Feeler: M5 for sale?? Am I nuts?

[Anthony (M5 in Calgary)]

I'm at a turning point.

I've had the M5 for 6 years and it is, by far, the best car I've ever owned. However, I need a newer vehicle for my daily driver as I cannot justify owning and maintaining two cars.

So, comments?

The car:

-'91 M5, located Calgary AB, Canada
-320+hp S38B36
-5 speed with 3.91 LS diff
-166,000 km (about 100,000 miles) - purchased in 2000 with 103,000 kms
-Black (Glanzschwarz) with black OE ground effects
-Black extended leather interior (adds leather to console, door handles - essentially all leather below the shoulder line)
-SuperSprint cat-back (new in '05)
-UUC EVO SSK with DSSR and RK2
-new Koni sport (yellow) in front with OE springs (some of you may remember my leaking Koni rant...) :D
-new SLS bombs this year (SLS works perfectly)
-upgraded stereo with sub
-Never hit (hood and pass rear door re-sprayed long ago due to vandalism)
-2 or 3 full sets of wheels and tires, summers (AC Schnitzer Type 1 and Michelin Pilot Sport AS) 75%, winters (OE Turbines with Hakka RSi snow/ice) 90%, alternate winters (E38 style 15 with Hakka NRW) on 16" wheels 40%
+++

Drives like new, minor rust starting in the door bottoms.

Not a current picture, but it looks the same (summer wheels):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/interalian/0e987931.jpg
Other pics if requested.

[Jr ///M5]

Have you lost your mind? Snap out of it Anthony! What are you thinking? Keep the Beast and get yourself whatever you need to get by. If it's basic transportation you need there are plenty to choose from, but keep the M5, it's the last of the handbuilts.

You need support! Right away! Everytime I threaten to sell mine, Scott Hersted helps to bring me to my senses. (he does this every week now)

Having one car for 6 years is quite a record, it's good to experience a variety of cars that you admire, but quite frankly, considering the performance, luxury, performance, performance, (did I mention performance?)
It's hard find something that compares to some level, especially if you compare price and cost of ownership.

My wife always wonders why I don't use the '01 525 if I need to go somewhere, it's usually the 318iS that gets the nod. The E39 is too luxurious for me, the handling and feel of the road is what I admire most and that is best transmitted through the E30, not to mention I like to saw my own gears.

The M5 is entirely a different story, but I'm preaching to the choir here and won't waste anymore bandwidth...

Good luck with your decision. (piles on guilt.....old Hersted trick) ;)

[Qube]

Erm, $5000. I'll come pick it up tomorrow. If that's not a good price, don't think about selling it!

[Anthony (M5 in Calgary)]

Have you lost your mind? Snap out of it Anthony! What are you thinking? Keep the Beast and get yourself whatever you need to get by. If it's basic transportation you need there are plenty to choose from, but keep the M5, it's the last of the handbuilts.

You need support! Right away! Everytime I threaten to sell mine, Scott Hersted helps to bring me to my senses. (he does this every week now)
Good luck with your decision. (piles on guilt.....old Hersted trick) ;)

Thanks Jr - pile on the guilt! :)

I was in the same quandry a couple of years ago but at the time the real problem was that I couldn't stand living in a condo. I built a house (pos July 04) which solved the problem until now. Perhaps when I identify the real cause for ennui the real solution will present itself.

The problem with buying another car and keeping the M5 is that I only have one space available in the garage: boat on one side, car on the other. Leaving the M5 outside for storage is not an option and having the daily driver outside defeats the purpose of having a garage. Complicated?

[Anthony (M5 in Calgary)]

Erm, $5000. I'll come pick it up tomorrow. If that's not a good price, don't think about selling it!

5K will get you 2 seats and 1 door...:D

[Gayle]

The problem with buying another car and keeping the M5 is that I only have one space available in the garage: boat on one side, car on the other. Leaving the M5 outside for storage is not an option and having the daily driver outside defeats the purpose of having a garage. Complicated?


This is serious. You clearly are not thinking straight. Sell the f---ing boat. Aren't boats defined as holes that you throw money into? Sell the boat and rent something when you want to go on the water. If you absolutely have to keep the boat, then build an ancillary shelter for the boat and get that daily driver in the garage with the 5.

Like JR said--what do you not understand about handbuilt and performance?


