Clarkson wasn't too keen on the M5 until he hit that sport button.  Why is it not just 507bhp anyway?

And there must be a way to shut that sat nav woman up surely?

Sweet car though, deserved a longer review.  Perhaps with more abuse on the track! 

I enjoyed driving the M5 when I got a loan of one and the 'M' button is very enjoyable but it does get very thirsty so I presume it's there when you want to have fun but when you can't there's no point in all the fuel going to waste until you want it to. The seat option is another couple of quid on-top of the standard car as are a couple of other things like a different leather style 

Topazman

The word "fragile" cropped up a few times which is worrying. Diffs blowing and that dreaded ABS light again...............All on a brand new £60k car? It appears BMW havn't addressed the gremlins that crept in on the e39's then? Theres already been one e60 central locking fault listed on the 5 series forum.

I still maintain that the last true quality BMW made was the e34 and the e30's. There are just too many electrical gimics. The old ones were very basic but built like tanks. not any more. Speaking to a guy today with a 645i convertible and he's had shed loads of faults. Took it in and was told "no good booking it in yet. The only guy who can diagnose it is away on the course learning how to fix it!". Well thats okay then.........................

New M5????? Too complex in my mind. We need to get back to basics and have PURE ///M cars again.

I agree M cars should just be that cars to be driven and less of the gimmicks but when they launced the M3 CSL it cost more for less than the standard M3 so where do you go?

Topazman

topazman wrote: I agree M cars should just be that cars to be driven and less of the gimmicks but when they launced the M3 CSL it cost more for less than the standard M3 so where do you go?

Well, they do say "less is more"

Like it or not, BMW are most definetely in a power race. What choice do they have? At the end of the day technology rules and computers control evreything that goes on under the bonnet and suspension and brakes and lights and on and on etc. We're never gonna see the likes of a throw back to the E30 M3 for raw diving experience, it's more about marketing and big numbers now and that ain't gonna change. 

OK so the new M5 has alot of buttons, settings and controls but i don't think BMW just put that stuff on for the craic! I think it's good that you can buy such a car and spend your ownership trying different settings to find what most suits each individual but i must confess that i can do without all that stuff. However i doubt that most people who (can afford) to buy one will be too bothered by all the gizmo's but will love saying things like "507bhp", "V10", "new M5" followed by "i've got one".

Who knows, maybe in ten years we'll all be driving one!.........providing the diff, gearbox and all the electrics are still working....oh and independants will have to go back to school so we can afford to service the beast lol

whitey wrote: The word "fragile" cropped up a few times which is worrying. Diffs blowing and that dreaded ABS light again...............All on a brand new £60k car? It appears BMW havn't addressed the gremlins that crept in on the e39's then? Theres already been one e60 central locking fault listed on the 5 series forum. I still maintain that the last true quality BMW made was the e34 and the e30's. There are just too many electrical gimics. The old ones were very basic but built like tanks. not any more. Speaking to a guy today with a 645i convertible and he's had shed loads of faults. Took it in and was told "no good booking it in yet. The only guy who can diagnose it is away on the course learning how to fix it!". Well thats okay then......................... New M5????? Too complex in my mind. We need to get back to basics and have PURE ///M cars again.

Spot on Sir.

Clarkson blew a diff and it had to get towed away. The blue one the STIG drove had a traction control error at the end of his lap and I've read a review in Total BMW ages ago that stated a 'check engine light' came on and they had to take it back to a dealer in Germany!

Not exactly what you want to hear. 

Andrew

Watched it again tonight. Still mightily unimpressed.

Whats the point of being able to adjust the fierceness of the gear change?? Just make it a b****y manual and I'll change it as fiercly as I want! And when are they going to give up on this i Drive menu nonsense? No wonder people crash. They are too busy trying to find the radio station they want. Whereas I just push number 4 on the head unit for Kiss fm or number 6 for heart, Mr. 60k next to me crashes trying to do the same function.

After my experiences with my own e39 and other late BM's, I'd save my money and get one of the last 3.8 e34 M5's (the last pure M car??) and a late e38 for the weekly trawl through the traffic.

on a related Top Gear note, does anyone remember the cheap porsche segment last series where they bought a 924, a 944 and a 928?

a bit of background on how Jezza came by his purchase....

http://www.928.org.uk/mambo/content/view/69/43/ - http://www.928.org.uk/mambo/content/view/69/43/

good option for payg dial-up users, alternatively you can download all the episodes if youve got either a quick broadband connection or an unmetered dial-up and a lot of patience...

http://www.torrentspy.com/search.asp?query=top+gear - http://www.torrentspy.com/search.asp?query=top+gear

to download these youll need a bittorrent client first, i suggest http://www.bittornado.com - www.bittornado.com

i agree, the vuk rips are hefty in size but excellent in quality, heres an example from the week before  

nice car btw, subtle tweaks and a lovely colour make it look contemporary 

StoneM535 wrote: Thanksvery much, Its actually virtually as standard except for the huge 850CSi BBS's http://www.maphotographics.co.uk/Sporting%20Events/BMW%20Croft%20Track%20Day/B31%20MAO/index.htm - Monday's Croft pics here

