Aaquil

Which one would you go for and why? I am being serious as I am seriously contemplating getting one of the two.

S8 Ronin styley and M5 the one just before the latest model (ie 400BHP).

turboman786

e39 M5 is a lot more of a drivers car than the s8. Both are great cars but the M5 is a car of legendary status, it is acclaimed by everyone who has owned one...it won evo awards etc...

Find a good un in the right colour and spec and it will delight!

check out www.bm5w.co.uk

Aaquil

Thanks for the reply and link I will check it out. Link does not seem to be working?

Aaquil

Link does not seem to be working?

AudiLover

Depends on what you want from the car and how you will be driving it most of the time.

turboman786

Try www.bm3w.co.uk

If you resgister you will be able to access the e39 M5 section which is packed with useful info about M5s..

the_boy

Those links especially the first one are dead....

M5Board.com

forum.bmw5.co.uk :: Index

Bavarian-Board.co.uk: Active Topics

Use tyresmoke.net for information on the S8

First one has the most information but it's an international board.
Loads of M5s currently available, loads of choice

Aaquil

Thank for the helpful replies

Snowy_RA

I had a E39 M5 while one of my friends owned an S8. Both fun to drive, both quick and both drank alot of fuel.

I had the BMW warranty on mine and this saved me spending thousands each year on repairs (Warranty was about 800 pounds a year then now it's over 2k a year).

My friend had no warranty on the S8 and when he traded it in it needed at least 6k spent on it. It needed a new auto gearbox, new radiator, airbag faults fixing, intermittent emission warnings, intermittent immobiliser issues.

So I would say buy whichever you prefer after a test drive but make sure you budget a sum of cash each year for repair work if you do not plan on having a warranty (For me a warranty is a must on these types of cars).

As an example if the engine pop's in the M5 your looking at 15k for a new one fitted by BMW.

The M5 is the more fun to drive IMHO as I prefer a manual box when driving enthusiastically.

Aaquil

Thanks a lot for the information mate and the reality check...what mileage did you have on yours when you bought it and did you buy private or go for a BMW used one? I have seen a few for around £13,000.

I have also been looking at the Audi S6 the Avant version would also be a little more practical.

AudiLover

do you require the size of the bigger saloon, cause if you get a B5 S4, you can easily acquire B5 RS4 power, as all the go faster parts the RS4 has can bolt straight onto the S4 lump. So getting 400hp out of the S4 is ever so easy.

Jeff Wiltshire

It's not easy or cheap....it will cost circa £6K to get 400+BHP out of a B5 S4. It requires engine out and change turbos, injectors, fuel pump, intercoolers, Milltek exhaust + custom remap. You should then look at the suspension and brakes (another 2-3K). This level of upgrade will give you 430ish BHP. You can get 500BHP if you have FMIC, new tubular exhaust manifolds, RS4 intake system, intake manifold & phenolic spacers.

AudiLover

If hes willing to go to germany to get the work done it will be cheaper. I would still say its easy getting the power out of it though, theres nothing really difficult about it as such, all the parts are out there and available!

Skittles

What a genius! Travel to Germany rather than get it done in the UK - that will make it cheaper and easier.

Given you've never driven an Audi let alone owned one, why are you giving tuning advice to anyone.... and to make matters worse why are you telling someone who knows what they are talking about that they are wrong.

You should listen to what Mark Twain said: "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt"

AudiLover

20 pounds return for a ferry to france from dover. 150 pounds on petrol. Cheaper than getting it done in the UK already

ScoobyDoo555

With the greatest of respect, AL, Jeff is rather knowledgable about Audis

You could do worse than to eat some humble pie and listen to what he has to say, as what Jeff doesn't know about the S4 ain't worth knowing

Not blowing smoke up his a$$, but he's already earnt the respect to justify his responses by his involvement in the marque - check out RS246.com for starters

Dan

jonc

Its even easier to just buy an M5 in the UK since it already has 400bhp and is a way better car than the S4. No need to drive over to Germany, organise the availabilty of the parts, accomodation since the work would not take a day to do, etc just to simply get the car up to RS4 level. Why bother to go through all that hassle?

Just to remind you, the guy is looking for either S6/S8 or BMW M5. Not a riced up Audi S4. I'd go for the M5 since its more of a drivers car and is as close as you can get to a "real world" super car for the money.

Jeff Wiltshire

There is no doubt that the V8 M5 is a 'better' car than a stock S4...not sure about the 'riced up Audi S4' comment though, bit uncalled for. The S8 and M5 are very differnet cars and there is no way that a S8 will outperform (top speed, acceleration or handling) a M5 but the comparison should be between an S8 and a 735 or 750 BMW / S Class Merc or M5 and S6 or RS6.

Horses for courses

wilfthree

Drivers car - M5 no question
Day to day car/cruiser - S8 no question

Owned an A8 QS until v recently superb motor much nicer place to be than old e39 5 series and very reliable if you get a goodun.

Tobisausage

Audilovers idea of a fast car is similar to child of 5 years.

'How fast does it go mister?'

AudiLover

Patt@firstime

S8 for me - love them

GrantyBoy

AL - Do you know you've spelt your loaction wrong, its Ingolstadt!

AudiLover

I do indeed.

Thanks anyway

Aaquil

Thanks for all the responses guys...what about reliability and servicing etc. I would love an M5 someone selling one was mentioning about problems with VANOS? Also one of the earlier comments worried me about the warranty and things going wrong.

Am I likely to get more piece of mind (spending a fair few bob) on a M5 getting from a stealership or should I reisk the private dealer?

What about M5 in rain and snow would the S8 be a safer option and regards power, acceleration and control (not as cool, fast, fun to drive as an M5 but still LOTS OF FUN?)

Thanks

Aaquil

Edcase

I bought an M5 with warranty for that reason. It paid dividends...I had £3k of warranty work on the vanos then 2 days before my warranty ran out I had £15k worth for a new engine due to excessive oil consumption.

However, the oil issue is known on pre-2001 models and the vanos you can hear as a loud tapping noise on tickover, you could hear mine from inside the car!

Servicing is also not cheap, esp. in London. £250 for an oil change

However consumables are much cheaper than the RS6 I owned before...£500 for front discs and pads vs nearly 2k!!!

But, ultimately, its a truly amazing, brillianty poised and incredibly capable car let down only by an agricultural gearshift (sorted with a short shift kit) and fading brakes (BBK or pads / hoses / airducts).

I was going to sell up because of the oil issue and was looking at an E60 M5, but after testing one it left me cold vs. the M5.

All I can say is it knocks spots off my old RS6 and now I have a new engine and clutch I will be keeping her for some time.

Just listen for tapping, check the service history for how many miles between the owner topping up the oil and you should be fine.

Ravenhill

Hi Aaquil

All I can say is mine gets parked up with any touch of snow, 275/35 18's dont like the white stuff! Thats when old scooby gets out for some fresh air!

Many comments have covered most issues, try a few different cars to get a feel for what the M5 is really like. Most need MAFS and O2 sensors replaced from about 60k on even though issues on these may not show up during normal BMW service, high tolerance levels built into diagnostics in the dealers (or so its said)

Main costs is petrol...petrol....more pertrol!...oil.tyres But oh so much fun

Aaquil

Edcase and Ravenhill

Thank you for all the beneficial information!