BMW M5

[pickwithaustin]

I have an opportunity to pick up a BMW M5 for a deal (V10, 500+ horsepower with dual clutch transmission and sport mode). Does anyone have any experience with these? I drove it today and it kicks the arse of my Camaro and Vette's... in a sedan style vehicle. Transmission will be a small learning curve.

Thoughts or impressions? Has anyone here owned one?

[1fastmf]

Ive hated every smg bmw I've ever driven so I would get some seat time before any thing. Maintenance and repairs will be very costly as well but that goes for any high end German car.

[pickwithaustin]

Love my 328i. Repairs for me are very inexpensive as I've built great relationships over the years of car-ing. I'm considering letting one of the Vette's go to make room for this one.

[1fastmf]

I don't think a 328i would have a smg gearbox. Have you driven this m5 you're considering? the trans is some thing you'll love or hate

[pickwithaustin]

I misread your post. Yes, I drove it today. Fantastic ride. The transmission is similar to the dual clutch that is in my Audi, though the BMW one felt far more pronounced and aggressive.

[CamaroDreams76]

I heard from my friend that the V10 in these E60s eat oil.

Friend owns two M3s, a E36 and a E92.

I personally love the E60 M5 and if I could buy one I would. I love the smg trans in my friends E92...... Especially in M mode where the downshift revmatches have a bark to it.

[Truck Norris]

I wouldn't want to jump into bed with that car without some kind of warranty.

Good thing you can buy an extended warranty from Carmax that will cover you for 100,000 more miles. Plus CARMAX will deliver any car in their nation wide fleet to your dealership

I'd also suggest getting the manual gear box because those early SMG's leave a lot to be desired.

In the long run its gonna be hard to beat a Carmax M5 with a manual and additional 100k warranty.

A manual equipped V10 M5 with straight pipes (electronic cutouts) blasting through tunnels and all without the worry of expensive repairs x500!!! Redline shifts all day

[shibbs]

I work at a BMW dealership.
All BMWs eat oil.
They're all temperamental, and high maintenance.
Never go by the 15,000 mile oil service interval. Do at least twice that often.
Be wary of injectors. There are 10 of them, and they're $300+ a pop. Replacing one? Nope. All 10. Plus labor, plus reprogramming. If one sticks open, it's a firehose, and it extinguishes the spark, and dumps raw fuel that ignites in the cats. Yes, your car will catch on fire if you don't notice it IMMEDIATELY. (had one burn up on a test drive last year, no lies)
The SMG electronics are EXPENSIVE. The pump isn't available separately. All or nothing.

That being said, the V10 is such a great engine. It loves to be beaten on. (And you must - driving these tamely kills them)

If you want a VIN history, PM me the last 7 of the VIN. I'll do what I can.

[LEADfoot927]

Unless you have 10k saved up I would pass. The SMG pump goes out regularly and will cost 4-6 grand for repairs. The engines are known for issues. If you want similar performance in a sedan check out a Charger 392/SRT8.

[pickwithaustin]

Some good input, thanks!

I get pricing way under anything the general public does on both purchases and repairs, but am definitely interested in input regarding reliability and pros/cons on performance. It certainly is a learning curve to drive (not difficult, just a different paradigm).

[Truck Norris]

^ If you want a fast sedan and can get great deals then I'd get something newer/ more reliable. Now day's in 2015 I would only get that M5 for that V10 sound track and the way I can manipulate the sounds it makes with a manual trans and exhaust cutout.

By todays standards they are not very quick and you have to press a sequence of buttons to get it out of 400hp mode because 500hp was only reserved for crazy's back then. Even if you have access to lower then normal repair charges I think a SMG'd M5 would be constant drain on your wallet unless you had that warranty I told you about.

[1fastmf]

Buy a poor mans m5.. Pontiac g8

[shibbs]

Originally Posted by Truck Norris

you have to press a sequence of buttons to get it out of 400hp

Nope. Just a single button on the steering wheel. The one with the M on it. That's the fun button.

[pickwithaustin]

I don't need a poor man's version, lol, and yes it was just the M button. The quality in build, not just engine but interior, etc., draws me to the BMW line. I am learning that there are some maintenance issues, but it's not like I'd drive it a lot (it would be like #15 in my rotation). It is just so very intriguing and at an almost give away price... much thinking shall persist.