[ChkbookMechanic]

Originally Posted by matt911

I'll support much of what has been written. I have an 01 with about 85k miles. The 2000 model has the smaller nav screen and seems to be more prone to the carbon issue. Nobody knows the true cause of the carbon build up but it is believed that pampered cars are more likely to experience it. The basic thought is that the cars like to be driven. If this is true then your commute is not ideal.

Carbon build-up seems to be hit or miss. I drive my car hard and I still got it. The issue with the carbon build up is that it isn't in the cylinders it is in the secondary air passages that help emissions on cold start. The fix (other than programming the ECU to ignore it) is to take what is basically a pipe cleaner to the passages in the head and clean them out. And it isn't just an M5 issue, it can happen to any of the m62 / s62 v8 engines.

The clutch isn't the smoothest in the world.

I as well have a B&B exhaust and it is tantalizing.

I fear these cars will go the way of the 944. Anyone can buy them but few of the owners can maintain them.

Brakes are expensive @ $250 per rotor. Fortunately an aftermarket option recently became available. Oil MUST be purchased from BMW or Castrol TWS 10w-60 can be found vial mail order, no other options. Rear sway bar brackets are aluminum and prone to crack, $10 part.

I've found the clutch to be smooth but it isn't light and takes some muscle to use. If you've ever driven a WRX or STi it is pretty close to that sort of effort.

For the rear sway bar brackets I'd just spring for the TC Design billet brackets and never worry about it again.

Mixed driving averages 17.5 MPG.

That must be nice.. the most I can average is about 14.5 mpg in town and a little highway. On a road trip I average about 24 mpg but have seen as high as 27 mpg.

In my three years of ownership the car has seen no major problems. Oil and filter charges only. The thing is built like a tank. They don't build them like this anymore.

Now that mine has all the fixes on it, I've only done oil changes on it. It really is a tank. If it is rainy, foggy or whatever the M5 is the car I'll be taking out on the road. Also, since it is a sleeper you never get the ricers trying to race you and the cops don't look for you too much either.

And if anyone tells you a 540i/6 with sport package is close - they are lying. My father owned a 540i/6 w/ sport package and they feel completely different when you drive them.