Discussion
Hi all!
After a lot of deliberating, I feel myself being drawn to the classic BMW, the E39 M5.....a brilliant drivers car that is way better than the E46 M3....I didn't realise how fast they were or just how well they handled....and the build quality is fabulous!
Is the comms pack that important....and would prof SAT NAV with TV function be seen as inferior??
Can anyone recommend where to go for a retro-fit bluetooth system?
How can over-shiny seats be dealt with...is replacement of them financially prohibitive?
What exactly are the costs of extended warranties (under and over 60K miles)?
Can anyone recommend someone in the know to look over a potential purchase?
I'm no expert on these cars and would be grateful for any help from those of you who have been there and done it....I would of course bung you a few quid for a good drink or my leggy blonde wife could pay you in kind!!....please mail me if you'd like to assist....based in sunny Essex!
I'm aiming to buy one in the very near future.....preferably low mileage from a dealer...does anyone know anything about the three E39s at Hexagon...and what should I aim to pay for such cars??
Sorry about all the questions....it's a big thing to do as you know and I just want to do it with my eyes wide open!
Thanks in advance for your help guys.
Jazzer
PS: Please don't mention "search"!!!!!
After a lot of deliberating, I feel myself being drawn to the classic BMW, the E39 M5.....a brilliant drivers car that is way better than the E46 M3....I didn't realise how fast they were or just how well they handled....and the build quality is fabulous!
Is the comms pack that important....and would prof SAT NAV with TV function be seen as inferior??
Can anyone recommend where to go for a retro-fit bluetooth system?
How can over-shiny seats be dealt with...is replacement of them financially prohibitive?
What exactly are the costs of extended warranties (under and over 60K miles)?
Can anyone recommend someone in the know to look over a potential purchase?
I'm no expert on these cars and would be grateful for any help from those of you who have been there and done it....I would of course bung you a few quid for a good drink or my leggy blonde wife could pay you in kind!!....please mail me if you'd like to assist....based in sunny Essex!
I'm aiming to buy one in the very near future.....preferably low mileage from a dealer...does anyone know anything about the three E39s at Hexagon...and what should I aim to pay for such cars??
Sorry about all the questions....it's a big thing to do as you know and I just want to do it with my eyes wide open!
Thanks in advance for your help guys.
Jazzer
PS: Please don't mention "search"!!!!!
Jazzer said:
Hi all!
After a lot of deliberating, I feel myself being drawn to the classic BMW, the E39 M5.....a brilliant drivers car that is way better than the E46 M3....I didn't realise how fast they were or just how well they handled....and the build quality is fabulous!
Is the comms pack that important....and would prof SAT NAV with TV function be seen as inferior?? Comms pack is nice to have, but I don't see it affecting used prices that much any more, certainly not compared to the quality of the service history. Still, if you can find a good one with it fitted, definitely a bonus, although the Sat Nav is still beaten by a TomTom etc
Can anyone recommend where to go for a retro-fit bluetooth system? The Parrot systems are good, and can be bought from any car audio dealer or Halfrauds
How can over-shiny seats be dealt with...is replacement of them financially prohibitive? Possibly a good clean with some Gliptone would sort that, or a Scuffmaster kit. Seats from a breaker will be cheaper than a retrim, but still not that cheap.
What exactly are the costs of extended warranties (under and over 60K miles)? No idea on this one
Can anyone recommend someone in the know to look over a potential purchase? If you can get the car to Bexley Motor Works in, would you believe, Bexley they know their stuff with these.
I'm no expert on these cars and would be grateful for any help from those of you who have been there and done it....I would of course bung you a few quid for a good drink or my leggy blonde wife could pay you in kind!!....please mail me if you'd like to assist....based in sunny Essex!
I'm aiming to buy one in the very near future.....preferably low mileage from a dealer...does anyone know anything about the three E39s at Hexagon...and what should I aim to pay for such cars?? Not seen these in the flesh, but they are VERY pricey, as is everything from Hexagon. I'd suggest you'll find better, cheaper, elsewhere.
Sorry about all the questions....it's a big thing to do as you know and I just want to do it with my eyes wide open!
Thanks in advance for your help guys.
Jazzer
PS: Please don't mention "search"!!!!! Have you tried the sear...just kidding. Good luck with the hunt!
After a lot of deliberating, I feel myself being drawn to the classic BMW, the E39 M5.....a brilliant drivers car that is way better than the E46 M3....I didn't realise how fast they were or just how well they handled....and the build quality is fabulous!
