Gone on done it. M5 is home.

[NordmanMg]

You're sorta correct in regards to the feel when daily driving. It really is the automatic transmission that drags down my 540it. I'm sure if I manual-swapped it I would enjoy it just as much as my M5. That being said, sport mode in an M5 is amazing, it's got some of the best throttle response I've ever felt in a drive-by-wire car. Those 8 throttle bodies are worth the price of admission alone.

Also, your point about the interior only applies to M5's with good condition interiors. My M5 had a pretty beat up interior so my 540it actually felt better on the inside in comparison (I had both for a while and daily drove them back to back). The vinyl interior bits hold up a lot better than the leather ones, especially in dry, sunny climates like Arizona. Leather door panels and dashboards hold up terribly unless you clean and condition them regularly, which most people don't do.

Yea, I forgot to mention sport mode, that way it is definitely a different car, but not all ppl who owns M5's drives them on sport every day, even with auto tranny 540 is not that noticeably slower then M5 in normal mode.

Did you buy from the dealer?

If so, did you know about all the issues before you bought the car?

What issues?
..
i bought mine from dealership, you know what is good about buying from dealer? Car always comes detailed, and you don't have to deal with someone's crap all over the car

[bmchuckleyou]

What issues?
..
i bought mine from dealership, you know what is good about buying from dealer? Car always comes detailed, and you don't have to deal with someone's crap all over the car

I was talking to OP. His car obviously has a few things that need attention. Just wondering if he knew before he bought the car, or if the dealer screwed him.

[amancuso]

Did you buy from the dealer?

If so, did you know about all the issues before you bought the car?

Yes, I bought from dealer. The "issues" are really not serious, or at least I don't think they are. I did know about the radio. A burnt out bulb in the gauge cluster isn't a big deal, nor is the thermostat. I'd consider severe bad bodywork, CEL, or a bad engine/trans to be something that would cause being "screwed".

[geargrinder]

Totally agreed. Nothing on that list is remotely 'screwed'. These are old cars, you gotta expect a few imperfections. Now if you code scan the car and find a bunch of lurking stuff, or, if it goes on a lift and there's some other drastic issue, that's a whole difft story. But a thermostat job and a little cluster / display / radio work and a washer pump? No bigs. If you'd known you coulda for sure gotten the t-stat and washer pump fixed by the dealer pre-sale I bet, although they might have balked about the radio since their solution would probably have been a $$$ brand new part and they wouldn't have wanted to splash that much for it. But again - no big deal, car seems well bought if nothing major crops up.

[tmvE39E53Z32TT]

Congrats!

[NordmanMg]

Yes, I bought from dealer. The "issues" are really not serious, or at least I don't think they are. I did know about the radio. A burnt out bulb in the gauge cluster isn't a big deal, nor is the thermostat. I'd consider severe bad bodywork, CEL, or a bad engine/trans to be something that would cause being "screwed".

If your thermostat would be bad you'd had a SES light,
by the way, how much you paid for it if you don't mind

[auaq]

If your thermostat would be bad you'd had a SES light,
by the way, how much you paid for it if you don't mind

"Ten dorrah, Ten dorrah ..."

- Full Metal Jacket

[amancuso]

If your thermostat would be bad you'd had a SES light,
by the way, how much you paid for it if you don't mind

Yeah, thats what I figured. So far have logged a little over 300 miles getting it home (265 mile trip) and enjoying it in the sun yesterday since it rained NON stop the day I bought it. I don't mind sharing, dealer was asking 14,395, I got it for 13-

[msvphoto]

Gorgeous, congratulations!

[dannyzabolotny]

Yeah, thats what I figured. So far have logged a little over 300 miles getting it home (265 mile trip) and enjoying it in the sun yesterday since it rained NON stop the day I bought it. I don't mind sharing, dealer was asking 14,395, I got it for 13-

That's actually a super good deal for a 2003 M5 in Imola Red, wow! Most forum members ask for waaaaay more money for the 03 M5's since those seem to be worshipped. I guess car dealers actually have better prices when it comes to E39 M5's, eh?

[NordmanMg]

Yeah, thats what I figured. So far have logged a little over 300 miles getting it home (265 mile trip) and enjoying it in the sun yesterday since it rained NON stop the day I bought it. I don't mind sharing, dealer was asking 14,395, I got it for 13-

13k is a very good price for sure, mine coast me 8900 and 5k in repairs so I'm at about the same range.
By the way , here how it looks to be at normal temp range

[amancuso]

That's actually a super good deal for a 2003 M5 in Imola Red, wow! Most forum members ask for waaaaay more money for the 03 M5's since those seem to be worshipped. I guess car dealers actually have better prices when it comes to E39 M5's, eh?

I know, right? A local dealer here in NJ is asking $23,900 for a grey one with 91K miles.

13k is a very good price for sure, mine coast me 8900 and 5k in repairs so I'm at about the same range.
By the way , here how it looks to be at normal temp range

Mine looks like it's running at the same temp as yours. Not gonna worry about it!

[XAlt]

I know, right? A local dealer here in NJ is asking $23,900 for a grey one with 91K miles.



Mine looks like it's running at the same temp as yours. Not gonna worry about it!

The two dots are basically your range.

Non-M BMWs have the idiot light edition.

[amancuso]

The two dots are basically your range.

Non-M BMWs have the idiot light edition.

Yeah, this is a different ballgame.

[auaq]

Yeah, like I said, as long at it stays in near or about 11 o'clock position in city to highway traffic then you are good. It can move a bit slightly higher or lower at random times but again that's normal. Also, if your oil temps stay between the first dot and the 210F position you're good there as well.

[Jason5driver]

Love the Imola.
What is going to happen to the 528i?

[danb1979]

Stunning car and a very good price IMO

They're fetching anywhere between £7.5k and £13k UK Sterling over here; some of them fairly priced, others are dreaming and the lower end are generally dogs!

Never seen a red one though; looks a stunning colour!

[amancuso]

Love the Imola.
What is going to happen to the 528i?

Thank you. The 528i is staying put, it's a great car. It's style 5s are currently being refurb'd.

Stunning car and a very good price IMO

They're fetching anywhere between £7.5k and £13k UK Sterling over here; some of them fairly priced, others are dreaming and the lower end are generally dogs!

Never seen a red one though; looks a stunning colour!

Thanks! according to some data I've read there are only 165 of them in Imola/Imola here in the US. And it's a big country!

[BimmrMeUpSnotty]

Nice car man, not really a red car kinda guy, not even if it were a Ferrari, but, that's just me.
But it looks like your car is in pretty good shape, for the price you paid, how many miles are on it? Sorry if I missed it. I have been thinking of finding an M5 myself, so I've been minding mileage and prices.

[amancuso]

Nice car man, not really a red car kinda guy, not even if it were a Ferrari, but, that's just me.
But it looks like your car is in pretty good shape, for the price you paid, how many miles are on it? Sorry if I missed it. I have been thinking of finding an M5 myself, so I've been minding mileage and prices.

Thanks! I love far out colors. My old Z3 roadster was Dakar Yellow. Miles when purchased were 137,609.

[NordmanMg]

Dakar Yellow is one of my favorite colors
my buddy just bought E34 M5 in that color

[Jason5driver]

Whoa...! ^^^

[dannyzabolotny]

I used to see a Dakar Yellow E39 M5 on my daily commute here in Phoenix. Such a rad color.

[NordmanMg]

Whoa...! ^^^

original car, one of four dakar yellow worldwide, low mileage

[StephenVA]

Congrats on the purchase. Having a few e39 is always a good thing!