M5 - advice please!
Discussion
Although I love the padded cell of my LS430 for daily commuting I have never quite escaped the genuinely feasible prospect of an M5 as a more sporting alternative.
So I have a few questions which hopefully those with the necessary experience can help me with.
First, the Lexus is only 9 months old with under 6k on the clock - what's it's trade in value or what can I really expect in the current market against a sub-20k mile and less than 3 year old M5?
Second, how practical is the M5? The Lexus swallows shed loads of luggage including travel cot/pram paraphenalia almost entirely in the boot! Is the M5's hold similarly well-endowed?
Third, sat-nav - that in the LS430 will take me to The Blue Bar in Cannes and tell me to the minute the exact timings taking into account ferry crossings and a spot of peasant-bating en route through Provence: does the M5 possess such a wondrous device, even as an option?
Fourth, perfromance. I have never been in an M5 but everything trumpets aloud it's shattering 'real world' road-based dynamics - will I be impressed?
Finally, service costs and reliabilty? I've seen questions regarding the latter so what IS the crack?
I really am tempted and I've mentioned this before but I do need some quality opinions on this one.
Help!
So I have a few questions which hopefully those with the necessary experience can help me with.
First, the Lexus is only 9 months old with under 6k on the clock - what's it's trade in value or what can I really expect in the current market against a sub-20k mile and less than 3 year old M5?
Second, how practical is the M5? The Lexus swallows shed loads of luggage including travel cot/pram paraphenalia almost entirely in the boot! Is the M5's hold similarly well-endowed?
Third, sat-nav - that in the LS430 will take me to The Blue Bar in Cannes and tell me to the minute the exact timings taking into account ferry crossings and a spot of peasant-bating en route through Provence: does the M5 possess such a wondrous device, even as an option?
Fourth, perfromance. I have never been in an M5 but everything trumpets aloud it's shattering 'real world' road-based dynamics - will I be impressed?
Finally, service costs and reliabilty? I've seen questions regarding the latter so what IS the crack?
I really am tempted and I've mentioned this before but I do need some quality opinions on this one.
Help!
The E39 M5 is a VERY fast car. Great for long distance, high speed driving.
I had one in Frankfurt for 3 months and averaged 150mph on the autobahns most of the tim - it felt like 100mph.
There is a huge boot and mine came with sat nav as standard (German spec).
However, if you want/need an auto then the Alpina B10 V8 is your only option.
I've no idea how much you will get for your Lexus, however an 2000 M5 can be had for £40k.
I had one in Frankfurt for 3 months and averaged 150mph on the autobahns most of the tim - it felt like 100mph.
There is a huge boot and mine came with sat nav as standard (German spec).
However, if you want/need an auto then the Alpina B10 V8 is your only option.
I've no idea how much you will get for your Lexus, however an 2000 M5 can be had for £40k.
M-Five - phew! A decent response at last! Cheers.
The problem I've got is that the LS430 is really so bloody good at everything (except corners) including quite spirited dashing, especially when the vvti comes on @ around 5000rpm, that the only thing that will get me out of it is something savagely quicker and that imbues me with a sense of 'driver feel' but which also allows the family to feel just as comfy as they currently do...
Can I ask you, what did you reckon to the steering, both on the twisties and also m-ways? Some have criticised this in reviews - your thoughts would be much valued.
Also, is the basic M5 stereo any good? I seem to remember my old 740i one being pretty decent.
Apologies for such lardy questions but these things have to be taken into account.
Oh yeah, is it just me or are BMW incapable of returning e-mails, or is the prospect of having a big Japo-barge in stock too much for them to contemplate? Does anyone know any BMW dealers who want to get their heads from oot their own a-holes and do a deal or what - especially with the new M5 on the horizon? Or is this just typical of BMW dealers?
The problem I've got is that the LS430 is really so bloody good at everything (except corners) including quite spirited dashing, especially when the vvti comes on @ around 5000rpm, that the only thing that will get me out of it is something savagely quicker and that imbues me with a sense of 'driver feel' but which also allows the family to feel just as comfy as they currently do...
Can I ask you, what did you reckon to the steering, both on the twisties and also m-ways? Some have criticised this in reviews - your thoughts would be much valued.
Also, is the basic M5 stereo any good? I seem to remember my old 740i one being pretty decent.
Apologies for such lardy questions but these things have to be taken into account.
Oh yeah, is it just me or are BMW incapable of returning e-mails, or is the prospect of having a big Japo-barge in stock too much for them to contemplate? Does anyone know any BMW dealers who want to get their heads from oot their own a-holes and do a deal or what - especially with the new M5 on the horizon? Or is this just typical of BMW dealers?
Hi I had a 1999 M5 for a year and had no end of problems. In the BMW forum on PH (do a search) I listed the major faults. Sorry to long to list again or for my brain to re-dreg the missery of M5 ownership.
