BMW E39 M5

[SHRNTA 48]

HI Guys,

I'm interested in the following e39 M5.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-909548936.htm

Looks good, however a bit more investigating with the owner shows the car to have been a 528i. The owner has owned the car 8 years (i think!) and he said the previous owner imported an e39 M5 which failed certification so bought an e39 528i donor car installed the whole m5 into it.

Just need some feedback with this transplant process etc etc and if I'm silly to go ahead and purchase.

Cheers

[Cheyne 17]

This one has been for sale for quite a while. The guy who owns it currently parks in the same building as I do, so I see it frequently. It looks very well kept and is in good condition generally except for the M5 badge on the back is placed in the wrong position.

As to whether it's a good purchase or not would depend on a thorough inspection to make sure that the swap has been done properly. On the surface it looks well done and the fact that the current owner has owned and daily driven it for a while are good signs, but it'd still warrant a decent check over.

If everything has been done and maintained properly it would be fun proposition. However, remember that it'll always be a transplanted 528 rather than an M5 so it'll never be worth what a comparable M5 is worth.

[NUSTAD 243]

M5 experience for less money but could be tricky sell down the track......what premium do you put on it over a 540 Motorsport of same mileage

Clearly a nice package......which comes with baggage. I would consider it but the price is the challenge. In my opinion it is possibly overpriced. Happy to be wrong on that......

[qube 3570]

i know some purists and probably most will disagree but i dont really see a HUGE difference. its not like bmw makes the m5 shell any different to the standard e39 unlike a e46 with the pumped guards etc. yes, it will be harder to on sell later on but essentially you're getting still an m5 for less than what a 'real' m5 costs. i dont think theres anything wrong with that if you are planning to drive it and enjoy it, it will still feel the same.

[Event Horizon 12]

Price is in line for what you'd expect a reshell to be.

The only pain I can see would be ordering parts for it which are build specific like auto dimming mirrors (430/431) etc etc.

[KwS 2425]

im utterly slutted. i tried to buy this from him back when i sold my M3 but he would never reply to my attempts at communication. It disappeared for a couple of months and now its relisted again and im not in a position to buy it now.

Theres been a couple of threads about it. Make sure you get a thorough inspection was one thing mentioned. Something about a cracked and maybe leaking sump. Its a reshell for sure, because the original M5 was crashed and repaired in SA, imported over but the repairs didnt meet NZ criteria (even though it was apparently done by authorised agent in SA), so the original owner reshelled into 528i shell.

[SHRNTA 48]

im utterly slutted. i tried to buy this from him back when i sold my M3 but he would never reply to my attempts at communication. It disappeared for a couple of months and now its relisted again and im not in a position to buy it now.

 

Theres been a couple of threads about it. Make sure you get a thorough inspection was one thing mentioned. Something about a cracked and maybe leaking sump. Its a reshell for sure, because the original M5 was crashed and repaired in SA, imported over but the repairs didnt meet NZ criteria (even though it was apparently done by authorised agent in SA), so the original owner reshelled into 528i shell.

He's provided service records up to 2013. Also sent through lvv plate info too.

I'm in Auckland and he's in Wellington so need to be sure of a few things before getting him to send it through to BMW specialist for pre purchase inspection.

That sux he didn't respond to your communications, he's been pretty good with me so far and quiet helpful.

Does anyone know if it will be tough to get insured? Also, how do u go about getting if re-registered - Carjam still has it as a 2.5l engine. Thought with lvv certification, it would be bumped up to 5.0l.

Thanks

Sent from my XT1068 using Tapatalk

[Ahmedsinc 414]

Unless the shell has had the VIN transplanted (highly illegal from what I hear) it will always show as a 528i.

Providing the cert is current there are insurers around that will happily take modified cars, how much it will cost is another matter entirely.

At 19k it might be worth a punt. If you ever have trouble reselling it'd probably be worth more in parts than as a reshelled M. The genuine wheels alone with good rubber are worth circa 2k to the right buyer........... the engine, DME, loom and trans package probably 15k+.

Do it, before I talk the missus into letting me grab it

[KwS 2425]

insurance might throw their toys, best ask them first. technically its a VERY modified 528i in their eyes. You would also be well exceeding their book value for a 528i.

[Driftit 2078]

insurance might throw their toys, best ask them first. technically its a VERY modified 528i in their eyes. You would also be well exceeding their book value for a 528i.

That is actually a really good point. I would definitely ask insurance for their opinion.

Modified vehicles can pay a lot more. But I guess an M5 is not your average car anyway.

[KwS 2425]

The "real" one has bit of an iffy history, so id be very closely checking the receipts for the engine work done. Its also a bit scruffy body and interior wise.

[BreakMyWindow 1874]

i know some purists and probably most will disagree but i dont really see a HUGE difference. its not like bmw makes the m5 shell any different to the standard e39 unlike a e46 with the pumped guards etc. yes, it will be harder to on sell later on but essentially you're getting still an m5 for less than what a 'real' m5 costs. i dont think theres anything wrong with that if you are planning to drive it and enjoy it, it will still feel the same.

The rear floor section is entirely different in the M5. Be interested to see how the rear scuba tanks have been made to fit in this one.

Edited July 5, 2015 by BreakMyWindow

[vtgts300kw 90]

Insurance will throw their toys, surely? As the asking price has gotta be at least $10k more than a boggo 528i ( which is all they will care about )? In reality it's a modified up to the tit 528i.

[francoisv 466]

Insurance wont be very difficult, basically if the car has a Low cert done properly and everything checks out legal, they will send out a specialised inspector to get the "true" value of the car from their perspective. And then you can insure the car based on that figure, or more if they agree.
However, the likes of NAC and other Insurance companies that deal in modified cars, might insure it at a higher value, but it will probably cost you more in premiums and excess etc.
Ive had 2 insurance dudes rock over for the ute, and both had completely different figures in mind, but they basically said the same thing. I guess these figures will obviously change once the car is finished.

Another thing to take into consideration, which I am having to do, is that you might have to register the car as a classic with them to insure a higher figure of payout should something happen, but then you probably will have to tell them that is NOT a daily driver. Maybe speak to ray@HellBM and see how his insurance works, as he has a few conversion machines sitting around.

[Michael. 2313]

The fact the advert doesn't state clearly the history of the car makes it seem suspect.

Especially when you can quickly realise that with a simple plate search.

Besides, 124k kms in 2003, dropped down to 51k kms with the M5s dash cluster... this makes the chassis a 215-220k kms car.

If I was buying an M5 I'd never bother with such a sample, get a genuine article and it will make your life all the more simple down the road.

[sonic_attack 89]

A lot of money to pay for an almost. While not the same, I'm sure someone here recently was looking to value their e39 540i/6. Quite a smart looking car and a reasonable price.