The only problem is...my car right now has 32k miles....

and well to find an 03 m5 in that range of mileage would be closer to 45-50k....

i paid 36k for my car....

i got this car as an auto because my wife was going to drive it and that was the only requirement from her....

BUT now we're buying her an 04/05 mdx....

UNLESS i can pick up an 03 m5 with 30k miles for around 36k....i think i'm gonig to stick with my car...

right now i can't justify spending an additional 15k on an m5...specially with a baby on the way...

hmmmm.....

sorry just needed to get this off of my chest....

maybe now i'll feel better as to why i shouldn't even consider trading/selling my car and picking up an 03 m5!

You also know the history on your car. Well at least since you have had it.

You also know the history on your car. Well at least since you have had it.

yea

well even b4 that the previous owner was meticulous about this car! so

Keep her

Oh keep the car too..

Oh keep the car too..

thanks! :)

Thats a keeper

Your decision does have some good logic with reasons behind it but still, an M5 is an M5 IMO.:D

I test drove one about a week ago and still can't get over how great it was. If the 540i is a beast, then an M5 is a fucking monster.

But still, it's a hard decision considering all the factors.

GL!

one of my buddies just saw this thread and he emailed me back saying....he sees more m5's on the road then he does 03 540iM's...

do you guys agree with that...i kinda do..

Your decision does have some good logic with reasons behind it but still, an M5 is an M5 IMO.:D

I test drove one about a week ago and still can't get over how great it was. If the 540i is a beast, then an M5 is a fucking monster.

But still, it's a hard decision considering all the factors.

GL!

well the extra 15k for additional 100 hp and 45 tq...imo isn't worth it...

yea you also get the additional tuning of the m's suspension/lsd etc etc...

i may upgrade the suspension on mine in a few k miles when it needs it....to a dinan stage 2 suspension....

my little grasshopper, fight that urge.

Keep the 540.

i do it just to get rid of the auto. Unless you don't mind it that much. I mean comon its an m5 nuff said.

if i had the option i would sell my 540 any day.

just mod your auto...540iA are nice cars...

just mod your auto...540iA are nice cars...

nah not gonna mod it unless it needs it

for example when my suspension needs to be replaced i'll opt for the dinan stage 2 suspension for 2k.

and maybe one day i'll supercharge it!

but i'm not a big fan of modding cars any more...

Keep her.....

I have had the same thought a few times. After knowing how much I have done for my 540 and how she runs now, however tempting it is, I'll stick with her.

keep her....at the end of the day your 15K in the black.

nah not gonna mod it unless it needs it

for example when my suspension needs to be replaced i'll opt for the dinan stage 2 suspension for 2k.

and maybe one day i'll supercharge it!

but i'm not a big fan of modding cars any more...

Why the dinan suspension upgrade? I'm just curious how you came to that decision.

Why the dinan suspension upgrade? I'm just curious how you came to that decision.

it was just a suggestion.....

i haven't done any research on this...i just don't want to lower the car any...and maintain the same ride i have now...

and i've heard the dinan suspension provides that...

you're not going to need suspension for a while if you've got only 32K miles. As for you're situation... You've got a great looking car that I wouldn't sell. If you're able to put forth an additional 15K towards a car, why not just do some tasteful mods and put the money towards your soon-to-be kids college fund (congrats!) You know the history of your car, people here (me) would die for those miles, you can get a lot of bang for your buck with mods, I just feel your money is best spent elsewhere.

You want my honest opinion, right? Here it is:

Because it's an auto, the only thing good going with your car is its low miles, compared to others (auto and 6-sp of same model with normal miles).

That and that alone will command a higher resale value.

With that on your side, this is the time to follow your gut, i.e. you want M5. If I were you, I'd unload it and get what I really want.

In a few years, the M5 will depreciate much less than what will become an average-joe 540/a which everyone would pass, in preference to 540/6sp.

For 6k you can supercharge it and blow away that M5

In a few years, the M5 will depreciate much less than what will become an average-joe 540/a which everyone would pass, in preference to 540/6sp.
I know you said IMO, but this is an absolute statement which just isn't true. When I was looking for my first BMW, I was looking for a 89 750iL. When I stumbled on what is now my 98 Auto 540i with a good maintenance record, I jumped on it right away!!! What you think is average might be someone else's affordable dream!;)

Keep the car! Alot less headaches!

you're not going to need suspension for a while if you've got only 32K miles. As for you're situation... You've got a great looking car that I wouldn't sell. If you're able to put forth an additional 15K towards a car, why not just do some tasteful mods and put the money towards your soon-to-be kids college fund (congrats!) You know the history of your car, people here (me) would die for those miles, you can get a lot of bang for your buck with mods, I just feel your money is best spent elsewhere.

i could swing the additional 15k no problem

it just doesn't make sense financially...

part of it has to do with the fact that i am really practical and have a hard time spending additonal $$ on stuff that i don't need to...IE low mileage 03 m5 or mods on this car....

if do mods i'll do them later on

as i said the suspension (when i need to replace it i will upgrade then)

i can see myself keeping this car for a while!!

so i may supercharge it in a couple of yrs....whos knows!

for now i'm keeping it...

