m5 advice

[1badgvr4]

en tho im a younger guy i've always loved the m5. I've been looking off and on, but they've always been way out of my price range. Yesterday on my way to school I happen to see a red 5 series with m pars on it sitting on the side of the road with a for sale sign. As I get up closer I see the m5 badges and flip out.

I call the next day and go look at it. It's so CLEAN. The owner owns his own shop painting older Porches. He says its his DD but he has too many cars.
He claims to have all the suspension replaced and the engine got a recent valve adj and tune up. He also painted the car, and it is very clean. The interior is also very clean with the driver seat being recovered. Full alpine stereo.Heres the kicker He's asking 12k! Still out of my price raange alittle, but I offer him 10 and he says more than likley he'll take it. The car drives nice and Im in love. What would you do?

[dansgt]

pics? big step up from a galant...i'd probably go for it if everything checked out...

[p1zz4guy]

Give me your vr4 and buy the M5. If he doesnt take 10k hes a fool, prices on them are dropping like crazy.

[1badgvr4]

pics? big step up from a galant...i'd probably go for it if everything checked out...

I've got a couple other cars. The galant is on the 10 year resto lol.

prices on them are dropping like crazy.

I haven't seen this.

[p1zz4guy]

I haven't seen this.

I guess it would depend on the condition of the car. Theres a perfect ones that go for 16k and ones that that might need a little work that go for less.

The perfect examples will always fetch the high end of the price range. I was refering to to the mid to low side of the range which have recently started to go for 5-7.5k in the last year or so.

If the car is a DD depending on mileage and condtion (it sounds to be in very good condtion) 10k sounds right, if not a little high IMO.

[NikosX]

How old are you?

[e34Croak]

buy it.

[p1zz4guy]

How old are you?

pedobear?

[1badgvr4]

How old are you?

18, but please don't judge on that fact alone. I know what the car is and will treat is as so. I trying to make arrangements to get the car and will sell the current DD to have extra funds as back up in case something happens. Besides my age Nikos what do you think? BTW this car will not get beat on. I have a mid 11 sec mitsu to take car of that.

[Sharkbite]

Always take advice from a non-M5 owner w/ a grain of salt .

What kind of records ? If well cared for , miles can be a non-issue unless its over 180-200K on the original motor. If thats the case....regardless of how well its been maintained it could be pretty tired and in need of a rebuild soon.

There's so much to look for that its hard to even start but I'd seriously think about doing a comp & leakdown test on the motor. It doesn't matter how well it drives. These tests are mandatory .

Get the mileage first , then we can go from there.

For 12K that car should be pretty damn tight !!!

[1badgvr4]

Always take advice from a non-M5 owner w/ a grain of salt .

What kind of records ? If well cared for , miles can be a non-issue unless its over 180-200K on the original motor. If thats the case....regardless of how well its been maintained it could be pretty tired and in need of a rebuild soon.

There's so much to look for that its hard to even start but I'd seriously think about doing a comp & leakdown test on the motor. It doesn't matter how well it drives. These tests are mandatory .

Get the mileage first , then we can go from there.

For 12K that car should be pretty damn tight !!!

Mileage is at 151k right now. Those test were to be done before any serious nego went down. The owner before this guy works at an indie BMW shop and performed all the work. Im giving him a call tomorrow.

[Sharkbite]

Get it on a lift .

Check the rear SLS if its still there. Look for leaks in the lines coming out of the accumulators. If the car sags in the rear....could be time for a replacement, or SLS delete w/ regular coils+shocks.

Look at the timing chain region...see if there are any leaks there.

When you drive it...shut all the windows and listen well for any whining in 2nd & 3rd gear during deceleration. If its pronounced the syncros could be tired.

Make sure the heater works ! I know its summer, but if it doesn't, the heater matrix could be shot and that's a whole lotta hurt later on.

You can PM me if you need some help.

Mike

[1badgvr4]

Ok will put that on the list. If everything checks out out would you offer?

[p1zz4guy]

Ok will put that on the list. If everything checks out out would you offer?

offer low. see if he bites. but 10k sounds right if everything is tight.

Edit: Didnt you say you already offerd him 10k?

[kalevera]

Not to belabor the obvious, but.....it has M5 badges, is it actually an M5?

