Can i afford to run an e60 M5 ?

[Fr0dders]

Im already thinking about what to replace the VXR with in a few years time.

The e60 m5 prices are dipping below 30k, and im wondering just how expensive they are to run. Im fully aware that its a BMW with supercar running costs, but just how much is it ?

Reason im asking is that a 600 bhp + VXR8 can be serviced for £150 a year. Last time i mentioned that id love a VXR8 as a next car (again dipping under 30k now) couple of people commented the BMW would be worth the extra running costs.

Or alternatively, would i be better off with something smaller like the V8 M3 saloon ? lower running costs with 90 % of the performance.

 

[peterattheboro]

I think it's on par with a Ferrari F430?

So can you afford to run one of those?

 

[Firestar_3x]

Depends what extra you feel the BMW is going to give you over the VXR8 to make the extra service and parts costs worth it, i'd say a bigger factor in the choice is if something goes wrong on the BMW, say the gearbox (which toms did at the ring) then its going to be big money to sort, you won't have any of these issues with the VXR8.

 

[Fr0dders]

this is what appealead to me about the VXR8

massive power, but 'cos its a corvette engine underneath its A) bullet proof and wont blink at 600bhp and B) its going to be very untechnological and relatively easy to fix.

Just a couple of people on here said the BMW would be worth the extra. To judge that though, you need to know how much

I presume to protect you from gearbox costs etc.. you'd need a renewable aftermarket warranty, which i believe somebody said was about a grand a year ?

 

[SeatIbiza]

"Can be serviced for £150"

The BMW CAN be serviced for probably £1k a year but that's not the problem. It's when things go wrong, and beign a highly tuned car, they will

Just like my RS4 for example. It's cost me night on £5k in servicing, tyres and repairs in 1 year of ownership. Add in £1250 insurance, £185 tax and 20ish mpg... worth every penny though!

 

[jamoor]

The SMG transmission scares me.

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...cleYearOfManufacture=2006&vehicleRegLetter=55

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...cleYearOfManufacture=2005&vehicleRegLetter=05

 

[GinG]

Im already thinking about what to replace the VXR with in a few years time.

The e60 m5 prices are dipping below 30k, and im wondering just how expensive they are to run. Im fully aware that its a BMW with supercar running costs, but just how much is it ?

Reason im asking is that a 600 bhp + VXR8 can be serviced for £150 a year. Last time i mentioned that id love a VXR8 as a next car (again dipping under 30k now) couple of people commented the BMW would be worth the extra running costs.

Or alternatively, would i be better off with something smaller like the V8 M3 saloon ? lower running costs with 90 % of the performance.

The vxr8 is that cheap to service

Now there is another car to add to my shortlist!

 

[Fr0dders]

Monkfish performance are one of the countries best american V8 specialists.

http://www.monkfishperformance.co.uk/VXR8servicing.html

Brake fluid service is every 2 years.

assuming you buy it at about 10k miles after its first serivce, and run it for 4 years or so past the 50k mile service.

you'll have spent a total of about £900 in servicing. Thats £225 a year average. And most cars tend to have a big service about 50k miles anyway.

 

[Muffin`]

I noticed your post last time about the VXR8 servicing... mental. If I were you I'd get the VXR8... and drive it places.

 

[panthro]

Why are you wasting your time thinking about what car you will be driving in a few years? You dont even know what your cirmcumstances could be, therefore how are you going to know if you can afford it until the time comes to change cars?

 

[Scania]

The longer you wait,the more the prices will drop.

The lower the price, the more money you have towards the "if it breaks" fund.

panthro - Not seen Um Bongo in years, I really like that stuff!

 

[Fr0dders]

Why are you wasting your time thinking about what car you will be driving in a few years? You dont even know what your cirmcumstances could be, therefore how are you going to know if you can afford it until the time comes to change cars?

The longer you wait,the more the prices will drop.

The lower the price, the more money you have towards the "if it breaks" fund.

panthro - Not seen Um Bongo in years, I really like that stuff!

Servicing costs dont change much year on year.

Being able to spend 25k on a car is not anything special. But being able to afford and run a ferrari is. You wont find many that can afford it

And thats whats worrying me. People have likened running an M5 to running a ferrari, but never actually quantified how much it is.

Saving for a car is easy, you've got a fixed figure to aim for and you save / borrow enough to get there.

But affording the servicing bills every year is a different kettle of fish.

 

[rypt]

Just like my RS4 for example. It's cost me night on £5k in servicing and repairs in 1 year of ownership.

Seriously? What the hell do Audi build their cars from, cheese?

 

[Django x2]

I can afford to run one but am waiting for the next gen F series to arrive.

Hope this helps

 

[Thomas. PLease.]

Stick with the vxr8. I think if you have to umm and arr about whether you can afford it then you probably can't afford it. In a few years they will be even more likely to go wrong, and it will get ridiculously expensive should anything serious happen. Just think about the e39 M5. Could you afford to run that. Then probably double it for the current model.

 

[SeatIbiza]

Seriously? What the hell do Audi build their cars from, cheese?

Pretty much I have found.

I've been a bit unlucky as my rear subframe snapped- whilst it was in it needed a service, mot and a load of other parts needed replacement. More recently it cost £600 for 3 valves (£350 for the valves alone!) and soon it will be havign a clutch.

But then it runs 420bhp so other than the rear subframe i wouldn't expect any less from otehr similar power cars.

 

[Firestar_3x]

I presume to protect you from gearbox costs etc.. you'd need a renewable aftermarket warranty, which i believe somebody said was about a grand a year ?

I'd assume so, if you want loads of toys and the badge get the BMW, if you want all the fun with what some will call a suspect badge but without as many toys and troubles then get the VXR8, don't think an E60 is something i'd ever want to own, amazing car but i can see them causing major touble in later life.

 

[panthro]

Servicing costs dont change much year on year.

Being able to spend 25k on a car is not anything special. But being able to afford and run a ferrari is. You wont find many that can afford it

And thats whats worrying me. People have likened running an M5 to running a ferrari, but never actually quantified how much it is.

Saving for a car is easy, you've got a fixed figure to aim for and you save / borrow enough to get there.

But affording the servicing bills every year is a different kettle of fish.

Being able to spend 25k cash on a car is something special in my opinion.

But my point was, you dont know if you will be able to afford it in a few years time, so why bother thinking about it now? Why do you worry about running a car you might own in 3 years?

 

[Fr0dders]

Being able to spend 25k cash on a car is something special in my opinion.

But my point was, you dont know if you will be able to afford it in a few years time, so why bother thinking about it now? Why do you worry about running a car you might own in 3 years?

can we keep to the topic please ?

i do worry because thats my personality. Im bordering on OCD in the way i have to have everything planned years in advance.

 

[eidolon]

Might be a personal question but would you have the £30k in cash or would you be borrowing it? If the answer is borrowing then maybe the payments for that, *plus* running costs could stack up to quite a bit, especially if you have a bad month where something majorish breaks down on the car.