And Qube, shame on you for trying to take advantage of Anthony in a week moment. I know that doing that is the only way someone gets one of these cars, but you could at least have the decency to wait until he was committed to an insane plan rather than trying to scoop it up when he is just in the vulnerable musing stage.

[Jr ///M5]

Ok Anthony, you asked for it.....go out to the garage (bring a pocket full of quarters) take the M5 out, let her oil get good and warm, open it up a bit and pull into the best self serve car wash around your area. Rinse 'er down and suds 'er up...hose 'er off with the spot free rinse and head for the stable.

Once inside the garage with the M5 dripping here and there, wipe 'er down with a couple of your finest microfiber towels. Reach in the cabinet and go for the best Carnuba wax you have and lay on a generous coat. Now let her flash off and wipe the most brilliant shine you've ever laid eyes on onto the fresh microfiber towel that awaits in the wings........

Now....stand back.........take a good long look.......those wheels.....those lines......that stance.........and ask yourself....

HOW COULD YOU ANTHONY??!!!!!

(more guilt just applied at the proper time)...:D

Well, what are friends for?

jr

[Gayle]

Upon further thought, I have decided that what you need is inspiration--inspiration from the supreme god of bmw storage.

The M5 should be wintered someplace like this (http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/249357)

Yes we all think Shogun is a little nuts because he has so many 7s--and this is in a country in which you can't buy a car unless you have a place to park it.


He is not the only one with to many bmws in Japan. Check this.



But yesterday one of my friends "admitted", that he has 14 E32 750, out of that 4 Alpina B12 5.0 and one E31 850 Alpina B12.

I always thought he has 4, but yesterday he told me that the others are in a warehouse he has rented for the cars. But he never tells other people about that, because they might think he is 'crazy' about this model.


In Japan in most of the places one needs to have a parking lot to buy and register a car. The lot must be within a radius of 2 km from home.



So Anthony--think about the greater obstacles some people overcome to house their beloved bmws and quit your whinning.

[DaveVoorhis]

I've had the M5 for 6 years and it is, by far, the best car I've ever owned. However, I need a newer vehicle for my daily driver as I cannot justify owning and maintaining two cars.
Every time I've sold the best car I've ever owned, I've regretted it. You will too.

[Anthony (M5 in Calgary)]

This is serious. You clearly are not thinking straight. Sell the f---ing boat. Aren't boats defined as holes that you throw money into? Sell the boat and rent something when you want to go on the water. If you absolutely have to keep the boat, then build an ancillary shelter for the boat and get that daily driver in the garage with the 5.

Like JR said--what do you not understand about handbuilt and performance?


And Qube, shame on you for trying to take advantage of Anthony in a week moment. I know that doing that is the only way someone gets one of these cars, but you could at least have the decency to wait until he was committed to an insane plan rather than trying to scoop it up when he is just in the vulnerable musing stage.

The boat's a family share and I've agreed to store and maintain it, so I'm stuck there. Here's the car hole sans boat, so you can see how much other storage space I have. No access to the back yard at all...
PS: the car at right is a hint to the possible replacement...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/interalian/Scooby%20snacks/113-1351_IMG.jpg

[Anthony (M5 in Calgary)]

Ok Anthony, you asked for it.....go out to the garage (bring a pocket full of quarters) take the M5 out, let her oil get good and warm, open it up a bit and pull into the best self serve car wash around your area. Rinse 'er down and suds 'er up...hose 'er off with the spot free rinse and head for the stable.

Once inside the garage with the M5 dripping here and there, wipe 'er down with a couple of your finest microfiber towels. Reach in the cabinet and go for the best Carnuba wax you have and lay on a generous coat. Now let her flash off and wipe the most brilliant shine you've ever laid eyes on onto the fresh microfiber towel that awaits in the wings........

Now....stand back.........take a good long look.......those wheels.....those lines......that stance.........and ask yourself....

HOW COULD YOU ANTHONY??!!!!!

(more guilt just applied at the proper time)...:D

Well, what are friends for?

jr

Oooh! I could do this now - I just had a furnace installed in the car hole, so it can be nice and toasty whilst waxing...

PS: It's -10C and snowing right now. This morning's commute was a bumper-to-bumper crawl fest.

[Jr ///M5]

Solution...simple.

Raise the roof on the garage by 4 feet so it doesn't block the upstairs windows. Buy a lift for the boat and suspend it from the ceiling. Drive the M5 under the boat and hope like hell the contractor that did the work knows what he's doing or else you've got a whole new problem...

