Whats your story: How did you aquire your M5?

[Pierce]

I was just curious about the normal process one has to go through when they buy an M5... How it works from Dream > Decision > Dealers/Sellers > Order Placement > Build Dates > Delivery > DE Day > First days after > Long term thoughts...

Im sure everyone has a different story, and if you had a funny or interesting story behind yours.... even better!




Thanks!

[zzzzMD]

Loaded my Glock 23 with Federal 165 gr JHP's. Drove to nearest dealer for a "test drive", .................

[Nybes]

zzzzMD,
Great tactic. I can't remember the recent action film that termed that "aggressive negotiation".
My MO has always been "get the largest engine available", therefore it won't be stressed as much during normal use and provides some margin of safety in avoiding dangerous situations. I believe the 5-series TV add calls this "re-defining unavoidable accidents". My wife loves the previous generation 7-series and I have driven several, but at 37 years old I felt a little silly in such a large luxurious car. Besides, another MO is "never take a step back", so the next step in lux beyond a 7 would be a little large! So I convinced my better half that the M5 was the perfect compromise between lux and sport. Her caveat was that I sell our 1982 Porsche 911. The car has been for sale forever! Last fall I started to get quite nervous that we would miss out on our chance for an M5 as I lurked on this and other boards and saw dire predictions for 1/03 or 3/03 end-of-E39 production. All I had to do was show her spy photos of the E60 and we were off to the dealer! There was one person ahead of me waiting for an allotment, so we placed the order 9/21, assuming the 911 would sell soon. That allotment was placed around the begining of October so I thought I might have a SWEET Christmas present.
Oh the waiting, the waiting, lurking on boards, etc. Finally our allotment goes through 1/15 and build completed ahead of schedule by 1/24. Delivery at BMW PC 3/24. More waiting, waiting, waiting, posting, lurking, dreaming.
N.
PS: Still haven't sold the 911

[zzzzMD]

Honestly, I have always ordered my cars WAY in advance. Ordered my '97 540/6 six months prior to delivery, sight-unseen. At that point they were still selling the E34 in the showroom. Had the '97 for six months, then thought, "Hey, wouldn't it be breat if they made another M5?", then placed an "order" with the dealer 2 years ahead of time. Took delivery of my '00 M5, then heard about the E46 M3. Got that one in 12/01. Then heard the E39 is going out of production, saw the E60 photos, called my dealer friend, etc...........Even test drove the E500 to decide if I wanted an E55 while my current M5 was being built. I guess the moral to this story is............THINK AHEAD!!!

[MEnthusiast]

that movie was Star Wars, Episode II: Attack of the Clones. it was a good line.

for me, I knew the E39 M5 was going to be something way back when they came out with the new 5 series. I thought the new 5 was beautiful, even though the common criticism at the time was too round and Japanese looking.

In 96 I got on the waiting list at my then dealer, I was #1. my dealer told me that the M5 would be ultra limited prodution with maybe only 400 coming to the USA. I found this website and I passed it along to Gustav. I then had several issues with my dealer steming from my salesperson leaving, the entire dealership being reorganized and their claim that they did not have my deposit (despite the paperwork I had) and then they would not take a deposit on a Z8 for me. Well after some "aggressive negotiations" I got my deposit back and they lost a customer for life. They also lost a Z8 sale. Their loss.

But I had also lost my spot on line for the M5 and I got very busy with work so I just let it go. But when 2000 rolled around and the M5 came out I realized I had to try to find one and everyone wanted MSRP+. I made a contact through this board and he was kind enough to give me his allocation at msrp - he put deposits down at a few local dealers.

After a few years, our needs changed, or so I thought, and it was time to say goodbye to the 00 M5. In a few short months I realized I missed it and my current dealer tried to find me an 02 car. It just was not happening and worse was that they were having a hard time finding an allocation for 03s! there was one that was coming in but not in the colors of my choice. I decided that something was better than nothing so I was about to take it. Then, at the last minute, I get a call from the dealer stating that someone ordered the car just the way I wanted (carbon/caramel) and balked because they didnt realize carbon wasnt 100% black.

So thats how I lucked into 2 M5s. After living with the realization of giving one up I am compelled to tell anyone thinking of letting their M5 go to make sure its the right move for them because this is really one fantastic vehicle.

[ALX]

It was April '98 and I had my '93 E34 525i 5-sp in for service (I bought it used in '96). When I went to pick up my car after its servicing, the saleswoman that sold me the used 525 saw me and stopped to chit-chat. I asked her if she knew of any used E34 M5s becoming available for purchase- I really wanted an M5- and when she said, "no", I was disappointed but not surprised. Here's how the conversation continued:

Then she said, "BUT, there maybe a new M5 coming out based on the E39 platform".

"Really?" I answered.

"Yeah, I'm not sure if its going into production yet, but BMW has an M concept car based on the 5 series. And the crazy thing is, we already have 5 orders for the car!"

"Orders already and you don't know when and IF the car is going to be produced?!?!!"

"Isn't it crazy?"

"Well what do you require to place the order?", I said thinking to myself if it's just a matter of placing your name on a list, then I might as well do it....

