Really not sure what it's worth. I figure anywhere from $7 to $11k, but that's a large range. I want to price it right and sell it. Garage kept and is a pleasure to drive. Here are the particulars:
General:
Bought: 134K in spring 1998
Current: 156k
Drives and handles well. Ive never driven it much. The train station is 1 mile away so I use a 92 maxima that doesnt have to warm up.
Recent (<3k)
-New kumhos on stock wheels
-upper and lower control arms with 750 bushings, tie rods, center link, sway bar links, and the short one that connects to center link to frame (I think), but not the center link to steering column..
Recent (<15k)
-Load leveling replaced with bilstein HDs and 535is springs (rear)
-Conforti chip
-Rebuilt driveshaft
Other:
A/C doesnt work -Replaced the a/c condenser, but dont know if that was the only problem. A/C worked when I got it, but I dont use it. Tried it last summer and nothing. Charging it blew the condenser valve. It got cold by the time I got the condenser in and I havent taken it back to get charged.
Heated seats do not work.
One headrest doesnt work. Mine isnt a cable length problem, as far as I can tell. The cable housing is separated from the motor and I dont know how to keep it attached.
Rear windows
Tricky. Always go down. Sometimes wont go up unless they go down a little first. I took it apart and was working great while apart. Its better now, but something is still not right.
Exterior
Small scratch in drivers fender, doors are good, two dings in the drivers quarter. Otherwise paint is pretty good. Great ten-footer. Not bad up close too.
Interior
Two or three actual splits in drivers left seat bolster, hand brake handle looks rough and there are some stains; passenger seat, passenger door. I have the leatherique to redo them, but havent done it yet
When you put it in reverse, it hits the console and moves it some. I was told it was a poorly installed short shifter, but I have never verified this. And I have only driven one other, so I dont know.
Small crack in dash.
Rear windows
Tricky. Always go down. Sometimes wont go up unless they go down a little first. I took it apart and was working great while apart. Its better now, but something is still not right.
Peter
Help me price my M5
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Tim in N FL
- Posts: 7392
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
- Location: North Central Florida, USA
- Contact:
Peter,
I've been questing since 19 October 2004 and have looked over too many cars in that time. Without seeing what you have in person, I think there are two variables that need investigating: paint and tranny. If the paint is completely without rust and the tranny makes no un-toward noises, I'd say you have an "asking 9k" on your hands. If you get close to that it would be a good day. If the bumpers are good and the engine is clean and you have records of all the s38 maintenance, then high 8s is likely. Without records and cosmetic "issues" I've had one offered to me at 7 that sounded very similar to yours that I wouldn't take. There's also one for 5.5 available that "needs work" and has a "rough interior"...
HTH,
tom
I've been questing since 19 October 2004 and have looked over too many cars in that time. Without seeing what you have in person, I think there are two variables that need investigating: paint and tranny. If the paint is completely without rust and the tranny makes no un-toward noises, I'd say you have an "asking 9k" on your hands. If you get close to that it would be a good day. If the bumpers are good and the engine is clean and you have records of all the s38 maintenance, then high 8s is likely. Without records and cosmetic "issues" I've had one offered to me at 7 that sounded very similar to yours that I wouldn't take. There's also one for 5.5 available that "needs work" and has a "rough interior"...
HTH,
tom
You know, i am not sure i agree with other people.
I've done lots of research on E28 M5s.
ALL of them have screwed up drivers seat bolsters. MOST of them have cracked dashboards. You've already replaced the SLS. The tires are newer. YOu've done a suspension rebuild. The A/C isn't working on ALL of them.
the heated seats not working is kind of odd, but whatever.
If i were you, i'd resolve the transmission issue. If the transmission is fine, its a $10k car, easy. The key on these cars is the drive train. If the drive train is good, you can get good money for it.
Even if the G280 is bad, you can swap in a 265 and call it good, and if the motor is good, its still a 10k car, especially with the suspension upgrades you've done.
I've done lots of research on E28 M5s.
ALL of them have screwed up drivers seat bolsters. MOST of them have cracked dashboards. You've already replaced the SLS. The tires are newer. YOu've done a suspension rebuild. The A/C isn't working on ALL of them.
the heated seats not working is kind of odd, but whatever.
If i were you, i'd resolve the transmission issue. If the transmission is fine, its a $10k car, easy. The key on these cars is the drive train. If the drive train is good, you can get good money for it.
Even if the G280 is bad, you can swap in a 265 and call it good, and if the motor is good, its still a 10k car, especially with the suspension upgrades you've done.
[QUOTE="Matt"]I've done lots of research on E28 M5s.
