E39 M5 to E60 M5?
Discussion
I've got an E39 and regularly drive my brother's E60. The only thing stopping me definitely getting an E60 in the future is the small petrol tank. Fantastic car otherwise. As for the £35k cost to switch being worth it or not that obviously depends on financial circumstances.
Suggest you test drive one ASAP.
Suggest you test drive one ASAP.
Edited by dazren on Thursday 22 February 18:49
Diplomatic immunity!We had an E39 v E60 M5 thread a while ago which may be of interest:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=289394&f=181&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=289394&f=181&h=0
derestrictor said:
Diplomatic immunity!
Closest we'll get to immunity is cloned plates. Might I suggest something registerred to the American Embassy, following their approach to the congestion charge (ie bog off Ken it's a tax, we're not paying). I can't imagine they'll be too helpful to the busybody scum.
I've had both and they're completely different animals. Think of the E39 as a charging rhino - all visceral and raw with lots of torque. The E60 by contrast is like the starship enterprise - high tech and slow to get going but once you floor it... whoosh! If you want an E60 more akin to the E39 consider an Alpina B5.
Ashok said:
I've had both and they're completely different animals. Think of the E39 as a charging rhino - all visceral and raw with lots of torque. The E60 by contrast is like the starship enterprise - high tech and slow to get going but once you floor it... whoosh! If you want an E60 more akin to the E39 consider an Alpina B5.
DOn't agree at all, Ashok. The E60 is ot slow to get going. It's quicker to every increment than the E39. The B5 is a fast, but dull car.
The E60 M5 is continentally fast. I did 2500 km on the continent last week and its Autobahn performance was simply astounding. Very few cars on the road could touch it. The way it can accelerate from 80 to 140 mph is mind-blowing.
Zod said:
Ashok said:
I've had both and they're completely different animals. Think of the E39 as a charging rhino - all visceral and raw with lots of torque. The E60 by contrast is like the starship enterprise - high tech and slow to get going but once you floor it... whoosh! If you want an E60 more akin to the E39 consider an Alpina B5.
DOn't agree at all, Ashok. The B5 is a fast, but dull car.
The B5 is at least as fast (in real world conditions) as the M5 and I didn't find it particularly dull to drive. Softer, yes, but not really dull.
I have had 2 E39 M5's over the last 5 years or so, ran both up to around 50k miles, and recently changed the last one for the E60. I agree with Ashok that they are very different cars, around town the bottom end is just not quite the same in the E60, and I think there is something about the SMG box which doesn't help that feel around town, its just not quite as smooth at low speeds. That said, it's still very respectable and the clutchless box, whilst not as smooth as the E39 manual, is very relaxing as a result of not having to keep heaving on the clutch pedal in traffic.
However, on the open road, when you start putting the pedal down, it is just stunning in the way it responds and is on a totally different level in performance terms and completely addictive. It remains very usable around town, remember everything is relative, the E39 was just so good at that particular aspect, but overall, E60 is streets ahead. Add to that the fact that just as the classic E34 shape was gradually superceded by the beautiful E39 shape, so I find the E60 shape starting to make the E39 look a bit dated, and driving the occasional rental had made me aware of how the interior was dating.
In the end, I decided to go for it, and 3 months and 5k miles later feel I have bought into a legend that never fails to excite every time I get behind the wheel, and which is simply a better car than the E39, no contest.
However, on the open road, when you start putting the pedal down, it is just stunning in the way it responds and is on a totally different level in performance terms and completely addictive. It remains very usable around town, remember everything is relative, the E39 was just so good at that particular aspect, but overall, E60 is streets ahead. Add to that the fact that just as the classic E34 shape was gradually superceded by the beautiful E39 shape, so I find the E60 shape starting to make the E39 look a bit dated, and driving the occasional rental had made me aware of how the interior was dating.
In the end, I decided to go for it, and 3 months and 5k miles later feel I have bought into a legend that never fails to excite every time I get behind the wheel, and which is simply a better car than the E39, no contest.
Interesting thread as the m5/m6 is very likely replacemnent for my e39 M5 in the very near future.
Just one observation from looking around the M5 in the showroom at my local dealership on Friday was the the interior looks very cheap and plasticky compared to the e39? The standard leather looked very cheap, as did the silver plastic trim. I've noticed a lot of 2nd hand cars come with the full Merimo leather option, is this a major improvement.
There was an M6 in the classified i had considered going to view (sadly now sold) that looked a million times better with the piano black finish.
www.pistonheads.com/sales/134720.htm
Any views from current owners re the comparitive interiors?
