A bit late to the angel eye party: 2001 M5

[Beej]

Also can you tell me how awful and expensive this car has been for you so I don't buy one? My autotrader search history is scaring me.

I'm supposed to tell you what it's like to own a V8 e39?

I could probably go on for awhile on this (edit: I did). I don't think that the maintenance on e39 M5's is as bad as the rap they've gotten. Some dudes either go crazy or get unlucky, and others do consumables for 5 years/100k straight. That said, I've owned an e46 M3 for 5 years and may be jaded as to what "low maintenance" means, as good as that car has been to me. I expect to do MAF's, CPS's, and O2 sensors at some point; that's not "shit is busted" to me.

I have spreadsheets for both cars, and I'm surprised to say I've spent ~$1500 on the M5 already (6 months, 5-6k miles). If I'd done the bare minimum, it would be more like 5-600 (fan clutch, one motor mount, one headlight adjuster, oil change). But, I like my things minty and so I've done underbody panels and puddle lights and all interior plastic and intake manifold badges.

But you said you wanted to be scared. I didn't want to disclose someone else's financials but hell, it's just a car and these threads are about what it's like to own one. The gentlemen before me had it for 4 years and I have $22k of receipts for that time (all shop work, no DIY). To be fair, that included a lot of Dinan parts, some expensive reupholstery, wheels, tires, audio/tech, bumper paintwork...it wasn't all maintenance. And another To Be Fair is that I've added up what I have in the M3 that's been "pretty good" to me in my mind...and it's way higher than I expected, too.

It's expensive, maybe...but awful, not at all. I had a car I couldn't make right (e30 s50) and I know that feeling. But it's an old M car - you might have a year that costs a few thousand. It's better than a car payment, IMO. Do I wish I had something I didn't have to worry/think about? Yeah, the Jeep is fucking awesome in that department, and the M's don't give me that peace of mind. But I've lusted after these and the M3 since they came out - just settling into that interior, turning back to look at it in a parking lot, or giving it the beans makes me happier than a superficial dumb machine should.

I know we have a lot of individual project threads but maybe it'd be interesting to have a "had this car X years" or "just sold it" and "this is what it costs to own this beautiful piece of shit" thread.