@@mikedrivetribe8314 Yeah it’s great to see it’s still out there! There’s a 10 year old revving clip of it on my channel (just sort oldest to new lol) He had it for 5/6 years, it’s been while. From what I remember the only issues were constant 02 sensors. But he took out extended warranty for piece of mind. Sold it when it was on mid 50k mileage. Guessing it’s the had the full works from Mr Vanos now?
This is like the only car where the US got the best version that other countries didn't (you could have an M6 with a manual in the states, no SMG finnickiness)
@@jochem1986 imagine a manual E61. That would be my ultimate dream daily by far. Especially in Interlagos blue, Logic 7 sound system, extended leather package etc.
You have my vote. I daily drive an e60 M5. It’s awesome. I love the Smg 7 speed transmission. The shift speed is adjustable, if you turn it up to 6 it shifts in .4 seconds. Driving the car takes me away from the troubles of the world. I do all my own maintenance and repairs. It’s great to work on. Keep it full of the proper oil and don’t lug the engine to extend the life of the rod bearings. I have 100% confidence in my M5 and when it has a fault, I fix it. Cheers from the USA.
same (6mt e64 here) - daily it, do the maintenance, it's the most rewarding daily as comfy as u want when u want and screaming 8krpm v10 sport car when u want edit: it's my only car !
Im with you brother, I own a white 2006 m6 and a 2012 m3. Rod bearings done and love these cars are bang for the buck a great choice specially m6s considering how cheap they go for. Rather buy a well taken care off m6 for 25k-30k and drop 3k on preventive maintainance and your only at 33k the cost of a brand new civic.. Amazing cars, both engines sound glorious.
I bought an e63 M6 in April, absolutely loving it. The gearbox gets less irritating over time, you learn to use the throttle pedal to 'make' it shift when you want it to in auto mode. A set of slightly stiffer springs make them a lot livelier in corners and don't seem to make the ride much worse as they do in lighter cars. The way I look at it, the opportunity to have a 500bhp V10 is not going to be around forever!
I owned one for 6 years... Glorious sound, insane revving engine and incredible acceleration. Mine was derestricted and I took it all the way to 204mph. Just do your rod bearings... Never had a days issue.
@@1993j I do not believe they are intending on destroying the used and classic car market. That really does not make any logical sense. The idea is a gradual phase out of petrol and diesel cars running on the road. We will be able to run fossil fuel cars for quite some time yet, it will just become more and more economically unfeasible for 95% of the population to do so.
@@The_North0 Because you probsbly maintain it, and not trash it, even then, 150k is extremely lucky. I've seen them go at 30k. And i've seen plenty....
I've had my M6 (same blue) for over 8 years, and it still puts a smile on my face, don't think I'll ever sell it, I get why people moan about the SMG but I wouldn't have it any other way I think it great, the punch you get at full chat when changing gear just adds to the experience, DC is great but you lose the rawness....14 years old and there's still not much that keeps up with it as far as daily drivers go, and sounds soooo much better than the turbo's do!
These cars are amazing, particularly even in manual. You simply have to conduct your maintenance preventatively which is no problem. The issue with these cars is they are affordable, and so most people that pick them up are broke and end up not spending any money on preventative maintenance. Even the SMG is a misunderstood transmission. It has lubrication issues, and is very easy to maintain and prevent from breaking with proper lubrication, that's it.
Had the M5 and can tell you you're wrong. While the car is absolutely amazing, it broke monthly for years. I had the SMG (it's faster than they say here in it's fastest setting at 65ms.) And while it was only a matter of time, that part didn't break. I did have a gasket leak all the transmission fluid on to my clutch and flywheel ($12,000 gasket failure). Each of the four actuators have weak plastic parts and the teeth wear out on every one. At $1000 each plus hours of labour - just do them all at once. At just 130,000 my catalytic converters were inefficient. All four of them needed to be replaced and two are built into the headers. Want to change the battery? Better have a bmw dealer close. Oil change? 9 liters of $20/l oil. Windshield? $1500 if you have the HUD. But that sound 🤤. I refer to that car as my crazy ex girlfriend. A wicked fun ride but she has some screws loose
@@akaadamrg a lot of what you described could have been prevented and the rest is wear and tear. I am amazed you went 130kmi on the original cats. Not marginalizing your experience just stating that you can catch catastrophic failure before it happens particularly in the case of your gasket which would have been sweating at a minimum. The SMG issue may have been caught if there was preventative maintenance done on the pump.
