e39 M5 bad idea?

[kikcaffine]

Hello,
Im looking to add another car to my pile of vehicles. I have an 02 530i that I really enjoy, but have always wished it was tighter and faster. My friend has informed me he is looking to get rid of his 03 M5. Im thinking of making the move to the M5, but for those that have owned them, are they worth it? How does it drive compared to the 1m (I know its a huge difference), are they around the same speed? Is handling around the same? Do they handle more like an E46?

[all4bspinnin]

a friend of mine recently purchased a e39 m5. He absolutely loves it. Get the manual transmission.

The m5 is more of a daily driver with some get up and go. A 1M probably handles better.

[LukeM3]

I still miss mine. I bought it after selling my M Coupe (needed more space with a kid on the way). It was a hoss. As long as it's been maintained you should be fine. Definitely worth it. Obviously heavier, but you gotta love that V8. I found it so quick in traffic that sometimes it left you no time to use the indicator.
Not as agile as the 1M nor as light, I'd say the 1M can be a little more tail happy, but I don't flog my cars either, so hopefully someone can chime in on that (driving each car at their limit). The E39 is my favorite 5 series shape of all time. I feel it's the last solid built BMW.
You're in a good predicament
Best of luck

[kikcaffine]

I had a ZHP before my 1M, and I miss that car every day.

[doug_999]

I had a e39 540ia and loved it. No way however would the e39 M5 handle better than the 1M and... from what I've read, the e39 is a very expensive car to keep and maintain. I do think the 2003 might be appreciateing however. Still at the end of the day, the car is 8 years older than the 1M - so be careful.

[mistawall]

e39 m5 is very desirable. if maintained well i would go for it. gettign harder to find good examples of them.

[nachob]

Originally Posted by kikcaffine

I had a ZHP before my 1M, and I miss that car every day.

I still have zhp and 1M and nice to switch off. NA motors still cool and steering feedback is great. My first M car ride was in an e39 M5. Awesome sound in anger. Loved it. If I recall owner had a lot of repairs though but great car!

[buddalun]

Originally Posted by all4bspinnin

a friend of mine recently purchased a e39 m5. He absolutely loves it. Get the manual transmission.

The m5 is more of a daily driver with some get up and go. A 1M probably handles better.

E39 M5 ONLY came equipped with a manual 6 speed transmission.

[Nkc]

An e39 m5 especially a 2003 is never a bad idea.

How many miles on your buddy's M5? Color, sport seats? Vanos ok?

[Feco]

I have a e39 m5 99 - this car is a torque power plant and looks amazing.. lol
I love to use it on highways it is confortable and pulls hard. A Friend of mine has one with ecu remap and it is faster than my stock 1m, but the baby M handles way better, specially on high speeds.

You can see some pictures here: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/bpgar...=view&id=19017

[Tinsta]

Yup, they are great cars, still got mine.. 14years

[all4bspinnin]

Originally Posted by buddalun

E39 M5 ONLY came equipped with a manual 6 speed transmission.

I wasn't aware of that. Thank you

[Josh (PA)]

Great car, I had an '03 Sterling over Carmel. It was an awesome ownership experience. I bought it in 2009 with 40k miles for $25k and sold it in 2014 with 98k miles for $19,5... All in it was probably the cheapest car I've ever owned. It liked tires and brakes, and required normal amounts of maintenance for an M car, but nothing excessive. It was significantly less maintenance intensive than the e61 w/ n54 engine I just sold.

It is a very different driving experience than other M cars I've owned. It is a locomotive, much more about the engine than about the handling (opposite of the e36 m3 or 1er). It is sprung perfectly for a GT car and will absolutely eat miles fast and planted. It is not as at home on back roads, but acquits itself nicely there. It has very aggressive DSC intervention, it interferes at the first sign of wheel slip.
I'd highly recommend getting a good example. There are some cheap beat up examples out there, but they will feel like sh*t and suck your wallet dry.

[Rotaman]

I previously had an e39 m5 for 6 years. If maintained well, they are incredible cars. Compared to the 1m, it feels like a more expensive vehicle when new. There are more refinements. The tach has a moving red line, the cabin felt slightly more premium, there was less cabin noise. Though the m5 would now feel like an older car.

In terms of driving the m5 is a highway beast, the 1m is a nimble track monster. Many times in the m5 I would be far exceeding the speed limit without knowing it as the car felt more at home at the high speeds. And that's actually the reason I sold it, far too many tickets. The 1m feels lighter, quicker in the corners but doesn't feel as solid at high speeds. Also, the 1m definitely is more tail happy.

If your commute is highway --> M5
If it's twisty roads --> 1M

[kikcaffine]

Originally Posted by Nkc

An e39 m5 especially a 2003 is never a bad idea.

How many miles on your buddy's M5? Color, sport seats? Vanos ok?