"Well", she said, "you just need to give me a deposit, which is refundable in case the car doesn't go into production or you change your mind."

"How much?"

"It can be just $500 and we'll-"

I cut her off by saying, "Who do I make the check out to?"

I then gave her a check for the $500 made out to the dealership and I became "order" number 6. That was April '98.

Then in November '99 I get a call from the BMW dealership:

BMW: "Hi Sir, we're calling because we need to spec out your car."

Me: "Spec out my car? What car?"

BMW: "The M5 you've ordered, Sir. You did order an M5 right?"

Me: "M5? OH, yes of course! Absolutely! My M5! Yes!"

BMW: "Alright then, what color would you like?"

I made my choices and was told I would have the car in January! I couldn't believe it! It was also then, that I discovered this board through a client that also had an order for an M5.

In December, with only one month to go before delievery, the saleswoman offered to lend me an E39 540i/6 sport for a weekend to "get an idea of the M5". The 540 was great and if the 540 was a blast, I could not imagine what the M5 would be capable of!!!

Then the day arrived, it was amazing to see the car in the delievery port. After a few signatures, the car was mine!

That's not all, because 10 minutes later while on the highway- at a mere 60mph- driving home I realized there was no one in front of me. Hmm, 400hp car, no one in front....let me see what this puppy can do. Now I know there was a break in period, but common on! The car has 400HP!!!!

I dropped from 6th into 4th and gunned it!

WHAAAAAA-HOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I could not, repeat, could not stop laughing!!! I was laughing and smiling like a little kid!

Man, I will never forget what that was like. I think the only thing that will top it is the day I buy my first Ferrari.

POW!

ALX

[Silverstreak]

In late '94 I bought one of the first 540 6 speed sport models. I thought that was nirvana! When I found out via the grapevine that a new M5 was coming out I went down to the dealer and put my deposit in - I was number 2 on the waiting list. When I picked it up in 12/99 I thought it was nirvana! And I still do

[pmiranda]

I never thought I'd be able to afford an M5 much less find one for sale back in 2000. I was thinking of just getting a 540 when I heard there might be a 545 with the 4.6 from the new XP "HP". I decided I'd euro deliver one in '01 when I got my sabbatical (2 months paid vacation after 7 years service time). I started picking options for the 540 at the end of '00 and the real sticking point was luxury seats (with lumbar support) or sport seats (with better side bolsters but no lumbar). The sales guy at my local dealer said I could wait a while to order it, and I couldn't euro-deliver when I wanted to anyway (Octoberfest).

While I deliberated, I got a few good bonuses and decided to try and find a dealer with a short M5 list. I called every dealer in the state (and a few others), and got to one that thought he might be able to get me one by the end of the year!

Still no euro delivery, but ironically, they did complete the build and it was on the way to the ship when we were driving a rental car in Germany to Munich for Octoberfest.

A week or two after we got home it arrived at the dealer. When I went to pick it up, the dealer (in a small town) treated me like royalty (unlike my local dealer which only recently started making customer service a priority). It was quite a sight to see it right in front of the showroom. I was expecting delivery to be quick like when I bought my Acura off the lot, but it took two hours! It was killing me to sit 10 feet from the beauty and NOT HAVE IT!

It's now been a year and a half and I'm still loving it!

[Chopper]

I'd took my 728i in for a service and I was looking around some of the cars and I saw a used '00 M5 parked on the stand. I got talking to one of the sales people and they offered me a test drive. I took the car out and instantly fell in love. I left the showroom and went home, and planned to buy the car. However, I was in some financial bother at the time and so I decided I might have to wait a little longer and get the car when i had the money.

A couple of weeks later i returned with my brother because he wanted to place down an order for a new Mini. When i walked in, there was the Black '00 M5 I had test drove before, and a Blue '01 M5 that had only come in a few days ago. I took the blue one for a test drive, and then went home. 2 weeks later I was driving past my dealers and saw them both. I then settled on the black one because it has lower milage and a better spec than the Blue one.

I have owned this car for about 4 weeks now and it is one superb motor!

[TriflowM5+M3]

Went to the dealer in the area after salavating over pics/specs for the first year or so. I walked in (after getting out of my 97 Chevy Malibu) and walked in. I recieved the customary "May I help you?" and proceded to tell this nice gentleman that I was here to inquire about a deposit on an M5. Not two seconds later he replies with "the deposit amount is $1000. Did you know that?" I decided to play with this nice man considering he wanted to play a little tough ball...so in response, "A thousand? I thought I would put down half now." Should have seen his face!

So about a month after putting down 2K and being listed as number 21 on the list, I get a phone call. "Mr. Kolar, this is Frank from the Imported Car Store. How are you today?" Im thinking to myself, why am I getting this call? "I have great news, we have a 2001 Lemans blue M5 with the silverstone interior comming in on special terms and no one is interested in the color. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? That was the only color that I wanted.... So I am told that because my dealership was hosting the USA Grand Prix party that BMW was putting on for Florida, they recieved a M5 as a thank you....and thank you very much, cause that is now my baby and i enjoy every moment in her.

So instead of a year and a half wait...2 months from start to delivery!