E39 M5 - advice on what to check / look for
Discussion
Hi all
I'm viewing a 2000 E39 M5 this weekend and would appreicate your advice on what to check / look for.
It has circa 101k miles with a full service history.
It has a clean MOT, with no advisories.
My only concern so far is it's only done a few hundred miles each year for the past few weeks. Only 2k miles since 2018, and only 7k miles since 2013! I prefer cars that have been used, rather than sat around for a long time.
Owner seems a nice guy, with a interesting collection of performance cars.
I'm viewing a 2000 E39 M5 this weekend and would appreicate your advice on what to check / look for.
It has circa 101k miles with a full service history.
It has a clean MOT, with no advisories.
My only concern so far is it's only done a few hundred miles each year for the past few weeks. Only 2k miles since 2018, and only 7k miles since 2013! I prefer cars that have been used, rather than sat around for a long time.
Owner seems a nice guy, with a interesting collection of performance cars.
TheAngryDog said:
Rust!
Check the jacking points and sills, fuel filler cap, bonnet leading edges, boot lid, especially between the number plate lights, rear quarters too.
Timing chain slap when cold - could be guides or tensioners.
Brake judder.
Engine oil burning.
Usual other car stuff.
Thank youCheck the jacking points and sills, fuel filler cap, bonnet leading edges, boot lid, especially between the number plate lights, rear quarters too.
Timing chain slap when cold - could be guides or tensioners.
Brake judder.
Engine oil burning.
Usual other car stuff.
There are horror stories and there are owners
Rust can be an issue but some, unless recently fixed, will appear in unusual places
If the car hasn’t ran for a while, let it warm up
The vanos can sound loud/tickety but if working it will settle down
Number 8 spark plug rarely is ever changed if the service is at bmw. Simply due to time. To change that it takes as long as the other 7.
Door lock actuators will slow down, rust in filler cap is typically paint bubble just prod with a screw driver or scrape the paint up. If it’s not been sorted it’s fixable but most of that stuff is surface/paint simply due to how liquid pools
Sills are a swine so make sure they’ve been done
Unfortunately I’ve quit many e39 groups as a lot of folk are buying mileage cheat devices so buy on gut feel
If the cars been looked after you will know just on instinct
You can polish a turd but it will drive and feel like one
Brake judder is 100% sign the bushes have failed. Brakes don’t warp, ever. What does happen is the rubber bush fails which can translate to a shocking (pun) judder under braking. Mine failed on the way down the col de bonet, s
t my pants and replaced with pollys
Suspension may feel good, mind did at 100k on original but it’s really shot at that point. Recent springs and shocks will transform things
Rust can be an issue but some, unless recently fixed, will appear in unusual places
If the car hasn’t ran for a while, let it warm up
The vanos can sound loud/tickety but if working it will settle down
Number 8 spark plug rarely is ever changed if the service is at bmw. Simply due to time. To change that it takes as long as the other 7.
Door lock actuators will slow down, rust in filler cap is typically paint bubble just prod with a screw driver or scrape the paint up. If it’s not been sorted it’s fixable but most of that stuff is surface/paint simply due to how liquid pools
Sills are a swine so make sure they’ve been done
Unfortunately I’ve quit many e39 groups as a lot of folk are buying mileage cheat devices so buy on gut feel
If the cars been looked after you will know just on instinct
You can polish a turd but it will drive and feel like one
Brake judder is 100% sign the bushes have failed. Brakes don’t warp, ever. What does happen is the rubber bush fails which can translate to a shocking (pun) judder under braking. Mine failed on the way down the col de bonet, s
t my pants and replaced with pollysSuspension may feel good, mind did at 100k on original but it’s really shot at that point. Recent springs and shocks will transform things
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