nicebloke36

no alpina defo like the prodrive of bmw, been going along time, bmw recognises work an stuff [or are you joking me here tigg?]
massive depreciation, well is that a good thinng if im thinking of getting a second hand one and keeping it four years ?? what puts me off em a little bit is
1) wheels...alpina alloys always look a bit old mannish
2) performance...like i said before eager to learn about the performance of the b10 v8 [4litre?]
suspension set up an alike...the interiors seem pretty nice
paul

Tang

Have a mate with an E39 Alpina B10 on 19" rims. Pretty quick and comparable to my M5, but not as direct or communicative. It is delimited though and he has got it up to 170mph. Nice though and they always seem to be loaded with goodies. Description of them as a Diet Coke to the M5's Coke is about right. They lack a little presence when stood alongside an M5 but that actually may work in your favour if you prefer your Q cars nearly anonymous. They also don't seem as sharp because they onyl come with a auto box.

Dealer warranties apply, they are firmly recognised by BMW and have been for a very long time.

Cheers

Tang

nicebloke36

got to admit i agree with you there tang, about the diet coke thing, the pics ive seen on autotrader the b10's an b3's look lovely but that is just it.... they look .. 'lovely' defo a bit tamer to look at thant the m5, it does seem to have more of a presence...guess they are probably out the equation then lol
paul

Tang

Nicebloke,

Having driven both B10 and M5 and knowing that you have owned/currently own a Scoob, which has brilliant feedback/speed/fun, I would say go for the M5. It is a different beast to the Scoob, and needs much more subtle inputs than my Scoob ever did, but it is soooo much fun. The B10 doesn't come close in terms of fun/feedback to what the M5 can deliver. You won't be disappointed.

Happy hunting.

M3 Evo

Agreed, but it would still be a big mistake to overlook alpina IMO. Alpina aren't really tuners or modifiers, you cannot buy alpina parts (except alloys/bodykits) but only whole converted cars. They are therefore recognised as a manufacturer in their own rights as have full BMW approval meaning full BMW warranty etc etc.

Very quick in a straight line too. The B10 V8 (340bhp one, dont know about the 375bhp S version but as i said earlier one kept up with my M5) will do 60 in 5.0 and 100 in 11.7. Not sure about the B10 straight six though (290bhp), expect similar if not slightly better performance than a 540.

Deep Singh

They do suffer from massive deprec though. The only people who seem to buy them are those that c'ant wait for the M car to be released /developed. 18 months later when the M car is released, and its usually faster and cheaper than the Alpina then nobody wants one anymore. IMHO! I can only really see the sense in buying an Alpine 7 series or estate as you c'ant get a M version.

Tiggs

nicebloke...genuinely i'd never heard of alpina, saw what they had done to some 3 series cars and never bothered to look at a 5 series alpina, just not my cup of tea on an exc car like a 5.

that said, i do have alpina 19 inch alloys on the 540 and they are cool

nicebloke36

s ok tiggs cos i think the above comments have made my mind up, going to work lots of 70hr weeks, tighten my belt, save hard and get the m5 around 20 to 25 tops next aug2004.......wonder what ill get in trade for my99 wagonturbo impreza with ppp magtech alloys, brembo discs all round, magnes straight through centre and ggr sprts cat downpipe, fully colour coded.......... probably buttons ;0(
paul

M3 Evo

Hopefully by then though new M5 will be close to launch which will hit values of the E39 model very hard, all the better for you i suppose!

nicebloke36

well i guess this thread is about worn out now, so thanks to all the input re assisiting me make my mind up re m5.......hope this thread will provide some decent info for others in my sitiuation..... one last question...
a decent my99 m5 with low miles fbmwsh....a good buy or beware ?
paul

UKType

Good buy provided it still has a BMW Warranty and its mid - low £20K!!

ColinM

Only buy if you are prepared to keep extending the warranty for about 500 per year. Then you shouldn't see too many big bills.

nicebloke36

cheers, how long can you extend your warrenty ????

M3 Evo

Not sure to be honest but i know it goes up to at least 100,000 miles

nicebloke36

another one..???? the satnav/tv package...?? is it worth having, there are more cars about to choose from without it, can anyone go into any detail about the satnave/tv system, with any pics and a good description, is it one of the cd types with a cdrom map or is it more updated sat... satellite ?????? any explanations for me here
payl

ColinM

> The satnav/tv package...?? is it worth having ?
It is pretty essential, if you want to sell the car easier in the future. I dont think a single 03 car was sold without it.

>is it one of the cd types with a cdrom map or is it more updated sat... satellite ??????
The models up to 02ish use a CD based map system, a DVD version was introduced later on. To update it you buy a new CD. They come out twice a year and are pretty comprehensive.

