I think as a first car go for say a 528i? Or even lower than that?
I did many bad things and close calls in my dads 518i E34 and even more stupid things in the 523i E39. Go with a 528i with DSC, then say 2 years from nwo upgrade to the king
If youve had your license for 2 months and you've already received 2 speeding tickets and one close call i think its time to hand your keys back to your parents and put them away untill you have atleast 3-4 years of experience.
This car is way to much car for any 16 year old, i can speak on behalf of myself, at 16, 200hp was too much for me, i did stupid things and thank god i lived to write this post now. Ive had my M5 for about 7 months, i drive it hard, ive done some stupid things, but knock on wood, i havent had any close calls yet.
Also, im not trying to be mean or anything, but were you parents under the influence when they gave you the keys? seriously, my parents were iffy about me getting my M5 when i was 20, they thought it was too much car for me.
Personally, I would suggest getting a little less of a car until you feel comfortable driving the M5.
But, if you do stick with it, get yourself into a car control clinic with your local BMWCCA group. You might even want to go through it more than once. Then sign up for some autocross sessions. You can kill yourself even with a slow car if you don't know how to handle it, so the best thing is learn how to drive, and you'll be fine.
Good call on the autocross. I do that here in california and have learned so much about handling cars.
__________________ Current:
2011 135i Alpine White
1997 Dodge Ram 1500
Past:
2010 750 Li xdrive
2009 750 Li
2009 M3 Convertible Jerez Black Metallic with Silver Novillo Extended Leather
2008 M3 Convertible Alpine White with Fox Red Extended Novillo Leather
2008 M3 Coupe Jerez Black with Fox Red Extended Novillo Leather
2006 M6 Convitible Alpine White with Black Full Merino Leather
i have handed over the keys and can't drive till after the holidays but either way i was going to get a fast car it was either my sisters 02 e430 or the BEAST and thats what i chose
I think your track record since getting the keys answers all your questions. ANY BMW you get at 16 will be a nice chick magnet and good transportation. M5 is overkill for your needs, could be dangerous, and def. pricey to run. Don't let him sell it though! Cause when you're 18...
I got my M5 a few months before my 16 birthday. I wanted a 540, but my dad said might as well get an M5. I never got a speeding ticket, but I do push her sometimes (150+). It has been three years now and I plan on keeping the car. It used to be my daily driver for about two years, now its just the weekend (special nights) car. When I was 17 I had a 505whp civic which was hella fast, now it is going to be pushing 650whp in jan. I can't wait.
You can have the fastest car in the world, but just don't push it to the limit. "Speak softly and carry a big stick" - Roosevelt
You can have the fastest car in the world, but just don't push it to the limit. "Speak softly and carry a big stick" - Roosevelt
But, "it is more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow!".
Even if a 16 year old is mature beyond his years, he lacks a critical element to handle a car like the M5: seat time. Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment.
Nothing beats experience, and it will be very hard to learn vehicle dynamics if you can just hit the go pedal and be faster than everyone else because of horsepower, not driving talent. It really doesn't take much talent to go fast in a straight line.
AlexM5, join BMW CCA, and do the street survival schools they run at PBIR (old Moroso). It will be an great eye opener. Then do some HPDE's with an instructor. Candidly, the M5 is the wrong car to bring to the track for HPDE (street survival school is fine), a 528 or older 3 series is perfect. Once you learn technique and car control, you can move up the horsepower ladder. Just a couple of weeks ago, an experienced driver spun his Ferrari 360 at PBIR. Not pretty.
More importantly for the OP, don't make a mistake from which there is no second chance, like the kid who took his dad's E60 M5 to show off and never returned home.
I took the Car Control Clinic a few years ago and took our 325. It was plenty of car. I know my M, but it would have been harder to drive on the skidpad and slalom course. I used 2nd gear in the 325 and it was a lot fun. I would have had a more difficult time with the M and it's power. I almost lost it on the U turn in the slalom....and the 325 is pretty nimble. OP, take the class and get more seat time. No excuses for getting 2 speeding tickets in 2 months. Wait till your parents see the insurance premium on the next renewal! Probably a little too much car for a new driver. As suggested, get another DD and move up to the M in a few years. Good Luck and stay safe.
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