Heck, I have a brillantrot "M5" and I'll cut you a real good deal on it, too




These are expensive cars to own, they tend to eat money. If your budget allows it, it's the best E34 you can get from the factory...

[p1zz4guy]

^^^ that isnt the car in question is it?!?!?!

[4500 RPM]

$10k for a 151k '91 is a bit outrageous.

^^^ that isnt the car in question is it?!?!?!

Come on dude, turn on your brain.

[p1zz4guy]

$10k for a 151k '91 is a bit outrageous.



Come on dude, turn on your brain.

Im at work so my mind is some where else.(its pretty much answer phone-make pizza-read posts and repeat)

I could see one going for around 10k w/ 151k miles, IF its in perfect condition and an ass load on records. It all depends on the buyer.

[ILoveMPower]

I disagree that the price is out of range

I think Sharkbite summed it up pretty well on what to look for Pre-purchase

The handbuilt quality of these cars is astounding and I think once you have a good go at getting to the top of 3rd gear you will fall in love like the rest of us, even though in reality the car is not THAT fast. Best of luck and post some pictures please.

[NikosX]

Always take advice from a non-M5 owner w/ a grain of salt .

?? Is this directed at me?

[BAzN]

Yup 10k is alot right now for the M5 I have one myself... with 98k miles. Try to talk to him haha unless he will give u like free paint job or something

[Sharkbite]

?? Is this directed at me?

No, I know you've had one

But you know what I'm talking about having owned one. There's a huge difference between really knowing what makes these cars run,cost,thrill...etc

Vs. someone that just knows someone that has had one, or owns one.

People that have never owned an E34 M5 and tend to give a lot of advice about them remind me of virgins that like to talk about sex a lot but have never even copped a feel .

I disagree that the price is out of range

I think Sharkbite summed it up pretty well on what to look for Pre-purchase

The handbuilt quality of these cars is astounding and I think once you have a good go at getting to the top of 3rd gear you will fall in love like the rest of us, even though in reality the car is not THAT fast. Best of luck and post some pictures please.

Top of 3rd on the M5 is nirvana.

Its not that fast if you compare it to most uber-400+ hp cars today, but it'll hold its own on a hwy run. At least mine will.

The magic of the M5 is its balance. It can use most of its power very well.

[gtopaul]

The old saying of buy the best car you can afford really applies to the E34 M5. Cheaper cars will require more $$ to get them back up to snuff. I would rather have a car that's been well maintained at 150k miles than one that hasn't at 80k miles. We all know that BMWs usually require a lot of "normal" maintenance between 60-100k miles like cooling system and front end. Once you get that out of the way it should be trouble free driving for a while. I've spent another $7k on my 91 just since I bought it last December. I'm redoing the interior door panels and drivers seat now. M5s are not rocket ships but the balance and finesse they have makes driving these cars just plain fun.

[Sharkbite]

The old saying of buy the best car you can afford really applies to the E34 M5. Cheaper cars will require more $$ to get them back up to snuff. I would rather have a car that's been well maintained at 150k miles than one that hasn't at 80k miles. We all know that BMWs usually require a lot of "normal" maintenance between 60-100k miles like cooling system and front end. Once you get that out of the way it should be trouble free driving for a while. I've spent another $7k on my 91 just since I bought it last December. I'm redoing the interior door panels and drivers seat now. M5s are not rocket ships but the balance and finesse they have makes driving these cars just plain fun.

Is that you that got the mention on the latest Roundel ? Your line up of cars indicates it could be you.

If so, congrats.

And yes, I agree w/ GTOPaul, get the M5 thats had all the $$$ work done already because its still a lot cheaper than getting it done yourself . A car thats had 9-10K worth of work will only see 3-4K of that back...maybe.....whereas you'll have to fork all that eventually. Ouch !

I chose my hi-mileage M5 over low mileage examples only because the PO was well off and spared no expense in maintaining the car.

In the last year the car has cost me a grand total of $ 750.00 in maintenance.

That'll buy you one OEM Mahle piston if you have to rebuild your S38.

[4U2NV FLC]

I wish I had 10K just layin around when I was 18. N E ways it still sounds steep... no matter the condition.