![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Yes, the 3.6 is basically a Ford Fiesta but faster.
E34 M5. whose had one
- Thread starter Matt82
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Yes, the 3.6 is basically a Ford Fiesta but faster.
Soldato
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I'm with Fox for the most part, I'd only really consider buying an M5 if it was an enthusiastic purchase for something I was going to spend a fortune on, getting the best example possible. Certainly wouldn't be inclined to use one daily, unless it was a good example, they do go through the fuel at a fair old pace and given the potential it's not like you'll be able to use the performance resulting from that consumption much....
I'd rather have a 2.5 or 4.0 (preferably the 4.0 out of those two) with a few nice bits on it (i.e. the throwing stars) and be able to enjoy driving it rather than panicking about one single failure completely writing the car off financially - especially a concern if you're looking at running it for a while. The M5 at the end of the day was 50k 'supercar' and still incurs those costs, as is usually the way.
Mind you, if you can look after the engine and transmission (or just buy one in fine fettle), and swap out the suspension for something a little more sensible, there's the chance you could run one on a relatively sane budget - but again, even if you do work to the engine yourself the parts are still expensive and likely to make you a bit, well, unhappy at the end of the day!
Fuel consumption on my 6 speed 4.0 was really good, on the motorway it was turning about 30+ and around town I was getting something like 18/22.
On my daily route which is a quick 20 minute hop, mostly around MK and down the A5, I was netting about 25/26 on average which was remarkable really given the potentecy of the thing
Stats for the 540i 6MT:
Mine had been Starchipped by BBR and reputedly dyno'd at 360BHP but as far as I was concerned, that was bulldirt
It was very, very quick though There was a power run from when it was standard, showing 287, so even then still quite lively
I'd rather have a 2.5 or 4.0 (preferably the 4.0 out of those two) with a few nice bits on it (i.e. the throwing stars) and be able to enjoy driving it rather than panicking about one single failure completely writing the car off financially - especially a concern if you're looking at running it for a while. The M5 at the end of the day was 50k 'supercar' and still incurs those costs, as is usually the way.
Mind you, if you can look after the engine and transmission (or just buy one in fine fettle), and swap out the suspension for something a little more sensible, there's the chance you could run one on a relatively sane budget - but again, even if you do work to the engine yourself the parts are still expensive and likely to make you a bit, well, unhappy at the end of the day!
Fuel consumption on my 6 speed 4.0 was really good, on the motorway it was turning about 30+ and around town I was getting something like 18/22.
On my daily route which is a quick 20 minute hop, mostly around MK and down the A5, I was netting about 25/26 on average which was remarkable really given the potentecy of the thing
Stats for the 540i 6MT:
Mine had been Starchipped by BBR and reputedly dyno'd at 360BHP but as far as I was concerned, that was bulldirt
It was very, very quick though There was a power run from when it was standard, showing 287, so even then still quite lively
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Soldato
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In what way are they fossils? They are classic super-saloons these days, not some old relic! Just because some people treat, and run, them like so does not make the entire breed junk
In what way are they fossils? They are classic super-saloons these days, not some old relic! Just because some people treat, and run, them like so does not make the entire breed junk
I didnt say the whole breed was junk, i said e34 M5's make no sense, and are very old.
If you are going to start butchering them with aftermarket suspension etc then the purism has gone out of it anyway so why bother, just buy a 540 as you suggested.
If you want to spend 5k a year on something, pick something inspiring and appreciating.
There is a reason e34 M5s are cheap, even the mint ones, its because no one wants them.
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Im not disputing that. Im just saying that i personally cant see the appeal.
Soldato
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Unfortunately mint ones aren't - if you want one with sensible mileage (i.e. under 100k), it'll cost you at least 7.5-12k - which I supposed, by some stretch, is still relatively inexpensive but still.....
Every single one that's usually seen floating around the 2k-5k mark is always somewhere rocking on for somewhere between 160 and 220,000 miles...
Here's a fine example of the breed, with 18,000 miles for 19k....
