c5 or m5?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
c5 or m5?
i jus sold my 89 vert 
(but i made 7 grand 
)
looking to buy either c5 or a 2000 or so m5. would like to save as much money as possible but willing to spend up to 20000$ for the rite car
im kinda leanin on the vette n i think i kno wat kind of answers im gonna get considering im on a corvette forum but please be considerate of both wonderful cars...
(but i made 7 grand )looking to buy either c5 or a 2000 or so m5. would like to save as much money as possible but willing to spend up to 20000$ for the rite car
im kinda leanin on the vette n i think i kno wat kind of answers im gonna get considering im on a corvette forum but please be considerate of both wonderful cars...
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I would question the maintenance costs of a eight year old M5. Frankly, I'm not a huge fan of Beemers, but if there is one that I would love to own it would be an M5. I always loved the idea of an idea of a high perfromance 4dr sedan with a manual trans and about 400HP. I guess that's why I like the new CTS-V coming out at the end of the summer.
My only issue with the European cars is that after about three or four years the change the car so much that the previous generation models look really old.
Guess I'd have to go with the C5.
My only issue with the European cars is that after about three or four years the change the car so much that the previous generation models look really old.
Guess I'd have to go with the C5.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 258
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From: Dumont NJ
Having owned both, sold the 2001 M5 I would say it depends on your wants.
First off a M5 is going to more than $20K. If you are considering buying one without a factory warranty or CPO warranty from BMW (I am a BMW dealer) I would RUN from it. M5's like all BMW's are very expensive to work on, let alone fix.
Yes, they are very reliable but it is a BMW, so the computers will go and then get $$$$$ ready.
I bought my 2001 M5 for $40k 3 years ago and sold it for $35 1.5 years ago. I added complete exhaust, headers, X pipe and mufflers along with computer software. I also put bilstein coil overs on it. It was great, quick, tight and luxury all in one.
So..... why did I sell it? Well since I work for a dealer, I get a demo and my wife has a BMW so it was a third car. The M5 sat in the garage and only came out once a week if that. My wife convinced me to sell the M5 and I could still get a fun car and put some $$ back into the bank.
Well I bought my 1999 C5 and i LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It has corsa mufflers, varram and some other non performance mods. My best friend still has his 2001 M5 with mods and I can beat him at any speed. The M5 is better built and will hold its value better but unless you NEED A 4 DOOR, get the C5.
My $.02
First off a M5 is going to more than $20K. If you are considering buying one without a factory warranty or CPO warranty from BMW (I am a BMW dealer) I would RUN from it. M5's like all BMW's are very expensive to work on, let alone fix.
Yes, they are very reliable but it is a BMW, so the computers will go and then get $$$$$ ready.
I bought my 2001 M5 for $40k 3 years ago and sold it for $35 1.5 years ago. I added complete exhaust, headers, X pipe and mufflers along with computer software. I also put bilstein coil overs on it. It was great, quick, tight and luxury all in one.
So..... why did I sell it? Well since I work for a dealer, I get a demo and my wife has a BMW so it was a third car. The M5 sat in the garage and only came out once a week if that. My wife convinced me to sell the M5 and I could still get a fun car and put some $$ back into the bank.
Well I bought my 1999 C5 and i LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It has corsa mufflers, varram and some other non performance mods. My best friend still has his 2001 M5 with mods and I can beat him at any speed. The M5 is better built and will hold its value better but unless you NEED A 4 DOOR, get the C5.
My $.02
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Indianapolis IN
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
i jus sold my 89 vert (but i made 7 grand )
looking to buy either c5 or a 2000 or so m5. would like to save as much money as possible but willing to spend up to 20000$ for the rite car
im kinda leanin on the vette n i think i kno wat kind of answers im gonna get considering im on a corvette forum but please be considerate of both wonderful cars...
(but i made 7 grand )looking to buy either c5 or a 2000 or so m5. would like to save as much money as possible but willing to spend up to 20000$ for the rite car
im kinda leanin on the vette n i think i kno wat kind of answers im gonna get considering im on a corvette forum but please be considerate of both wonderful cars...
