An M5 for a die hard TVR fan???

[NoisyGriff]

I've had a couple of TVRs (a 4l Griffith and a 5l Chimeara), but had a sensible caption about 6 months ago and replaced the Chimeara with an e39 520i.

It is an excellent car - certainly the best thought-out car I've ever owned. It's smooth, roomy, well built...etc. But it's as slow as hell.

I'm no boy-racer, but I do enjoy a spirited drive, so I'm considering an e39 M5 to replace the 520.

I realise it won't be a wild V8 sportscar like the TVRs, but will it give me the grunt and handling I yern for?

I would really appreciate any thoughts you guys have on this - Is it worth a try?

[PetrolTed]

It'll still be a very different experience, but a fun one. I've not driven an M5, but other Beemers of 'adequete power' are a hoot. Much smoother and less brutal than a TVR but fun in a different way.

[pvapour]

NoisyGriff said:

I've had a couple of TVRs (a 4l Griffith and a 5l Chimeara), but had a sensible caption about 6 months ago and replaced the Chimeara with an e39 520i. It is an excellent car - certainly the best thought-out car I've ever owned. It's smooth, roomy, well built...etc. But it's as slow as hell. I'm no boy-racer, but I do enjoy a spirited drive, so I'm considering an e39 M5 to replace the 520. I realise it won't be a wild V8 sportscar like the TVRs, but will it give me the grunt and handling I yern for? I would really appreciate any thoughts you guys have on this - Is it worth a try?

luckily I have both, and the M5 is quicker than the 5.0 Chimaera above 100mph, not as exilerating (sp), but for mile munching and the ability to hoon around when you feel like it, it is the best car I have had for this, it far exceeds my expectations, buy one, you won't regret, just make sure it has the full BMW history as the Vanos can play up.

Nik

>> Edited by pvapour on Friday 5th March 11:53

[futie]

I had a Cerb and M5 for a year or so. M5 always lived in the shadow of the TVR until I got rid of the Cerbera. Now it's really beginning to shine - a really superb car - suspension and body control are fantastic.

Having said that, you MUST get a BMW used warranty. Mine's had some fairly major problems in the two years or so i've owned it and is currently having a new cylinder block and pistons fitted! All covered under warranty I might add!

Can't wait to get it back

[NoisyGriff]

Thanks for the advice.

I envy anyone who can have both. Maybe one day...

I'm glad to hear that the M5 is a good drive.

Dealer warranties are always a winner. Both TVRs I've had were under warranty and both warrantees paid for themselves.

Are there any mechanical weakspots on the M5, or is it as solid as the 520 seems to be?

[futie]

NoisyGriff said:

Are there any mechanical weakspots on the M5, or is it as solid as the 520 seems to be?

Weakspots so far are the wheels (they bend) and the engine which seems to break occasionally. Apart from that, the rest of the car is a la a normal 5 series - we used to have a 528 sport beforehand and that felt almost exactly the same - really solid.

Oh, I forgot - the rear ARB brackets break as well. But they're less than a quid and you can fit replacements yourself.

[m-five]

And the clutch seems to last less than 30,000 miles!

[B19TOY]

NoisyGriff said:

Thanks for the advice. I envy anyone who can have both. Maybe one day... I'm glad to hear that the M5 is a good drive. Dealer warranties are always a winner. Both TVRs I've had were under warranty and both warrantees paid for themselves. Are there any mechanical weakspots on the M5, or is it as solid as the 520 seems to be?

I still have a Cerbera 4.5 and an E39 M5 although the TVR sees more track days. However at Spa, Goodwood and Thruxton any Rover engined Tivs were left behind by the M5. After 55,000 miles the M5 clutch is still original and the only weak point so far are the all to ready to warp brake discs.

