M5 vs. M5-ish Wagon

"It's a "Porch-uh"" (ikazuchi) 09/05/2013 at 17:50 • Filed to: BMW

0

21

So I've made up my mind to sell my E60 535i and buy an E39 M5. My problem is, I also really like the look of the M5 Touring. The thing is, you can't get one in the states, so the best I can do is a 540iT with a M5 front bumper and wheels, but that's still not an M5.

Though in this case, I found a 540iT with all that, a Dinan supercharger (really a Vortech), and a big chunk of Dinan's E39 catalog. Three strikes against it: automatic, he wants decent E39 M5 money (I say that's hard to do when you don't actually have an M5 or any other serious advantage, like low miles), and it's in my second favorite color (my first being LeMans Blue, which you can't get on the wagon - only another, darker blue).

Compare that to a relatively stock M5 with a few less miles and about $1000 cheaper. It's in the color I want. Suspension options are more plentiful (if I want to star messing with that stuff). Manual transmission (which I'll have to teach my wife to drive on). Also...M5.

Thoughts? I'm totally torn. Is an almost-M5 wagon cooler than a M5?

DasWauto > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/05/2013 at 17:54

1

Nope. Buy the M5.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/05/2013 at 17:56

1

Nope.

Perhaps I'm saying this because I live in a country where station wagons sell far better than sedans, but a real M5 will always be more awesome than a copy, especially considering this isn't exactly the flawless sort (I mean, supercharging?). Plus, said copy is more expensive than the real one. Buy the M5, save some money and get the better car.

Crocket Bernet > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/05/2013 at 17:56

0

M5 wagon all day.

Leadbull > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/05/2013 at 17:57

0

If I were you, I'd just hold out and find another (stickshift, cheaper) wagon.

Then modify as you please.

dieselwagon > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/05/2013 at 18:01

0

Even I couldn't take that wagon over the M5. If it was manual then maybe.

Klaus Schmoll > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/05/2013 at 18:06

1

Who the fuck is Dinan anyway?

A stock M5 is, and always will be, a stock M5! The wagon is just another car that has been riced out, with an owner not realizing that this actually lowers resale value.

Tom McParland > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/05/2013 at 18:07

0

As much as I love wagons and they are my answer to pretty much any automotive question...in this case get the M5...because manual trans....because E39....because M5. That car is in the pantheon of one of the greatest sport-sedans of all time...IN THE WORLD (Clarkson voice)!

Dooooo it

It's a "Porch-uh" > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/05/2013 at 18:18

0

Holy crap! Super low miles (17K), but a 2003 M5 for $52K?!?

http://enthusiastauto.com/qsearch/?id=46…

Rob Evans > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/05/2013 at 18:41

1

I've driven several of these (not supercharged admittedly) and currently own an e39 m5. The M is so much more than a engine upgrade over the 540. The car feels very different and comes with nicer Interior appointments. That being said, the engine is still the proverbial cherry on top. The M62 is a great engine, but literally feels like a dud compared to the s62. S62, lightweight flywheel and ECU tune = sweetest engine possible in the e39 chassis.

Playing devils advocate, before I paid that for a 540T auto box, id put my money on an RS6. Comparable but more power and more special.

lunchtray > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/05/2013 at 19:26

0

I have thought about this for months and I've determined that the absolute best daily driver (imo) in the world would be a 540it with an LS engine making around 400 lb-ft at 2000-2500 rpm, with the Getrag 6 speed from the sedan and Bilstein HD shocks. Sure it would cost a lot to fabricate engine mounts and build a new wiring harness, but once you're done you don't have to deal with the bullshit that is a 15 year old BMW engine with second generation VANOS and countless other instances of over-engineering. Plus you can get rid of that fly by wire crap and hook it up old school. You'll still have to live with the expensive and complicated recirculating ball steering system, though.

Andre L > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/05/2013 at 19:42

0

Why are wagons so cool?

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/05/2013 at 19:44

1

No.

If it were manual and cheaper than the M5 maybe but it's not an M5, he wants too much for it and it's a slushbox. Wagons are awesome but not at that price.

It's a "Porch-uh" > lunchtray 09/05/2013 at 20:38

0

I really like this one: http://www.build-threads.com/build-threads/…

I just don't have the time to deal with a major build like this.

lunchtray > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/05/2013 at 20:44

0

IIRC the build cost on that is already up at around $50 or $60k. I imagine that's just a little bit out of your price range at the moment :)

It's a "Porch-uh" > lunchtray 09/05/2013 at 20:59

0

Yikes! I'm sure if you stayed away from suspension and paint, you could cut that down quite a bit. Figure about $5-6K for a decent chassis. Sell the motor and tranny for maybe $1000 (if it's in decent running order). LS3 crate motor (at least in CA in you need the one that comes with all the emissions equipment to be legal) about $6K. $1K (max) for a used T56. Another $1K (max) for a M5 diff. Maybe $3K in additional parts (custom driveshaft, exhaust fab, etc). Do all the work yourself (including the fabrication of the motor mounts) and you might be able to build something like this for $16-18K.

Or get a nice E39 M5 for that money.

It's a "Porch-uh" > Andre L 09/05/2013 at 21:01

0

For me, it's the whole "sleeper" thing. Having a grocery getter with 400HP+.

That being said, you'd think a hopped up minivan would be cool too, but for some reason it's not.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/05/2013 at 21:02

0

Are these specific wagons rare? I saw one today for the first time ever. I liked it.

DasWauto > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/05/2013 at 21:46

0

Haha, that place is notorious for overpriced but very low mileage cars.

ZeroOrDie - Powered By MZR > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/06/2013 at 10:23

0

M5 or bust.

M54B30 > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/07/2013 at 13:00

0

I'd say get the wagon - I've heard horror stories of M5 maintenance costs. It's not a real M5 but its fast and fun enough to be fine.

Parth985 > It's a "Porch-uh" 09/07/2013 at 13:51

0

I bought an e39 m5 a year ago I love put 20k in one year but also dropped 7k for fixing and maintaince it so ridiculous....after 100k pretty much everything will be replaced except the engine so
Driveshaft,all sensors , brakes, tires, fuel pump, control arms (all) clutch and prolly more so its a great car but have fun goin broke