Yes it was fast, not very agile, it did corner ok when working but mine didnt corner well most of the time (see problems), was comfortable, build quality was sh*t the brakes worked hard as its a heavy car but it did look good.
I am sure I had a lemon, and thank God it was still under warranty.
I now have a new 911 which is cheaper to insure, cheaper to run, much more fun, 100% more reliable, and handles very well.
Just my experience but I would never go for another M5. but the backup from the garage was good and the BMW assist were good as was the in car tv whilst waiting for the BMW assist.
Plus the waste of time sport mode (you need it on all the time and the dsc cut in way too early, thus that was turned off in the dry.
Yes it was fast, not very agile, it did corner ok when working but mine didnt corner well most of the time (see problems), was comfortable, build quality was sh*t the brakes worked hard as its a heavy car but it did look good.
I am sure I had a lemon, and thank God it was still under warranty.
I now have a new 911 which is cheaper to insure, cheaper to run, much more fun, 100% more reliable, and handles very well.
Just my experience but I would never go for another M5. but the backup from the garage was good and the BMW assist were good as was the in car tv whilst waiting for the BMW assist.
Plus the waste of time sport mode (you need it on all the time and the dsc cut in way too early, thus that was turned off in the dry.
Hi derestrictor, I think you posted a similar question on the BMW forum and saw my reply about a month ago.
clearly not put you off
If you do go for an M5 ask for the service history and repair schedule printout. The dealership do hold a full record (despite giving some resistance) and see what has happened in the past.
Do get a warranty.
Have you seen one? what year or car are you thinking about?
Hope I can Help
clearly not put you off
If you do go for an M5 ask for the service history and repair schedule printout. The dealership do hold a full record (despite giving some resistance) and see what has happened in the past.
Do get a warranty.
Have you seen one? what year or car are you thinking about?
Hope I can Help
quote:
Hi derestrictor, I think you posted a similar question on the BMW forum and saw my reply about a month ago.
clearly not put you off
If you do go for an M5 ask for the service history and repair schedule printout. The dealership do hold a full record (despite giving some resistance) and see what has happened in the past.
Do get a warranty.
Have you seen one? what year or car are you thinking about?
Hope I can Help
How're you doin'g, Superlightr?
Appreciate the offer of help on this one as I'm really in a quandry.
The thing is, I do love the Lexus for what it is but the 993TT (which I've been commuting with recently) has obviously been distorting things a bit and reigniting the juices in the 'perfromance but practical saloon car' department.
I was in this predicament when I bought the EVO VII but it was just too raw and a tad too 'rear-facing baseball cap' for me, despite being devastatingly effective A-B (plus the wife hated it).
Maybe the Lard LS430 was a bit too much of a knee jerk reaction to that experience? Well, whatever, it has turned me into a sucker for ridiculously high build quality and a high toy quotient: what I'm hoping is that the M5 delivers a potent cocktail of comfort, practicality, searing speed and a few decent gimmicks to distract me when stuck in jams...
I have to do it soon, I think because the depreciation curve is about to deal me another harsh lesson in the mug's game of car buying, to which I am a pitifully willing addict.
I want to get an as new as possible example with certainly sub 20k but preferably sub 10k miles and sat-nav and parking sensors (sad git or what?!) and feel at least no additional financial burden. And can I ask again, IS the stereo any good? The Mark Levinson job in the Lex is better than most domestic systems and has rekindled my passion in bad music so the M5 must be at least respectable in that department too.
I apologize unreservedly for the 'rep-esque' nature of some of these spec-related questions but I am after the 'complete' package and it just looks like the M5 has - despite a few contrary experiences - got all the answers.
P.S. Looked at the Holden but it's just too crap inside which is not what this 'lardy-da Gunner Graham' purchase is all about!
P.P.S. WILL BMW dealers be interested in a part-ex of this nature? I've had zero response to e-mails sent thus far. Help!
Derestrictor,
As you no doubt read in the other post I am in the fortunate position of being able to drive an M5 and Cerb 4.5 on a daily basis. My initial comments were not favourable but this is fast changing. After having been run in and being able to use the full performance envelope it is now a different animal. Traction control means off the line it is often quicker than the Cerb 4.5 (unless I really time it right!). Put my foot down in the Cerb in 2nd gear with the M5 behind and to be honest was a bugger to shake off! The M5 still gives that churning feeling in the pit of the stomach under harsh acceleration although not as intense as the Cerb. As a sporting family car I cannot see much of an alternative. Stereo seems ok (although I'm hard of hearing, so cannot comment decisively on that - business partner has not commented otherwise). Steering although not as concise as the Cerb seems well weighted and accurate. Have not had the benefit of driving many other sporting cars such as the lexus or 996TT (bet that's a beast!) so my comparisons are limited. But if you're ever in my neck of the woods you're welcome for a test drive. Hope you work something out.