[pvapour]

B19TOY said:

NoisyGriff said: Thanks for the advice. I envy anyone who can have both. Maybe one day... I'm glad to hear that the M5 is a good drive. Dealer warranties are always a winner. Both TVRs I've had were under warranty and both warrantees paid for themselves. Are there any mechanical weakspots on the M5, or is it as solid as the 520 seems to be? I still have a Cerbera 4.5 and an E39 M5 although the TVR sees more track days. However at Spa, Goodwood and Thruxton any Rover engined Tivs were left behind by the M5. After 55,000 miles the M5 clutch is still original and the only weak point so far are the all to ready to warp brake discs.

It'll be dead interesting to see how these two compare at Brunters on the 21st, considering the claimed 420bhp of the Cerbie against the real 400 of the BMW , I got back from Geneva 1hour ago, and this morning I saw a genuine 178mph on the GPS and it was still pulling!!!

it's the fastest i've been (in a car) and it felt rock solid compared to the Cerberas I've driven.

>> Edited by pvapour on Sunday 7th March 15:41

[B19TOY]

pvapour said:

B19TOY said: NoisyGriff said: Thanks for the advice. I envy anyone who can have both. Maybe one day... I'm glad to hear that the M5 is a good drive. Dealer warranties are always a winner. Both TVRs I've had were under warranty and both warrantees paid for themselves. Are there any mechanical weakspots on the M5, or is it as solid as the 520 seems to be? I still have a Cerbera 4.5 and an E39 M5 although the TVR sees more track days. However at Spa, Goodwood and Thruxton any Rover engined Tivs were left behind by the M5. After 55,000 miles the M5 clutch is still original and the only weak point so far are the all to ready to warp brake discs. It'll be dead interesting to see how these two compare at Brunters on the 21st, considering the claimed 420bhp of the Cerbie against the real 400 of the BMW , I got back from Geneva 1hour ago, and this morning I saw a genuine 178mph on the GPS and it was still pulling!!! it's the fastest i've been (in a car) and it felt rock solid compared to the Cerberas I've driven. >> Edited by pvapour on Sunday 7th March 15:41

At every circuit where I have driven both cars the Cerbera is quicker. It is much lighter than the M5, accelerates more rapidly and the brakes can be really pushed harder and later.

Also two up at Elvington the Cerbera pulled a needle width off an indicated 190 whilst the M5 (sans restrictor) indicated 175 mph.

[pvapour]

B19TOY said:

pvapour said: B19TOY said: NoisyGriff said: Thanks for the advice. I envy anyone who can have both. Maybe one day... I'm glad to hear that the M5 is a good drive. Dealer warranties are always a winner. Both TVRs I've had were under warranty and both warrantees paid for themselves. Are there any mechanical weakspots on the M5, or is it as solid as the 520 seems to be? I still have a Cerbera 4.5 and an E39 M5 although the TVR sees more track days. However at Spa, Goodwood and Thruxton any Rover engined Tivs were left behind by the M5. After 55,000 miles the M5 clutch is still original and the only weak point so far are the all to ready to warp brake discs. It'll be dead interesting to see how these two compare at Brunters on the 21st, considering the claimed 420bhp of the Cerbie against the real 400 of the BMW , I got back from Geneva 1hour ago, and this morning I saw a genuine 178mph on the GPS and it was still pulling!!! it's the fastest i've been (in a car) and it felt rock solid compared to the Cerberas I've driven. >> Edited by pvapour on Sunday 7th March 15:41 At every circuit where I have driven both cars the Cerbera is quicker. It is much lighter than the M5, accelerates more rapidly and the brakes can be really pushed harder and later. Also two up at Elvington the Cerbera pulled a needle width off an indicated 190 whilst the M5 (sans restrictor) indicated 175 mph.

I dont doubt the Cerbera being quicker round a track, much better pwr-wt ratio as you say, and even a straight drag race from a standing start the Cerbera would come out on top, again weight plays a major factor.

