Twistee

OK, following on from my intro thread https://bimmersport.co.nz/topic/65870-hopefully-a-new-owner-e61-m5/ here is my little South Island to Auckland trip with the new to me E61 M5. Firstly, to the various members that gave me assistance in Christchurch to make this all possible many thanks. In short I drove my wife's MK6 GTI down to Christchurch for the trade on the E61, took collection of the E61 late on Friday, spent the weekend in Christchurch and then headed back to Auckland. Honestly I didn't expect much of a demand for images and details but I'm more than happy to provide what I can. Sorry for the delay, but I've been flat out squeezing work meetings into the rest stops along the trip north which has left little time to post / create this thread.

Oh don't get me wrong, it was more a case of non M is so very sedate and what ever hitting M has been set with is soooo significantly different. In a very good way, I had the sun roof open at the time so it sounded great and instantly knew it was the right place to have spent money. Just driving it around this morning, it's so refined and quiet when not giving it the boot. I still want a loud exhaust 😁 I thought 400 HP would be a bit savage but it is so smooth that it just feels like a fast limo, I honestly thought that people were just over exaggerating the M change, lots of non G rated expletives belted through my head when I popped that cherry. So I sound like every other new M owner, cool cars.

Thanks Bandit I'll head there early tomorrow.

Honestly I was a bit meh about the performance until I hit M..... And then immediately decided that the PPI did not include a road test or they would have said it needs a savage wheel balance and alignment. So off to get that done somewhere in Christchurch tomorrow. Any recommendations?

Ok, so I'm richer in one sense and poorer in another 😉 Honestly I got the car just before sunset then spent 20 minutes trying to learn where buttons are, yes this is my first BMW. Oh and first start the airbag sensor threw a code ROFL, because apparently it was fixed after PPI. Car is in serious need of wheel balancing, and the steering wheel up down button seems a bit buggered. Poor little me moaning aside , it looks amazing , needs big pipes though as the factory rear end is so quiet. Love the massive moon roof, the steering feel is very nice. Considering all I have done is 20 minutes in bumper to bumper peak hour traffic I like it. And no I haven't pressed the M yet, although I did almost empty my wife's can of drink on to her lap 😃 well I thought it was funny.... So I own an E61 M5, never thought that was going to be a thing. Thanks to everyone for the encouragement. I'll start another thread with pics etc once I actually have some. Cheers.

Last update until the paperwork / trade in / collection. Made it to Christchurch, discovered the lack of obvious toilet stop locations from Picton heading south..... a couple of bottles of water and energy drinks (plus 300ish kms )and I was more excited about finding the Z at Amberly than getting the keys to an M5!! Not that it really matters but adding to the details of this two day epic, I drove my wife's MK6 Golf GTI down for the trade in. Doing 1,000kms behind the wheel I remembered why I thought it would be a great car for her work commute, fast enough to get you out of or into trouble and safe so that when that truck overcooks it on a bend along the Desert Rd and nearly takes you out you'll survive. In all seriousness a flatbed going way to fast towards me and understeering into my lane came pretty close to ending this little trip in a big way - I have seen some shocking driving in the past 48 hours, no wonder we have such a high road toll. So back to being in Christchurch, had many hours to wait for the wagon to be detailed and to collect the significant other and junior from the airport so spent way too long doing a spray can wax job on the trade in. Assuming that the yard is good to their word then this GTI could be up for sale in the near future PS. Rather than smashing the "intro" thread, once life with a fuel tanker on call starts I'll create a new thread elsewhere with images etc - and with any luck absolutely minimal pothole antics. Anyone coming out of Picton off the ferry, I think at the first right hand turn in front of a Gull station there is a hole from the flooding that wouldn't just bend a rim, it would take the rim, hub, and anything else you care to name attached and remove it in one quick hit.

Cheers folks, I'll take plenty of pics once I have the keys don't you worry. Regarding gas , being from Auckland I am not familiar with the 100+ NPD gas - is that suitable in the M5? Don't really want to destroy fuel lines from the first day. I'm assuming from an octane rating it's ok but are there any additives that are in it that an BMW fuel system will have issues with?

Interesting day, drove down to Wellington to catch the ferry...... Stopped in Marton at Bridgestone as I needed two new tires, thanks NZTA for your amazing road maintenance. Right up until that point the trip to Christchurch was going great. So the car yard gets some new rubber on the trade in, never mind - chalk it up to a great story once I have collected the wagon and drowned my sorrows. One trip over the cook straight and then on to Christchurch for pickup this afternoon. I'll be very happy if the rest of the trip is uneventful.

I ask Southern Specialist Cars what if anything that could tell me regarding the previous owner - They were helpful without revealing anything that would be a breach of privacy. Apparently it has come from a collector who traded it on a one of a kind Range Rover.

4 days to go, trying to squeeze a working week into 3 days and prep the trade in car - starting the drive down on Thursday. Many thanks to the offers of assistance with inspections etc. Cheers.

Many thanks for the info Leichtbau, I'll ask them for the details. Southern Specialists look to have a reasonably good reputation and on the face of it having seen some of the service records it would appear to have been a no expense spared history.

Looking for some help with this car, currently I'm in negotiations with the trader and I'm looking for a recommendation on where to get an independent PPI done? Christchurch BMW is fully booked this week, are there any reputable independents that I can get the car checked over by? Any help here would be fantastic. Long story short, I have spent years wanting an E60 M5 and came pretty close about 6 months ago to buying a low milage fresh import. That didn't work out and this came up, I've watched the price drop over the months and they offered an attractive price for a trade. I'm not trying to hijack this thread, just thought that this was the most appropriate place to ask for help. Thanks.

Hi, I'm about to pull the trigger an E61 M5 that has been through a couple of Bimmersport owners in the past. Currently sorting out the PPI. With any luck there are no significant issues and in 5 days I will be in Christchurch to take delivery. I'll post updated pics if I take delivery. Until then fingers crossed all goes smoothly. Cheers.