Dark Knight

2008 M5. I still need to get the service records printed out for it just to see what has been done.
But it is at just under 40k miles. 2008 with manual trans.

Earlier this week, I spec'd out a 550i M-sport with employee pricing it is a great deal. And I loved how the quick the car is, how comfortable it is and all the creature comforts. I can't stop playing with the new idrive. I don't care for the padddle shifters. Out of habit I still grab the shift knob. So I opt'd out of that add-on.

BUT then I saw this baby roll in: 2008 M5 (LCI) with Black on Silverstone. Mls 39,843. Price for our customers is $44.9k...but for how much we have in it, my discount won't be much under that. It's a none-CPO. It will need brakes soon. Only reason it didn't get CPO'd is it does not have original tires and missed an oil change by 400 mls, and my GSM did not want to put $3k worth of new tires on it. So warranty expires in 10k miles (or in November of this year.)

So, yes...I definitely enjoyed the F10 550i. Especially over my 530i non-sport. BUT when I drove the M5, I fell in love. I couldn't imagine stepping back into the *sofa* 550i. Not immediately, at least.

Choices:
2012 550i M-Sport - Dakota Brown on Carbon Black - full 4 yr warranty, better gas mileage, better for long distance travel.
or...
2008 M5 / Manual trans. - Black on Silverstone - Will run me around $25k cheaper. But warranty remaining is only around 8 mths. BUT when I touch it, the thrill I get, the 550i cannot compare.


So, current owners? If I go M5, is it worth it? (Meaning would it be a smart decision) And what will I need to look out for to minimize any *costly* repairs or trouble signs. It's not SMG, which is a good thing, right?

And owning an M5 is worth it, should I jump on this one...or wait to see if we get anymore in. Which around here is rare. My insurance also will increase by almost $600 for the year over the 550i. I have been dwelling over this for over a week now.

Pics below.

C's Bimmer

It's already a bad sign they you need to add a quart of oil to the M5. I'm surprised the dealer hasn't added a quart. Not a good sign...

Dark Knight

My sales manager told me it has been sitting up for a while and that they nomally can run thru oil so it can say that until it is driven regularly. They're going to doing an oil change on Monday.

They are getting me the service records for it on Monday. But, I have to ask...do these cars burn oil like that? And I will need it as my daily driver but...if I DO have to sit it still for a while, do I have to worry about issues arising?

Now I am starting to think I may need to look newer.

umichchris

I have to add a quart over the course of a month or so. The V10 burns oil ESP if you drive it daily which I do. I don't think it's a bad sign personally.

C's Bimmer

Trust me, it's a bad sign. It means the car isn't being looked after properly. How many test drives has that car been on since being for sale? 08 M5's are great (you don't need newer), but I would be careful. Is it a CPO? Does it have a warranty? Always remember, M owners BEAT on their cars -- it's a fact. So no matter how good it looks on the exterior, it's what you don't see that can cost you serious bucks down the road. Be careful and take your time, if you decide to do an M.

umichchris

I can agree with the driving hard part. I've had my car less than six months but I carefully monitor everything and all fluid levels. I drive it HARD and love every moment of it because that's what I bought her for. When I say I put in oil....like a quart in a month, I'm continually adding oil to avoid it ever getting low. So C is right that so,wine should have been monitoring it closer.
Have you jumped on m5board? You might want to buy one from a guy there who can give u more of the cars history in addition to the service records...plus u can read thru his post history to see how he maintained the car lol

laidback

Check for power steering rack leak.

lopealle

Adding a quart of oil is normal. I would defintiely check the service history and go from there. PPI is definitely important. From the way you describe it the car doesnt seem bad at all.

C's Bimmer

BTW - That story of why it was not CPO'ed seems fishy...

flyingpuck

Basic BMW rule........NEVER own a BMW out of warranty! My two cents, spend them as you see fit!