Is the comms pack that important....and would prof SAT NAV with TV function be seen as inferior?? Comms pack is nice to have, but I don't see it affecting used prices that much any more, certainly not compared to the quality of the service history. Still, if you can find a good one with it fitted, definitely a bonus, although the Sat Nav is still beaten by a TomTom etc
Can anyone recommend where to go for a retro-fit bluetooth system? The Parrot systems are good, and can be bought from any car audio dealer or Halfrauds
How can over-shiny seats be dealt with...is replacement of them financially prohibitive? Possibly a good clean with some Gliptone would sort that, or a Scuffmaster kit. Seats from a breaker will be cheaper than a retrim, but still not that cheap.
What exactly are the costs of extended warranties (under and over 60K miles)? No idea on this one
Can anyone recommend someone in the know to look over a potential purchase? If you can get the car to Bexley Motor Works in, would you believe, Bexley they know their stuff with these.
I'm no expert on these cars and would be grateful for any help from those of you who have been there and done it....I would of course bung you a few quid for a good drink or my leggy blonde wife could pay you in kind!!....please mail me if you'd like to assist....based in sunny Essex!
I'm aiming to buy one in the very near future.....preferably low mileage from a dealer...does anyone know anything about the three E39s at Hexagon...and what should I aim to pay for such cars?? Not seen these in the flesh, but they are VERY pricey, as is everything from Hexagon. I'd suggest you'll find better, cheaper, elsewhere.
Sorry about all the questions....it's a big thing to do as you know and I just want to do it with my eyes wide open!
Thanks in advance for your help guys.
Jazzer
PS: Please don't mention "search"!!!!! Have you tried the sear...just kidding. Good luck with the hunt!
Not dealing specifically with your questions, but more about the buying process in general:
1) Know what you are getting into: The price of an E39 M5 may be very reasonable but factor in that it was a £60K car and that this is somewhat reflected in parts specific to the M5 and that if something major breaks we are talking ££££. That said, in my 2 years ownership I have only had to fix a leaking diff seal for very little £ (or in my case, euro)
2) Buy on condition and history and not so much mileage. Much prefer a one or two owner (though this would be increasingly difficult to find) car, that has higher mileage (in other words, it most likely been used on motorways and not been abused in town or has been stuck in a garage and only done short trips + get a full service history with preferably a stack of invoices to back it up.
A motorway missile may be peppered in stone chips on the front, but this is much to be preferred to a shagged interior as it can be fixed for relatively little money and gives a genuine representation of the car's condition.
3) I personally think that for the little extra money the facelift (around September 2000) is well worth it, as you most probably at some point in ownership will upgrade to the facelift head- and rearlights + you get a very very nice steering wheel (don't underestimate this, seriously)
4) Get a feel for how a good M5 drives, by testdriving quite a few - mine felt the tightest and strongest but only by having driven 6 or 7 in my search was I able to tell this. Also, the fuel flow reading (in the hidden menu on the instrument display, test 6 IIRC), gives a hint to the performance, with 130 l/h being a good indication of healthy MAFs/engine.
1) Know what you are getting into: The price of an E39 M5 may be very reasonable but factor in that it was a £60K car and that this is somewhat reflected in parts specific to the M5 and that if something major breaks we are talking ££££. That said, in my 2 years ownership I have only had to fix a leaking diff seal for very little £ (or in my case, euro)
2) Buy on condition and history and not so much mileage. Much prefer a one or two owner (though this would be increasingly difficult to find) car, that has higher mileage (in other words, it most likely been used on motorways and not been abused in town or has been stuck in a garage and only done short trips + get a full service history with preferably a stack of invoices to back it up.
A motorway missile may be peppered in stone chips on the front, but this is much to be preferred to a shagged interior as it can be fixed for relatively little money and gives a genuine representation of the car's condition.
3) I personally think that for the little extra money the facelift (around September 2000) is well worth it, as you most probably at some point in ownership will upgrade to the facelift head- and rearlights + you get a very very nice steering wheel (don't underestimate this, seriously)
4) Get a feel for how a good M5 drives, by testdriving quite a few - mine felt the tightest and strongest but only by having driven 6 or 7 in my search was I able to tell this. Also, the fuel flow reading (in the hidden menu on the instrument display, test 6 IIRC), gives a hint to the performance, with 130 l/h being a good indication of healthy MAFs/engine.