Cheers
Dan
As you no doubt read in the other post I am in the fortunate position of being able to drive an M5 and Cerb 4.5 on a daily basis. My initial comments were not favourable but this is fast changing. After having been run in and being able to use the full performance envelope it is now a different animal. Traction control means off the line it is often quicker than the Cerb 4.5 (unless I really time it right!). Put my foot down in the Cerb in 2nd gear with the M5 behind and to be honest was a bugger to shake off! The M5 still gives that churning feeling in the pit of the stomach under harsh acceleration although not as intense as the Cerb. As a sporting family car I cannot see much of an alternative. Stereo seems ok (although I'm hard of hearing, so cannot comment decisively on that - business partner has not commented otherwise). Steering although not as concise as the Cerb seems well weighted and accurate. Have not had the benefit of driving many other sporting cars such as the lexus or 996TT (bet that's a beast!) so my comparisons are limited. But if you're ever in my neck of the woods you're welcome for a test drive. Hope you work something out.
Cheers
Dan
P.S. Although the new 5 series is set for next year the new M5 will not be out for a year or two later (always seems the case with the Motorsport models). However by that time the M6 could be around, and with rumours of a 600bhp V10/V12 engine it should make the M5 look like a pussycat.
Cheers for that, Dan - you're a gent!
You're really making my mind up here, especially with that 4.5 Cerb comparison - cripes, that IS bleedin' quick!
But what do you think about my current problems getting an e-mail response from BMW dealers (I've only tried a couple, admittedly) - should I be reading something into this viz a vis the trade in?
The car mags (what do they ever know about real world car valuations?) seems to think the Lexus is worth about £45-48k (which is depreciation of £7-10k after 7 months and 6k miles) but it all depends on how or if BMW dealers want to be sensible. I won't be bothering if they take the p1ss but I hope something's sortable.
I guess I should have bought an M5 in the first place. Bugger!
You're really making my mind up here, especially with that 4.5 Cerb comparison - cripes, that IS bleedin' quick!
But what do you think about my current problems getting an e-mail response from BMW dealers (I've only tried a couple, admittedly) - should I be reading something into this viz a vis the trade in?
The car mags (what do they ever know about real world car valuations?) seems to think the Lexus is worth about £45-48k (which is depreciation of £7-10k after 7 months and 6k miles) but it all depends on how or if BMW dealers want to be sensible. I won't be bothering if they take the p1ss but I hope something's sortable.
I guess I should have bought an M5 in the first place. Bugger!
With regard to email queries I can only guess that some garages are uncapable of using email and prefer to use telephones or speak on a face to face basis (perhaps more chance of perfecting their sales techniques to influence prospective buyers). However given your remarkable way with words (love reading your posts) I think that if you were to go down to a dealership you'd soon be able to secure a good deal.
Derestrictor,
Are you related to Benno, per chance ? Only him and your good self exhibit such ability to chop in cars ! I'm only jealous sir, more power to your right foot !
In my experience, when I was looking for my own Teutonic barge last year I e mailed both Merc and BMW dealers - I can only conclude that most of them are chuntering Luddites that wouldn't know one end of a mouse from another. USB to them is the big brown van that delivers mail on occasion. In the end I resorted to the trusty dog n' bone in order to get a rapport going.
Even after that, calls were never returned, excuses made and so forth. To be honest, I think that my local BMW garage (who I shall not name) looked right down their noses at me when I walked into their showroom and enquired about a 5 Series. Their loss, since I had more than enough brass to buy one of Bavaria's finest. Heck, I even had to go to Shrewsbury to make my Mercerdes purchase as my local dealer wouldn't give me the time of day.
How refreshing therefore, that both me and the missus were greeted with open arms by the Porsche dealer who sold us the Boxster. And that was over twice as expensive as the Merc in the end.
So, it's telephone, or visit. At least if you visited in the Toyota, they could at least see it in the flesh (and weep at the superior build quality)
I wish you luck.
Are you related to Benno, per chance ? Only him and your good self exhibit such ability to chop in cars ! I'm only jealous sir, more power to your right foot !
In my experience, when I was looking for my own Teutonic barge last year I e mailed both Merc and BMW dealers - I can only conclude that most of them are chuntering Luddites that wouldn't know one end of a mouse from another. USB to them is the big brown van that delivers mail on occasion. In the end I resorted to the trusty dog n' bone in order to get a rapport going.
Even after that, calls were never returned, excuses made and so forth. To be honest, I think that my local BMW garage (who I shall not name) looked right down their noses at me when I walked into their showroom and enquired about a 5 Series. Their loss, since I had more than enough brass to buy one of Bavaria's finest. Heck, I even had to go to Shrewsbury to make my Mercerdes purchase as my local dealer wouldn't give me the time of day.
How refreshing therefore, that both me and the missus were greeted with open arms by the Porsche dealer who sold us the Boxster. And that was over twice as expensive as the Merc in the end.
So, it's telephone, or visit. At least if you visited in the Toyota, they could at least see it in the flesh (and weep at the superior build quality)
I wish you luck.
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff