e34 M5 - how risky a proposition?

[NiceCupOfTea]

Browsing the PH classifieds as many of us do I'm sure I was looking at e34s as I've always loved the shape - but I can't believe how cheap e34 M5s are!

How risky / expensive is it running one as a daily workhorse with a little flair? They seem to be anything between 2k and 6k or so. Are they quick by today's standards?

[mmm-five]

Quick? Early 315bhp 3.6 ones will do 6-6.2s to 60 and 6-speed 3.8 with 340bhp will do 0-60 in 5.6s and 1/4 mile in about 14. Most will show 170mph on the clock in 5th (6th is for cruising and won't get you any more top speed).

Many are on 160,000 miles and still going strong. Check the suspension (EDC) on the later ones as this will cost £4k to fix at the stealers (this is the bill I'm currently facing), but when in good condition it will shock you how fast you can corner. Also see if the preventative timing chain upgrade has been done - most enthusiasts have this done as it ensures the timing chain does not go slack when there's low oil pressure.

These are not cheap to run - average consumption will be 18-22mpg and it will require a service every 6,000 miles (oil change, followed by inspection, then back to oil change). Stealers charge £100+ per hour for the privilege.

If you want more info - and possibly more than you can handle - go to www.m5board.com/vbulletin then register and post in the e34 forum - we're quite friendly (if off topic a lot of the time) and will give you the facts with no BS.

[redgriff500]

Loads of the parts are unique to it, hence are V V Exp.

Mate just had his plug leads changed (possibly cap too) £180 !!

I'd look elsewhere.

[granville]

They are not at all quick by today's standards until the ship's rivets are popping and then, it'll just about pass muster...

But this car is not even slightly about speed, the game is purity and whilst this is clearly going too far, bordering on the sacreligious, in fact, it may serve up some kind of saloon variant on the theme of 911 RSdom, ish.

I just adore the way it 'zings' when being fully ragged and the way it's damped (in S mode) reamins one of life's subtle joys. Honestly, even tootling about town at crawling speeds, it just gels.

Lauda raved, Barker from EVO feted it as the supreme performance saloon and I wouldn't hastily disagree...

P.S. The gearchange is to die for.

[nicecupoftea]

Thanks guys, another car on "the list"...

So many cars, so little money

[Marquis_Rex]

NiceCupOfTea said:

How risky / expensive is it running one as a daily workhorse with a little flair?

A bit risky in snowy and rainy conditions

[dcb]

mmm-five said:

Quick? Early 315bhp 3.6 ones will do 6-6.2s to 60 and 6-speed 3.8 with 340bhp will do 0-60 in 5.6s and 1/4 mile in about 14. Most will show 170mph on the clock in 5th (6th is for cruising and won't get you any more top speed).

I'd be interested to see anyone get anywhere these
numbers in practice.

While numbers in a book are all very well, let's not
forget that the horses will be getting tired by now.

340 BHP - You'd be lucky to get 300 BHP, wouldn't you ?

[mmm-five]

dcb said:

mmm-five said:

Quick? Early 315bhp 3.6 ones will do 6-6.2s to 60 and 6-speed 3.8 with 340bhp will do 0-60 in 5.6s and 1/4 mile in about 14. Most will show 170mph on the clock in 5th (6th is for cruising and won't get you any more top speed).

I'd be interested to see anyone get anywhere these
numbers in practice.

While numbers in a book are all very well, let's not
forget that the horses will be getting tired by now.

340 BHP - You'd be lucky to get 300 BHP, wouldn't you ?

Most 3.8s dyno at 300-320bhp but a simple re-chip releases the full 340bhp and give you a nice 10lb/ft as well (mine is 340bhp/302lbft).

You can get close to the posted 0-60 and quarter mile times, but you've got to be brutal and have no sympathy for the car whatosever. 130mph in the rain on the back straight of Bedford GT circuit today showed they've got plenty of legs as well.

[mmm-five]

redgriff500 said:

Loads of the parts are unique to it, hence are V V Exp.

Mate just had his plug leads changed (possibly cap too) £180 !!

I'd look elsewhere.

Depends on what model you go for - the 3.6 (distributor), or 3.8 (coils).
The rest of the mechanicals are specific and can be expensive...if you go to the stealer, but consumables are not (i.e. battery from stealer £130, costco £47, front pads from stealer £150, £70 from EuroCP, headlight from stealer £100 each, EuroCP £24).

The body panels are not expensive as they're not exclusive to the M5 (a wing is about £30 from GSF) and there are plenty of used spares around.

Just don't buy one with iffy EDC suspension as that will cost you (is costing me) about £4k fitted!

But it's all worth it when you get it on track and hustle a 2 tonne barge around - brake pads do need upgading though!

[mmm-five]

Marquis_Rex said:

NiceCupOfTea said:

How risky / expensive is it running one as a daily workhorse with a little flair?

A bit risky in snowy and rainy conditions

I use mine daily and have done for 6 years (20k per year) - rain, wind, snow, ice can all be accommodated with a modicum of care. Not cheap to run, but worth it IMHO

Mine costs £700 a year insurance (business use & unlimited miles), I use two sets of tyres a year (£1200) and a set of pads (£100), and average 20mpg (£4500).

Maintenance at a specialist is £300 for Inspection I, and £400 for Inspection II. Oil services cost me the price of the oil & filter (I use original filters @ £12, and Silkolene Pro-R @ £35/5L).

[m5pilot]

As mmmm-five says, get one with decent EDC dampers and it will astonish you. They weigh in at just over 1700kg so are verging on being heavy (a Z4M Coupe weighs 1500kg).

If you get one with a strong engine (mine has 340+ bhp) it is a quick car. There are those 3.8's out there with just about 300 bhp or even less which are not quick.
A good one is still a fast car by today's standards.

Exceptionally well built and good all round sports saloon.