Goodby my M5 friends, it's time to move on>

[bob.knox]

Don't know if you guys saw my troubles on the other board, but I had to sell the M5. The bottom end of the motor was toast (totally unexpected), and I don't have $6-8k to fix a toy with baby #2 on the way. I sat in it for the last time today before she gets picked up tomorrow. Turbo Charging Dynamics bought the car with racing intentions which sounds pretty cool. I just wanted to say one last THANKS! to the community here which is truly invaluable. These wonderful cars will have a great life thanks to folks like you who want to keep them alive and well.

I have two pieces of advise: One, if you are thinking about buying an M5, budget $15k minimum. That means you can buy a budget one and rebuild everything or spend it all up front and buy a perfect car. In the long run these cars will cost you, but they also reward better than anything I have driven to date. Two, REPLACE YOUR CLUTCH! I knew my clutch was stiff, but I didn't think it was out of the ordinary compared to a 535iS I had a long time ago. It turned out that the clutch was so worn in my car that it had caused the crank to move back and forth and seriously wear the center web of the block. Today I sampled what a new clutch feels like and it was buttery soft. Fix it now or seriously pay for it later. While I was told a failure like mine is very rare, it still pays to take care of things up front.

So Long,
Bob K
1988 ///M5
no more pimp-tint

[vze33jng]

I've never seen that... well, yet anyway.


We'll miss you Bob. I'll miss you at the car shows. (Are they gonna need the rear apron?!?)

'87 <b>528e</b> "is" 214.5k
'88 <b>M5</b> 193k (Head removed, ready for reassembly)
Dinan gen.1
OEM Front & Rear Fuzz-buster

[ekdemos]

I have to sell mine too. I really have not come to grips with it yet. She still sreams, but she needs about 2k in head work and a rear section. I drove her today and nothing sounds like an s38.

[Philo]

Keep in touch though. Your advice is right on the money..., the day i purchased my car I started looking for a second S38 knowing that it might be needed very soon after I purchased the car with 197k on the clock. do date I've been lucky..., 257k and only had to rebuild the head. All other repairs were for love or out of stupidity on my part.

Anyway.., my clutch is very stiff right now. Thanks for the tip.

All the best, your car will be in good hands although tweeked to a degree that none of us have ever thought of doing to an M5. I can't wait to see TCD's work.

Philo.
----------

[vze33jng]

'87 <b>528e</b> "is" 214.5k
'88 <b>M5</b> 193k (Head removed, ready for reassembly)
Dinan gen.1
OEM Front & Rear Fuzz-buster

[ekdemos]

it is either a broken valve srping or I have a burnt valve. I was driving down the highway when a large door frame came flying off a turck landed in the road in front of me and I ran it over destoryong my exhaust. I was on my way to pitt from philly so I had to drive her 600 miles messed up. The one side of the header (with the flex section) cracked and the cat came apart inside. I did not notice the cat until I hit a bump and she would not rev over 4k. I believe that it got super heated and burnt a valve or something.
However, She still runs strong. Some days better than others. last night I blew the doors off a Audi TT, but that is no great feat. I really want to start attending more driver schools and the M5 is just costing me too much $$. I have an e30 that will be perfect and cost less than 1/2 the cost to opperate.
I am really torn about this everytime I get behind the wheel of her I have a smile ear to ear.

[RoyW]

Hey Bob,

Sorry to hear the bad news about your M5 (but nice to hear the good news... your 2nd child on the way!!). Anyway, sounds like she's going to a good home (Mario mentioned the situation to me...so I'm glad it worked out for you). We'll miss you on the Board(s), but be sure to stop by Kimball's this summer, I'm sure I'll be there with the M5 or one of my other cars.

I think you should look for an e28 535is or 528i and stay in the 5er family... you should be able to find one for relatively low $ that will keep you occupied (fixing her up) and smiling. Just a thought!

[Gcracker 528e/M5]

Maybe it's not that bad...?

[Edgeman]

What is failing to cause the "heavy pedal"? I think my clutch is heavy, but about the same as my E30 M3. Both are definitely heavier than my Toyota Truck clutch.

I'll have a BMW mechanic check it. Thanks for the tip.

Cheers!
John
85 M635CSi
86 657CSi
88 M3

[Gcracker 528e/M5]

. . . not a failed clutch. The oem M5 clutch is awfully heavy, and a good replacement is the centerforce, if you like a lighter feel that actuallt locks up more torque before slipping. I can't imagine what would make the clutch get heavy. Not a thing.

[Edgeman]

Proactive people prevent possible premature (darn, I can't think of another "P" word...lol) failures.

I never thought I had a clutch problem until reading this thread...
Cheers!
John
85 M635CSi
86 657CSi
88 M3

[pm179]

[Kevin Mattoni]

I do not think $15k is enough budget when buying a driver and making it right. Add up the numbers for paint, new leather, decent car to buy, and just going thru basic service maintenance and if nothing goes wrong, it's $20k. I am over that because I wanted all cosmetics new including bumpers. If you find a great car for sale it will probably be less but you will catch up as soon as stuff starts to wear out.

[Bruce]

let me know.. I would sell for that
B

[bob.knox]

Lindsay was born last Friday at 1:30 pm (18 hr labor, yikes!!). Mom, dad, sister, and baby are all doing great. Now if I could just get a little more sleep I'd be 100%. I forgot how increadible new babies are. I can stare at Lindsay for hours in awe of who she is. She is strong as an ox and very sturdy which I love because I am not the most delicate guy (more of a chainsaw when you need a scalpel kind of guy).

Shopping for the new family rig is kind of fun. I've narrowed it down to a Volvo V70 5-speed or a Honda Pilot both with 3rd row seats. The Honda is way cheaper, but I think I could tune the Volvo (IPD makes some nice stuff). Unfortunately the Volvo dealers think they are selling BMW's and not very willing to come down in price.

Take care all, and I'll pop in every now and again.

Bob K.

[bob.knox]

..but good 5'ers are getting hard to find. My wife is also not going to let me live this one down for a loooong time. I'm thinking 10 years from now when things calm down I'll look for a Lotus Elise or an e30 M3. E30 M3's will always be around (just more $) or how could you go wrong with an aluminum body combined with a Toyota engine and trans.

Definitely see you at Kimballs.

Bob K.

PS: If you EVER think about doing Targa Newfoundland, let me know. I'd like to volunteer for support.

[tnkenyon]

I replaced my clutch, and when I picked it up from the mechanic I almost put my left foot through the floor. HUGE difference in pedal feel. As I understand it the clutch plate "ears" get stiff over time. I am obviously no clutch expert, but If yours is really stiff and very old, replace it. That said, it will still be stiffer than your average car.