Hi, I have been a member on here for years but never posted much as I didnt buy the Alpina B11 I wanted when I joined.
I recently sold my 328i sport which was cover of last months TotalBMW. This gave me a good start to go looking for the m5 I have always wanted (although e36 m3s have been a tempting and more sensible alternative).
There were a few on ebay and ph etc but nothing was jumping off the page at me.
I found out about a 200+k 3.8 that is in very good condition in my home town, dug up 2 old ads for m5s I had spotted within the last few months and seen another come up on Piston heads within an hour and a half of home.
After looking at these, and a couple e36 m3s, I settled on this one
It is a 3.6 with full black extended leather. Lots of ticked boxes on this one.
176k with good dealer and specialist history and an almost immaculate body (although I suspect an almost full respray at some point but done to a high standard).
I am sure I have a long love hate relationship in front of me but for today Im a happy bunny.
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'95 3.8 6speed ///M5
You wash your car like it was your firstborn child, you tend to its needs like it was your own body, you rotect it like it's your family, then you drive it like you stole it.
Was that the car that the owner did not wish to sell but his wife wanted off of the driveway? If so it looked on the PH website as and excellent buy and welcome to the world of M5 ownership.
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"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn-out,shouting, 'Holy sh*t! What a ride!'"
Beautiful looking car, congratulations. Make sure your patient enough to let her warm up before you have your way with her!
Lol I have been trying to behave but she is a temptation. Hardly got out of it all day
Yes it is the one on PH. The owner has an e28 535i in gorgeous condition and very very quick imo, I used to own one, and a new e39 m5.
Here was my viewing in words
Quote:
I turned up at the owners property to see an immaculate e28 535 and a carbon black e39 m5 on the drive, good start . The 60 year old owner shows me through his house into the double garage where the m5 awaits. As soon as the lights flicker on I can see she is a nice looker, tennis ball dangling down to the window and carpet under the car assures me some thought goes into the storage of the M5.
He passes me the keys and informs me she hasnt been started for 3 weeks (I shall have to take his word on this). She fires up on the button and instantly met with a nice burble from the stainless system. No loud noises like others I have seen and not all rattly and lumpy like a lot of M motors. Noiser than an m30 admittedly but I reckon/hope about right.
He pulled the car out into the light and intial impressions seemed to be confirmed. The body looks mint, no dents, no scratches (well two bumper scuffs on the rub strips but that doesnt count). All the arches are crisp and sharp. Original spot welds visible where they should be. I checked the underneath of the car particularly around the jacking points and sills as that is a common area for concern and bar a little flaky surface rust around the jacking points (gives me something to underseal next week) everything appears solid.
Inside she has extended black leather with split rear seat in fantastic condition. OBC reads all ok as do all the guages. I am met with electric seats when I get in and am chuffed to find Cruise and Dual zone climate in working order.
Right for the drive, the current owner suggest he gets in the back and myself and my friend take the front seats. I gingerly pilot her out of the village we are in and start winding my way down some open b roads. I hear the owner muttering something to my friend about me not trying enough and that the accelerator has a very long throw. Right gauntlet has been thrown so I open up the taps.
Initially I think "hmm not bad", then as soon as we climb past 4k in 2nd I dont have time to think before Im snatching for 3rd then anchoring on for a bend.
Boy does this things shift. I have driven 4 of these now and owned a m3 that used to outdrag a 3.6 regularly but this feels faster.
I calm down and start giving everything a bit of a shake down, steering firm, no knocks, rattles and squeeks. Car pulls straight, brakes straight and handles amazingly well for its size (and its worn budget tyres!).
I turned her around and headed back gently, chatting to the owner on the way. He pointed out a long straight coming up on which I nailed 2nd then 3rd into the red to see me touching 3 figures in no time.
Got her back and all seems fine, temps are good, engine sounds good and Im a little shakey.
The owner tells me the history of the car, he has had it for a year as one of his long list of many bmw's. Its previous owner was a friend of his, an engineer of sorts iirc, who owned it for 11 years. He is a 7ft belgian iirc and often commuted in the m5 home hence the high miles. When not in use the car was barn stored and this guy did a lot of the repair/service work himself with the exception of what was the minimum required to keep most of the stamps present. This chap lives around the corner so a quick call to him confirms the story, answers some questions and turns up a Heritage agreed insurance valuation certificate from only 2k miles ago of 6 grand.
I went away for half an hour to have a think but I think I knew almost as soon as he opened the garage door I had to have her so a deal was struck.
The let down points
176k
Service history is mostly there but a little vague, ie stamped up to date but not many recent reciepts to back that up.
No tax
The fact that I am scared of owning an M5 lol.
I dont intend to modify this car. I like its originality (excusing the spoiler) and I would like to keep her tidy.
Even though I was intending to use her daily I am already considering my options regarding a run around. I have 2 garages, one of which is near my house, so I think one will be getting decluttered to make space for a fat *** bm.
I have since found out upon collection that actually the previous owner didnt do that much himself. I spoke to the Indy Porsche/BMW specialists that have stamped a good few years of services and they assure me that the car was serviced on schedule and to the book, including the obligatory valve clearances.
The last two stamps were a product of another BMW indy who is still in business but I havent got in contact with yet. They were for an oil service and an inspection 2 about 6k ago. Id like to see if he can dig out an invoice for the last inspection 2 as that would help me know where I stand for the next ones.
Judging by this I am due an oil service in 3 lights time although Ill probably stick some oil through as matter of course.
I do have a lumpy idle, almost misfire like, clears through open throttle. Any thoughts on that m5 owners?
Last edited by squashed monkey; 26th February 2009 at 23:47.
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