ALL of them have screwed up drivers seat bolsters. MOST of them have cracked dashboards. You've already replaced the SLS. The tires are newer. YOu've done a suspension rebuild. The A/C isn't working on ALL of them.
the heated seats not working is kind of odd, but whatever.
If i were you, i'd resolve the transmission issue. If the transmission is fine, its a $10k car, easy. The key on these cars is the drive train. If the drive train is good, you can get good money for it.
Even if the G280 is bad, you can swap in a 265 and call it good, and if the motor is good, its still a 10k car, especially with the suspension upgrades you've done.[/QUOTE]
Ok, so "lots" is a relative term. But from my point of view, Matt, this is not valid information. NONE of the M5s that I've looked at were $10k cars with a cracked dash, toast a/c, tranny issues, etc. Comon- this isn't real info. I've only been looking since October and so I haven't seen them all. But look at the one in Chicago that's for sale for asking 7.5... I know it's a runner, for sure. No cracked dash and excellent tranny. the guy can't give it away. Now, that's only one example, but there are plenty more. "Call it good" just doesn't cut it with these cars.
Maybe I'm taking what you're saying too much to heart. If so, sorry. Alternatively, I can't say that I understand the intent behind the info you gave, which seems in error, at best.
Without actually seeing his car, no body really knows, that much I'm sure is true.
ALL of them have screwed up drivers seat bolsters. MOST of them have cracked dashboards. You've already replaced the SLS. The tires are newer. YOu've done a suspension rebuild. The A/C isn't working on ALL of them.
the heated seats not working is kind of odd, but whatever.
If i were you, i'd resolve the transmission issue. If the transmission is fine, its a $10k car, easy. The key on these cars is the drive train. If the drive train is good, you can get good money for it.
Even if the G280 is bad, you can swap in a 265 and call it good, and if the motor is good, its still a 10k car, especially with the suspension upgrades you've done.[/QUOTE]
Ok, so "lots" is a relative term. But from my point of view, Matt, this is not valid information. NONE of the M5s that I've looked at were $10k cars with a cracked dash, toast a/c, tranny issues, etc. Comon- this isn't real info. I've only been looking since October and so I haven't seen them all. But look at the one in Chicago that's for sale for asking 7.5... I know it's a runner, for sure. No cracked dash and excellent tranny. the guy can't give it away. Now, that's only one example, but there are plenty more. "Call it good" just doesn't cut it with these cars.
Maybe I'm taking what you're saying too much to heart. If so, sorry. Alternatively, I can't say that I understand the intent behind the info you gave, which seems in error, at best.
Without actually seeing his car, no body really knows, that much I'm sure is true.
Please refer to my M5 historical asking price research. I've posted the links before.
If you hang out with M5 owners, all of them will tell you - the seat bolsters are shot, the SLS has had some kind of problem (WAG i'd say 2/3rds of owners swap the SLS for a fixed setup). Dash cracks are reasonably common, although mine doesn't have them. Synchro crunch on the G280 is also very common. Most cars are in the 130k mile range now.
Ratted out ebay cars with no receipts are 7k cars. A good example with most of the common things working is a $15k car. Like i said, if the transmission in this car works, it's a 10k example. You wont find an M5 with a factory new drivers seat, and half the people will tell you they replaced the SLS to "upgrade it" (i repaired mine).
That a specific M5 isn't moving is irrelevant - i know what i see them go for on ebay, i know what the roundel ads are asking. Every month i look at the M5 ask prices, although i haven't been updating my database lately.
Demand for these cars also seems to wax and wane.. it's probably hard to sell an M5 in chicago in the winter, above and beyond the normal market fluxuations in 17 year old semi-exotics.
If you hang out with M5 owners, all of them will tell you - the seat bolsters are shot, the SLS has had some kind of problem (WAG i'd say 2/3rds of owners swap the SLS for a fixed setup). Dash cracks are reasonably common, although mine doesn't have them. Synchro crunch on the G280 is also very common. Most cars are in the 130k mile range now.
Ratted out ebay cars with no receipts are 7k cars. A good example with most of the common things working is a $15k car. Like i said, if the transmission in this car works, it's a 10k example. You wont find an M5 with a factory new drivers seat, and half the people will tell you they replaced the SLS to "upgrade it" (i repaired mine).
That a specific M5 isn't moving is irrelevant - i know what i see them go for on ebay, i know what the roundel ads are asking. Every month i look at the M5 ask prices, although i haven't been updating my database lately.
Demand for these cars also seems to wax and wane.. it's probably hard to sell an M5 in chicago in the winter, above and beyond the normal market fluxuations in 17 year old semi-exotics.
One other thing i should point out, just to be clear.
How about a disclosure of bias ?
I've been an E28 M5 owner for nearly 5 years now - i like to see their value go up. I've done all the work on it myself for the last few yaers and I've had _all_ of the M5 problems. I know the car very, very well.