Just one observation from looking around the M5 in the showroom at my local dealership on Friday was the the interior looks very cheap and plasticky compared to the e39? The standard leather looked very cheap, as did the silver plastic trim. I've noticed a lot of 2nd hand cars come with the full Merimo leather option, is this a major improvement.
There was an M6 in the classified i had considered going to view (sadly now sold) that looked a million times better with the piano black finish.
www.pistonheads.com/sales/134720.htm
Any views from current owners re the comparitive interiors?
Edited by stuh on Sunday 25th February 18:41
whoami said:
Zod said:
Ashok said:
I've had both and they're completely different animals. Think of the E39 as a charging rhino - all visceral and raw with lots of torque. The E60 by contrast is like the starship enterprise - high tech and slow to get going but once you floor it... whoosh! If you want an E60 more akin to the E39 consider an Alpina B5.
DOn't agree at all, Ashok. The B5 is a fast, but dull car.
The B5 is at least as fast (in real world conditions) as the M5 and I didn't find it particularly dull to drive. Softer, yes, but not really dull.
I'm slightly guilty of hype. Of course the B5 isn't a dull car, but I drove it back to back with the M5, having driven neither before and knew straight away that the M5 was the one I wanted. The B5 somehow felt bigger and less precise than the M5. The supercharger whine was irritating too.
Stuh,
When you're physically in the E60 M5 the material quality and sense of well being is palpable - naturally more so in the M6, afaiwc.
However, the E39 ambience (like a late E38 7 next to it's replacement) is still special and not at all, imho, dated. The build - if not paint quality - truly first rate.
Looking at both cars side by side earlier, I derive great appreciation for both Bangle and pre-Bangle era models: the E39 M5 possesses an almost perfect proportional aesthetic.
I intend to find a superb, late E34 M5 at some stage, this time to keep for that car is at least as satisfying to behold.
{As far as E28 variants are concerned, there seem to be very few nice M5s available so that avenue may require deviance Alpinawards...
}
When you're physically in the E60 M5 the material quality and sense of well being is palpable - naturally more so in the M6, afaiwc.
However, the E39 ambience (like a late E38 7 next to it's replacement) is still special and not at all, imho, dated. The build - if not paint quality - truly first rate.
Looking at both cars side by side earlier, I derive great appreciation for both Bangle and pre-Bangle era models: the E39 M5 possesses an almost perfect proportional aesthetic.
I intend to find a superb, late E34 M5 at some stage, this time to keep for that car is at least as satisfying to behold.
{As far as E28 variants are concerned, there seem to be very few nice M5s available so that avenue may require deviance Alpinawards...
}As a very new owner of an E60 M5 (two weeks ago), I'd say that the E60 is not without it's faults. Having come from a 996 Carerra 4s I can say that the luxury of the E60 is fantastic it's great to be seated inside and it is a techno geeks play pen. I must say though I find driving around town a little frustrating, and normally just use fully automatic as you just can't use the cars performance so its not worth trying. It drinks like an absolute fish and the fuel tank is laughably small for a car with a thirst like that. I am sure you can quite literally see the fuel gauge move as you stamp on the loud pedal. On the open road it is quite incredible and absolutely destroys my old 911 (and a new 997 judging by the other day). The E39 looks like an old car next to the E60 and I love the E60's aggressive styling - it might not be pretty but it has something to catch the eye and it certainly looks like a modern car.
stuh said:
... the interior looks very cheap and plasticky compared to the e39? The standard leather looked very cheap, as did the silver plastic trim. I've noticed a lot of 2nd hand cars come with the full Merimo leather option, is this a major improvement.
Any views from current owners re the comparitive interiors?
Any views from current owners re the comparitive interiors?
Edited by stuh on Sunday 25th February 18:41
Full leather is nice but expensive and can be a pig to maintain if you have small kids. The standard colour choice is pretty poor and I do agree that the aluminium trim feels cheap. That said, once you start playing with the Individual interior options you can spec some very nice interiors. Of course it's a matter of personal taste and I've seen a few really odd ones (two tone seats etc). Personally, I have Caramel leather and a very rare wood trim called Light Figured Ash (NOT the same as Olive Ash Carrara). I love it.
Cheers Ashok / Der
That's the beauty of buying nearly new, should get the expensive options for not a lot. Just gotta choose between M5/6 now! I've got a 2 year old daughter so the 4 doors would be easier, but that M6 just looks such good value.
That's the beauty of buying nearly new, should get the expensive options for not a lot. Just gotta choose between M5/6 now! I've got a 2 year old daughter so the 4 doors would be easier, but that M6 just looks such good value.
Edited by stuh on Tuesday 27th February 00:12
Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff