To trade or not to trade...

[djseto]

Looking for some insight...

I bought my CPO ‘13 about 1.5 years ago. It had 31k miles and currently is at ~52k miles. My CPO is good until Aug 2019 or 100k miles.

I’ve been debating recently whether to keep her or not. I’m about due for rear tires and rear brakes. I am at a point in my finance where I’m just about even on what I owe and what it’s worth. I’m really torn because I both love and hate this car. I love the power, refinement, looks, and rareness of the M5. I don’t love the chainsaw like handling compared to the scalpel like precision of my E92 M3 of the past. I also don’t like that I feel like I always need to drive her at 6/10ths because that line between fun and “danger” is pretty thin with all the power it has. I’ve always preferred to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.

I’ve been thinking about getting something with less HP but better overall handling. I test drove a VW GTI and while it’s a bit small, I drove it like a hooligan and loved it. Seriously though, I see the GTI is pretty universally loved as the perfect every day car. Not sure that would be the next option but it got me thinking.

If I keep the M, in 2.5 years, I’ll have a paid off M5 with probably 80k miles. Along the way, I know I probably have $5k in for maintanance (brakes, tires, etc.).

My “fear” with this car is whether or not it’s a good long term keeper. Regular maintainance costs aside, I have no idea how this engine will age and what body part I’m going to have to sell if something major goes wrong outside of warranty. Now, I can go get something “fun” that’s less expensive to maintain for basically the same money as if I just kept her and paid her off. With a baby on the way, it’s not that I can’t afford to keep it...it’s more of should i.

I’m curious what some of you think about the future longevity and reliability of the F10 M5. I really wish I had kept my E92 M3 since it was the last of the V8’s. Is there anything about this M5 that makes her “special” in the long run or something that’s going to hold it’s value..even when it’s approaching 100k miles?

[JMD]

Sir,...if you weren't aware of your current fear,...of the M5,..you, perhaps bought the wrong car for long term. Just think how NASA feels about the Space Shuttle from a long term operations standpoint! That said,....you will always face long term cost concerns with any vehicle. The questions are: What can go wrong,...What will go wrong! and does one has the resources to pay for whatever does go wrong! That said,..sooner or later something on ALL cars will need to be either replaced,...or repaired,..especially wear and tear items!

Hth!

[djseto]

Thanks...I think. The M5 isn’t a Honda Accord. Yes, all cars will need some sort of love but I know there are folks on this board who are WAY more into the nitty gritty details of this car, this engine, and BMWs in general. I know there are people who dump these things as soon as they are done with their leases or when they hit X miles. I’m hoping someone who’s more of a gear head can provide their insight into potential or known issue with M cars as they age or if there are “known” iissue with his engine as they hit old mileage. I realize that no one can predict the future. Perhaps someone with a car that has hit more miles has info on what, if any, major issues,have arisen from a non tracked/modded car? I know the E60 M5 had engine reliability issues, the SMG tranny was crap, etc.

[///3dkn]

You should probably just go get yourself a GTi.

[gdavis]

Sounds like you bought the wrong car. If you're not comfortable in it....dump it and get something you say "I can't imagine not having that in my garage".

[Craze]

Sounds like you may have made up your mind

however be aware that sometimes memories are not best relived, as you progress as a driver or the taste in cars if you got the m3 again it may not be as razor sharp as you remember
Or perhaps it will be?

[djseto]

I revisited the GTI and it’s going to be too small as a replacement. It’s not that I’m not comfortable in the M5 as much as the M reputation for being crazy expensive to own once they age.

The M5 is like my 12th car in the last 15 years. I get the itch every so often but with a kid on the way, the itch changes a bit. I’m not sure I’ve owned a car that I can say I can’t live without. Nothing handled like my C7 Corvette (for the money) but it had its quirks too. After a weekend of driving a few cars, nothing screamed at me so the plan is to keep the M5 for now and revisit down the road.

Ultimately, I was hoping that someone with a high mileage F10 would share how their car has aged.

