I have a lot of experience with the E60 BMW M5. The U.S. press launch for the new M5 in 2005 was the first BMW media drive I ever attended. It was held in Connecticut near the Lime Rock Park racetrack, where we had the opportunity to drive it on the course as well as on some amazing nearby roads. The M5, powered by the new 500-horsepower S85 5.0-liter V10, was something none of the journalists at the event had ever seen from BMW. The engine was an absolute gem and the SMG transmission shifted faster than any manual without any lag and offered some incredible performance numbers. The M5 had BMW’s brand-new adaptive suspension, which could be dialed in to everything from comfort mode to a track-ready sport-plus setting. It was a tour de force of technology and performance. The numbers BMW gave us at the time were a 0-60 of 4.7 seconds (extremely quick for the era) and a limited top speed of 155 mph, though we were told (and I fully believe) that without a governor, the car would top out at around 190. This was the fastest sports sedan on the planet, offering true supercar performance in a car that could carry four people and all their luggage on a trip across the country, something no supercar could manage. The M5 simply blew us away and we left stunned by it. In fact, one “enthusiastic” journalist at the launch was missing at dinner that first night because, according to our BMW public relations contact, that journalist found himself in jail for excessive speeding. I have never seen that writer at a BMW press launch since then.
Over the years, people found that the E60 M5 was not without its issues. The main one was rod bearings. If abused (and many of these cars have been abused), the rod bearings can fail prematurely. This scared quite a few potential used buyers and the values for the V10 M5 dropped significantly as a result. The fact that replacing the bearings in a E60 M5 costs around $2,500 in parts and labor seems to be forgotten. If and when you do this, you should also replace the internal VANOS oil feed line. Then you are set. This info should make the E60 M5 a no-brainer as a car to buy now. People are starting to pay attention to them as BMW will never build an M5 with a high-revving V10 engine again.
The Pick of the Day is one of these cars, a 2006 BMW M5 located in Richmond, British Columbia.
The selling dealer describes this M5 as a car that has covered only 74,000 kilometers (approximately 46,000 miles) from new. It is finished in Silverstone paint over Black Full Merino leather upholstery.
The seller adds that this car has silver-finished 19-inch Style 166 wheels fitted with Continental tires measuring 255/40 up front and 285/35 at the rear. The car is equipped with Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with M Dynamic Mode; braking is handled by four-wheel cross-drilled and ventilated discs.
The interior features Black Full Merino leather on the heated and power-adjustable front seats, door panel inserts, and center console, while aluminum trim accents the dashboard, center console, and doors. Amenities include iDrive with navigation, a head-up display, Comfort Access keyless entry, heated rear seats, a Logic7 sound system, a power rear sunshade, a six-disc CD changer, dual-zone automatic climate control, and cruise control. In addition, the multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel features tri-color stitching and frames a 200-mph speedometer, a tachometer with a variable redline, and gauges for the oil temperature and fuel level.
Under the hood, the 5.0-liter S85 V10 features a semi-dry-sump lubrication system, individual throttle bodies, and double-VANOS variable valve timing. Factory-rated output was 500 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a seven-speed SMG single-clutch sequential transmission and an M variable differential.
This specific M5 was originally registered in Alberta, Canada before moving to Manitoba in 2011. The following year, the vehicle was registered in British Columbia. The CARFAX report shows no accident or damage claims over $2,000.
These V10-powered M5s are simply amazing to drive and the engine sounds better than any other that BMW built. Good ones are hard to find and this one appears to be an exceptional example. Yes, it is located in Canada, but to get this car to the U.S. is not as hard nor as expensive as people think. The estimate I received to get the car delivered from B.C. to Connecticut was only 2.3 percent duty and whatever the shipping cost would be. This E60 2006 BMW M5 has an asking price of only $29,900 or best offer, which looks like an excellent deal to me.
Click here to view the listing for this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com.
Source: www.classiccars.com