2003 BMW M5 - Enthusiast Owned and Loved

E39 M5 Overview (Blatently plagerized from Jalopnik as I loved their writeup):

BMW's M division has made quite a name for itself by taking their otherwise standard cars and placing exotic drive-trains where their significantly less dramatic stock engines used to be. Arguably the most notable and ubiquitous iteration of any M car ever is the universally praised '00-'03 E39 BMW M5.

The car you're looking at has room for 5 adults, a little more than 11 cubic feet of storage space in the trunk, dual-zone climate control, an 18.5 gallon fuel tank, and if driven responsibly, a return of 26+ miles per gallon on the highway (that's optimistic in this seller's opinion). It also has an engine with an independently controlled throttle body for each one of its eight cylinders, variable valve timing for both intake and exhaust cams, with more power under the curve than John Goodman, all of which revolves at a maximum oil-pump shattering 7000+ RPM.

And then there's the noise. This is what American muscle cars would sound like if they stopped ripping beer bongs and studied on the weekends. The distinct induction noise and refined exhaust note (especially with a straight pipe or muffler delete) combine to form a sound that is the embodiment of subdued chaos. This is the automotive aural equivalent of a UFC fight.
This Car:

To start, this is the only car my wife has ever been upset at me for selling.

When I went looking for an e39 M5, my #1 criteria above all else was records from day one. It took me a good long time to find it, but finally a gentleman responded to my "want to buy" listing on m5board.com with a brief post that "he thought he had what I was looking for." What I arrived to find was a car that was so anal-retentively maintained, that it was accompanied with both a binder and excel spreadsheet with breakdowns of all service since new. I have continued this trend.

Oil changes were done at 5-6000 miles since new, even during the warranty period during which initial service intervals were often significantly longer. Fluid, filter, etc changes have all been done when needed during my ownership either by myself or by Ultimate Euro in Davie, FL (very reputible, very thorough). Again, ALL RECORDS INCLUDED. PERIOD. Oil burn is very little - about one quart every four to five thousand miles (that is low for an S62). No weird noises from the engine and the car pulls like a freight train with smooth shifts in all gears with good clutch feedback. Tires were replaced with proper Michelin Pilot Sports 8,300 miles ago and still have tons of tread.

I was planning on keeping this car until the wheels fell off, but I found an E60 M5 6-speed that I could not pass up - as such, my stable requires a trade. In some ways the e39 is a much more capable vehicle than the E60, however the V10 and the creature comforts lured me away. I am assured by many that I will regret my decision; regardless, the decision has been made.

The car is in overall very good condition, particularly given the mileage. The service during my ownership is below (full service history can be provided on request):

Upgrades:

The car is almost entirely stock with three exceptions:

• UUC Short Shifter
  
  
• Mediabridge with bluetooth and IPod/USB cable interface (which disables the 6CD changer - can be easily reversed)
  
• Molded cup holders that sit in front of the flimsy stock ones (which are completely in tact)
• Euro center console/armrest with storage compartment (replaces that useless sliding ledge that housed the optional mobile phone).

Notable Options:

Being one of the latest e39 M5's, this vehicle was equipped with some rarer options:

• Full napa leather interior (literally every imaginable surface is covered in leather. All in very good condition). Dashboard was replaced several years ago with OEM after a tint guy got water all over the original one and ruined it.
• 60/40 split fold down rear seats. These are invaluable - you don't need them until you need them.
• Park distance control (PDC)
• Heated seats


• Rain sensing wipers
• Alcantara Headliner (in excellent condition)
  
• Apparently the black ///M mat in the trunk is super rare.

Deficiencies:

The only paintwork the car has had that I'm aware of (because I had it done) is the front and rear bumpers. The front had a several inch crack by the headlight washer nozzle so I had it replaced with an OEM bumper and professionally repainted. The rear had a bunch of scratches from people taking their luggage in and out and it bugged me, so I had that professionally repainted as well - I belive the photos clearly show the high quality of the work. The most significant rock chip is on the front fender just in front of the drivers side door - about the size of a dime and filled with touchup paint (I had my PDR guy pull the dent, but it definitely wasn't worth painting the whole fender for. Up until very recently (right about the time I decided I was getting the e60), the moment something went wrong, it was repaired (again, records to show). In the interest of full disclosure, the following items have been observed:

• Passenger seat occupancy sensor needs replacement and throws light (does not prevent airbag from deploying - only inhibits the two stage deployment).
  
• It has developed a VERY slow oil leak. I did not even know it was there except that the car has been parked for a few weeks since the arrival of the new car and I noted one or two drops of oil on the driveway. I honestly can not see where it is coming from.
• Roof has just the earliest sign of paint fade which is strange because it is inconsistent with any of the other surfaces which are very nice. Regardless, I have an EXCELLENT paint guy down here and if my Buy It Now is met, I will have the roof repainted (after payment of non-refundable deposit). My standards for paintwork are very high.
• There is a splotch of dead pixels on the navigation screen. Nothing that impacts operation or is particularly bothersome and it has not gotten any bigger since it appeared about a year ago. Purely cosmetic.
• Wheels could stand a refinishing.
• Tint isn't spectacular. Just old.

This car has been my baby and I'm really sad to see her go. A few days ago I drove a few miles here and there, just to remind myself why I love the car so much.

Payment Details:

To avoid complications with cashiers check fraud, I will gladly meet the winning bidder at a local branch of their bank to complete the transaction in person. Cash is abviously also acceptable. If buyer is not local and wishes to have the vehicle shipped, funds wire transfer or CLEARING of the cashiers check will need to be completed prior to any vehicle pickup.

Detailed Photos: