Question for E39 M5 owners - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

RCMD35 · 19th March 2000, 20:24

I've been reading the MB for nearly a year now and will be ordering my M5 shortly. On the board, you read a lot of great things about the car and you read about some problems with the car. This leads me to my 2 questions for E39 M5 owners.

1. Overall, is anyone disappointed with their M5?

2. If you had to do it all over again, would you buy an M5 or would you buy something else?

Thanks in advance.

RyanC

Chris Foote · 19th March 2000, 22:02

1. Absolutely not, it is a superb car and is well worth the price of admission.

2) Definately buy the M5. One of the ultimate stealth sedans out there. The E55 is nice, but no stick shift

Louis · 20th March 2000, 00:49

I'd definitely buy the E39 M5 again. The only disappointment I have found is the range of the garage door opener! (Clearly one of the biggest disappointments in my life !)

A few observations about my feelings towards the car -- your preferences may make these comments helpful or totally irrelevant.

The car is fast. No, make that FAST.
The car is quiet and smooth.
the car is full of luxury (Exclusive interior) or sporty touches (Sportive interior).
The car will not disappoint.

However, the car is different than its predecessor M5s. In getting smoother and quieter it gives up some of the driver envolvemnt and racer's edge that my E34 M5 had. I've heard owners of the E28 M5 describe the change to the E34 M5 the same way. But the E39 M5 is faster than the E34 M5. This is not a criticism, just a difference noted. After all, I'm losing some of my racer's edge too, I'm getting older (and hopefully better too!)

max berger · 20th March 2000, 19:40

just order the carbon black/lemans blue.you've waited long enough ryan.wait any longer and i'll sell you mine cause a new one will be out.

SteveP · 20th March 2000, 20:32

I love my M5. No buyer's remorse here! Performance is thrilling. Luxury and creature comforts abound. Never been in a car I'd rather own, including other BMWs, Mercedes, or any Japanese or American car.

SteveP
'00 M5 Avus Blue / Black Exclusive

rcoffin · 21st March 2000, 01:46

1. Yes and 2. No. It is a great car, fun to drive, exhilerating straight line performance and very capable in the corners (but it is no E30 M3 in the pure handling department)

22nd March 2000, 00:18

1. Definitely not.
2. M5 all the way ...

This car is the ultimate sports sedan, but you have to be in the market for a sports sedan! You pick your horse for your course, as they say.

ALX · 22nd March 2000, 00:37

1. The car has been fantastic from day one.
2. For my $72,000.00, I don't think I would buy anything else. I can't think of any other 4 door car, in this price range, that blends 4 door practicality and sports car thrill.

Tenney · 22nd March 2000, 22:41

1. No
2. Yes

Really like the car. Best sedan I've owned. Wish it had less electronic intervention, though. In this type of car, Sport mode is fine for all conditions, IMO. And the DCS is FAR too sensitive - and when it does activate, it's either all or nothing (not good). Strip some of that stuff out and keep it under 4000 lbs. and it would be ideal.

NigelM5 · 7th March 2003, 03:06

I am very happy with the M5.

Its practical, its very fast and it's just as much fun to drive as any 2 door/2 seat sportscar. No regrets.

Plus, as you read here, there is an endless array of modifications available if you're so inclined.

m5sport · 7th March 2003, 03:18

No regrets.

Had '01 540/6 and thought that was a great car, circumstances led me to be able to go for the M5. The obvious is the additional power, the brakes are way better than 540 and the overall experience is just sweet.

The most fun is getting the thumbs up from car savvy teens!

The only issue with all e39 for me (6'2") is the steering wheel cuts off the top of the dash. Oh well, I guess that means that I have to drive over 120mph to see the speedo reading! I hate when that happens....

Steve Morling · 7th March 2003, 03:29

My only disappointment is that I don't get to drive the car more!
There really is no alternative to the specification of 4 doors, 5 seats, 0-60 below 5 secs and manual transmission.
Don;twait any longer - goforit.