Tiggs

do not buy without sat nav- i would NOT have bought a 540 without it.

up to 2001 it was square screen, w'screen from 2001 after (which i have)

its cd based until 2003 i think, then dvd.

the update cd's (for both maps and firmware) are avalible from BMW (or kazza, edonkey, etc )

the system is very cool, displays all the on board computer stuff- fuel, temp, range, etc, etc...or can display your audio stuff- ie. all the avalible radio stations in that area....or your cds. the sat nav is also excellent, its the first i've had but wouldnt be without it now.

final point....the phone, in theory the idea that your phone works via the screen is cool- all your numbers displayed on screen, caller id displayed etc....however, BMW used cack phones. Moto V50 was the last and it sucks, im ripping my V50 kit out and puting in a full armrest and installing my 8910 ith bluetoth intead. (bmw now do blue tooth but want about 10k to retro fit it!

T

M3 Evo

The comms pack is essential my dealer said they wouldn't touch one without!

nicebloke36

well heres another spanner in my works of confusion....
im mentally all the way back to square 1 !!!!
i saw a lovely 2003 impreza sti 5000 miles pro drive too, 18 pordrive wheels .... colour of car black.....very tempted for sommit like that..... only worry i keep getting re bmw m5 is ....
brand spanker scooby sti prodrive..... or.......1999 2000 [if im lucky] m5 with all the gadgets......christ on a bike i wish i could make my mind up.........anyone driven the 2003 scooby sti's ??? any comments ???
paul

M3 Evo

I havent to be honest but i know theres a guy over on BM3W.co.uk who had an M5 then 911 then Sti, now has an RS4, try and speak to him if you can

ColinM

> anyone driven the 2003 scooby sti's ??? any comments ???

I drove an EVO 7 FQ, STI 03 non PPP and M5 before buying the BMW. The EVO 7 sound very weak even with the upgraded exhaust, no-where near a Scooby. Also I found the seats too tight for my not very fat (honest) **** and the sevice intervals and prices are a joke.
The Scooby was very good, with the PPP and 18"s it would have been excellent but still to similar to my old MY98 UK Scoob which I had for 4.5 years. Comparing the M5 to the STI, the Impreza is better down a country road but the M5 is better *everywhere* else. Basically I wanted a change so I got the M5.

Tiggs

i also drove an Evo 7 FQ300.....real one trick pony, went fast...that was it. had i bought it id either be nicked or bored by now.

T

nicebloke36

i think i am being drawn away from the dark side that is m5 again lol
my wife[ yes they have opinions too] pointed out a glaringly obvious point..... 23k will get me a 99t m5 so an car nearly five years old....regardless of anything else warrenties an such, its nearly 5 yrs.... same money 5 to 8 month old 2003 sti with ppp.....
u know i aint never had a new car....[sobs] but that is new to me...... dont know whether i can do without that scooby rumble, that sad little wave we do when we see another scoob the ugly beauty.............
im weakening..
paul

P1_scooby

thats true paul, but in a yrs time, everything could be different.. (I suspect they're will be a MY04 out, with minor tweeks/changes etc) perhaps a STi 9 out..

With the M5, you will be should really looking to be getting a late 2001 model, as it'll be still relatively new, and at a good price.

I test drove a Evo FQ300 VIII a month ago, very nice, but my prefered my p1

your best bet, save your money, and test out both cars (plus others) when the time is right!

Good Luck!

Tin

Deep Singh

ok heres another question. What do you peeps think will devalue more over the next 18 months to 2 years. A 2001 M5 or a 2001 M3. Both being well loaded, warranty, FSH etc etc? Thinking seriously about a M5 and then it occured to me why not a M3, lighter, newer(model wise)etc etc.So might go for the one that would lose the least over my ownership

nicebloke36

my journey is at an end.
2003 sti black, prodrive 18' alloys just bought picking it up tomorrow, got 7900 for my 99t wagon with ppp and bits done to it, got the sti march 2003 plate 4000 miles for 21850
cant wait to get it in the am
thanks for help interest and comments people
paul

P1_scooby

Deep : not too sure on that one.. try asking on the m3/m5/m power forum over at BM3W.co.uk

Paul : nice one mate! enjoy!

Cheers

Tin

UKType

Deep: % wise the 2001 M5 will depreciate faster. The big slide will come once the E60 M5 hits the streets!! You can pick up nice 2001 M3s now for low £30Ks and as new model is not due out until 2006 at the earliest depreciation should not be too bad.

ColinM

I finally, finally, finally, got my car fixed today after a series of problems. It has had new spark plugs, clutch, fuel pump, MAFs, the throttle potentiometers reset and the ECU reprogrammed.
It now has a true 400 bhp at long damn last and its now freaking awesome. My car must have been at least 60 bhp down because now it is a whole new car, it rips through the ratios super fast.

So basically I now think you should get one . Just test drive at least 2 cars before buying to make sure you know what a healthy one feels like.

BTW. Everything was done under warranty except the plugs which are a service item.

P1_scooby

thats excellent news Colin.. enjoy!

Was thinking about getting some performance coils.. but the good sense keeps kicking in with one word.. "warranty"

Cheers

Tin