STEALTHY?!? REALLY?

I live in San Francisco. I do get a lot of unwanted attention from car buffs. I am always nice but I tought I would blend it more. A lot of "Nice Car." As far as cops- I got pulled over by the police in my area when I first got it and they said I wasn't doing anything wrong, they just wanted to see my car! Theft. Forget it. They know all to well what the car is. On a day to day basis about 10% of people realy know and care what an M5 is. Hope this helped.

It frankly just depends. I've had mine for 2 weeks now and here in SoCal, it attracts a fair amount of attention but only from those who understand what the car is (I went with a Lemans/carmel combo). In particular I've been approached by someone everytime I stop for gas but people will honk and wave when I'm driving as well.

Another mild oddity is the statement that someone made here that all BMW drivers know about the M cars and what they represent. This is definitely not true in SoCal anyway. Very few BMW owners seem to even notice, with the exception of other M car drivers. This was hardly a surprise though as this is my third M car and my other two M3s hardly ever elicited much of a response, again except with other M drivers.

If I had to choose, it's more stealth than show just because not many people know what it is. But among those that do, you might as well be waving a flag.

Burg Hound

I've had similar experiences - doesn't attract much attention except from bimmer owners and boys. I think it probably depends upon color a bit - anthracite is definitely more stealth than Imola!

The odd thumbs-up and the compliments from the minority of folks who know, are nice.

But surprising the @$%# out of everyone else on the highway is the major reason one buys it. There are a lot of flashier cars for the same or less money...it's nice that the Beast can run with most all of them.

Discrete...competent...M5. Bob's your uncle.

Alps

Thanks for your experinces with "blending" in. It sounds as if the color may be one of the largest factors concerning stealth. I did not see a responce from an Imola Red owner. It would be interesting to note what would be the next most unstealthy color(Leman's Blue perhaps?). White seems to stand out as well as carbon black. I noticed a black M5 at the airport yesterday and of course I noticed, but not many others.

For the informed, they notice, but you blend right in with the rest. Perfect! I am sure the police will notice though.

Happy stealthy motoring!

Mark

I just got my Titanium Silver M5 two weeks ago here in So. California and I can't believe the amount of attention this car gets. Especially from the younger crowd.

I own a 993TT and a 996C2 as well and neither car gets this much attention. Maybe it's just the fact that it's still so new.

Originally posted by amir:
I just got my Titanium Silver M5 two weeks ago here in So. California and I can't believe the amount of attention this car gets. Especially from the younger crowd.

I own a 993TT and a 996C2 as well and neither car gets this much attention. Maybe it's just the fact that it's still so new.

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So, the silver was causing this kind of reaction? I sure hope there are no young police officiers on the road nearby! Thanks for the response. I will find out just how much attention carbon black creates when my car is shipped in from Virgina in a couple of weeks. I'll let you know if my exerinces are the same.

Mark

There are probably about 4 dozen in Vancouver (my dealer has delivered almost 20 alone). The condo across the street from mine - like 50 yards away - has THREE M5's...Carbon Black, Oxford Green and Titanium Silver.

Add mine and you soon realize the neighbourhood is quite jaded...you gotta buy this babies for personal enjoyment.

Alps

Well, I guess if you really want to see a varity of M5s Toronto must be the place. Why can one dealer get an allocation of 20 cars in such a short perid of time? Maybe the best way to order a car is in Canada.

Mark

I have only seen one other M5 on the roads here in Massachusetts. As it happens, it's a car sold by my same dealer, and I'd seen it in for service (it was in for the 1200 mi. service while I was taking delivery). I've seen a couple other M5s at dealers, but none on the roads. I see probably 10 other BMWs every day, a mix of 3's, 5's, 7's, and Z3's.

As for stealthiness, I gotta believe nobody outside the BMW and "hot car" community really knows what it is. I judge this by how many people DON'T move right when I pull up behind them. I've driven Vettes and Porsches before, and people recognize them as sportscars, and immediately move to the right when you pull up behind them. I think the general community sees the M5 as just another sedan. Maybe it's my Avus blue. It seems to blend in. People who DO know give me approving looks and "thumbs up." It doesn't happen daily, but at least once a week.

Canadian delivery is indeed fantastic. I got mine in almost exactly two months. This was lucky because my dealer was awarded an extra allocation, so it sped things up by about thirty days.

Alps

Hi Alps,

I think I know which apartment you're talking about with the three M5s.. It's close to the waterfront isn't it..

We should get together one day and exchange thoughts on the latest local speedtraps.

Originally posted by alpywhite:
Canadian delivery is indeed fantastic. I got mine in almost exactly two months. This was lucky because my dealer was awarded an extra allocation, so it sped things up by about thirty days.

Alps

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Don't rub it in!!

Mark

Originally posted by SteveP:
I have only seen one other M5 on the roads here in Massachusetts. As it happens, it's a car sold by my same dealer, and I'd seen it in for service (it was in for the 1200 mi. service while I was taking delivery). I've seen a couple other M5s at dealers, but none on the roads. I see probably 10 other BMWs every day, a mix of 3's, 5's, 7's, and Z3's.

As for stealthiness, I gotta believe nobody outside the BMW and "hot car" community really knows what it is. I judge this by how many people DON'T move right when I pull up behind them. I've driven Vettes and Porsches before, and people recognize them as sportscars, and immediately move to the right when you pull up behind them. I think the general community sees the M5 as just another sedan. Maybe it's my Avus blue. It seems to blend in. People who DO know give me approving looks and "thumbs up." It doesn't happen daily, but at least once a week.

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People actually pull over for you to pass on the left? This would never work in California. In fact, I believe that it is the state past time here to see how slow you can drive in the left lane while talking on the phone, drinking a cup of coffee, balancing the cigarette and reading the paper to boot! If you really want to get around quickly here, you drive very fast in the slow(right) lane. Of course there are four to eight lanes across here to pick and choose from. You going to have to come here and teach "us" how to drive in the correct lanes!

Thanks,

Mark