Hello all, longtime lurker, first post. I've been lusting after an E39 M5 since they were unleashed upon the world, now finally ready to be serious about it.
I've been reading voraciously and feel there isn't anything to keep me from owning an M5. I have a second car I'll keep for winters and the inevitable (hopefully rare) downtimes.
SO I've been eyeballing a specific car for awhile. Its a very early production MY2000 (Sept 1999, #156), Titanium over silverstone sport interior. Only factory options I think are there are the trunk spoiler and rear sunshades. 75k miles, garage/dealer has installed a Dinan exhaust, CAI w/ECU flash, new clutch and replaced the OEM wheels with new replacements (if they're reps they're very good ones, M logo in recessed notch and the little ring around the valve stems, can't see the backs for the BMW stamp) with Michelin Pilots, installed a carbon fiber front splitter and sent the cluster out for repixelation. Body and interior are a bit rough cosmetically but panel gaps are perfect, lines are all straight. Aftermarket radar detector built in. Overall the car looks great, needs some freshening and a good scrubbing and buffing. Driver's side seat outer bolster shows signs of significant wear, but no tears at all, maybe just a redye would take care of it, back seats looks to have hardly ever been sat in. Shift knob and handbrake handle show wear as well. Mechanic says third gear will crunch/grind a bit if you're racing it, but its unnoticable under normal spiritied driving. I have not yet driven the car as I didn't want to fall in love before I could take it home.
I've called BMW for a service report and they won't print one for me, citing customer privacy, but the guy did tell me he saw very little in the way of any service history with BMW at all but what he did see was routing maintenance ad not clutches and engine replacements.
Started it up, sounded great, no VANOS noise at all when cold or after idling for about 5-10 minutes.
So I'm planning on pulling a carfax, to at least verify that the mileage hasn't been tampered with when he sent it out, or that he didn't swap out the ECU when he installed the CAI and flashed the programming. I can check the VIN on the motor to see that it matches the car and obviously road test it before I decide if I'm going to take it home. Any thoughts on other things to check? A dealer PPI isn't possible as its located at least 30 minutes from a dealer.
One big hesitation is the car has been there for about 4 years now...the guy doesn't advertise and for awhile it was at $20k, but now its 15 and its been staring at me every time I drive by, begging me to take it home and give it love. Its easy to chalk the longevity to the fact that hes just out of the way and even though its been right there, it doesn't have a for sale sign and it kind of gets lost on the lot with other cars that frankly also tend to sit. Could be the guy is shady and I should stay away, could be I've got a jewel in the rough and its my lucky 2016.
Thoughts? Trying to think it through and not let my emotions dictate the purchase...maybe overthinking it. Input is much appreciated. Some photos are attached.
I've been reading voraciously and feel there isn't anything to keep me from owning an M5. I have a second car I'll keep for winters and the inevitable (hopefully rare) downtimes.
SO I've been eyeballing a specific car for awhile. Its a very early production MY2000 (Sept 1999, #156), Titanium over silverstone sport interior. Only factory options I think are there are the trunk spoiler and rear sunshades. 75k miles, garage/dealer has installed a Dinan exhaust, CAI w/ECU flash, new clutch and replaced the OEM wheels with new replacements (if they're reps they're very good ones, M logo in recessed notch and the little ring around the valve stems, can't see the backs for the BMW stamp) with Michelin Pilots, installed a carbon fiber front splitter and sent the cluster out for repixelation. Body and interior are a bit rough cosmetically but panel gaps are perfect, lines are all straight. Aftermarket radar detector built in. Overall the car looks great, needs some freshening and a good scrubbing and buffing. Driver's side seat outer bolster shows signs of significant wear, but no tears at all, maybe just a redye would take care of it, back seats looks to have hardly ever been sat in. Shift knob and handbrake handle show wear as well. Mechanic says third gear will crunch/grind a bit if you're racing it, but its unnoticable under normal spiritied driving. I have not yet driven the car as I didn't want to fall in love before I could take it home.
I've called BMW for a service report and they won't print one for me, citing customer privacy, but the guy did tell me he saw very little in the way of any service history with BMW at all but what he did see was routing maintenance ad not clutches and engine replacements.
Started it up, sounded great, no VANOS noise at all when cold or after idling for about 5-10 minutes.
So I'm planning on pulling a carfax, to at least verify that the mileage hasn't been tampered with when he sent it out, or that he didn't swap out the ECU when he installed the CAI and flashed the programming. I can check the VIN on the motor to see that it matches the car and obviously road test it before I decide if I'm going to take it home. Any thoughts on other things to check? A dealer PPI isn't possible as its located at least 30 minutes from a dealer.
One big hesitation is the car has been there for about 4 years now...the guy doesn't advertise and for awhile it was at $20k, but now its 15 and its been staring at me every time I drive by, begging me to take it home and give it love. Its easy to chalk the longevity to the fact that hes just out of the way and even though its been right there, it doesn't have a for sale sign and it kind of gets lost on the lot with other cars that frankly also tend to sit. Could be the guy is shady and I should stay away, could be I've got a jewel in the rough and its my lucky 2016.
Thoughts? Trying to think it through and not let my emotions dictate the purchase...maybe overthinking it. Input is much appreciated. Some photos are attached.