I wouldn't bother with the cars at Hexagon, as has already been said they're well over priced.
Do a national search on the BMW website, if you're willing to travel the best value car on there at the moment is at David Prentice Cars, Portadown in Nothern Ireland.
January 2002 with 34,000 miles, Le Mans blue with Le Mans blue leather with Comms Pack, Individual Audio System (rare and expensive option) plus a few other bits and pieces for £17,995.
Do a national search on the BMW website, if you're willing to travel the best value car on there at the moment is at David Prentice Cars, Portadown in Nothern Ireland.
January 2002 with 34,000 miles, Le Mans blue with Le Mans blue leather with Comms Pack, Individual Audio System (rare and expensive option) plus a few other bits and pieces for £17,995.
Echoing the above, I've had my M5 for just over a year and it's been relatively trouble free.
I paid over the odds slightly from a dealer mainly because I wanted the AUC warranty. I looked for a car with an average mileage (55k at the time) and was fussier about the interior than the exterior as the latter is easier to rectify. As far as warranty renewal is concerned, now that my car has 70k miles on the clock the warranty renewal from BMW is pricey to say the least - they want £1500 for comprehensive cover with a £250 excess.
Make sure you drive a few and don't just buy the first one you come across. I had a blast in 5 before picking mine, and did so because it felt the tightest.
I paid over the odds slightly from a dealer mainly because I wanted the AUC warranty. I looked for a car with an average mileage (55k at the time) and was fussier about the interior than the exterior as the latter is easier to rectify. As far as warranty renewal is concerned, now that my car has 70k miles on the clock the warranty renewal from BMW is pricey to say the least - they want £1500 for comprehensive cover with a £250 excess.
Make sure you drive a few and don't just buy the first one you come across. I had a blast in 5 before picking mine, and did so because it felt the tightest.
Have a look on here for all the info you are ever likely to need. A couple of hours and a few mugs of coffee later and you'll be an E39 guru.
Also, if I might add my two penneth:
Condition is obviously important. A scruffy car that requires a couple hundred quid spent on it to bring it back to life cosmetically would ring alarm bells more than a mint 100k miler, as the owner clearly hasn't got two pennies to rub together. However, a lower mileage car will always be easier to sell. The 'stigma' attached to a car with big mileage will always turn the average punter away regardless of the car. Also, dampers/bushes etc should be replaced as the car nears six figure mileage, which can be costly. Moreover, IIRC BMW wont warranty a car with more than 100k on the clock.
As a guide, I would say that sensibly priced 60/70k mile car would be the way forward. Avoid ridiculously over-priced low mileage cars as you will struggle to recoup the premium paid come resale and completely void any benefit of the low mileage if you plan to use it a lot. Most imporatantly, a chat with the previous owner should be a priority. This will confirm whether the car has been owned by an enthusiast or a badge queen.
Ultimately, as above, only driving several cars will give you an inclination for what's hot and what's not. There is no reason why a high mileage car shouldn't drive as fresh as a daisy, but they will be harder to come by as the prolatariate take over.
HTH
Also, if I might add my two penneth:
Condition is obviously important. A scruffy car that requires a couple hundred quid spent on it to bring it back to life cosmetically would ring alarm bells more than a mint 100k miler, as the owner clearly hasn't got two pennies to rub together. However, a lower mileage car will always be easier to sell. The 'stigma' attached to a car with big mileage will always turn the average punter away regardless of the car. Also, dampers/bushes etc should be replaced as the car nears six figure mileage, which can be costly. Moreover, IIRC BMW wont warranty a car with more than 100k on the clock.
As a guide, I would say that sensibly priced 60/70k mile car would be the way forward. Avoid ridiculously over-priced low mileage cars as you will struggle to recoup the premium paid come resale and completely void any benefit of the low mileage if you plan to use it a lot. Most imporatantly, a chat with the previous owner should be a priority. This will confirm whether the car has been owned by an enthusiast or a badge queen.
Ultimately, as above, only driving several cars will give you an inclination for what's hot and what's not. There is no reason why a high mileage car shouldn't drive as fresh as a daisy, but they will be harder to come by as the prolatariate take over.
HTH
Edited by ASBO on Monday 28th July 08:34
I recently picked up a tip top condition 38k mile example. All the 100k+ cars I looked at were all used and abused, and one with 60k at a specialist dealer who was a rude t
t. Looking at Auto Trader, he still has it and it was April when I looked at the within 2 days of him adding it to his yard - claimed the last one he had sold within a few days, and two guys arrived at once to buy it. Otherwise it was a well spec’d car, I just didn’t want to give him my money.
