Didn't realize how cheap E60 M5s had gotten

"E90M3" (e90m3) 04/08/2018 at 15:43 • Filed to: unnecessary car shopping with E90M3

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In shopping for an E34 M5, I’ve come across a bunch of E60 M5s for right around the 20k mark. I didn’t realize they had gotten that cheap. The E60 M5 is never a car I’ve wanted to own, I like them, but I don’t want to own one so I’ve never really shopped for them. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! If I was still in Savannah, I would probably go look at it. The noise from that V10 is intoxicating.

Nibby > E90M3 04/08/2018 at 15:49

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still gonna end up paying maintenance for an $80,000+ car

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > E90M3 04/08/2018 at 16:01

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A wise man once said on an car forum “There is nothing more expensive than a cheap used German car”

E90M3 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 04/08/2018 at 16:07

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I know, I do have an M car from the same era.

E90M3 > Nibby 04/08/2018 at 16:07

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It’s too bad part prices don’t depreciate.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > E90M3 04/08/2018 at 16:18

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Interlagos Blue or Indianapolis Red are the only ways to go.

Nibby > E90M3 04/08/2018 at 16:47

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wanna know what else doesn’t depreciate? our everlasting undying mutual love

Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief > E90M3 04/08/2018 at 16:56

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I own an E60 M5 that I bought for $20k ~three years ago with 53k on the clock.

Airplanes are cheap to buy as well. Much cheaper than you’d expect. They’re almost free.

There are reasons. My God are there reasons.

My first repair was a $1,250 passenger seat sensor for the abs. Then an $800 battery cable because of abs not being able to talk to the explosive bolts that physically disconnect the battery in an accident. Then it was $7,250 when my voltage regulator blew and the alternator cooked the ECU and the battery (the battery installation requires a special tool btw — you can’t fix a thing by yourself). I also had an $800 door seal fail and fill a rear door with rain water. Twice.

Currently I need a new power steering reservoir, a thermostat, and new VANOS solenoids.

I go through tires as if I drifted the car around the same turn every day (I do) and it sucks gas line I was shifting at my 8700 RPM redline going through tunnels every day (I do) and since I’m going to be buying new tires in the next month or so I’ll be smoking the rears so much that the fire department might get get a call.

I’m just about to hit 80k miles. I need to replace the rod bearings soon. Just in case.

I have zero regrets and would do it all over again happily. It’s brought me more joy than I could have asked for. I drive it like it was meant to be driven and despite everything, including the $2200 rear shocks I forgot to mention, I love this fucking car.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > E90M3 04/08/2018 at 17:17

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Oh the siren song of a German V10. Sounds a lot like my purchase a few years ago. Nearly 10 years old with less than 55k miles, what could possibly go wrong?

I’ve had to deal with oil leaks and a bad oil cooler thus far. Sometimes the low mileage isn’t a good thing. But whoa boy the parts costs... ouch. Those Germans are very proud of their parts. Oh well, sometimes you just have to give it a shot, but as long as you’re prepared for some pain along the way.

Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo 04/08/2018 at 17:33

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You are wrong.

Gerry197 > E90M3 04/08/2018 at 17:37

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And the fuel costs. You will be lucky to get 16 mpg hypermiling it on the freeway, expect 13 mpg in most situations, on premium by the way.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief 04/08/2018 at 17:38

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Consider this:

No.

E90M3 > Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief 04/08/2018 at 17:43

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I’m sure you know, but I also own an M car. There is nothing cheap about them. Great cars though.

E90M3 > Gerry197 04/08/2018 at 17:44

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That’s not terrible. I get about 18 on the high way in the M3, and 15 otherwise. A 2 MPG loss isn’t bad at all.

Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief > E90M3 04/08/2018 at 17:54

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I’d give it a kidney if I had to.

Gerry197 > E90M3 04/08/2018 at 17:56

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That’s driving pretty normal from what I can remember, having any fun and it’s 11 mpg.

But that’s just a small part of the costs with a V10 M model.

Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo 04/08/2018 at 17:56

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Also inaccurate.

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > E90M3 04/08/2018 at 17:58

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The price is rising. Two years ago they were a 19 k car at best

E90M3 > Gerry197 04/08/2018 at 17:59

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Fuel would be the least of my concerns with a car like that. I also wouldn’t DD it.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief 04/08/2018 at 18:15

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Only the Germans would build a car where you need a special tool to replace the battery.

Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/08/2018 at 18:21

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ACM gel bullshit where it needs to learn how much voltage to push at the battery. You have to “register” a new one so it resets the baseline and doesn’t overcharge the new one.

So is claimed anyway.

Gerry197 > E90M3 04/08/2018 at 18:54

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Yup, I agree, there are more expensive things to worry about.

However, if you are use to owning an M car out of warranty and are good with DIY or have a good indy shop and careful where you buy parts, the E60 Ms shouldn’t be an issue.

E90M3 > Gerry197 04/08/2018 at 18:56

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In 7 days, I will have owned the M3 without a warranty for 3 years.

Rico > Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief 04/08/2018 at 19:07

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Look how happy it looks!

Gerry197 > E90M3 04/08/2018 at 19:33

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Congrats, that’s an achievement. A lot of people give up or trade them in by then, how many miles a year are you doing?

DipodomysDeserti > E90M3 04/08/2018 at 19:39

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It’s only done 49k because it’s been broken most of its life.

E90M3 > Gerry197 04/08/2018 at 20:59

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I’ve put 29k on it since I got it in July of 2014. I only put about 4k on it last year though.

It was a one owner car with only 15.7k miles on it when I got it.

Gerry197 > E90M3 04/08/2018 at 21:05

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That’s great position to be with on great car like that. Did you own a E46 M3 before? How do you like it in comparison?

E90M3 > Gerry197 04/08/2018 at 21:33

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Honestly, this was the first car I bought. I always wanted a 4 door M3 and realized I could afford the E90, so I got one. I’ve never had the chance to drive an E46 M3, but I assume it’s pretty awesome to drive. I was driving a 1997 Explorer Sport at the time, it was my first car and it was given to me when I turned 16.

I think I might delve into older M car ownership in the near future. I feel like I should get something older before they start to appreciate too much.

Vicente Esteve > E90M3 04/08/2018 at 21:50

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Get a 2010 with a manual, buy the improved rod bearings.

Enjoy one of the most amazing sedans ever made.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > E90M3 04/08/2018 at 23:53

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These are cars I absolutely love and want to own. The repair bills scare the hell out of me though. And I have a pretty high pain threshold haha

Ozdigital > Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief 04/09/2018 at 08:30

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Now I was buying this story on your repairs until you said 8700 redline...it’s 8200....would a jalop make this mistake with his own car? If he’s not a honed jalop.

A honed jalop finds a good indy. A honed jalop protects his/her 100k from the elements. Hone your jalop.

Ozdigital > Gerry197 04/09/2018 at 08:40

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It’s almost funny how fast it will eat a tank. If you go run errands for couple hours, you’re filling it up no matter how much gas was in it.

But then you find enough road to max out second gear and you just laugh at how silly this car. BMW put an aircraft engine in it. Nothing should pull like this let alone a 4,000 lb plush sedan. It’s an obnoxious amount of power, and still makes me giddy after a year of owning it.

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief 04/09/2018 at 11:41

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As much as I love these cars, rod bearings at 80K miles??? That’s just ridiculous.