I like the WRX, especially the STI turbo version.....nice choice Anthony.

Is it wintertime there yet? Almost 60 degrees here today, perfectly calm, clear blue skies....never seen this type of weather here in the Midwest at Thanksgiving.....in 7 days it's supposed to be 14 degrees....

Stay warm this winter, (are the seats heated in the STI?)

Jr (helping when he can)

[Gayle]

Oh the M5 is a beauty. That damn boat is the camel getting its nose under the edge of the tent. I wouldn't let it in.

I can give you lessons on how to be poor white trash. You put the M5 in one side of the garage, the boat in the driveway under a tarp on the M5 side, and leave the other side open for the daily driver. Then you tie up about 5 dogs to the boat to guard it.

[Jr ///M5]

Gayle....normally it's about -20 degrees farienheight for a high where Anthony lives....the dogs would turn to "Pup-cicles"....:D

Now we could use Alaskan Malumutes and a few feet of leather bindings and have quite a fun time with the boat in the winter and save all those miles on the M5....;)

[Gayle]

Gayle....normally it's about -20 degrees farienheight for a high where Anthony lives....the dogs would turn to "Pup-cicles"....:D

Now we could use Alaskan Malumutes and a few feet of leather bindings and have quite a fun time with the boat in the winter and save all those miles on the M5....;)


My bad. Since it is 70 degrees here, year round, we tend to forget that the rest of the world has weather. However, I do consider the fact that Anthony lives someplace that gets to be -20 as another sign that he has gone nuts.

[Jr ///M5]

Ha, Hey Gayle ever see the Shining? Now that's cold...and nuts

[Chris'91'525i]

Keep the M5.....

Don't boats belong here ?
Have the family chip in for a marina slip....

http://www.shoremaster.com/images/floatinggalvalift.jpg

[Anthony (M5 in Calgary)]

My bad. Since it is 70 degrees here, year round, we tend to forget that the rest of the world has weather. However, I do consider the fact that Anthony lives someplace that gets to be -20 as another sign that he has gone nuts.

Gone nuts? I was born here. Nuts is deciding to stay...

[Gayle]

Gone nuts? I was born here. Nuts is deciding to stay...

Well yeah.

[Zeuk in Oz]

Gayle....normally it's about -20 degrees farienheight for a high where Anthony lives....the dogs would turn to "Pup-cicles"....:D

Now we could use Alaskan Malumutes and a few feet of leather bindings and have quite a fun time with the boat in the winter and save all those miles on the M5....;)

What the heck do you need a boat for in your climate ?

If you really do, hire a lock up garage and store the boat there - it must only be viable to be used for a few months a year anyway.

The M5 should be preserved and turned into a Sunday driver - hasn't it earned that right ?

I'm sure a WRX would be nice, but why not look for a nice E39 M5 to add to the collection ? That would really make you appreciate the E34 ! :D

[Digita1 Ecstasy]

omg!! AC Schnitzer Type I's!!!!

Any interest at all in selling your rims? :(:(

I'd love you long time if you did.

[Anthony (M5 in Calgary)]

What the heck do you need a boat for in your climate ?

If you really do, hire a lock up garage and store the boat there - it must only be viable to be used for a few months a year anyway.

The M5 should be preserved and turned into a Sunday driver - hasn't it earned that right ?

I'm sure a WRX would be nice, but why not look for a nice E39 M5 to add to the collection ? That would really make you appreciate the E34 ! :D

Contrary to popular belief, it isn't always freezing here - summer highs 30C and higher.

Sunday driver is a cool idea. No E39 please.

[rreimund]

I'm with everyone else in saying you should find a way to keep the E34 M5..
That said, I don't have any quick solutions for you on how to justify it.

I think the key is somehow getting the boat out of your garage and into either a.) a rented space elsewhere, or b.) another family members' garage.

I don't know your family, etc. but I would start by telling your family members that you're interested in getting a new daily driver and really need the garage space back, and if there's any other alternative arrangement that can be come upon.

I also have a confession.. I'd like to see you keep the E34 a bit longer so that I can pull a Qube down the road when you face this same conundrum again, AND when I'm in a better financial position to offer you a fair price for it. :-D
Your M5 is amongst my favorites for a.) it's condition b.) the obvious care you put into it and c.) your apparent modding philosophy.. It's been mildly modded and are mods that I would likely have done myself.. very much in line with my own..

Best of luck in whatever you decide.