In the end, the one I bought had money thrown at it, every receipt kept, garaged, and driven sedately. The owner had left the country, so sold it as it was a depreciating asset sitting in storage. His loss, my gain
It is a buyers market; these types of cars are not shifting. Find the right one, and haggle.
t. Looking at Auto Trader, he still has it and it was April when I looked at the within 2 days of him adding it to his yard - claimed the last one he had sold within a few days, and two guys arrived at once to buy it. Otherwise it was a well spec’d car, I just didn’t want to give him my money.In the end, the one I bought had money thrown at it, every receipt kept, garaged, and driven sedately. The owner had left the country, so sold it as it was a depreciating asset sitting in storage. His loss, my gain
It is a buyers market; these types of cars are not shifting. Find the right one, and haggle.
rassi said:
1) Know what you are getting into: The price of an E39 M5 may be very reasonable but factor in that it was a £60K car and that this is somewhat reflected in parts specific to the M5 and that if something major breaks we are talking ££££.
Do you have any specific examples of expensive parts (or servicing) ?BOR said:
rassi said:
1) Know what you are getting into: The price of an E39 M5 may be very reasonable but factor in that it was a £60K car and that this is somewhat reflected in parts specific to the M5 and that if something major breaks we are talking ££££.
Do you have any specific examples of expensive parts (or servicing) ?rassi said:
Not dealing specifically with your questions, but more about the buying process in general:
1) Know what you are getting into: The price of an E39 M5 may be very reasonable but factor in that it was a £60K car and that this is somewhat reflected in parts specific to the M5 and that if something major breaks we are talking ££££. That said, in my 2 years ownership I have only had to fix a leaking diff seal for very little £ (or in my case, euro)
2) Buy on condition and history and not so much mileage. Much prefer a one or two owner (though this would be increasingly difficult to find) car, that has higher mileage (in other words, it most likely been used on motorways and not been abused in town or has been stuck in a garage and only done short trips + get a full service history with preferably a stack of invoices to back it up.
Best advice so far, forget worrying about mileage , its defo the condition with these car's & you will rarely get anyone buying these cars without them doing some research beforehand so they wont be put off by a few extra mile's etc.1) Know what you are getting into: The price of an E39 M5 may be very reasonable but factor in that it was a £60K car and that this is somewhat reflected in parts specific to the M5 and that if something major breaks we are talking ££££. That said, in my 2 years ownership I have only had to fix a leaking diff seal for very little £ (or in my case, euro)
2) Buy on condition and history and not so much mileage. Much prefer a one or two owner (though this would be increasingly difficult to find) car, that has higher mileage (in other words, it most likely been used on motorways and not been abused in town or has been stuck in a garage and only done short trips + get a full service history with preferably a stack of invoices to back it up.
Good luck
dan101smith said:
E39 VANOS vs E36 Evo VANOS - similar story?
Perhaps and TBH I don't know enough about the failure rate to comment accurately. What I do know is that an acquaintance of mine was presented with an £8k bill after his car went in for some minor servicing and judging by some of the stories in internet land, he's not alone.ASBO said:
dan101smith said:
E39 VANOS vs E36 Evo VANOS - similar story?
Perhaps and TBH I don't know enough about the failure rate to comment accurately. What I do know is that an acquaintance of mine was presented with an £8k bill after his car went in for some minor servicing and judging by some of the stories in internet land, he's not alone.
Results 1 - 10 of about 109,000 for e39 vanos.
Results 1 - 10 of about 266,000 for e36 vanos.
Really though, have a quick search on M5board.com ; The S62 is a tough engine, and while there have been some reported VANOS issues they're relatively - compared to the E36 - few and far between.
Results 1 - 10 of about 266,000 for e36 vanos.
Really though, have a quick search on M5board.com ; The S62 is a tough engine, and while there have been some reported VANOS issues they're relatively - compared to the E36 - few and far between.
Edited by yankcrime on Monday 28th July 21:13
dan101smith said:
ASBO said:
dan101smith said:
E39 VANOS vs E36 Evo VANOS - similar story?
Perhaps and TBH I don't know enough about the failure rate to comment accurately. What I do know is that an acquaintance of mine was presented with an £8k bill after his car went in for some minor servicing and judging by some of the stories in internet land, he's not alone.Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff