Is this the car for me? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Tbird · 10th October 2001, 11:56

I've been looking at buying an E34 for some time now but finally started the investigations into them a week ago and am now not sure the car is good for me (or me the car).

I was wondering if some people who have 'lived' with one could give an opinion.

My worries are

1) Warm up, my daily drive now is only 3 miles 4 times a day and I suspect the car will never ever warm up properly and only get proper run outs on weekends. (i'm down to 3k miles a year now)

2) Servicing, as time has passed and my job got busier I find that home servicing is a thing of the past for me. This leaves main dealer/specialists as my only option and this I guess will get expensive especially with my usage pattern (more frequent oil changes?). Can anyone give me an example of their yearly charges using dealer maintenance only maybe (i'm in the UK)

3) Will my low usage warm up pattern be detrimental to the car, the last thing I want to do is own a dream car and trash it inadvertantly.

That will do for now,

Thanks
Baz

IvanDias · 10th October 2001, 12:43

Hi,

Driving a M5 three miles to work and then home again is like driving a F16 up and down an aircraft-carrier deck without actually taking off !!
Fun for the new owner, but doesn`t really allow you to use the perfomance

Seriously though,

I don`t know of any short to medium term problems with using it for such a relatively short journey, although you are of course right about the warm up time. Keep the revs low, I would suggest about 1000-2500, definately under 3000+ until the oil temp guage climbs away from its stop.

If other board members say there will be trouble, then have you considered buying a cheap`n`chearful car for the daily drive? I`ve seen autotrader.co.uk knocking out E30 320 & 325 for £800-2000.. Try these I just got from the web.

******************************************
1987 D BMW 3 Series 320 coupe , black, 118000 , 3 Door, MOT-May 2002, ABS, Alarm, alloys, Central Locking, Electric Mirrors, Electric Windows, Full Service History, good allround condition, Power Steering, Sun Roof. £1595 ono
******************************************
1988 BMW 3 SERIES 320i SE 2dr Saloon Black, Full service history, Electric windows, mirrors & sunroof, alarm Linked to central locking, Alpine stereo with 6 disc cd changer, rear headrests & window blind, stainless exhaust system, excellent condition. 105000 miles. £1750

Something newer? I can`t find a "L" or "M" plate Vauxhall Cavalier over £1200.

Hey, how about a 520 debadged for ;

BMW 520i SE, 1989, G reg, auto, black with beige trim, 18 inch OZ alloys, electric windows, c/locking, f/sunroof, pas, excellent condition, £1,295

or

1989 G BMW 520i SE , silver, 101000miles , 4 Door, Alloy wheels, Central Locking, Electric Mirrors, Electric Windows, Full Service History, Lovely condition., Manual, Power Steering, Stereo, Sun Roof £1950.

Why not get something like this, a FSH for under £2k ??
You`ll only need third party fire & theft insurance. .

Now this may now have the presence you want turning up at the office, but you wait til you see the bosses face when you turn up at the country club on the weekends in the M5

Dealer Servicing.

Recommended if you can stand the bills. I`ve fallen out with my local main dealer and take it to a specialist for most work.
You`ll need to take a look at one of the books, for example the Bentley (useful) or Haynes (spit!), they`ll give you the list of whats needed in and inspection I and II service, albeit for the 5 in general.
If you`ve serviced before on other cars, then maybe its worth spending the time on this one. Its amazing how other hobbies pale into insignificance when you own an M5.
I do everthing (or get help), but I won`t tackle the valve clearances & shims.

Mine is an older car, so the £800-900 for a main dealer inspection II is just too much to bear, but if you have the cash to consider the later 3.8 cars, then its quite nice to keep up the FSH, but make sure the specialist you take it to knows what they are doing. Go and see them, look around, you soon sort the wheat from the chaff. Don`t be afraid to use them , but take it to a main dealer for the more "involved" jobs, eg shims, self-levelling suspension adjustment/replacement, if the specialist doesn`t do them regularly. Remember, BMW only officially sold under 700 cars to the UK, so not everyone works on the M5 specific tasks that aren`t on a 520/535 etc.

I`ll leave the other repliers to your question to fill in the exact dealer prices for each routine job.

Ivan.

PS. These M5s are like girlfriends. If you want a really really nice one in top condition, then use it regularly to the full as its going to cost a fortune to run it !!!

KKelly · 11th October 2001, 01:37

That is easy. Just find a long way to work. I guarantee you will look for one.

My M5 has been no more to service than my other BMW's. Parts are more but you can often order those at a discount and deliver them to your mechanic.

dominik · 11th October 2001, 18:23

tbird:

Driving only 4x3 miles per day will make your your rear muffler will rust away within one or max. two years.

Best for the engine is to drive until it's at least at 60-70° oil temperature. This also removes condensed water in the exhaust.

I had to change the rear muffler, BMW wants horrendous sums just for the part (at least 1000£)

Rgds,
Dominik
'89 M5 WBSHDxxx0730

Andy G · 11th October 2001, 18:35

it is a bit of a shame, to have an M5, then just do around 8 miles a day.
Running a car that doesn't get sufficiantly warm will not do that fine piece of engineering under the bonnet much good at all.
Why not get hold of a 528 or 535 (sport maybe), sacrilage I know, but these can be picked up for a song now, and if there's a problem, then there are breakers around that can supply most items.
That way, the M5 remains as your dream motor, you still have a fine 4 door saloon in which to poodle about in, and your wallet can breath more easily.

just my 2 pennies worth.......

AG

Tbird · 12th October 2001, 11:57

Thanks for the advice guys, i've read more in the mean time and think this will be an expensive waste of a car.

Looks like it's back to the Mustangs for me, i've even seen a couple of Saleens for sale recently

(and yes I know these cars dont even carry a passing similarity!)

Andy G · 12th October 2001, 17:05

may I ask, what's a 'Saleen' when it's at home?

Tbird · 12th October 2001, 20:54

My apologies, when you've driven as many yanks as me you tend to assume everyone has the same knowledge you do.

It's a Saleen Mustang, similar principle to Lotus Carltons and Cosworth Sierras take a 200BHP GT and massage it accordingly, very rare in the UK.

CarlT · 13th October 2001, 22:26

Hi Tbird

I doesn't really help getting a V8... The problem you will have is that you'll never let the oil reach its operating temp, and hence your oil will be contaminated quicker. Also cold starts is what "kills" an engine, more so then mileage... If you have the garage space, sure get a nice car for the weekends and a small volume engine for those small drives, because a small engine will warm faster.

Regards
Carl