Quote:
Originally posted by Buzzkill
Hi kids. Long-time lurker, first-time poster here (and no, I am not a Penske sock).
I have a small automotive dilemma. I am pretty sure I know the answer already, but you never know.
Background: I am driving a lightly used BMW 540 (a 2000 E39 with the M package, for you Bimmerphiles) at the moment and am pretty darn happy with it. It's had a couple of the standard 540 problems (now fixed) but has otherwise behaved itself admirably. Goes way faster than sane people ought to and carries 4 people just for fun.
Anyway, last week I am driving down the alley behind my house and one of my neighbors is out washing his car. I'd seen it peeking out of his garage before, so I knew it was also an E39. Turns out that it is an M5, dark bluish-black with a caramel-colored leather interior and all of the goodies. It was pretty freakin' sweet, and I said so.
Turns out, he is thinking about selling it. It is a 2000 model with (get this) 18,000 miles on it. He keeps it garaged and covered. Drives it maybe once a month. It is spotless inside and out. Still smells like a new car. No mechanical problems with it (so he says--and I asked him about the standard M5 problems).
Hence the dilemma: I have a perfectly fine car--maybe the best 4 door sedan out there but for the M5 (although reasonable minds may differ). The M5 is a beast. Drinks gas like a Hummer, and goes like stink. The only thing that might save me from license-endangering trouble with it is the lousy SoCal traffic. Despite the fact that the last thing I need is a potentially finicky quasi-super car in my garage, I am thinking that if I can get him to take $40k for it (which is probably on the low end, but supportable with NADA numbers), I'd be dumb not to buy this thing.
Anybody want to try to talk me out it?
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I love the M5. Love it. Love the e39 540i too. I would never talk someone out of buying a beast, which is the common nickname M5 owners use for their cars. I know this one only has 18,000 miles on it, but $40k seems a bit too much for a 2000. The 2000 model year had a lot of well-documented problems, all of which you can research on roadfly.com or m5board.com. Actually, the fact that it its a 2000 and only has 18,000 miles on it would kind of worry me more than a normal amount of mileage for that year--you're now probably out of warranty and it's never really been driven as a daily driver. That said, if you could get it for $35k or less, it might be good. You should keep in mind that the M5 market isn't that great right now for sellers, and once the E60 M5 starts hitting the shores, the prices will drop more, and perhaps more stock will become available. I'm personally hoping to pick up a 2001-2002 M5 sometime in 2006. Check your local craigslist, ebay and get a better sense of your market. Also remember that it is a real real real expensive car to maintain and fix, especially out of warranty. Good luck!