MEnthusiast · 7th March 2003, 03:41

I had it all to do over again and I bought another M5

but I was a little dissapointed with the braking feel and steering feel/weghting. I can now accept the steering feel/weighting as a trade off to the need for a recirc ball system. I cannot really understand why the stock car has a comparatively to the M3 and Z8, mushy pedal feel. but the brakes work great- its just a little bit in the feel, and compared to other cars it is very good.

I say "was" because I think overall the car is so good I simply look beyond these things- they are not major- the steering and braking are very good, just not supergood as I would have wished for.

BostonRocket · 7th March 2003, 03:46

1. I love M5, and am not dissapointed at all.

2. Definitely would buy it again. Wait, I DID!!

'Rocket

19th March 2000, 20:24	#1 (permalink)
RCMD35 Junior Member, warming up (<31 posts) Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Mt. Laurel, NJ USA View my Sales Feedback: (0)	Question for E39 M5 owners I've been reading the MB for nearly a year now and will be ordering my M5 shortly. On the board, you read a lot of great things about the car and you read about some problems with the car. This leads me to my 2 questions for E39 M5 owners. 1. Overall, is anyone disappointed with their M5? 2. If you had to do it all over again, would you buy an M5 or would you buy something else? Thanks in advance. RyanC

7th March 2003, 03:06	#10 (permalink)
NigelM5 Member, Sport: On DSC: On (>100 posts) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alexandria,VA Age: 37 View my 2003 M5 - Imola Red Sales Feedback: (0)	I am very happy with the M5. Its practical, its very fast and it's just as much fun to drive as any 2 door/2 seat sportscar. No regrets. Plus, as you read here, there is an endless array of modifications available if you're so inclined. __________________ '07 M6 cab (indy red, silverstone II, carbon)

7th March 2003, 03:18	#11 (permalink)
m5sport Member, Sport: On DSC: On (>100 posts) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Northern NJ View my 2002 M5 LeMans Blue w/ LB interior Sales Feedback: (0)	No regrets. Had '01 540/6 and thought that was a great car, circumstances led me to be able to go for the M5. The obvious is the additional power, the brakes are way better than 540 and the overall experience is just sweet. The most fun is getting the thumbs up from car savvy teens! The only issue with all e39 for me (6'2") is the steering wheel cuts off the top of the dash. Oh well, I guess that means that I have to drive over 120mph to see the speedo reading! I hate when that happens.... __________________ '02 LMB, LMB interior, M-audio, shades, Dinan exhaust, Euro dash, Bluetooth retro kit/RAZR V3 phone, BP Ti Pedals, BP Sway Bar Brackets '05 QX56 Tuscan Pearl, Graphite

7th March 2003, 03:29	#12 (permalink)
Steve Morling Senior Member (>500) Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Houston, Tx, USofA View my Sales Feedback: (0)	My only disappointment is that I don't get to drive the car more! There really is no alternative to the specification of 4 doors, 5 seats, 0-60 below 5 secs and manual transmission. Don;twait any longer - goforit. __________________ Steve ///M '03 Infiniti FX45 Silver/Tech '01 Carbon Black/Black Sport (sold 31 Dec, 03) 1967 GTO Conv Red/White/White Last edited by Steve Morling; 7th March 2003 at 03:30.

7th March 2003, 03:41	#13 (permalink)
MEnthusiast Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: East Coast, USA View my 03 M5 Sales Feedback: (0)	I had it all to do over again and I bought another M5 but I was a little dissapointed with the braking feel and steering feel/weghting. I can now accept the steering feel/weighting as a trade off to the need for a recirc ball system. I cannot really understand why the stock car has a comparatively to the M3 and Z8, mushy pedal feel. but the brakes work great- its just a little bit in the feel, and compared to other cars it is very good. I say "was" because I think overall the car is so good I simply look beyond these things- they are not major- the steering and braking are very good, just not supergood as I would have wished for. __________________ All the best, Jerry 00 Z8 Jet Black/Red Sport / some others

19th March 2000, 22:02	#2 (permalink)
Chris Foote m5board.comoholic (>1000 posts) Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Springfield, Massachusetts, US View my 2000 M5 Anthracite/Imola Red-Black Sportive Sales Feedback: (0)	1. Absolutely not, it is a superb car and is well worth the price of admission. 2) Definately buy the M5. One of the ultimate stealth sedans out there. The E55 is nice, but no stick shift

