Comments: 1-15, 16-26
One of the rear Parking Distance Control sensors has failed. Replaced.
Engine problem (still not completely sorted I think). All spark plugs were replaced and the two Lambda sensors and one of the camshaft sensors.
Right mirror sometimes did not fold out in in. Solved; contacts were dirty.
Rain sensor (automatic wiper function) failed; has been re-initialized and seems to work okay now.
On Board Computer display (below the dails) is losing pixels.
I think the 8-series is better constructed (I also own an 850i from 1992). When braking hard you can hear the doors 'settle'. The 8 doesn't have this problem (less doors of course).
The M5 is a very fast car. It will spin its wheels very easily (even in third gear). When driving above 200 km/h (in sixth gear), it will still push you back in the chair when putting down the gas pedal. It is VERY fast.
The cup holders are very breakable. The two in the back have been broken several times now.
The original gear lever was partly aluminum. This did not last very long. This type of gearlever is no longer in production. I had it replaced by a leather one (less fancy) instead.
The radio and On Board Computer have a poorly designed interface and react very slow to button presses. Changing a track on the CD or a station on the radio will take a second or so and there is no conformation beep or something. The Navigation system is also very slow. The telephone works well, but is also slow.
Fastest sedan? That will be the Holden GTS-R then. 530 BHP. Second fastest production sedan, that will be the LOtus Carlton then...
Very interesting write up and with an 8 series and an M5 your are one lucky guy!
Don
95 52iA.
Sorry to burst your bubble mate, but I think you'll find the holden and the carlton lag a little behind the 2003 Brabus S V12, 570 bhp, 664 ft/lb, 0-60 in 4.6s, limited to 192mph, I wouldn't normally post, but I hate know-it-all sarcasm.
The m5 is slightly more practical to own than either a lotus carlton and holden... and it's an M car so that's what makes it great... pricewise nothing touches it as a sued buy!
Don.
M5, Fastest Sedan?
No, I don't think so. I think it's Mercedes S65 AMG. Although, it's electronically limited speed of 155 mph isn't the top speed in the Sedan category, but the acceleration from 0-60 in 4.3 seconds is. Once delimited it can go well over 190 mph. Also, think about Bentley Flying Spur which boasts a 190+ mph speed, but it still is slower in acceleration than the S65.
The subaru impreza WR1 will do 0-60 in 4.2 limited to 155 and the lancer FQ 400 will do it in 3.5 seconds on to 177 mph.
Just for your information the Lotus Carlton is slower than a E39 M5 at 177mph and 377BHP. I know a E39 M5 will reach an exceed 180Mhp EU version with 400BHP. I don't know about the US version.
Second of all. Every couple of years some new car will be last years. Now we have the E60 M5 with 507BHP, and various others. The guy was clearly talking about the M% being the fastest at that time.
All very very fast cars. I've owned an M5 and a Lotus Carlton. Sold them both, then bought a Sierra Sapphire Cosworth 4x4, that had been tuned by a]Andy Rouse and churned out 576bhp. Great fun when you're next to 150,000 pound super cars and eat them for breakfast.
Dan.
The Holden may be "potentially" quicker in a straight line, but I am sure in the real world it isn't. All that power is useless if you can't put it to the ground properly, which the basic trailing arm rear end on the Holden struggles with. When it comes to the first corner though it is no contest, M5 all the way. There have been many a fast car that goes like stink on a drag strip etc, but in the real world on a twisty mountain road they have been embarrassed by a "slower" car. The majority of fast Holdens fit into that category. Local car rags in OZ have even had a standard SS go around a race track quicker than a Clubsport only to have a less powerful and heavier 6cyl Falcon (turbo though) beat it! The Falcon F6 typhoon is quicker in the real world/track than any Holden/HSV, and all this with less power.
We're talking about the M5, right?
It may or may not be the fastest, but with all the great safety and security systems it beats out most everything else.
I'm about to buy a used M5 with 60K on the clock from a BMW dealer. It's good to read the reviews, but the build quality issue scares me a bit now. Guess I better ensure it has a full extended BMW warranty.
My 2000 528i was the most reliable car I have ever owned and Consumer Reports backed that up.
Now I know the M5 is a different creature, but a lot of the components are the same as the 528i so I would venture to say it would be the most reliable M5 (including the new one coming out) available.
Early E39 M5 had engine problems so make sure you get one with the replaced, newer engine. The old engines also drank oil like crazy.
Fact is, who acres if your little car beats a supercar, the bloke still owns a car worth 5 times your car and its stilla supercar! I know which id rather own!! and if they can afford a SUPERCAR, they sure as hell and go afford a little car and blow 20k doing it up like anyone else's. Owning a supercar is not only about speed, but profile also.
Would you rather an sti which does 10.1 or a lambo which does 11.7, id rtaher the lambo!
:D.
Id rather have the lambo too, but speed was the issue, and what other cars are capable of.