Hi Guys, So I’ve been a member here for quite some time, but I’m more of a lurker and generally don’t post much. I do want some thoughts on my idea though.
I’m travelling to the US in December with my girlfriend and I thought something that would be a bit of fun would be to hire an M5 for a couple days whilst I’m in LA. I see this as basically the only chance I’ll get to drive/own an M5 for at the very least 10-15 years. I’m 22 and M5’s in Australia cost about 250,000USD so it’s going to be a while before I can even think about buying one, and being realistic it may never happen (god it hurts to say that).
I was thinking of renting one for a couple days from a mob called Exclusive Car Rentals basically because they seem to be the cheapest and easiest to deal with. Anyone have any experience with them?
To rent the car for a couple days is going to be $1200-$1300USD. It’s a lot of money for someone who has just finished university but I’m obsessed with M5’s, and I figure I’d regret it if I didn’t do it.
A bit of background on my driving: I’ve been driving since I was 16, however this is entirely restricted to public roads and I have no track experience. The most powerful car I’ve ever driven is my dads 528i e39 (lol I know, but they cost more here than you guys spend on your M5’s ). I’ve never had any form of infringement with regards to my driving (ie speeding, dangerous driving, etc.). I know everyone comes on here and says that they are a safe driver (see: M5 airfield disaster), but I do like to think of myself as a pretty safe driver. I’ve done my fair share of stupid things in cars when I was 18-19, but I’m a lot more mature now and I look back on those times and can’t believe the things I did. These days I’m pretty anal about my driving and I get pissed off when people don’t indicate lane changes, don’t check blind spots and small things like that which endanger others.
Anyway, I consider myself fairly knowledgeable with regards to what the M5 is capable of having lurked around here for ages, but that obviously doesn’t equate to seat time in one. This is obviously something I really want to do, but at the same time the last thing I want to do is endanger other people and in particular my girlfriend. I guess the main point of this post is to see if you guys think my hiring an M5 is a good idea considering my lack of experience with high powered machines?
Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
Thanks guys!
P.S. Any tips on good driving spots, or places to avoid because of cops etc would also be much appreciated should I go ahead with this!
My suggestion is to chalk up the money and drop by South Carolina and do the M Driving Experience at the BMW Performance Center. Yeah, it'll probably cost more than renting an M5 (before we bought ours, my parents were going to rent one for a day for my Birthday - I ended up having them help me pay for my laptop instead). It was $600 a day from the place they found.
However, when you rent the M5 and go drive it around, the first thing you'll want to do is "try it out" and inherently, that is just going to lead to some risky stuff. I honestly can't see you having an M5 for 2-3 days and knowing it'll be the last time for 10-15 years and are not going to want to take it to it's best speed range, which also happens to be it's most dangerous (speeds above 100mph). And to be honest, no public road is made for speeds like that. You may be able to get away with a run at 4am on a toll road, but that's about it.
However, if you do the M Driving Experience, you will be allowed to drive the cars the way they should be driven and it'll be a lot safer (and more fun).
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The M5 is my dad's - but I drive it more than he does!
The Following User Says Thank You to Revo For This Useful Post:
My suggestion is to chalk up the money and drop by South Carolina and do the M Driving Experience at the BMW Performance Center.
Thanks for the suggestion, I'd really love to do that but there really isn't any way I can make it to South Carolina on this trip.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Revo
However, when you rent the M5 and go drive it around, the first thing you'll want to do is "try it out" and inherently, that is just going to lead to some risky stuff. I honestly can't see you having an M5 for 2-3 days and knowing it'll be the last time for 10-15 years and are not going to want to take it to it's best speed range, which also happens to be it's most dangerous (speeds above 100mph). And to be honest, no public road is made for speeds like that. You may be able to get away with a run at 4am on a toll road, but that's about it.
