E39 M5 advice

beermonster · 1 May 2008 at 22:30

After much careful thought, research and consideration i've decided that the time is right for me to purchase an M5, financially im secure job wise, have no other debts other than mortgage, and feel that my Japanese car run has come to an end, i love the 350z but 2 seats wont cut it R33 getting a bit too old for my likinng. R34 out my budget, so i have my eye on a facelift 2000 model with lots of extras, FBMWSH, 110K miles, 3 owners everything working recent clutch all original paint no acc damage, up for 13.5k but what is a realistic price, ive seen early facelfits from 10k - 18k with similar spec, are people just asking to much, some too little? i would think 12k would be about right. its my 1st venture in to german terriotory but ive always loved the m5 for its descreteness. from what i can see current market trends for this type of car is slow to move as its so specialised and with current tax/petrol prices. can i use this as a bargaining tool?

Born_2_Kill_83 · 1 May 2008 at 22:38

beermonster said:
After much careful thought, research and consideration i've decided that the time is right for me to purchase an M5, financially im secure job wise, have no other debts other than mortgage, and feel that my Japanese car run has come to an end, i love the 350z but 2 seats wont cut it R33 getting a bit too old for my likinng. R34 out my budget, so i have my eye on a facelift 2000 model with lots of extras, FBMWSH, 110K miles, 3 owners everything working recent clutch all original paint no acc damage, up for 13.5k but what is a realistic price, ive seen early facelfits from 10k - 18k with similar spec, are people just asking to much, some too little? i would think 12k would be about right. its my 1st venture in to german terriotory but ive always loved the m5 for its descreteness. from what i can see current market trends for this type of car is slow to move as its so specialised and with current tax/petrol prices. can i use this as a bargaining tool?

Why are R34's out your price range? You can pick a R34 Single turbo up for around 8/9k these days, TT perhaps 12k.
The M5 is the only BMW I like and would possibly own. A Very good car indeed and the only main competitor for my car the XJR.

I think 10/11k would get you a nice M5 with 70/80 on the clock, only thing you have to worry is fuel (which wont be good) if you stay below a 2001-reg!

[TW]Fox · 1 May 2008 at 22:40

Loowi_ashley said:
I think 10/11k would get you a nice M5 with 70/80 on the clock

And I think it wont. £10k is absolute bottom of the M5 market - £10k ones tend to be high mileage prefacelift ones and/or shabby in some way. And you dont want anything other than a mint M5.

Besides - you want a facelift model anyway - October 2000 onwards. Make sure you get one with the Comms pack and without heritage leather.

Mad old tory · 1 May 2008 at 22:41

No personal experience but they were £50k when new so have the associated running costs, which no doubt you have accounted for. Great cars though by all accounts and, like you say, their discreteness is certainly a pluspoint.

bigchez · 1 May 2008 at 22:43

Loowi_ashley said:
The M5 is the only BMW I like and would possibly own. A Very good car indeed and the only main competitor for my car the XJR.

The XJR may well be quick in a straight line, but the M5 would kill it on a twisty road. Its superior in every way.

Jamous · 1 May 2008 at 22:47

Yeah, I'm thinking along these lines next too, keeping an eye on this thread.
Lokking at 10-13 k I'd think, thats a lot of car for the money.

beermonster · 1 May 2008 at 22:49

[TW]Fox;11610996 said:
And I think it wont. £10k is absolute bottom of the M5 market - £10k ones tend to be high mileage prefacelift ones and/or shabby in some way. And you dont want anything other than a mint M5.

Besides - you want a facelift model anyway - October 2000 onwards. Make sure you get one with the Comms pack and without heritage leather.

the one ive narrowed down as mention in orignal post has the black with blue leather, breyer wood, upgraded dvd sat nav, most are high mileage but the price variance is the only thing that throws me, upto 8k for the same year model

Born_2_Kill_83 · 1 May 2008 at 22:50

bigchez said:
The XJR may well be quick in a straight line, but the M5 would kill it on a twisty road. Its superior in every way.

LOL @ BMW's can handle fanboys!
Do some homework of the XJR and come back later, dont mistake them for a Daimler.
Don't suppose you relise they have electronic self adjusting suspension called CATS. Even if that doesn't mean anything to you, don't under estimate, theses 2 cars are very close in performance.

