Advice when buying used M5?

[Hotnille]

Hey Guys,

Made the same mistake with E60 as I did when upgrading my E 39 540 to a E 39 M5.... I bought a 550i in january - thought it was enough to satisfy me. I was wrong...... Great car but not at all a M5. So - I have decided to go buy a used (max 10.000 KM) some where in EU.
My question is (and I am sorry if this have been asked 10000 times before) - can I in any way check that the break in period has been done properly?

Are there any other things you would advice me to be especially aware of before writing out the check?

All the best

Hotnille

PS! When will the next E60 M5 Euro trip be arranged Gustav!?!?!

[rodman31]

Sounds like you need to make sure you have a extended warranty for the SMG. You can also have a service history print out from the dealer to show prior work perfomed on the car. Check the build date, the earlier the more I would purchase a warranty if out of coverage!

Good luck!! And Welcome!

Robert

[liquido]

My guess is there is no way to check weather the break-in period was done "correctly" or not.......I personally think the car can handle a though break-in.
The warranty is 3 years (I think!!) so even a very early car will have its warranty for at least a year which should be enough, if extended warranty is available you should go for that.
Btw....will you register the car in Denmark or have swiss plates or similar? (I guess even if you import the car to denmark the cost is huge?!)

[unfoundhorsepower]

Warranty from BMW is 4 /50k why bother with extended warranty unless you keep it over 4 more years, AND, don't forget from a dealer it should come with a BMW used car certification....Called, "certified pre-owned"

[rodman31]

UFH,
He is from Denmark! They have a different warranty program on the other side of the pond.

Robert

[Danish-M]

Velkomen tilbage!
Kunne se på dine tidligere posts at du har vœret medlem under et andet username.

I would be real careful when getting a used M5, unless it's a 07. Make sure you get a good pre-owned waranty, it's a MUST with all the SMG issues!!!
I would want at least 3 years on the warranty, and of cause you need make sure all the service records are in order and such. Also make sure all the recalls have been done (search this board to find out what they are, for the production date you are looking at) and the car looks and feels prestine. At 10k km the tires could be very worn if not dead, make sure the tires are near new, if not brand new. I would also stay away from any car that has any aftermarket parts on it, as those type of owners seem to be the ones that drive the car extra hard.
Can't help you with the propper break in procedure. I don't know a way to check this, but dealers or other board members might know different. It should deffinently be possible with the right tools (i.e. computers). Try calling Jens Winther BMW in Roskilde, they are real helpful and know BMW's better than most Danish BMW dealers.

Looking forward to getting a ride with you this summer when I make it back to the "old country"

Held og lykke!!!! Go' jul.

-Rune

[Hotnille]

I guess that goes for the M5 E60 as well... I forgot how cool this message board is. A lot of relevant information and help.

Well... I will for sure take a close look at the cars service book as well as the first 5.000 KM (the dealer can infact give me a print out of this - showing speed, revs and faults..if any).
The SMG sounds like a complicated tool with several problems but in general I get the impression that BMW acknowledges the problem and therefore is willing to help us poor souls...

Well - SMG problems or not. I can't wait to pick it up within a week or two, when I have found the ONE to go for.

I guess it does not matter if I get a 2005 or 2006 model as long as the updates has been made??? I mean rather a 05 with 10.000KM than a 2006 with 25.000KM... or what??

Rune - anytime, just write me in this forum when you are back in DK and we can go for a spin and a beer - in that order of course.

[liquido]

Originally Posted by Hotnille

I guess it does not matter if I get a 2005 or 2006 model as long as the updates has been made??? I mean rather a 05 with 10.000KM than a 2006 with 25.000KM... or what??

Hmmm.....I would rather go for the 06 in the above example...

[NinthSwat]

Hotnille, look for 2006 model ( starting from Sept 2005 ), make sure it has stop/start engine button.

I was in your shoes 3 month ago, upgraded from 545, great comfortable car, way comfortable then M5, but dull car, without ///M soul

Anyway, I talked to many bmw dealer techs, read alot on m5board, and for sure you need to look for 2006 model, its more relible in terms of SMG.

*knocks the wood* so far no issues, LC was done about 15 times. 10.000KM

[KIP]

Originally Posted by unfoundhorsepower

Warranty from BMW is 4 /50k why bother with extended warranty unless you keep it over 4 more years, AND, don't forget from a dealer it should come with a BMW used car certification....Called, "certified pre-owned"

U must be kidding! In Finland max 2 years warranty and no possibility to extend. Also no possibility for serviceagreements for BMW = no used e60 M5! It would be suicide with the amount of problems seen in this car!

KIP

[Danish-M]

Originally Posted by Hotnille

Rune - anytime, just write me in this forum when you are back in DK and we can go for a spin and a beer - in that order of course.

Actually I was only kidding, as I get my E60 M5 "fix" daily here in Cali, but maybe it would be cool to make a mini M5 meet in Copenhagen sometime next summer, when the weather gets nice. I'll gladly bring out my Touring, and I'm sure Gustav (MortenDK) + some other M5board.com members/M5 owners will come out too. I know there are a few E34 M5 owners over on www.bmwe30.dk that would most likely be down for something like this.
Maybe a M5 track day at Sturup (sweedes feel free to laugh) or something.
Thanks for your offer!!! I'll keep you posted.

As far as your purchase. I would say, forget the 05 and go for a 2006.