2003, black/black, I guess sport seats (they are heated) Vanos I'd assume is fine. Hes a big car guy so its well taken care of. Has bilstein pss9 coilovers, alpina wheels, new clutch and lightweight flywheel, short shifter, shark tune, muffler delete, etc. What should I look to pay?

[Josh (PA)]

how many miles?

[kikcaffine]

123k

[Nkc]

Originally Posted by kikcaffine

2003, black/black, I guess sport seats (they are heated) Vanos I'd assume is fine. Hes a big car guy so its well taken care of. Has bilstein pss9 coilovers, alpina wheels, new clutch and lightweight flywheel, short shifter, shark tune, muffler delete, etc. What should I look to pay?

The minor mods are fine but make sure he still has the original wheels in good condition. Dead pixels on the dash is common too so don't be surprised. Black on black is my favorite and alcantara roof liner is a plus. As long as it hasn't had any major accidents with the reasonable mileage, I'd pay something around $18-23k usd on it depending on its original paint condition and interior wear. You can easily drive this car for free for a while and might even see profit after 3-5 years. Good luck.

I've been looking all around Canada for the last 2 years for an 03 with under 100k miles. Still empty handed. It's the perfect one-two punch paired with the 1M. If you've got some money to throw around, a Z8 would finish off that perfect collection.

[Josh (PA)]

Spend some time at m5board. Those guys are a total wealth of information and the place to find e39 M5s for sale if you want a nice one.

The car you're considering with 123k miles should be around $15k -if a PPI checks out... Be sure to do a pre-purchase inspection. The mods don't add much value other than the new clutch in my opinion.

[Dackelone]

I would jump at a chance to own an e39 M5. I have the next best thing... an e39 540i with a 6 speed manual! It's my second e39 and I just love these cars! Go buy that M5!!

[kikcaffine]

Originally Posted by Nkc

The minor mods are fine but make sure he still has the original wheels in good condition. Dead pixels on the dash is common too so don't be surprised. Black on black is my favorite and alcantara roof liner is a plus. As long as it hasn't had any major accidents with the reasonable mileage, I'd pay something around $18-23k usd on it depending on its original paint condition and interior wear. You can easily drive this car for free for a while and might even see profit after 3-5 years. Good luck.

I've been looking all around Canada for the last 2 years for an 03 with under 100k miles. Still empty handed. It's the perfect one-two punch paired with the 1M. If you've got some money to throw around, a Z8 would finish off that perfect collection.

He does, frankly I like them alot more than the Alpina wheels, so I'd see about putting those on and letting him keep the Alpinas. The pixels are dead on the cluster and the high beams dont work. I enjoy fixing and diagnosing that kind of stuff though. Its in really good shape, he's super picky about how its maintained, has all new brakes and suspension components about 20k ago.

[rickc007]

Originally Posted by kikcaffine

Hello,
Im looking to add another car to my pile of vehicles. I have an 02 530i that I really enjoy, but have always wished it was tighter and faster. My friend has informed me he is looking to get rid of his 03 M5. Im thinking of making the move to the M5, but for those that have owned them, are they worth it? How does it drive compared to the 1m (I know its a huge difference), are they around the same speed? Is handling around the same? Do they handle more like an E46?

I currently have a 2003 M5, and a 2013 135iS

Different Beasts altogether.
The 135iS is in DCT
The M5 6 spd Manual, the only way it was produced

M5 is wider, more stable feeling, heavier and doesn't handle quite like the 1 series, or even the 3 series.
I traded my 330ci in for the M5, and immediately thought the M5 handled more like a boat then the 3. The 5 handles great for a big Heavy car (4000lbs). But it's a Big Heavy Car.
But Power out the ying yang.
Really gets going once you hit 3rd.
Have had it up to 140, totally stable.

While I wouldn't call the 1 series "twitchy", compared to the 5, it's twitchy
Can kick the tail out easy on either one of them, but the 1 seems to break loose a little earlier.
I don't race them or anything, meaning just accelarating to get in traffic, you see the traction light come on

Seat much narrower in the 1, and can really wrap you in.
Prefer the 1 seat to the 5.
Interior on the 5 is better, full Nappa all the way around.
Like the old school looks of the M5 instrument cluster better.

Comparitively the M5 is seems to be much easier to work on, and no turbo.
The M5 forum has a bazillion DYIs, and I've done many of them.
M5 is VERY well built, and I have 140k now on mine, Many new parts.
Runs like a dream.

Touch call if I had to have one, would probably take the 5 cuz I can fix it.
But my back likes the 1 seat much better.

Either way, Nothing bad to say about the 5 , Unless you're going to bring it to the dealer form all repairs and maintenance. In which case, may want to start playing the Lottery. BMW charges an Arm and Leg for everything.
Beyond what you would imagine.