M5 any day...

Instead of an 03 M5 maybe you could grab an 01 or 02 with slightly more miles for the price you want?

I say do it. An M5 is an M5

would you regret it later?

Instead of an 03 M5 maybe you could grab an 01 or 02 with slightly more miles for the price you want?

no i want an 03.

i want the newest and lowest mileage one i can get...

thats y i bought my car...

newest and lowest mileage i could find :)

my 540i is in MINT condition inside and out!

For 6k you can supercharge it and blow away that M5

but it's an auto.....

and well to find an 03 m5 in that range of mileage would be closer to 45-50k....


45-60k isn't necessarily a bad thing. i'm sure it would have the rad replaced, thrust arms, and all the other quirky stuff done already.

For 6k you can supercharge it and blow away that M5

SC'ed 540's don't really "blow away" stock M5's. There are tons of videos floating around m5board. It is actually a very, very good match up with the SC 540 and a stockish M5.

To the OP, do what you want. Do you really want an M? Or does the 540 cover what you need/want? No sense in throwing away a great 540iA with low miles and a great history, if you truly enjoy it.

45-60k isn't necessarily a bad thing. i'm sure it would have the rad replaced, thrust arms, and all the other quirky stuff done already.

E39 M5 rads rarely fail. I cannot recall one failure under 100k that I have heard of, and I can only think of one over 100k. Just my .02

I feel your pain because I'm almost in the same situation.

I also got a 03 540i for my wife because she wanted an automatic. Now that we're looking at getting a my friend's 911 S4, I know she's going to want to start driving that and I'll get stuck with her 540i. At that point I'll be in the exact same position you're now in, and I too will be wanting the M5.

If it comes to that, here's what I'm going to do- Since I also want the newest I can get, I think I'm going to stick with my 03 540i for a bit longer until the CPO warranty runs out and the E60 M5s become more affordable. I mean if I was to trade out one 03 for another 03 right now, I'd still be looking for another car in a few years when the warranty ran out. I think replacing them that often will get expensive. So I think it makes more sense to just wait and jump up to the e60 M5 in about 2yrs. Maybe that idea will work for you too.:)

I feel your pain because I'm almost in the same situation.

I also got a 03 540i for my wife because she wanted an automatic. Now that we're looking at getting a my friend's 911 S4, I know she's going to want to start driving that and I'll get stuck with her 540i. At that point I'll be in the exact same position you're now in, and I too will be wanting the M5.

If it comes to that, here's what I'm going to do- Since I also want the newest I can get, I think I'm going to stick with my 03 540i for a bit longer until the CPO warranty runs out and the E60 M5s become more affordable. I mean if I was to trade out one 03 for another 03 right now, I'd still be looking for another car in a few years when the warranty ran out. I think replacing them that often will get expensive. So I think it makes more sense to just wait and jump up to the e60 M5 in about 2yrs. Maybe that idea will work for you too.:)

hahahaha oh man you just planted another idea in my head!!!

that actually could be a possibility

friend of mine's cousin has a black on black e60 m5 .... i love it...

and to answer an earlier question...i'm actually happy with my car...its got great power...its luxurious...its roomy...and it looks great....

and its low mileage and in GREAT shape...

so spending the additional $$ is not practical right now....well i could do it...if i wanted to be single again ....but happy marriage + 540iA > being single again + 03 m5 :)

its better to wait

for an e60 m5 in a few yrs!!!

Bmw will not CPO the e60 M5 though

Bmw will not CPO the e60 M5 though
really? what's the deal? Do they not CPO any Ms?

edit: I just saw quite a few CPO e39 M5s on autotrader. So did they just change policy and stop it with the E60 M5? This is quite bothersome to me since I was hoping to get one.

really? what's the deal? Do they not CPO any Ms?

edit: I just saw quite a few CPO e39 M5s on autotrader. So did they just change policy and stop it with the E60 M5? This is quite bothersome to me since I was hoping to get one.

that's the plan as of right now... no CPO's on the e60... can you imagine in a couple of years when alot of leases are up and BMW is stuck with tons of e60 m5's that they won't CPO. Should be a buyers market :o If you're willing to go non-cpo

that's the plan as of right now... no CPO's on the e60... can you imagine in a couple of years when alot of leases are up and BMW is stuck with tons of e60 m5's that they won't CPO.
that sucks. They are doing CPOs on the other non-M e60s, and I'm guessing the demand on the Ms will never drop down low enough for them to have to do a policy change when the leases run out. So I guess I'm just out of luck:(

If you're willing to go non-cpo
not a chance. I already got burned by one BMW that fell apart on me. I'll never let that happen again.