The wheels set it off, very nice indeed

overall a bit of a poor episode imo, must be difficult to think of new stuff to cover

now that i would like to see, you should send the top gear team a message and suggest it

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/haveyoursay/index.shtml - http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/haveyoursay/index.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/feedback/ -

i do hope so, secondhand performance cars for sensible money - they've done a bit of the "old vs new" drag races in previous episodes/series but it needs to be expanded on, all this porsche for £1500 stuff is entertaining but not realistic, the (really) old top gear used to mix the fanciful with the ordinary

nicely done - concise and to the point

Excellent Rhys, especially as I will be in the market for a £10K car in the near future.

As for the Petrol and diesel race...Hmmmm......The petrol, car was driven by a race driver and the diesel by JC. A fair race? I think not.

stephenperry wrote: Yeeeessss, thank god, the petrol won

I don't buy into this whole 'diesel thing' at the moment.  People seem to forget too easily that these engines have turbo's attached.  The 535 has TWO!!  Now try sticking two turbos to the 530i and check out it's stats.  It would spank the tractor no problemo!  Is it just me with this opinion?

Daz wrote: stephenperry wrote: Yeeeessss, thank god, the petrol won I don't buy into this whole 'diesel thing' at the moment.  People seem to forget too easily that these engines have turbo's attached.  The 535 has TWO!!  Now try sticking two turbos to the 530i and check out it's stats.  It would spank the tractor no problemo!  Is it just me with this opinion?

seemingly its just you....

...and me

modern tds are quick and relatively refined, of that there is no doubt,  but they don't rev and they still clatter like old taxis or transits, theres no real pleasure to be had from listening to their engine note

i wonder what will happen to the suzuki when theyve finally finished with it/them?

could fetch a pretty penny on ebay purely on its star connection

stephenperry wrote: i wonder what will happen to the suzuki when theyve finally finished with it/them? could fetch a pretty penny on ebay purely on its star connection

Scrapyard springs to mind

stephenperry wrote: modern tds are quick and relatively refined, of that there is no doubt,  but they don't rev and they still clatter like old taxis or transits, theres no real pleasure to be had from listening to their engine note

Oh well, guess you'll not be wanting a pax lap at the next meet

j/k

SG535d wrote: Oh well, guess you'll not be wanting a pax lap at the next meet j/k

I hope I haven't offended diesel boyz as it is not my intention.  I am merely expressing my opinion on the 'turbo' matter that people seem to forget too easily if they even notice.  And I agree with Stephen on the sound of diesels.  straight 6 or v8 purring away or diesel 'noise' - no brainer for me.  but each to their own.  lack of revs bothers me big time as well by the way.  one thing i will admit is that they are far more popular nowadays.

but what gets me is one of the first thing diesel owners mention is their 'mpg' - who cares!  if that matters so much then walk you tree hugging freak!

i read in bmw car mag about the survey between the 530i and 530d.  you need to do over 35k a year for three years to break even on the cost of ownership of the diesel over the petrol.  people just see the magic mpg figures and start to drool.  they have their place i will be the first to admit but i feel that true enthusiasts will always be petrol heads and not diesel heads.

i buy bm's for their rwd, straight six sound, looks and sweet handling.  NOT for their exclusivity as I am well aware they are as common as muck nowadays - so i am under no illusions there.

all of the above rant is purely opinion so just discard it for the twoddle it is if you disagree. 

I watched the re-run last night as I missed the technical bits about the turbo on Sunday night and got abuse from the Mrs for ignoring her last night while trying to watch the bit I missed.She was talking about moving house...........

I had thought about buying a diesel 5 Series next for the 'mpg' but reading a post further up in this thread reminded me of the same article I had read about taking 35k miles to get your moneys worth. Hmm.  I like the idea of having it badged as a 3.5 litre gives you a bit more respect on the road as folk who are unaware will think it is a 3.5 litre or is that just because I want a bigger engined car than my 'bit out of puff' 523i?

What about buying a second hand diesel 5 series?  Would you need to run it for 35k miles before you got your money back?  Are they more expensive to service?  They will be harder on the drive train and rear tyres with the lorry load of torque they chuff out.

I think my next choice will boil down to manual or auto. Oh yeas and maybe Blue or Silver!

Andrew

Andrew Rolland wrote:  .......and got abuse from the Mrs for ignoring her last night while trying to watch the bit I missed.

Glad to here I'm not the only one who gets it in the neck for that. Why the flipping heck do they always wait until there is something on the TV!

From my recollection they chose a Suzuki Liana because it was the only car any one would give them.

Personally I would like to try a new Turbo Diesel. I have been in the 'tractor engine' camp for a while but I would like to actually find out for myself if they are any good. As for the benefits of MPG, well since they hold their value much better than petrol engined cars you will only get your money back when you sell it on again as far as I can see, unless you do mega miles or keep it for years.