E39 M5 advice.
Discussion
Hello everyone, I was hoping to prevail upon you for a bit of advice...
I'm on the verge of buying an E39 M5. I've had a couple in my sights but the one that is really interesting me has an 'issue'...
It's a facelift car with FSH, check out fine on HPI. The car drives well, there's no vanos rattle even on start-up, no rust under the filelr cap etc etc... It does have the pixelation problem but I'm not that bothered about it. It pulls as it should in every gear, tracks true, brakes straight and just feels right.
The main issue seems to be that at some point it suffered a rear end shunt. It seems to have been repaired professionally and it's very hard to tell, you have to have a keen eye for bodywork. On the underside of the boot where the bodywork meets the lid there seems to have been some work done on the seam weld, but it's hardly visible and I might be wrong.
The seller (private) was up front about it and I've no reason to suspect it was a heavy one. What I want to do is get an independant inspection to verify it's good because I'm going to be carrying kiddies and I don't want any safety compromises.
Who would you recommended for such an inspection? I feel like the RAC wouldn't be specialised enough but I also don't have much confidence in the average BMW dealer. I'm in the South.
Thank you in advance for your help.
I'm on the verge of buying an E39 M5. I've had a couple in my sights but the one that is really interesting me has an 'issue'...
It's a facelift car with FSH, check out fine on HPI. The car drives well, there's no vanos rattle even on start-up, no rust under the filelr cap etc etc... It does have the pixelation problem but I'm not that bothered about it. It pulls as it should in every gear, tracks true, brakes straight and just feels right.
The main issue seems to be that at some point it suffered a rear end shunt. It seems to have been repaired professionally and it's very hard to tell, you have to have a keen eye for bodywork. On the underside of the boot where the bodywork meets the lid there seems to have been some work done on the seam weld, but it's hardly visible and I might be wrong.
The seller (private) was up front about it and I've no reason to suspect it was a heavy one. What I want to do is get an independant inspection to verify it's good because I'm going to be carrying kiddies and I don't want any safety compromises.
Who would you recommended for such an inspection? I feel like the RAC wouldn't be specialised enough but I also don't have much confidence in the average BMW dealer. I'm in the South.
Thank you in advance for your help.
First I would get an HPI check to see if its a cat D of worse.
To be honest you cant really go wrong with an RAC or AA inspection check.
They are both more than capable of checking Ferraris and the like so an M5 should be no problem.
As you say its the body that could be an issue not the drive train. The body on an M5 is no different to any other monocoq shell.
Also you will get a written report which will no doubt help when you come to sell it.
Believe me they are excellent cars to drive. Just make sure the history is complete.
Russ
To be honest you cant really go wrong with an RAC or AA inspection check.
They are both more than capable of checking Ferraris and the like so an M5 should be no problem.
As you say its the body that could be an issue not the drive train. The body on an M5 is no different to any other monocoq shell.
Also you will get a written report which will no doubt help when you come to sell it.
Believe me they are excellent cars to drive. Just make sure the history is complete.
Russ
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