[puppypilgrim]

Anthony, I'm a Canuck in Vancouver, BC. Don't sell the M5. What you can get for it in cash, won't buy you anything approximating the driving pleasure it gives you. It is a kind of super-sedan for the price it commanded at one time. While the Subie will feel more nimble and tossable, there is a certain BMW-ness that will be missing.

If you felt the need to consolidate to one car all year round (the Subie), I understand. If you could not afford the maintenance of the car due to circumstances, I would also understand the decision. Maybe you are just tired of the car. If so, I would wait till warmer weather to sell the car - you would undoubtedly get a better price. Plus, you won't know what you're giving up until you try another car on your favorite roads - roads that you know and have taken with your M5.

Assuming you own your M5 debt free, that is another powerful argument to NOT get into further debt to acquire another car (sorry don't mean to offend you here if you are independently wealthy and money is not an issue) given our tax rates here in Canada. This would happen if you traded in your M5 for new car.

[Anthony (M5 in Calgary)]

omg!! AC Schnitzer Type I's!!!!

Any interest at all in selling your rims? :(:(

I'd love you long time if you did.

The rims are my faves too, but they'd most likely stay with the car for better or worse.

[Anthony (M5 in Calgary)]

I'm with everyone else in saying you should find a way to keep the E34 M5..
That said, I don't have any quick solutions for you on how to justify it.

I think the key is somehow getting the boat out of your garage and into either a.) a rented space elsewhere, or b.) another family members' garage.

I don't know your family, etc. but I would start by telling your family members that you're interested in getting a new daily driver and really need the garage space back, and if there's any other alternative arrangement that can be come upon.

I also have a confession.. I'd like to see you keep the E34 a bit longer so that I can pull a Qube down the road when you face this same conundrum again, AND when I'm in a better financial position to offer you a fair price for it. :-D
Your M5 is amongst my favorites for a.) it's condition b.) the obvious care you put into it and c.) your apparent modding philosophy.. It's been mildly modded and are mods that I would likely have done myself.. very much in line with my own..

Best of luck in whatever you decide.

On moving the boat to other storage - I just had a furnace put in the garage as a "present" (although it was going in anyway) with the hint that it would "pay the storage fees"...

Thanks for the comments about my modding philosophy. After spoiling a few other cars by over-modifying them, the temptation to do so on this one was resisted. The temptation has been pretty strong at times though.

[Anthony (M5 in Calgary)]

Anthony, I'm a Canuck in Vancouver, BC. Don't sell the M5. What you can get for it in cash, won't buy you anything approximating the driving pleasure it gives you. It is a kind of super-sedan for the price it commanded at one time. While the Subie will feel more nimble and tossable, there is a certain BMW-ness that will be missing.

If you felt the need to consolidate to one car all year round (the Subie), I understand. If you could not afford the maintenance of the car due to circumstances, I would also understand the decision. Maybe you are just tired of the car. If so, I would wait till warmer weather to sell the car - you would undoubtedly get a better price. Plus, you won't know what you're giving up until you try another car on your favorite roads - roads that you know and have taken with your M5.

Assuming you own your M5 debt free, that is another powerful argument to NOT get into further debt to acquire another car (sorry don't mean to offend you here if you are independently wealthy and money is not an issue) given our tax rates here in Canada. This would happen if you traded in your M5 for new car.

Yeah, I know the cash realization would be lower than my perception of its actual worth but, after a time, one becomes jaded. This car has been owned outright since purchase and all mods and repairs have been carried out by my labour and attention to detail using only OEM or better parts. Maintenance cost is not the issue either. I'm in no hurry to sell and once the decision is made either way, spring will be here.

Trading it in would not be an option - no dealer would give more than about $10k for it on trade. That would be an insult to the crew from Garching. These cars are bought, not sold...

[krzysiom5]

Anthony,
Don't sell the M5.I'm sure that you've seen this M5 promo.video before, but here it goes again :) (this is also for you JR.;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBELGafbQgM&mode=related&search=

[Gayle]

Anthony,
Don't sell the M5.I'm sure that you've seen this M5 promo.video before, but here it goes again :) (this is also for you JR.;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBELGafbQgM&mode=related&search=


I expected to see our favorite board member, fukem5, at the end of that video, taking credit for all of bmws accomplishments.

[Digita1 Ecstasy]

Yeah. Don't sell the M5. Just sell one pair of its shoes. It doesnt need three!


They dont Make ACS Type I's anymore :(