2000 M5 Runs Great Looks Great - What did I do Wrong?

M5andZ3M · 29th January 2013, 07:58

Sarcastic thread to be sure.

I have owned my 2000 Titanium Silver M5 since December 2009. Bought her with 51k and now have around 62k. Replaced the rear sway bar mounts, change the oil and enjoy the car. However, the interior looks like new, the car drives incredibly and she otherwise looks perfect.

SO, what have I done wrong? I mean so many digs on the 2000. Why is my car running, looking and otherwise performing like it should? When will it blow up? I'm waiting for the internet inevitable...........................

Sub8 · 29th January 2013, 09:05

Clearly you've not bought 15 different kinds of code reader and used all of them, twice, every day.

Clearly you've not been striping the engine and body down every other day to `fix` stuff that isn`t actually broken yet.

In short, your doing it wrong.........

2big2fail · 29th January 2013, 09:30

You are not driving it right. Gotta drive it like you stole it.

Location and conditioning can make a difference. Weather, how well paved the roads are, salt from snow removal if you leave it out, humidity or lack of.

I live in the north east and Snow and salt are not kind to vehicles up here. Can easily see it eating at the body, suspension unless you wash it or let it hibernate in a garage during the winter months. If humidity is right plastic components are less likely to become brittle, crack and cause problems. I'm still looking for the right M5, but I am not in a rush to jump into anything. Today's snow storm scared me away a little from the idea of an M5, then again even with snow tires I was having a little tough time making it up a hill, saw another car slide down a bit, then do a U-turn.

Biggest reason thou is probably a combination that the last owner took decent care of it and then you took good care of it as well. Early life abuse can catch up to a car later on unless reversed.

I recommend enjoy your car as much as you can until mileage, rust, or time catches up to it and if you still love the car keep going at it, otherwise might be time to retire it when it no longer becomes feasible to own/maintain examples cost exceeding well beyond vehicle value unless it is mint or part have become ridiculously difficult to find.

Essixtytwo · 29th January 2013, 11:03

You've done nothing wrong. Give it time. It's a disaster waiting to happen. You bought a MY 2000, always dismissed by the majority of this community when someone wants to buy one, because everything pre 2001 is an oil guzzling ticking time bomb, period. What were you thinking?

Tyrone · 29th January 2013, 13:56

Priceless,

My M5 is also a 2000 pre-facelift which I have owned since 2002 and has covered a total of 49K. Yes I have had a few problems, but the funny thing is none have been as mentioned.

I thought the thread entitled “Advice needed - current E39 M5 prices in ffice:smarttags" was interesting reading. Apparently, it is complete madness to purchase anything older than 2001. If I am not mistaken the last build of the E39 M5 was in 2003 which equates to the youngest being 10 years old. I’m not a betting man but I would surmise its more about how these cars have been driven and serviced!

Anyway, i've attached a couple of photos of my beast

x-fire · 29th January 2013, 14:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by M5andZ3M

Bought her with 51k and now have around 62k

I was thinking "tempting fate" when I read your post, but in a little over 3 years your 2000 has only done 11k (if my maths is correct). I hope you continue to have trouble free motoring!!

I think I have been pretty lucky with maintenance - mainly because the previous owner really looked after the car.