Housey · 1 May 2008 at 22:51

An £8K M5 might be your costs in the first 3 months if you are not careful. Remember that truism. "Buying a £60K car for £8K does not negate the £60K running costs"

[TW]Fox · 1 May 2008 at 22:52

Whilst I'm sure you love your XJR it's no M5, and this is a thread about the M5.

OP - the M5 is VERY price sensitive to mileage which accounts for some of the huge differences you are finding. The costs of potential failiure on an M5 are enormous so people tend to be more wary about higher mileage than they would be on other cars and this is reflected in the price. You need more than £20k for a mint low mileage 03 plate example yet a 99 with 120k on it is yours for £11k..

[TW]Fox · 1 May 2008 at 22:53

housemaster said:
An £8K M5 might be your costs in the first 3 months if you are not careful. Remember that truism. "Buying a £60K car for £8K does not negate the £60K running costs"

He said the difference in price between two same year cars can be up to £8k, not that he has found one for £8k.

Born_2_Kill_83 · 1 May 2008 at 22:58

[TW]Fox;11611065 said:
Whilst I'm sure you love your XJR it's no M5, and this is a thread about the M5.

Quite right for the first time, its better, it has a little thing that BMW could never master....called luxury (as well as performance)

Anyway like you said BMW thread....
I fail to see why everyone would pay 20K for a old M5

[TW]Fox · 1 May 2008 at 22:58

Have you really nothing useful to add? Whats that advert supposed to show? Viewed the car, have you? No, didnt think so - for that money there will be more than a few things wrong with it.

Mad old tory · 1 May 2008 at 22:58

if it seems too good to be true...

beermonster · 1 May 2008 at 22:59

[TW]Fox;11611065 said:
Whilst I'm sure you love your XJR it's no M5, and this is a thread about the M5.

OP - the M5 is VERY price sensitive to mileage which accounts for some of the huge differences you are finding. The costs of potential failiure on an M5 are enormous so people tend to be more wary about higher mileage than they would be on other cars and this is reflected in the price. You need more than £20k for a mint low mileage 03 plate example yet a 99 with 120k on it is yours for £11k..

the milleage doesnt scare me that much, these are german engineered cars so 100k+ if fully serviced to me seems a better buy than a privately owned scrimped and scraped low miler, ive just never seen such variance in price on a car before, i guess i will have to tread very carefully and view a few to see the diference if any in the prices being banded around. cheers for the advice!

Born_2_Kill_83 · 1 May 2008 at 23:00

beermonster said:
the milleage doesnt scare me that much, these are german engineered cars so 100k+ if fully serviced to me seems a better buy than a privately owned scrimped and scraped low miler, ive just never seen such variance in price on a car before, i guess i will have to tread very carefully and view a few to see the diference if any in the prices being banded around. cheers for the advice!

Youve got the right idea, 120k is nothing for this sort of car

[TW]Fox · 1 May 2008 at 23:01

If I chose an M5 as my next car I'd probably seek out a sub 100k one simply so I could buy a warranty for it. Most buyers will be the same which results in disproportionally lower prices for 100k+ cars.

Born_2_Kill_83 · 1 May 2008 at 23:02

[TW]Fox;11611111 said:
Have you really nothing useful to add? Whats that advert supposed to show? Viewed the car, have you? No, didnt think so - for that money there will be more than a few things wrong with it.

When you cant win do you have to demean some-ones post?
I have added a M5 @ £9k while I havent had a test drive in it I'm positive I could perhaps find as many faults as one listed with £15k

Housey · 1 May 2008 at 23:02

[TW]Fox;11611071 said:
He said the difference in price between two same year cars can be up to £8k, not that he has found one for £8k.

You assumed I was posting at the OP and not simply looking into the future of what someone might post...spooky...

[TW]Fox · 1 May 2008 at 23:04

Loowi_ashley said:
I have added a M5 @ £9k while I havent had a test drive in it I'm positive I could perhaps find as many faults as one listed with £15k

So it is your opinion that a £9k car is as likely to be a trouble free, well looked after mint example as a £15k example of the same car?

Sigh...

housemaster said:
You assumed I was posting at the OP and not simply looking into the future of what someone might post...spooky...

Quite