You've been looking for any kind of a nice 5 series for how long. You're in the market to get something good at low money, presumably
I have a vested interest in telling him to price high (keeps M5 value high). You have an interest in telling him to price low (maybe you'll get a deal?).
What's your ownership and work history with the M5? if you haven't owned on and haven't worked on one, i'm going to tend to disqualify your opinions.
How about a disclosure of bias ?
I've been an E28 M5 owner for nearly 5 years now - i like to see their value go up. I've done all the work on it myself for the last few yaers and I've had _all_ of the M5 problems. I know the car very, very well.
You've been looking for any kind of a nice 5 series for how long. You're in the market to get something good at low money, presumably
I have a vested interest in telling him to price high (keeps M5 value high). You have an interest in telling him to price low (maybe you'll get a deal?).
What's your ownership and work history with the M5? if you haven't owned on and haven't worked on one, i'm going to tend to disqualify your opinions.
Id say that 7k-11k range sounds about right. Without seeing the car, it is hard to say more than that. M5's in kind of "decent" condition can vary a lot. Since they are such an "irrational" purchase, I dont see much stability in them. Typical going prices can be a lot different than what you will actuall get, based on where you are, how patient you are, etc.
For me, I would pay more based on: you have owned it for a while and (IF) you have a very regular maintenece log.
Id pay less based on: no timing chain work done, (IF) the car seemed to lack regular maintenence.
I wouldnt be so worried about the windows and such as long as the mechanicals were regularly done (valve adjustments, oil changes. timing components, etc).
BTW: I would look into replacing the shifter. It only takes about 15 minutes and it sounds likely the wrong model of shifter is in it. Since most short-shifter seem to be designed around E36s and such, you sometimes find them stuck into 5ers and the bend in those does not bring it back far enough to work in the 5er. What I did with my stock M3 lever was just had the selector linkage shortened by about 1/4" and that brought it right back to the middle.
Good luck with the sale!
For me, I would pay more based on: you have owned it for a while and (IF) you have a very regular maintenece log.
Id pay less based on: no timing chain work done, (IF) the car seemed to lack regular maintenence.
I wouldnt be so worried about the windows and such as long as the mechanicals were regularly done (valve adjustments, oil changes. timing components, etc).
BTW: I would look into replacing the shifter. It only takes about 15 minutes and it sounds likely the wrong model of shifter is in it. Since most short-shifter seem to be designed around E36s and such, you sometimes find them stuck into 5ers and the bend in those does not bring it back far enough to work in the 5er. What I did with my stock M3 lever was just had the selector linkage shortened by about 1/4" and that brought it right back to the middle.
Good luck with the sale!
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Blue Shadow
- Posts: 10292
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
- Location: SE PA
How much less than 15 ?
15 seems to be the upper limit of what people ask for them unless they're turbo charged.
What I am trying to tell you is that only drive train problems make an M5 ratty enough to be worth significantly less than 10, because they all have the same common problems, so everyone that knows about the car expects them. This car doesn't seem to be especially bad in any area.. it just has some of hte average defects. On the other hand, it has some of the common upgrades.
fwiw, the plural of "anecdote" is not "data"
15 seems to be the upper limit of what people ask for them unless they're turbo charged.
What I am trying to tell you is that only drive train problems make an M5 ratty enough to be worth significantly less than 10, because they all have the same common problems, so everyone that knows about the car expects them. This car doesn't seem to be especially bad in any area.. it just has some of hte average defects. On the other hand, it has some of the common upgrades.
fwiw, the plural of "anecdote" is not "data"
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Blue Shadow
- Posts: 10292
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
- Location: SE PA
a bad paint job or the need of one is a $5000 requirement on the car and this will lower the sale price of the car by nearly that amount with all else really nice. The seats needing a bit to to a bunch of work will Ding the car's value too. The overall condition of the car must be considered, not just the drivetrain. Just cause the rest of the car is regular E28 doesn't mean the stuff is free and the labor is comp'ed to put the parts on the car. If it needs stuff it lowers value whether it is an engine or a window switch!
The key to high value in an M5 is LOW miles. Below 50K brings good money.
The key to high value in an M5 is LOW miles. Below 50K brings good money.
Below 50k mile examples are exceptional and will bring additional money upwards of 15k.
The paint on the E28 M5s is especially resilient; i've not seen any that had poor paint as opposed to just scratches/swirl problems. Paint / clearcoat rot as seen on other BMWs of this vintage seems non-existant on the M5.
The paint on the E28 M5s is especially resilient; i've not seen any that had poor paint as opposed to just scratches/swirl problems. Paint / clearcoat rot as seen on other BMWs of this vintage seems non-existant on the M5.