[Revms1]

I was in the same boat as you were. 13 cpo until 9/2018 and debated whether or not to keep her. Though I love the power of the m5, driving it on local streets and some highway doesn’t let this car do what it’s meant to do and cops are everywhere. I decided to sell her last week as I have a daily driver that I use and rarely drove the m5. I have been eyeballing an e93 m3 but will wait until I buy an investment property first.

[Mkai0]

Originally Posted by djseto

I revisited the GTI and it’s going to be too small as a replacement. It’s not that I’m not comfortable in the M5 as much as the M reputation for being crazy expensive to own once they age.

The M5 is like my 12th car in the last 15 years. I get the itch every so often but with a kid on the way, the itch changes a bit. I’m not sure I’ve owned a car that I can say I can’t live without. Nothing handled like my C7 Corvette (for the money) but it had its quirks too. After a weekend of driving a few cars, nothing screamed at me so the plan is to keep the M5 for now and revisit down the road.

Ultimately, I was hoping that someone with a high mileage F10 would share how their car has aged.

Speak to Boots. He drives the crap out of his 13’ M5 and has 100k plus miles. These cars are very stout. I too, have looked into getting something else, but I keep coming back to how the all aroundness of this car is very hard to beat for the $$. The M5 is my 18th car in 17 years, and one of my favorites. My LS2 swapped FD RX7 was my favorite car, but the M5 stock would take it on the highway without a sweat while being very comfortable. I love sports cars, but being able to run with some of the big boys in a luxury sedan is badass.

[JMD]

Originally Posted by Revms1

I was in the same boat as you were. 13 cpo until 9/2018 and debated whether or not to keep her. Though I love the power of the m5, driving it on local streets and some highway doesn’t let this car do what it’s meant to do and cops are everywhere. I decided to sell her last week as I have a daily driver that I use and rarely drove the m5. I have been eyeballing an e93 m3 but will wait until I buy an investment property first.

You will find that the F10 M5 handles your local roads better than the M3,...that is, in terms of rough pavement, etc. The F10 M5 has more structural substance,...it's more car,...better sound isolation, etc.

You'd simply be trading one M car for another M car.

[Flying Ace]

hard to say...all cars have a compromise. You have to figure out what ones are more important to you.

Personally, I never can figure out the GTI thing...it's not an upgrade, far from it in all categories.

[djseto]

I traded my M5 in for 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia. It's been a little less than a week and I can't say I miss the M5 very much. The Alfa is everything the media/press have been saying. The handling, steering, and chassis are sublime. It feels like what BMW used to be 15-20 years ago. I doesn't have the brute acceleration of the M5 as I didn't get the $80k 500HP Quadrofoglio. Instead, I got a loaded RWD with the turbo 4. With 280HP and 306 ft lb of torque, the engine is well mated to the chassis. It's light, nimble, and so much fun to drive while being very comfortable as a daily driver. The adaptive suspension is solid and the mechanical limited slip makes rotating the car fun, but not crazy like when you get all the instant power of the M5.

Even if you have no desire to own one, I'd encourage any car enthusiast to go drive one. Alfa def figured out the sport in sport sedan. It's not quite as wide as the M5 but interior space wise, it's not much smaller than the M5. The M5 was just longer in the front and back.

I went with a 3 years lease since the jury is out on Alfa reliability but all the issues from what I've seen on the Guilia forums is mostly with 2017 (first year) and most were electrical things have been resolved via software updates. Not that Motor Trend is the end all be all, but even they stated that during their Car of the Year evaluation (which the Alfa won), they didnt' have a single issue with the several ones they evaluated compared to the 2017 they reviewed and loved but had challenges.

It's been fun. I'll have my AWE Tuning Touring Exhaust for sale in the Classified sections later this week in case anyone is interested. Actually..that's the one thing I do miss...the sound of the M5...

[josec70]

Congrats!

[WickedBMW]

Enjoy it. Keep us posted on your experience.

[irishbimmer]

Love to hear from someone who has the full-boat Alfa ride with the big motor and all. Congrats on you acquisition!