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Originally Posted by
Jr ///M5
The truth is...the M5 is about 25% more to upkeep. Buying one that is sub 10 thousand $...and you will soon find out just how more expensive they really are...
Now, with that out of the way, the M5 will hold it's value especially when you keep it up with the proper maintenance. In my mind, there is no way I would want to use an M5 for a daily driver, unless it was highway miles and if you're going to rack up highway miles with an M5, why waste that kind of car for that reason.
Suppose you do land a pretty good vehicle for 10 grand, it's going to have some miles on it, probably over 150k miles for that price. Now you're approaching some of the higher dollar investment phases that come with that kind of car.
Again, depending upon condition of the prospect vehicle, and unless it has already been done, the suspension, steering gear, drivetrain bearings and flex disc, subframe bushings and rear pitman arms will make it handle like new again, but will probably eat up the majority of your 2k you had to work with, and we haven't even touched the brakes, cosmetics, or even mentioned the engine, it's systems, as in cooling or the A/C system. This is also assuming that you know enough about these cars to do your own work. Otherwise paying a shop $90 an hour will make real short order of your money.
The engine in the M5 isn't any regular BMW engine. It is a piece of art, well thought out, precision engineered, and not meant for just anybody to tear into unless you know what you are doing.
Otherwise, they are one of the most fun cars you will ever own, and you will always wear a smile when you climb behind the wheel. Especially when you feel the kind of performance that is associated with the M5.
The only advice I could offer is be very careful when choosing which M5 you want to dump money into...the old saying is that it should take at least a year before you find the right one. The guy that bought mine had been looking for 5 years....
Good luck in your search,
JR