stupid question from near owner - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

27th June 2002, 16:11

Well my LMB with Silverstone is at sea and will be mine second week of July. Ordered last week of March. Two questions:

1. Are there any suggestions from board as to giving dealer instructions prior to picking up car ? I've already told them no dealership stickers on car. Anything else I should be thinking about?

2. The stupid (more) question. What are angel eyes? I looked in old threads which discuss them but I can't really tell what they are.

P.S. Giving up my GS400 this weekend. Having some separation anxiety as I really love the car but need more performance. By the way, stop talking about the "new" better cars on the way, I haven't even gotten my "new/old" M5 yet. (kidding)

Frank

2001's X5/Z8 · 27th June 2002, 16:24

1. tell the dealer not to wash the car, as they use crap car wash and dry with towels, not the way you want to start your beasts life.

2.angel eyes are the illuminated rings around the headlights (both high and low beam lights). They look really cool.

3. As soon as you turn the key for the first time and put her in drive, the GS400 will be a distant memory, a non event, a nightmare.......

Good luck and welcome to the board.....

Please take some pics when you take delivery....

Thanks,

Digi · 27th June 2002, 16:39

Here is a picture of the angel eyes on the headlights in M5 in upper left.

http://www.bmwm5.com/

2001's X5/Z8 · 27th June 2002, 16:43

here's a better look....

angel eyes

Jimmy Hill · 27th June 2002, 16:54

Good Morning My Friend

Congrats on your new baby - Cant wait to hear your initial reactions

Mr X5/Z8 has answered all your questions but i just wanted to add something

I too went from a GS400 (98) to the beast. I am a HUGE lexus fan - I am the 1 percent of the 1 percent that is totally in to the entire ownership experience, not just the driving experience. Lexus have given me the best ownership experience BY FAR with 2 cars.

When my allocation (July 2000) was comming up for the beast i sat down with my closest friend and drew up a Pros and Cons list on each car and which one i should go for - of course the $$$$$ was an isue but i overlooked it since ultimatly it wouldnt actually effect my ownership experience.

Reasons why i love the GS
1) Performance - and u know waht i mean - what other car has audible warning for yaw and pitch!!! and have u heard them???

2) Styling - i actually hated it when i first saw it then it grew on me
3) Bulid quality - never a days trouble
4) Toys - love the NAV - still the best on the planet Fantastic sound system - Love Pioner and NAK
5) DEALERSHIP / Service exprience - Never a days trouble either, had me in and out always ahead of time - were most accomodatind and always very helpfull and kind

Reasons why i didnt want to keep the GS
1) IT WAS NOT AN M5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ok - so OBVIOUSLY the M5 has Perfrmance and Styling - and trust me - if u have never been in an M5 before - BE CAREFUL - dont just put your foot down jsut to see what happens BRACE YOURSELF and most causiously STICK TO THE RUN IN GUIDELINES

BUT the cleaver crouts at BWM Dont make TOYS like the Asians do - they make cars and nothing more - so our stereo sucks and SO DOES THE NAV - JESUS H CHRIST when will they update the nav and see what the rest of the automotive world is doing - and i dont just mean gimics like WIDE SCREEN and the odd software fix (which is alweays needed) i mean Hard DIsk based Touch screen like the GS had - no disks - no fuss - no LAG - just FUNCTION and usability.

So - toys may be a bit of a disapointment for u

and so will - and i gurarante this - the dealership expereince - unless u get lucky. I came back from the SC driving experience (where i took delivery - and i HIGHLY RECOMEND U DO THIS IF POSSIBLE) and expected to be treated by my local dealer like i was in SC - BIG MISTAKE. they even told me NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE 1200 mile service.. IDIOTS - then i got lucky - a friend introduced me to one of her best mates - the master mechanic at a different dealer - then it all changed. I am now treated exceptionally well - but only because i had a way in.

Sad but true - i never had a way in with lexus - they just always looked after me

So GS Vs M5 - 2 differnet cars - love the memory of the GS - do me a favor - and this might sound silly - but go take some pics of your GS for your self (if u r into that) - i dont have any and i had the car for 2 years and i have no evidence other then toyota motor credit on my credit report

SO all the BMW adds are totally correct its DRIVING EXPERIENCE not OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE - but hanging around with other M5 nutters certainly helps.

From one car nut to annother - u r doing the right thing - TRUST ME - I miss my 2 lexi but if i really missed them i would have passed up a 2000 M5 and i would have been a fool.

Enjoy mate - i still do every day just as the fist day i turned the key

All the best

M5Mark

pmiranda · 27th June 2002, 16:59

Don't let them drill the bumper for the front plate. It looks sweet without it, there are only a few areas that really care, and you can always add it later yourself. Just be sure to get the bracket from them. It's a beautiful pre-painted body color one, not the plain black plastic job that is used on most BMWs.

atomic80 · 27th June 2002, 17:17

Well said, M5Mark.

I too was also considering a Lexus prior to taking delivery of my M5 last year. I even went as far as going on a test drive of the LS430 and the GS430. The LS430 was just too smooth for my tastes. I felt like I was being "distanced" from the road. It's not a driver's car, it's a cruiser's car I thought to myself. Not what I was after. The GS430 was one step closer to being a driver's car but still not what I wanted. And so, I waited.

By the time I picked up my M5, both Lexus cars were but a distant memory.

Bluewater M5 · 27th June 2002, 17:24

Here is a better picture of the Angel eyes.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/...41901537rPEsXS

Also you might want to think about the remote options
http://community.webshots.com/script...ecurity=pjHhrl

BlueBomber · 27th June 2002, 17:42

Two recommendations...

1. Don't let them drill holes in your front bumper!!

2. Don't let them wash the car...

27th June 2002, 17:44

Thanks for the pics. Those lights really are cool. I've never driven a M5 and I suspect the GS memories will not be a problem. I must agree, however, that lexus was and is a great ownership experience ( my wife's car is a lx470). The sound system is incredible and the car is very well designed for my average trip to work. The suspension, transmission, and throttle response however, are not acceptable for backroad fun.

I looked hard to find this car at a deal ($3500 under MSRP) as this is half the fun for me. I just hope the dealership experience is good as this is really my biggest concern after reading service posts on this board.

If I ask them not to wash the car will it come somewhat clean? Vanity really makes me hate the idea of picking up my brand new dirty car.

Frank

atomic80 · 27th June 2002, 17:50

Don't forget to make sure that they do NOT drill holes on your front bumper for the plates up front. It will ruin the look of your M5 up front. Many of us have chosen to go this route.

As far as your M5 looking dirty upon delivery. I don't think that you will have a problem with that. Mine was clean when I picked her up.

Ah, memories.