Looking to get into an M5 (15-16), are multiple owner M5's something I should avoid?

[s1k_RR]

I've been reading about electrical issues, battery drainage, etc. Some of the carfax reports shows how often the car is in service for the issues and how each owner either goes through these issues and how some don't. The question is are the ones with 3+ owners the ones I should avoid?
What did you do as an owner to avoid these issues? Just like the other threads about mileage, how are some of these cars doing over 100k while others are struggling even doing 50k miles?

Also, anyone in Cali looking to sell their manual M5 (15-16)?

[M5_Raz]

There will always be more negatives on the forums/online, where people seek help and vent. It helps to know how it was treated, but that's not always an option.

I'd buy the lowest mileage you can. What's your budget for one?

[s1k_RR]

Originally Posted by M5_Raz

There will always be more negatives on the forums/online, where people seek help and vent. It helps to know how it was treated, but that's not always an option.

I'd buy the lowest mileage you can. What's your budget for one?

Around $55k, but I think I might do something else not car related at all. LOL

[co_pa]

personally, I wouldn't buy a car with more than one owner. two, max, if the service docs and carfax check out.

for your budget, you should be able to get a lower (than 50K) mile, one or two owner 2015/2016 competition and have money left over.

[JDMSteven]

I found my M6 at the BMW dealer across the street from the Jaguar Land Rover dealership I work for, just my luck! I would recommend trying to find one at a BMW dealer, and if not, have a pre-purchase inspection done on it. BMW service records are a big deal to me as well. My car was bought new at a BMW dealer a few hours away from me but has been serviced from day 1 at my local store. According to all of the records it doesn't seem like it was there very often outside of normal maintenance. That's another thing to keep an eye out for. If it seems like it's constantly at the dealer it could be a bit of a handful.

[SpeedProtocol]

Terrible rule to use by itself.

Mine had 2 or three owners. Definitely 3 when I sell it. Its in great condition and not one thing has broken on it in the 2 years I've had it. Burns zero oil. Sometimes the condition of the car speaks for itself. You can only shine a turd so much. If its in great condition, its in great condition.

[AnotherM]

If i did it all over again, i wouldn't care how many owners the car had.

I highly recommend finding one in good condition that appears to have been taken care of and scheduling to have the rod besrings, Coils, and spark plugs replaced as soon as you get it. (Rod bearing replacement is only $3k job) peace of mind is well worth it.

[santamonica00]

Here's a good comp that just traded: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2016-bmw-m5-14/

I bought mine Feb'20 from a BMW dealer in CT. Car had just come off lease and lived in Florida (owner has two homes and kept it FL). Car is a '16 CP with a 6 speed and had 45k miles. Given COVID and working from home (in Los Angeles) I've only out about 8k miles on it. I paid $57k and it was CPO'ed. Only mod to was the original owner installed Dinan coil overs. Love it but don't think I'll keep it long term. As I've said to other here, I also have an Audi S4 manual that I special ordered new in '13 and the transmission is better on that than the BMW. Just smoother. I'm putting the Audi up on carsandbids this month (BAT wouldn't take it…not special enough!).

[Housekeeping]

Kinda like a woman, how many previous owners is too many for you? Too many and no bueno….

[calicolorado]

Originally Posted by santamonica00

Here's a good comp that just traded: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2016-bmw-m5-14/

I bought mine Feb'20 from a BMW dealer in CT. Car had just come off lease and lived in Florida (owner has two homes and kept it FL). Car is a '16 CP with a 6 speed and had 45k miles. Given COVID and working from home (in Los Angeles) I've only out about 8k miles on it. I paid $57k and it was CPO'ed. Only mod to was the original owner installed Dinan coil overs. Love it but don't think I'll keep it long term. As I've said to other here, I also have an Audi S4 manual that I special ordered new in '13 and the transmission is better on that than the BMW. Just smoother. I'm putting the Audi up on carsandbids this month (BAT wouldn't take it…not special enough!).

I followed the end of that auction on BaT-I kinda thought it would go for more but not bad at $65k! Like you, I haven't driven mine too much through Covid and most of the miles have been fun ones. Two trips from OC to Monterey/Salinas and a couple to the desert.

May I ask why you won't keep the car long term? I want to keep mine long term but at some point will probably add another fun daily car to limit mileage on this.

[lenabos]

I bought an 2015 F80 M3 with 33k miles and 4 owners and it was faultless. I spoke to the dealer owner why and he said there are mainly 2 reasons why M-cars normally have many owners:

1. previous Audi RS owners that don't get the point-and-squirt-ability in an M-Car, so they sell and get back into an RS.
2. young petrol heads that get into them through cheap finance, only to later realise they are very expensive to run, so they sell up and get an M140i/M240i instead.

[M5Rick]

Some say get the later year one with lower miles but earlier models that are actually owned not leased out and looked after well may be the better long term option. I'd be suspicious of a youngster selling who says he can't afford to run it haha and didn't do the homework before.

[santamonica00]

Originally Posted by calicolorado

I followed the end of that auction on BaT-I kinda thought it would go for more but not bad at $65k! Like you, I haven't driven mine too much through Covid and most of the miles have been fun ones. Two trips from OC to Monterey/Salinas and a couple to the desert.

May I ask why you won't keep the car long term? I want to keep mine long term but at some point will probably add another fun daily car to limit mileage on this.

I don't have a good answer. It just feels a little clunkier driving a larger car with this transmission. I also have an S4 manual and it just matches the transmission better. I love the M5 but it's just a lot of work making sure not to bottom the thing out in LA. That may be more a car issue than M5 issue.

I'm in my late 30's and always driven a manual in LA (Mercedes, Audi and BMW) so I'm used to it. I've now got my eye on a Targa GTS 7 speed but that's a significant step up in price. Ordering new likely makes the most sense (car is likely 60% of value after 10 years making cost of ownership worth it) but stepping up to something close to $200k takes a lot of considerations.