[03BeastCharmer]

I couldn't agree more.

E39 M5 are great, but they do need an exhaust. It sounds so alive with an exhaust.

My g/f knows when I'm in front of her house cause she can hear the car rumbling in the driveway , and she loves the sound.

[amgthis]

Originally Posted by gonzo

This one sounds like the king of beasts then.

The sound makes me giggle.

Very beastly indeed! M5 and you won't regret it!

[03BeastCharmer]

Originally Posted by amgthis

Very beastly indeed! M5 and you won't regret it!

I see apples finished his car. That thing has been in the works for like 2 years, and was a monster built by shadowman and area 51 (I think) before the conversion from sedan to ute. Those crazy aussies.

[defconracing]

I have an idea for you:



Took this at the beginning of the great american run, NYC, Jul 2007

(i took this vid as well:

)

[Mikewarlover]

I am personally a huge fan of the e39 M5 its very fast and looks very good despite it being a 10 year old design. The E60 is a little bit too flashy for a 5 series and i really don't like the SMG.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by Mikewarlover

I am personally a huge fan of the e39 M5 its very fast and looks very good despite it being a 10 year old design. The E60 is a little bit too flashy for a 5 series and i really don't like the SMG.

The main reasons. I do not care for SMG or the looks of the E60 version.

03bc your inspection/registration stickers have expired.
What exhaust did you go with?

[03BeastCharmer]

Originally Posted by gonzo

03bc your inspection/registration stickers have expired.
What exhaust did you go with?

That picture is a year old. I took it right after I got the M Coupe, and had washed them both.

I went with the Dinan exhaust. A couple of people around here had various exhausts, so I got to hear a few in person at idle and through the RPM band, and the Dinan had the sound that fit the name "The Beast". Not too 60's muscle car, and not too Italian/F1.

[Sniz]

Gonzo, I'm also looking at e39 M5's......dont buy the one I want damnit. What year are you keying on? I haven't even started the research, any tips for me?

also still looking at built e36 M3 turbo's.

[danniexi]

A BMW classic. The E39 M5 is an absolute beauty! You can't go wrong!

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by Sniz

Gonzo, I'm also looking at e39 M5's......dont buy the one I want damnit. What year are you keying on? I haven't even started the research, any tips for me?

also still looking at built e36 M3 turbo's.

03bc is was joking about the stickers.

Dinan in various stages are on several of the cars I am looking at. How many miles do you have on her? I am reading about clutch issues as well as some Navi screens having problems.

Sniz. The 01's have a tiny Nav screen while the 02-03's get a larger center mount unit. Silver/white gauge faces vs black on the 01's. Anyone care to chime in on changes feel free.

I found an 02 with 50K miles and Dinan Stage 5 for under 30K. Very clean 1 owner all records etc...
Also a white one with the caramel leather. Not many white cars out there. The caramel is good looking and I usually am a black or red leather guy. There are plenty of blue ones out there for you!

These seats just look damn inviting.

Love the M3 too but need that V8!

[03BeastCharmer]

Originally Posted by gonzo

03bc is was joking about the stickers.

Dinan in various stages are on several of the cars I am looking at. How many miles do you have on her? I am reading about clutch issues as well as some Navi screens having problems.

I know you were kid'n

I have 68K miles on my Carbon Black with Caramel interior. Mine had the clutch replaced at abotu 32K miles. This was before I bought it, and I haven't had any issues with the clutch. I bought it in '05 with 37K miles. You have to keep up with the maintenance on these cars, otherwise they are a blast todrive and own. The amount of work that has been done on the car in and out of warranty is a little scary, and I've got a big binder of dealer tickets to show for it. I just keep a budget for maintenance and tires, that way it's not a big shock when it's time to replace worn out rubber parts.

I've never had nav issues. Things that go bad are: MAFS, rear sway bar brackets, tires , Vanos ticks a little louder, but doesn't impact performance, rubber pieces.

The 2003 has a DVD based Nav vs others years which is CD based. If I remember the 02/03's have the HID and angle eyes. But for the most part there were not a lot of changes between the different years.

If you can find a nice Dinan S2, that's the option package you want, as paying for the header and installation is something you want someone else to be responsible for. Mine is just a regular Dinan (Exhaust, Intake, software and strut bar). The S2 should have suspension, MAFS, upgraded software and of course the headers also. Well woth a coupe of extra grand.

[gonzo]

^ A few II's out there but the ones I have ran across are either beat up looking or high miles or both.

The binder full of bill copies....None of the repairs ever put you in the scenario of being stranded did they?

Onward with the search......

[03BeastCharmer]

Originally Posted by gonzo

^ A few II's out there but the ones I have ran across are either beat up looking or high miles or both.

The binder full of bill copies....None of the repairs ever put you in the scenario of being stranded did they?

Onward with the search......

Never stranded (knock on wood). Often it was leaky things I found while washing the car, or the SES light would come on. Car never went into limp mode or would not start up.

Don't be scared off by (maintained) higher mileage M5's. My local friend has 135K miles on his '02, and he has taken it to the track a few times. Runs like a champ as he's always stayed ahead on the maintenance issues.

I might have gone to the dealer more than most, but I live about 4 blocks away from the dealer, so dropping by is very easy, and I check for oily spots in the engine bay every time I wash the car. I also spent a lot of time on M5Board, so I looked for the things that were causing problems on other M5s.

[gonzo]

Thanks!

One of the largest and high tech/fancy stores in the state is right up the road from me. But I don't really trust dealerships. I have a guy who owns his own shop that it would go too. I would like to find someone up the street to trust though. Much closer.

Sit in the fancy store and drink free cappucino and get screwed or sit on his old couch petting his dog and get treated right?

[stefan]

Beautiful car. Jeremy Clarkson's review of it was very entertaining to watch.
But.. if all you need is a V8 ...

[hafnia]

Awesome!! The E39 and especially the M5 is one of the best looking Beemers of all times.