But, take away the weight advantage i.e a rolling start from about 60 - 70 mph and I think you'll find it closer than you think, 190 on a Cerbera speedo is so inacurate I've had GPS in a Cerbera at an indicated 160 and the car was in fact only doing 150mph, by the time you get to 190 realisticly the car will be doing about 175, the M5 on the other hand is far more acurate, when the GPS was reading 178 yesterday the speedo was reading just over 180.

Like I say, it will be interesting at Brunters, last time a 4.5 light weight was there (Jeremy C I think) it could only muster low 160s I beleive, think there might have been something wrong with his car tho, not sure.

Roll on Bruntingthorpe

>> Edited by pvapour on Monday 8th March 20:02

[sjc]

Noisygriff,you might want to try an HSV as well.Not as refined as the M5 but probably closer to a TVR in the way it drives.(I had 4 Tivs)tested the M5 but bought an HSV.(Nothing wrong with the BMW, in fact if anything it was too good and left me a little cold).

[pvapour]

sjc said:

Noisygriff,you might want to try an HSV as well.Not as refined as the M5 but probably closer to a TVR in the way it drives.(I had 4 Tivs)tested the M5 but bought an HSV.(Nothing wrong with the BMW, in fact if anything it was too good and left me a little cold).

agreed, and sorry about going off track! the HSV is much rarer than an M5 and the supercharged one is much quicker, it's just missing a bit of kudos IMO, there is one at Keystone performance cars in Ringwood if your interested, really nice bunch of guys that have been in the business for over 20 years.

hope this helps

www.keycops.co.uk

[B19TOY]

i.e a rolling start from about 60 - 70 mph and I think you'll find it closer than you think,



>> Edited by pvapour on Monday 8th March 20:02[/quote]

Rolling start you think I'll find it closer than I think?

Hmmmm......... agreed rolling starts are different but looming large in the rear view mirror is about as close as I thought.

Oh ............ but that's still second.

[pvapour]

B19TOY said:

i.e a rolling start from about 60 - 70 mph and I think you'll find it closer than you think, >> Edited by pvapour on Monday 8th March 20:02

Rolling start you think I'll find it closer than I think?

Hmmmm......... agreed rolling starts are different but looming large in the rear view mirror is about as close as I thought.

Oh ............ but that's still second.[/quote]



I'm sure you'd cope with the embarrassment

[NoisyGriff]

I would, indeed, love a Cerbera.

I've always viewed the Cerbera as the Chimeara's evil uncle. Very quick, unique and quite raw (raw's not a bad thing - the Chimeara was quite raw; that was part of its attraction).

Part of the attraction of the M5 is the refinement and 'useability' it offers. With the Chimeara, taking it out was always an occasion - it felt wrong to 'abuse' it by using it for a scrappy run to B&Q.

After a little surfing, I've found the HSV you speak of. It does look awesome. I wonder, though, does it have the solid, quality feel of the BMW?


Mrs Noisy, of course, has a faily strong say in all this. SHe is a fan of the BMW, but has thrown a little spanner my way:
"What about an M Coupe?" she says.

So, now, it's M5 vs. HSV vs. M Coupe.

I love these choices.

[Beast]

M5

[Patrick L]

Hi NoisyGriff

I went from a Griff to an M5. For me the change was to much. Don't get me wrong the M5 was great but not involving enough. In an ideal world I would have one of each but that would be out of the question. As such I have just taken delivery of a 1995 911. Is this going to be the mix that I am after?

Patrick

[sjc]

Noisygriff,no need to surf too much, have a look at the HSV section on the gassing station for owners views,speak to Mark at www.lindenspecialvehicles.com or the fledgling owners club at www.hsvdriversclub.co.uk. Both have cars for sale,and feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.

[bluechim]

I have a Chimaera 450 (02) and and M5 (99) and they are both great, they also both break quite often. It's good to have a backup! Not sure which one breaks more! They are so different, they are not easy to compaire.