Getting spooked about E39 M5....advice please. - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

M5 Meeyatch · 15th January 2004, 08:47

Hey there guys...ever since driving an E39 M5 last year at the BMW Precision Driving experience I have been slowly researching and keeping my eyes out for a LeMans Blue M5 (like my sig says), but I am getting kind of spooked by all these reports of blown motors, differentials, and other major problems. Here is what I will be doing with the car, and I need honest answers (please) on if the M5 will be right for the job.

1.) Long distance, high speed commutes (500 miles at probably 100 mph sustained speeds most of the way)

2.) Drivers Education / Track events

Those are my main uses. The car will still be used for normal city / highway trips, but lots of high speed and high stress work as well. I need a car that can hold up to the use with a MINIMAL amount of breakage. With my NSX's I have been spoiled because the really are pretty bulletproof, and do not really break. My M3 was a nightmare and ALWAYS broke. Will the M5 take the use and not have me in the shop all the time? I love the car, but I am getting a little spooked hearing about all these major failures and BMW's lack of support (which I experienced with my M3). My fiance lives in Barrie, Ontario, Canada and I cannot be stranded on the barren sections of 401 or 400, so I need a reliable car. Thanks guys and gals...I look forward to your replies.

Need4Spd · 15th January 2004, 09:12

I must agree that Honda products are pretty bulletproof. BMWs are good, too, but I still think Honda has the edge in that department. That said, mine has nearly 50k miles and has never stranded me anywhere (knock on wood

) BTW, I'd estimate my miles as 80/20 freeway/city.

If you do track events you WILL want to mod your suspension. The stock one is fine for street driving but it does understeer a lot when pushed hard.

The only worry I have is a flat, since there's no spare. If you drive long barren stretches, I'd consider getting some kind of spacesaver spare at the expense of some trunk room, but that's it. Even with the spare I'd guess it'd still carry more than your NSX.

M5 Meeyatch · 15th January 2004, 09:36

Thanks for the reply. Yes, the M5 will carry a lot more than the NSX's, that is one reason why I am looking into the M5. I need to carry more items. I just get worried about all these posts where people are having blown motors or differentials go out...some of the stretches on the 401 especially have no civilization for LONG amounts of time...and surely no BMW dealers. I just want my fiance and I to be safe and not have to worry about a breakdown when the M5 gets 80,000 miles on it.

kwalls · 15th January 2004, 12:21

Quote:

I just get worried about all these posts where people are having blown motors or differentials go out.... I just want my fiance and I to be safe and not have to worry about a breakdown when the M5 gets 80,000 miles on it.

While I don't do track events, I do manage to cruise daily at speeds you quantify as 'high speed' and like most of my fellow German M5 owners I have not had a problem. I have seen a few M99 cars on the lots with the miles you mention and sold a 99 E39 last year that I drove 200 miles daily at speeds over your high speed range. Just as the older E39 M5, it did this without any problems. Maybe we all seem to forget the real purpose of these cars when we read all the track stories or 1/4 mile claims, they are after all meant to be driven daily at a high speed.
Ken

15th January 2004, 13:56

I agree that it will be hard to beat the reliability record of Hondas, but the e39 has proven itself as a very reliable platform. You have been hearing of a few stories here and there, but please remember that 16,000 e39 M5s were manufactured between 1999 and 2003. Moreover, close to 700,000 e39's have been manfactured between 1996 and 2003. The number of serious problems is negligible in comparison to the production numbers.

As with any car, including a Honda, the key is purchasing the best possible vehicle you can get your hands on. The rest is just whether or not you are unlucky enough to fall into the miniscule group of owners who experience problems.

Cheers.

DrewT · 15th January 2004, 15:11

there is a great 02 lemanns blue with saddle interior has 3000 miles on it. The car is located at Westchester BMW which is a BMW owned store. If interested call Greg at 914-347-6464 and tell him Drew told you about the car. I almost bought it but wife wanted the jet black. I think they are asking $64,900.

Good Luck

Gustav · 15th January 2004, 15:25

Its one of the best cars there is to do this in. You could as well have said 150 mph. No problem at all, a joy.

1.) Long distance, high speed commutes (500 miles at probably 100 mph sustained speeds most of the way)

Lscman · 15th January 2004, 15:36

It is very difficult to find reputable BMW service & parts in a pinch. This is the biggest shortcoming I find with my E39. Out-of-warranty service and repair (at the dealer and in my own garage) have been unbelieveably challenging and stressful, compared to my other cars (Corvette & Mustang). I would strongly advise against owning a modern BMW that is not covered under a strong warranty with some form of roadside assistance.

The M5 is capable of severe duty reliability. High speed cruise is not hard on a car of this design....it is it's forte. Problems reported here relating to differentials, clutches and frames are mostly due to harsh duty that includes years of drag racing launches. The car is not designed for stoplight-to-stoplight drag duty like a Mustang, although some folks do not accept this fact. The cars hold up very well on a Road Racing track or a highway at triple digits.

**I would strongly advise you to look at the new 400 HP Cadillac saloon with a 6spd stick. These cars are basically a reskinned Corvette Z06 with plenty space for occupants and cargo. Their proven underpinnings offer Honda-like durability under severe duty use. Compared to an M5, it offers similar performance & space/comfort with superior SLA suspension & braking. The servicing options are far more flexible & these cars offer good reliability and value.

Gustav · 15th January 2004, 15:44

Speriour suspension? Similar perfomance? Has this been confirmed indepentently by an auto magazine? If the answer is no, I would be very sceptic to your advice Lscman.

In the only area where this Cadillac is better than an M5 would be ability to tune the engine, where the Z06 have proven itself.

Good reliability? Maybe. Better than BMW? I doubt it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lscman

Compared to an M5, it offers similar performance & space/comfort and it has superior suspension & braking. The servicing options are far more flexible & they offer good reliability and value.

Gustav · 15th January 2004, 15:48

I agree it is not a stop light drag racer car. But I know the M5 is built for hard launches. The clutch is up for that.

Lscman is refeering to two instance of frame failure (correct?) out of all the members here on the site.

This would not be a concern to me. The M5 is one of the most reliable high-performance cars around.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lscman

The M5 is capable of severe duty reliability. High speed cruise is not hard on a car of this design....it is it's forte. Problems reported here relating to differentials, clutches and frames are mostly due to harsh duty that includes years of drag racing launches. The car is not designed for stoplight-to-stoplight drag duty like a Mustang, although some folks do not accept this fact. The cars hold up very well on a Road Racing track or a highway at triple digits.