Thinking about buying an E39 M5

[Black9]

After selling my 305 BHP edition 30 with huge spec & mods I'm craving something with more power. I currently drive a KO3 GTI with a great factory spec for added luxury

I was thinking E60 M5, B7 RS4, E90 M3 and even a Porsche cayman S. All the cars mentioned are expensive tho and would mean selling my GTI which ATM I'm not getting the money I want for it.

So it came down to an E46 M3 manual coupe or an E39 M5.

The four doors, extra capacity and power swayed me to the M5. A friend of a friend has recently just put his black one up for sale, its a facelift with a good spec and service history. Only downside is, it has 140K on the clock.

I was thinking of keeping my GTI for the time being and using it as a daily & buying the M5 and going down the straight pipe, and Y pipe route on the M5

I know a car with this Milage will struggle to sell on but for around 5K I can't be too fussy either. A lot of car for the money IMO.

What's people's opinions on my idea and is there anything else out there that represents as such good value for money as the M5

[rdfcpete]

No idea about buying one I'm afraid, but I to fancied one for a while. Compared with the E60 M5, it's cheap to run 

Do it I say  
I think Evo did a buying guide at some point, checked it out?

[dan930]

My mate has a e39 m5,it's great with added luxury of 4doors & a big boot..only downsides are fuel economy..he doesn't get more then 21mpg & if anything goes wrong it's MEGA expensive

[Black9]

I'll have the evo buying guide lying around somewhere. Ill have to dig it out. Has to be a manual for me unless its a DSG hence why the E60 is off the cards

[camfollower]

Always loved the E39 M5 since Tiff featured one way back when:

Guy across the way from my old Saab indy has an E39 M5, tbh they don't feel that quick until you start winding them up, then they really press on - this was compared to various Saab Turbs in the region of 320/350HP.

A seriously nice motor all round... as others have said it's just the running costs :(
Sod it mate, you only live once, throw caution to the wind and enjoy it

[GrayMK5GTI]

Always loved the E39 M5 since Tiff featured one way back when:

Guy across the way from my old Saab indy has an E39 M5, tbh they don't feel that quick until you start winding them up, then they really press on - this was compared to various Saab Turbs in the region of 320/350HP.

A seriously nice motor all round... as others have said it's just the running costs :(
Sod it mate, you only live once, throw cautuion to the wind and enjoy it

That was the EXACT M5 my mate owned (he had a shock when he found that video). All be it with 100k miles on it by then 

Epic car   comfortable, seriously quick, sounds great.

Love some of the unusual features like the pre-heater which you can set to warm up / dentist your car for whatever time you want, without starting the engine.

Only downside is the 11.5mpg he averaged (driving like a t*t sideways most of the time)

Against an E46 it was very similar performance until 100mph then the 5 litre grunt pulls away.

[tony_danza]

They have absolutely f*cking appalling brakes, I mean really bad. Lots have an AP kit, try and find one.

Oh, and then kick the backboxes off and live the dream.

[Janner_Sy]

What about an S Type R or a Chrysler SRT 10

[Welshman Adam]

A mate of mine has one with the rear silencers removed. It has to be one of the best sounding cars I've ever heard. Like an American muscle car.

And it still passes the MOT emissions test. :)

[GrayMK5GTI]

A mate of mine has one with the rear silencers removed. It has to be one of the best sounding cars I've ever heard. Like an American muscle car.

And it still passes the MOT emissions test. :)

I'd hope so, silencers don't reduce emissions, only the CAT. 

[Welshman Adam]

A mate of mine has one with the rear silencers removed. It has to be one of the best sounding cars I've ever heard. Like an American muscle car.

And it still passes the MOT emissions test. :)

I'd hope so, silencers don't reduce emissions, only the CAT. 

You know what I mean!

Anyhow, it sounds nowhere near as good as my '85 Cavalier 1.8 CDi did with a Peco Powermaster rear box. ;)

[Bow]

Nice cars beginning to look dated now, it's all about the e60 m5 not many cars on road come close to that kinda power and can be had for £13k+ now as no one can afford to run them. Been passenger in one at wrong side of 180mph as well..... E39 defo good car and at £5k that's got to be to good to turn down 400 bhp through right wheels means lots of fun lol

[Black9]

I've seriously considered the E60 M5 but the main thing that puts me off is the smg gearbox. Heard its not the most reliable and if it does go wrong it's some serious ££ to put right. Also prefer a Manual. I've owned a DSG eddy & the box was amazing, doubt the smg would be comparable in terms of general town driving

[Bow]

The gearboxes are so smooth, if we all listened to the Internet about faults with cars we wouldn't buy nothing would we lol I wanted one but in same position couldn't afford the running of it. My mate lost licence in his made papers as well lol delimited they just pull all way to 200mph.