If I was to make an exception to that rule, I wouldn't be buying the one model that BMW wouldn't even be willing to stand behind. :shifty

have they actually been around long enough to even have any CPO's...?

Fuddy, I'm assuming that when you say that they won't CPO it, that it also means that they won't sell anyone the 7yr 100k extended warranty or zero mait pkg. Is that correct?

have they actually been around long enough to even have any CPO's...?
BMW can/will CPO a 2mo old car if they get one on a trade-in. The thing is you mostly only see 3yr old CPOs on their lots because that's when most of their cars come off lease

but it's an auto.....

dude, let the auto thing go. auto tranny's are fine when it comes to real world driving. you can still have fun (especially with a v8). for the track i agree with your arguement. but the op seems to be a reasonable guy that just wants to have a nice car (which he has) regardless of what kind of tranny.

and if you live in a city (lots of traffic), 1st gear then neutral, and so on, and so on, etc... gets old quick...

I was on the fence on this one as well. I have a 97 540i/6 and overall the differences between that and the M5 were not enough to make me want to pay for it. Mainly I just wasn't going to be able to use the extra oomph that the M5 offers in my daily driving, it seemed like a waste to buy it. I think the 540 is a bit more easy to manage day to day than the M5.

Your quandry is purely emotional. You have a sweet ride and being able to buy an M5 is great. However, car payments are car payments. If you are goingto shell out $500 - $800 a month for a car for the next 3-5 years, you might as well get what you really want.

If you have to have the M5, get it. Otherwise, calculate how much more per month it will cost you to get the M5 and stick that in a 529 account for your baby. When your 540i is paid off, you will be well on your way to saving for college and you will still have a sweet ride.

Fuddy, I'm assuming that when you say that they won't CPO it, that it also means that they won't sell anyone the 7yr 100k extended warranty or zero mait pkg. Is that correct?


BMW can/will CPO a 2mo old car if they get one on a trade-in. The thing is you mostly only see 3yr old CPOs on their lots because that's when most of their cars come off lease

I don't know about the maintenance package or details of BMW offering it, but chances are if they won't CPO a car they won't sell you the extended warranty.

What I heard about bmw not CPO'ing E60 M5 comes from posters on M5board. So I could be wrong on this. I haven't heard anything about them not offering CPO on other M models.

resistance is futile.
no one can resist the power of the darkside ...

go for it and never look back! (because you'll be too busy grin'n)

I don't know about the maintenance package or details of BMW offering it, but chances are if they won't CPO a car they won't sell you the extended warranty.

What I heard about bmw not CPO'ing E60 M5 comes from posters on M5board. So I could be wrong on this. I haven't heard anything about them not offering CPO on other M models.
all I know is that with the e60 M5, not only has the specific engine & transmission never been used before, but BMW has never used those types of components before. I mean a new first-run production engine is one thing, but they've never done any V10 or SMG in anything before.

So with it already having those 2 red flags, and then the maker not wanting to stand behind it like they do their other cars, there is no way I'd touch one.

Hopefully the m5board rumors are wrong. :)

Your quandry is purely emotional. You have a sweet ride and being able to buy an M5 is great. However, car payments are car payments. If you are goingto shell out $500 - $800 a month for a car for the next 3-5 years, you might as well get what you really want.

If you have to have the M5, get it. Otherwise, calculate how much more per month it will cost you to get the M5 and stick that in a 529 account for your baby. When your 540i is paid off, you will be well on your way to saving for college and you will still have a sweet ride.

good point

and yea thats the main reason why i am not going to go thru with it!!

529 plan will get opened ass soon as we have a SS # for the kid!

i'm sure they will start to cpo them once the kinks are worked out later in the model yr...

hell i'll be happy with one as long as i can get an aftermarket extended warranty!

M5 uses too much gas!

If you can afford it considering you're about to have a baby, it seems to be a no brainer.

I assume that when you say afford it you mean it will only cut into discretionary money and not money for primary expenses and savings.

The M5's MPG is 14 city, 16 highway.
Sweet!

The M5's MPG is 14 city, 16 highway.
Sweet!

where do you guys get these numbers? I average about 20-22 on the highway and 18 in the city

The M5's MPG is 14 city, 16 highway.
Sweet!

I have never seen numbers that low. I get ~17-18 city and anywhere from 22-25 on the hiway.

I went from an 03 540 sport manual to an 03 M5. Around town, with the software upgrade, the 540 feels pretty close to the M5. It's only when you open it up past 3k or 4k rpm do you feel how amazing the M5 is.

I love the color of your 540, I'd probably keep it if I were you...just don't test drive an M5...