I appreciate what you are saying, but I'd like to think I have enough sense not to push it to 100mph+. I really just want to experience the potential of the car, have the opportunity to hear the V10 scream. I guess what I was thinking was that I'd find some nice windy roads in the Malibu area or somewhere near LA and just have a bit of controlled fun without the need to reach ridiculous speeds.
Another thing I was concerned about is, am I going to spend two days just working the car out and getting the hang of SMG and end up not enjoying the experience? Is it possible to appreciate the car for what it is by just driving it around for a couple days?
As a long-time single parent (2 GREAT boys ), someone who's owned four BMW's, and someone who's been to the Performance and M Driving Schools, I come from a place that says don't do this.
But I won't. I'm in favor of it.
First and most importantly - you sound further along the maturity level than most people your age. You don't sound spoiled, arrogant, too self-assured, disrepectful, and all those other early-twenties male things that we hopefully grow out of ...
Second - you sound like you've given this some commendable thought. There's some evidence of goals, pros and cons, costs, and consequences.
Third - I think the car is a special product. I own an E60 M5 and am in the process of waiting on a new one. The second one is going to be kept and driven by me for a LONG time. It's that cool.
Fourth - IMO you are correct that there won't be another opportunity like this around soon. And with serious girlfriends/boyfriends as partners and family as a possibility in your future (due to your age, I obviously don't know you), your ability to do something like this will lessen down the road.
Fifth - the only things I truly regret in my life are the (reasonable) chances and opportunities that I didn't pursue. I don't regret many mistakes, as they are necessary learning experiences.
So you get a big from me on this. Be smart, be careful, do NOT run it with DSC turned off, do NOT run it much past 100 mph. DO run it around up to your capabilities and learn as much as you can from the car and the experience. I just don't see any way that you won't be happy that you did. And I think it'll be something, albeit relatively small, that makes life better.
Good luck.
Last edited by hlmiii; 6th November 2009 at 15:25.
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First of all, don't say you won't hit 100 mph as you have no idea how fast that comes up on the speedo. Number 2 there is a learning curve, I bounced it off the rev limiter sevral times when I first nailed it. The rush, the sound can really overwhelm you at first. My son just came to visit ( he's 30) and we went out and beat the hell out of it for a couple hours, more fun than we had in years. Do it as I don't think you will regret it (that is until you have to take it back). Try to find a rental that has unlimited milage and and bring another 3 to 4 hundred dollars for the gas you will burn up.
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I say do it as life is too short not to enjoy it (dont mean in a reckless way). However I do sugest you keep traction on and watch the speedo cuz speeds past 100 is "straight to jail" over there in the States. And lastly, try to meet up with one of the board members who lives in LA or nearby and hopefully he will take you out for a spin with dsc off
Enjoy it as its a great car. Oh and before i go, since you guys drive RHD cars, i suggest looking into some beast from the UK or east Asia and ship it over when you can cuz the price you listed is just too much. You remind me of my cousin, he graduated high school back in the 80's and was gifted anything he wanted. He went for a Black Countach and used to lite his cigarette from its exhaust Luckly he survived that one. Take care with this one and be safe
Last edited by Black M5; 6th November 2009 at 16:49.
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A lot of good advice but I say enjoy your vacay with your gf and don't worry about a car and the damage that can happen with a little misjudgment. This car can get you into trouble quickly and draws attention you may not want when driving around LA.
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). I’ve never had any form of infringement with regards to my driving (ie speeding, dangerous driving, etc.). I know everyone comes on here and says that they are a safe driver (see: M5 airfield disaster), but I do like to think of myself as a pretty safe driver. I’ve done my fair share of stupid things in cars when I was 18-19, but I’m a lot more mature now and I look back on those times and can’t believe the things I did. These days I’m pretty anal about my driving and I get pissed off when people don’t indicate lane changes, don’t check blind spots and small things like that which endanger others.
), someone who's owned four BMW's, and someone who's been to the Performance and M Driving Schools, I come from a place that says don't do this.
and used to lite his cigarette from its exhaust 
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