M3/M5 £10k

[Para999]

Evening all..... Sorry if this post is covering old ground, but interested in views of you who own one...

Shortly going to be changing my car. Choice is E46 M3 or (less likely) E39 M5.

The budget is around £10k, so obviously higher mileage cars.

Assuming you buy one with proper history, should the higher miles worry me? Avoid SMG2 M3 with higher miles? If £10k was your budget what would you buy??

I know theres a big difference between these cars, I'm just wondering, in your opinion (and I'm doing plenty of research) if I'm being unrealistic with my budget?

Cheers all
Cjg

[scotia_steve74]

I'm looking for an E39 M5 at the moment too. If you go for high miles they seem to be pretty good but be prepared to spend a few quid sorting them out if things go wrong. Have a look at forum.bmw5.co.uk and M5board.com for things to look out for. I'd guess the M3 would be a bit cheaper to run. I'd rather have a slightly higher mileage car that's been looked after than a lower mileage one that's not...

[LJTS]

On a high mileage (80K+ Miles) E46 M3 check the following has been done! Otherwise you'll probably have to do it soon.....

Starter Motor
Alternator
Front & Rear Discs
RTAB
Front Wishbones
Suspension (shocks etc)
Power Steering Pump
AC Pump
Water Pump
SMG Pump
Radiator
Clutch

Not trying to put you off buying one but any of the above at a BMW main dealer costs £££££££'s

If you can use a spanner then it will be loads cheaper

Edited by LJTS on Thursday 4th June 18:58

[GDe36]

Hi, maybe I am out of topic but, maybe you want to consider this as well:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1065967.htm

I am the seller so feel free to ask me anything in case you are interested.

[n boost]

Mine is over 100k miles and my last e46 m3 had 127k when i sold it.
They take mileage well but one thing u should check with any around the 100k mark is the headgasket.
These are steel and very thin between the cyclinders around 3mm and split due to wear and heat causing the car to pink.
Not a very known problem but i had this happen on my last one.
Buying a higher mileage car can be a good thing as say most the bits that need changing around 80k miles would have been replaced on a 100k mile car and be good for a few years.

[arryb]

GDe36 said:

Hi, maybe I am out of topic but, maybe you want to consider this as well:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1065967.htm

I am the seller so feel free to ask me anything in case you are interested.

Excuse me if I'm wrong but isn't that massively overpriced? Yes, I know the mileage is low but that's not always good for an old car and that same £12k would get you into a 75,000 mile e46 - I know what I'd be driving....

[humpbackmaniac]

I was in the same position as the OP. Went for the E39 as I found a nice one at the right price, and yes it is older and looks it, but the grunt, shove, oomph call it what you will is second to none. When combined with the noise. M3's are everywhere M5's are special. Where did I put that tin hat?

And.....whenever anyone is talking about cars, generally which Audi to buy, in the pub/work/other halfs house, when they ask you " Oh what do you drive?" M5 says, "I know I could have bought a porsche but I wanted something faster and I'm not a prick". M3 just doesnt say that, despite probably being the superior vehicle, but I like a classic.

[S600VXR]

Having had a 330ci sport for almost 2 years a while ago I just went for an M5 as my work hack as its bigger, more comfortable and really goes when provoked. I also think the M5 has more cudos than the M3 although both are great cars. I think people respect you more when yr in the 5 rather than a 3 where they all want to race you.

All IMHO of course.

[dan101smith]

GDe36 said:

Hi, maybe I am out of topic but, maybe you want to consider this as well:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1065967.htm

I am the seller so feel free to ask me anything in case you are interested.

I've got a question - why is the oil light on at idle?

[haggy]

dan101smith said:

GDe36 said:

Hi, maybe I am out of topic but, maybe you want to consider this as well:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1065967.htm

I am the seller so feel free to ask me anything in case you are interested.

I've got a question - why is the oil light on at idle?

£12000.....................

[mat205125]

When i was looking for my M3, I was spending a little more, however was aiming to buy a car with ideally about 60k miles on the clock. I ended up buying a car with closer to 80k on the clock, and saved a couple of grand into the deal too. Whilst the car I bought has a larger number displayed on the clock, it is also just over that kind of age where things begin to wear, and has had 4 new dampers, SMG overhaul (inc pump clutch and flywheel), Inspection 2, etc etc etc. The cars that I was looking at around the 55-60k mile mark would have cost me more, and could have potentially needed that kind of stuff doing in the coming years.

Moral = So long as the car is genuine, and has been fastigiously maintained with genuine parts, then I would not be too put off with a slightly higher mileage. Beyond 70k, and towards 100k, I'd want to see receipts for bushes and dampers. Shop around, insist on paperwork, and you could (fingers crossed) end up with a car that is substantially cheaper than an identical car with 30k miles less, and also the peace of mind that the bigger wear and tear bills are behind you, and not potentially looming in the coming years.

Good hunting, and keep us informed on your progress.

[Jer_1974]

humpbackmaniac said:

M5 says, "I know I could have bought a porsche but I wanted something faster and I'm not a prick". M3 just doesnt say that, despite probably being the superior vehicle, but I like a classic.

What happens if you have both? Oh yea the Porsche is faster.