20th March 2000, 00:49	#3 (permalink)
Louis Member, Sport: Off DSC: On (>50 posts) Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Dos Vientos Ranch, CA, USA View my M5, Carbon Black Sales Feedback: (0)	I'd definitely buy the E39 M5 again. The only disappointment I have found is the range of the garage door opener! (Clearly one of the biggest disappointments in my life !) A few observations about my feelings towards the car -- your preferences may make these comments helpful or totally irrelevant. The car is fast. No, make that FAST. The car is quiet and smooth. the car is full of luxury (Exclusive interior) or sporty touches (Sportive interior). The car will not disappoint. However, the car is different than its predecessor M5s. In getting smoother and quieter it gives up some of the driver envolvemnt and racer's edge that my E34 M5 had. I've heard owners of the E28 M5 describe the change to the E34 M5 the same way. But the E39 M5 is faster than the E34 M5. This is not a criticism, just a difference noted. After all, I'm losing some of my racer's edge too, I'm getting older (and hopefully better too!)

20th March 2000, 19:40	#4 (permalink)
max berger Member, Sport: On DSC: On (>100 posts) Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: philadelphia,pa.usa View my 2000 M5 carbon black/le mans blue 2001 330ci conv. 2006 M5 silver grey/indianapolis red Sales Feedback: (0)	just order the carbon black/lemans blue.you've waited long enough ryan.wait any longer and i'll sell you mine cause a new one will be out.

20th March 2000, 20:32	#5 (permalink)
SteveP Addicted Member (>300 posts) Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Westboro, MA USA View my Sales Feedback: (0)	I love my M5. No buyer's remorse here! Performance is thrilling. Luxury and creature comforts abound. Never been in a car I'd rather own, including other BMWs, Mercedes, or any Japanese or American car. SteveP '00 M5 Avus Blue / Black Exclusive

21st March 2000, 01:46	#6 (permalink)
rcoffin Junior Member, warming up (<31 posts) Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Indianapolis, IN USA Age: 61 View my 1995 M5, Schwarz Mica Sales Feedback: (0)	1. Yes and 2. No. It is a great car, fun to drive, exhilerating straight line performance and very capable in the corners (but it is no E30 M3 in the pure handling department)

22nd March 2000, 00:18	#7 (permalink)
Guest View my	1. Definitely not. 2. M5 all the way ... This car is the ultimate sports sedan, but you have to be in the market for a sports sedan! You pick your horse for your course, as they say.

22nd March 2000, 00:37	#8 (permalink)
ALX Member, P500 Sport, DSC off (>900) Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Boston, MA/Grenoble, FRANCE View my 2007 X3 Sterling Grey Metallic Sales Feedback: (0)	1. The car has been fantastic from day one. 2. For my $72,000.00, I don't think I would buy anything else. I can't think of any other 4 door car, in this price range, that blends 4 door practicality and sports car thrill.

22nd March 2000, 22:41	#9 (permalink)
Tenney Member, Sport: On DSC: On (>100 posts) Join Date: Mar 2000 View my Sales Feedback: (0)	1. No 2. Yes Really like the car. Best sedan I've owned. Wish it had less electronic intervention, though. In this type of car, Sport mode is fine for all conditions, IMO. And the DCS is FAR too sensitive - and when it does activate, it's either all or nothing (not good). Strip some of that stuff out and keep it under 4000 lbs. and it would be ideal.

7th March 2003, 03:46	#14 (permalink)
BostonRocket M5 Expert (>4000) Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Boston, MA View my 2003 Titanium Silver M5 Sales Feedback: (0)	1. I love M5, and am not dissapointed at all. 2. Definitely would buy it again. Wait, I DID!! 'Rocket __________________ 2006 Silver Grey on Indianapolis Red M5 Kelleners-Eisenmann Race Exhaust H&R Springs GONE - 2003 TiAg/Black E39 M5 GONE - 2001 TiAg/Black E39 M5