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C129181/
Unfortunately mint ones aren't - if you want one with sensible mileage (i.e. under 100k), it'll cost you at least 7.5-12k - which I supposed, by some stretch, is still relatively inexpensive but still.....
Every single one that's usually seen floating around the 2k-5k mark is always somewhere rocking on for somewhere between 160 and 220,000 miles...
Here's a fine example of the breed, with 18,000 miles for 19k....
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C129181/
Yea looks very nice.
It wouldnt be my 19k and 5k a year to run though.
If i want to spend 19k then 5k a year on a car i drive once a month, il spend 30k on an old Ferrari and be done.
Also make no mistake that car is never going to be a daily driver or it wont be worth 19k for long, so its a toy, and as far as toys go, well .....
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Soldato
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It wouldn't spend 5k a year to run though, unless you were unlucky (or stupid, i.e. going to a main dealer and using off-the-shelf OEM parts) - depends on your useage to some extent but I get the feeling you'd have to be really putting it through the mill, or have purchased a poor/flaky example, to achieve those kind of running costs.
And that's just from a quick 2 minute flit around the web.
You wouldn't buy the 19k one to use as a daily driver, that's purely just an example of the kind of money an exemplary one is worth
And that's just from a quick 2 minute flit around the web.
You wouldn't buy the 19k one to use as a daily driver, that's purely just an example of the kind of money an exemplary one is worth
It wouldn't spend 5k a year to run though, unless you were unlucky (or stupid, i.e. going to a main dealer and using off-the-shelf OEM parts) - depends on your useage to some extent but I get the feeling you'd have to be really putting it through the mill, or have purchased a poor/flaky example, to achieve those kind of running costs.
You wouldn't buy the 19k one to use as a daily driver, that's purely just an example of the kind of money a good one is worth
I stand corrected
Soldato
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Don't get me wrong, I'm sure you could find a way to spend 5k a year on one but I get the feeling that would be like the worst-case scenario if you had a bit of a duffer
I love the old E34 M5s, but I'd be too scared to run one now.
When I was younger, Dad used to have a 535i and I would go with him when he took it to the dealer for servicing (I remember £1500 service bills even back then).
At one point they had a black M5 in the showroom. It had silver lower panels like the front spoiler - I was besotted with it and remember being pacified with a brochure. Think I still have it now, somewhere.
I wonder if someone has a pristine one of these stored away in a garage and forgotten about it. Bit like the thread about the chap that bought two E30 M3s and a Merc that had been stored away for his sons.
When I was younger, Dad used to have a 535i and I would go with him when he took it to the dealer for servicing (I remember £1500 service bills even back then).
At one point they had a black M5 in the showroom. It had silver lower panels like the front spoiler - I was besotted with it and remember being pacified with a brochure. Think I still have it now, somewhere.
I wonder if someone has a pristine one of these stored away in a garage and forgotten about it. Bit like the thread about the chap that bought two E30 M3s and a Merc that had been stored away for his sons.
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure you could find a way to spend 5k a year on one but I get the feeling that would be like the worst-case scenario if you had a bit of a duffer
Its not even the 5k if im honest, 100 quid a week is not hard to spend if you are fanatical, they just dont light my fire, personal thing of course
Clearly, you have never driven one.
The e34 is many things, old, expensive etc etc etc
Drive one and you may understand why Fossil is far from a good description of one.
I owned a 535 and a 540 when they were both a few years old thanks.
Great in their time, fossils now, that ok?
The 535 and 540, sure,I agree, they are fossils, without a doubt.
The Hand build e34 M5 is similar to the 535 / 540 in apperance only, it is so much more than that which is the point you miss by not having driven one.
Chalk & Cheese in every other respect.
The 535 and 540, sure,I agree, they are fossils, without a doubt.
The Hand build e34 M5 is similar to the 535 / 540 in apperance only, it is so much more than that which is the point you miss by not having driven one.
Chalk & Cheese in every other respect.
Im not seeing the chalk and cheese to be honest, but its too hot to argue