M5 on a budget
Discussion
Which one?
Assuming an E60 V10...
The answer depends.
Are you buying an M5 with £15k and a good amount to run it?
You will need plenty of petrol funds as it will do 150-200miles per £75 if careful. If not, then 120miles to a tank is not uncommon.
Can you afford £900 for front brakes?
Are you prepared to spend £1500 - £2000 replacing the rod bearings if not done?
If you are not scared of higher running costs and can find one with a warranty (or all try issues already sorted and a great history), then absolutely. It is a magnificent engine and a brilliant car that is just intoxicating to drive. The gearbox is MUCH better then made out as long as you don't expect an automatic and take the time to learn how to use it.
Edited to add:
They are good fun to drive, but p400 and p500s modes are like two different cars. Both modes it's a fast car, but it needs revs to feel fast in p400 and the response is dulled. Good for wet, cold and greasy roads though.
Assuming an E60 V10...
The answer depends.
Are you buying an M5 with £15k and a good amount to run it?
You will need plenty of petrol funds as it will do 150-200miles per £75 if careful. If not, then 120miles to a tank is not uncommon.
Can you afford £900 for front brakes?
Are you prepared to spend £1500 - £2000 replacing the rod bearings if not done?
If you are not scared of higher running costs and can find one with a warranty (or all try issues already sorted and a great history), then absolutely. It is a magnificent engine and a brilliant car that is just intoxicating to drive. The gearbox is MUCH better then made out as long as you don't expect an automatic and take the time to learn how to use it.
Edited to add:
They are good fun to drive, but p400 and p500s modes are like two different cars. Both modes it's a fast car, but it needs revs to feel fast in p400 and the response is dulled. Good for wet, cold and greasy roads though.
Edited by MikeM6 on Saturday 21st November 17:48
The E60 M5 can be bought for 15k but you need to have the money to run it & they're not anywhere near cheap to run & that's before you take into account the potential borkage issues & there are a fair few borkage issues.
The two words in your title should never be said in the same sentence
The two words in your title should never be said in the same sentence
Now if you want something with some more sensible running costs then I'd be looking at the VXR8
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011176...
With similar running costs but not the borkage there's the:
CLS55
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009203...
63
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007301...
E
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011196...
Talking of Borkage there's the RS6 which is a car that makes the M5 look like a positively sensible buy
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009214...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011176...
With similar running costs but not the borkage there's the:
CLS55
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009203...
63
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007301...
E
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011196...
Talking of Borkage there's the RS6 which is a car that makes the M5 look like a positively sensible buy
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009214...
Short answer NO.
The words budget and M5 .... just don’t mix.....
Even if you did DIY.... some of the parts costs alone will make you wince.... that’s without some of specialist software calibration and such you might need...
Any M car is a money draining experience to keep it tip top..... the normally aspirated motors of old require a lot of maintenance to run at peak performance...
If you can afford it realistically go for it.... some of best motoring memories are in and have been in M cars .... but just keep in mind it’s expensive when they go wrong or require big work....
The words budget and M5 .... just don’t mix.....
Even if you did DIY.... some of the parts costs alone will make you wince.... that’s without some of specialist software calibration and such you might need...
Any M car is a money draining experience to keep it tip top..... the normally aspirated motors of old require a lot of maintenance to run at peak performance...
If you can afford it realistically go for it.... some of best motoring memories are in and have been in M cars .... but just keep in mind it’s expensive when they go wrong or require big work....
See now it depends on how you read the title and OP’s first post.
If you’re going to buy an M5 and have a £15k budget to run it for a year- then yes.
If you’ve got £15k and that’s going to buy it and run it for any period of time then NO.
I had an e39 M5 - admittitly it had 230k miles one it so I knew what I was getting into, and my heart ignored the evidence provided by my brain and I started “making things right” they are 20 years old. 20year old stuff needs replacing and it will on any mileage car. That’s when s
t got serious and I spent a LOT of money on suspension and brakes and clutch and flywheel and... and... and...
I did however love every second behind the wheel, so whether you can afford it or not.. do it!! You only live once and your kids are only going to fritter your inheritance away on recycling enzymes and soy milk enemas. Live for today!!!
If you’re going to buy an M5 and have a £15k budget to run it for a year- then yes.
If you’ve got £15k and that’s going to buy it and run it for any period of time then NO.
I had an e39 M5 - admittitly it had 230k miles one it so I knew what I was getting into, and my heart ignored the evidence provided by my brain and I started “making things right” they are 20 years old. 20year old stuff needs replacing and it will on any mileage car. That’s when s
t got serious and I spent a LOT of money on suspension and brakes and clutch and flywheel and... and... and... I did however love every second behind the wheel, so whether you can afford it or not.. do it!! You only live once and your kids are only going to fritter your inheritance away on recycling enzymes and soy milk enemas. Live for today!!!
The classic thread on these is https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=18...
Sounds like £15k a year is about right to keep one of these on the road.
Sounds like £15k a year is about right to keep one of these on the road.
bmwmike said:
Slightly contrarian view but 15k for a unique car with a never to be seen again nasp v10, at the bottom of its depreciation curve. Depreciation is a significant cost of motoring.
I say go for it. What have you got to lose - not (the full) 15k anyway.
There are two questions here, 'is it worth it?' and 'can you afford it?'.I say go for it. What have you got to lose - not (the full) 15k anyway.
In terms of the former, your points are very valid - it stacks up well compared to buying a new M5 for £100k and losing £10k a year in depreciation, which wouldn't get you a howling V10 anyway. So if someone had the budget for a newer M5 but wanted an E60, that would be a good argument in its favour.
However, if you can't afford the likely repair bills, then it probably isn't a good idea, however nice it is to drive and however much it may be worth in future. It's the words 'on a budget' in the thread title that are probably bringing out the caution in people ;-)
Do it.
E39 or E60.
Frankly I had a great time in 635CSi's and M535i's when they were cheap. Always worked on the worst case scenario being that if it massively S**ts it self then it will break to 50% of it's purchase cost.
You could loose £8k in depreciation in a boring car in 3 years, or enjoy an legendary super saloon with your fingers crossed and if it does blow up one day you'll still get a fair chunk of your outlay back.
Oh, and never rely on a car like this as your only means of transport.
They only become life-changingly expensive once you NEED it fixing.
Sometimes being able to wait for that second hand part to turn up, work through an issue, think about it or even at worst leave with a specialist to work on with no massive deadline works out cheaper.
E39 or E60.
Frankly I had a great time in 635CSi's and M535i's when they were cheap. Always worked on the worst case scenario being that if it massively S**ts it self then it will break to 50% of it's purchase cost.
You could loose £8k in depreciation in a boring car in 3 years, or enjoy an legendary super saloon with your fingers crossed and if it does blow up one day you'll still get a fair chunk of your outlay back.
Oh, and never rely on a car like this as your only means of transport.
They only become life-changingly expensive once you NEED it fixing.
Sometimes being able to wait for that second hand part to turn up, work through an issue, think about it or even at worst leave with a specialist to work on with no massive deadline works out cheaper.
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