tension strut bushes when worn on E39's give brake judder.

[beautymeanswheels]

Guys had it for over 5 years and has had it serviced regularly. If the car drives well etc, do you think the engien management light is not too much to worry about? What you guys recun a pre facelift m5 in decent nick and coupel of niggles like the one mentioned here is worth? around 120k miles on clock..

[anothere21323i]

I've just had a look on Pistonheads, as just one example of used car websites - there are LOADS of E39 M5s for sale, at many different price points. If you're utterly sure that's the car you want, go and have a look a as many as you can, which will give you a good feel for this car in comparison to others. This will help you determine whether or not this one is a goer. As Peter said, things like 4 matching high quality tyres, comprehensive service history (not just stamps in the book, you want a folder full of invoices), 12 months tax purchased as opposed to 6, fresh MOT and a good vibe from a non council type owner are what you're looking for. The bottom line with all M cars is that they're not cheap to run, period. Make sure the one you buy is one that's been maintained properly, otherwise you'll end up crippling yourself.

[e301988325i]

doesn't exactly sound like a fastidious owner, the trouble with M-cars is that they're cheap to buy but the running costs are the same as a new M car and are wildly disproportionate to the car's value unless it's low miles in concours condition.