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
i jus sold my 89 vert (but i made 7 grand )
looking to buy either c5 or a 2000 or so m5. would like to save as much money as possible but willing to spend up to 20000$ for the rite car
im kinda leanin on the vette n i think i kno wat kind of answers im gonna get considering im on a corvette forum but please be considerate of both wonderful cars...
(but i made 7 grand )looking to buy either c5 or a 2000 or so m5. would like to save as much money as possible but willing to spend up to 20000$ for the rite car
im kinda leanin on the vette n i think i kno wat kind of answers im gonna get considering im on a corvette forum but please be considerate of both wonderful cars...
Ask the same question in a M5 forum and see what you get there....
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Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
u cant jus pic your fav. car n say that....ive always been a huge fan of a vette but i do greatly appreciate the engineering that goes into an m5, those are great cars..u have to take into consideration that all people aren jus sports car fans and want to experiment with with different types of cars...n thats exactly wat i wood say to all the beemer fans to
Melting Slicks
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From: MCO
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Norfolk VA
my experience with an older BMW was very bad. Just on daily driver duty, it had more problems than the vette that I was beating the hell out of on the track. Very expensive every time it broke too.
That said, you're not even asking about the same type of car, so there's really no way to compare them
That said, you're not even asking about the same type of car, so there's really no way to compare them
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For $20K, go with the Vette. Probabaly won't find a really nice M5 for that kind of price.
.......
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 464
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From: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Well, the M5 is a nice car, however I would be prepared to spend alot on maintence. I am a BMW master tech. I works on all BMW's, and what I see is that when a BMW is 5 years old or more, the car start needing alot of up keep. In Europe, the laws are different for the rubber hoses (they have to be biodegradeable), so, all the rubber start to get real brittle. For example, vacuum leaks and coolant leaks. The window regulator are going to fail, instrement pixels start to go out, ect. If you have extended warrenty, it will help. To my knowledge, BMW will not cpo (certified pre own) a "M" car. At least my dealership.
As far a the M5, its a great car. It will put a smile on your face, and scare your 3 passengers. If you can find a low milage one, I would think about it. If its high milage, forget it unless you can afford the upkeep.
As far a the M5, its a great car. It will put a smile on your face, and scare your 3 passengers. If you can find a low milage one, I would think about it. If its high milage, forget it unless you can afford the upkeep.
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From: LAND OF OZ Kansas
BMW's with no warranty are not good to have. I had a 3-series bimmer, and I had to drive for three hours to Wichita Kansas just to have the piece of crud serviced
. Another time my shifter cable broke, and I had to drive to Amarillo Texas just to get a shifter cable assembly
. Everybody will work on a chevrolet engine, but a BMW engine . I like the looks of BMW's but they are too expensive to keep up for my taste.
. Another time my shifter cable broke, and I had to drive to Amarillo Texas just to get a shifter cable assembly . Everybody will work on a chevrolet engine, but a BMW engine . I like the looks of BMW's but they are too expensive to keep up for my taste.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Marlton. Increasing performance one speeding ticket at a time! NJ
Not sure why your even considering both the M5 and C5. Two completely different cars with different purposes. The M5 is a touring sedan, the Corevette is a sport car.
The Corvette will have better performance, at the sacrifice of passengers, and a harsher ride.
M5 will ride much nicer, has good handling for a heaviweight car, but it's no sports car.
In the end, it's what you want.
Although, I don't think your going to be able to touch any M5 for 20K that's worth buying. C5's are getting near that range, but 25k for a late model coupe is more reasonable. Wait till you have to repair something on the BMW! I hope your credit is good, cause you'll need to get a loan to pay for repairs.
PS. For all of us who complain about "Corvette tax"........you should see BMW tax!!!!!
Makes you glad you bought the vette!
The Corvette will have better performance, at the sacrifice of passengers, and a harsher ride.
M5 will ride much nicer, has good handling for a heaviweight car, but it's no sports car.
In the end, it's what you want.
Although, I don't think your going to be able to touch any M5 for 20K that's worth buying. C5's are getting near that range, but 25k for a late model coupe is more reasonable. Wait till you have to repair something on the BMW! I hope your credit is good, cause you'll need to get a loan to pay for repairs.
PS. For all of us who complain about "Corvette tax"........you should see BMW tax!!!!!
Makes you glad you bought the vette!
