M5 reliability

[moroza]

I've read my share of threads that talk about how M5's need to be well-maintained, that parts are expensive, and that working on them can be much more difficult than, say, working on a 535i. But something I'ven't heard mentioned much is how durable they are. Not how often things need to be fixed, maintained, tuned up, or replaced, but in the sense of how the car (specifically, the engine) can tolerate being driven to its limits regularly and extensively. If cared for properly, with a practically unlimited amount of money, time, and knowledge, can one drive the piss out of an M5 and expect it to not break down? Say, if you wanted a getaway car - something that had performance, handling, could carry a few people and a couple of suitcases of cash, and could reliably get you home without breaking down despite rough driving - how good or bad a choice would an E34 M5 be?

[jselig]

i drive mine everyday. yes there is alot of maintenance but is very easy to work on, i do 99.9% of all my repairs and maintenance. i furgure about $3000 a year for mine over the last 6 years. somethimes less this year more.

[5271990]

Say, if you wanted a getaway car - something that had performance, handling, could carry a few people and a couple of suitcases of cash, and could reliably get you home without breaking down despite rough driving - how good or bad a choice would an E34 M5 be?

Pretty good, with a chip and cams you could outrun the eurocopter since the current police ones max out at about 143mph.

The worst thing about using it as a getaway car would be if the car decided to lock you out at the crunch time because the battery had died ;)

Edit, they're using a new version of the chopper now that tops out at 165mph, A shot of nitrous should do the trick

[riverdogs]

this was a topic I wondered about as well. I'm flying out to Toronto over memorial day weekend and will be doing a quickie 2500 mile jaunt back to the NW......I'm hopefull that it will be an uneventful trip.
My 530 has all of the little gremlins worked out....took a chance on this "upgrade" and hope it was a good move.

[e24mpwr]

They are durable and reliable, just maint. intensive and hungry for your wallet. Don't buy one if you aren't ready for the financial side of the equation. If you are, then you'll smile...

...a lot!

[jrobbo]

I always say they the engines in the M5 are bullet proof, but they're not idiot proof. I've seen more than one M5 engine (including mine) get destroyed because of idiots without a clue working on them.

Having said that, there are plenty of 3.6 litre motors around now with about 300,000 miles on the clock that are still going strong. Maintenance is the key, and by someone who knows what they are doing.

The main weakness is the water pump, a lot of owners just change them over at 60,000 miles because otherwise they fail at the most inconvenient times, and often with very little warning.

Self levelling rear shocks start leaking, and are very expensive to replace. Guibos (the rubber flex disk in the drive shaft) have a finite lifetime too, and should be checked often. Everything else is just normal wear and tear and will be fixed though regular maintenance

Have fun!

John