Just got for it !! I have exacly this car in same color and just love it. Bought it second hand back in 2009 and still a strong performer. Driven it around most of Europe over the years and done serious push the limit driving in the Alps on numerous occasions and having great fun. Yes small bumps on the way, but nothing serious and honestly it has been put to the limits. Every time I take it out for a spin it just lifts the spirit and gets you smiling
I can assure you that Germany, as part of the European Union, will be facing very strict emission limits (nitrogen and CO2) in the very near future and that drastic speed limits will soon apply on all it’s highways. I would seriously consider that when buying this car. We in Holland (as adjacent country), are already facing these unfortunate facts.
Mike, If you have sponsors helping you get it done, then great! But, if it was you yourself making the purchase and taking this on, I would have said perhaps it could turn out to be an expensive monster to upkeep.
I've bought one recently. Fuel wise, yes they're crippling. And yes, they do love to throw issues at you, most of which aren't too expensive to fix in cost of parts, but if you don't have the ability to diagnose complex problems and replace the parts yourself, it would be very expensive.
I actually like the styling, the weird lines through the headlights and kidneys sorta add some suave. The car might become a pain in the lower back, but i think it looks and sounds pretty neat.
Life's short. If its what you want & makes you happy then it's worth it. I made the same decision swapping from a diesel volvo daily to an audi s4 with the 3l sc v6 and although the mpg is half and my wallet stings after long trips - having something that I go out to in the morning and actually want to get in and drive makes it all worth it.
I myself have an 08 s85 m6 and when I tell you driving it around casually is a real treat but it’d be awesome to see someone like you do a full on in-depth review of the car
I had the 650i version of this car and adored it. Had it chipped as well. V8 and normal auto transmission was fantastic. Had for 5 years and not a single issue. Swapped it for a CLS63 AMG and regretted it. After 2 years went back to the newer 650i
As a big BMW guy (and a life long BMW owner) I'd love to see this on the channel! If you rebuild the engine fix the bearings and the other few wearables and known issues it should be fine for a quite a long time...especially if you look after it properly and change the engine oil much more frequently...like every 15000km max. Sure it might not be the prettiest BMW out there but it is an interesting looking car and you will never mistake it for something else. Totally unique looking vehicle...and that's always something to admire....well okay maybe not if's a Fiat Multipla...but that's another story from (most likely) another planet. So yeah. Go for it! I for one would love to see it! And would love to see a proper restoration video especially of that magnificent engine!
I have a 2010 M5 with 14K, yes I don't drive it much but when I do I just go to the canyons for spirited driving. It is a blast of a car. They loosen the bearing tolerances on the mains so the bearing issue is not as bad in the later versions. 2010 was the last year.
The thing is, if you can afford a car with high fuel consumption and which might require parts to be replaced, you should definitely buy it. For 10000, you're getting a V10 BMW. Also, the extra money you might spend on buying a brand new car can be spent on the mods or this one.
People forgot how to enjoy driving, this car is pure pleasure. Imagine coming back home from work and you just put your foot down and the V10 symphony starts
I'd spend a bit more than 10k on one, that really would be bottom end. Mine has never let me down in 2 years and I'm never going to sell it. Words cannot describe the attachment I have developed for this car. Ive had m2's and various other 4-600bhp cars and this by FAR is the best car I have ever owned. The engine noise is beyond addictive. The SMG gearbox is lovely to drive with in manual. Spend 1.5k on rod bearings if it hasn't already be done, happy days. Oh fuel is bad tho lol
Mike, if you can make it happen, I say go for it! It would make for a fun series of videos, and it would give a V10 the love it deserves. The days of the V10 are severely numbered, and they're only going to become more rare.
Yes a BMW M6 should be the next project car on this channel. I recommend if you get a M6 change the transmission to a 6 speed manual. I am looking forward to seeing more V10 content on this channel.
I would like to see what happens with a M6 project - A year in the life type stuff, the rebuild of course and last but not least the cost of MOT etc. Naturally you will have to do an epic road trip up north as part of it!
Everyone that ever passed on owning this car missed out. I don’t think it’ll ever blow up but if it does idgaf at least I didn’t pass on it because I read abt some guy somewhere that spun a rod bearing. I’m not doing my bearings but if I did it’d be abt the cost of a set of tires so the pearl clutching hysteria that surround this car has been fun to watch. So yes, the answer is always yes on this car. It’s just gotta be a stick.
idgaf is the right mindset to have when enjoying any car. Otherwise one can't really afford to enjoy it. But then again these people have no problem paying sticker for a modern "M" car with a turded up series engine and a vacuum cleaner exhaust note that looses more value the moment it's driven off the lot than the entire price of admission for this car.
Yes. Please do the M5 or M6. It would be nice for someone to go over the pitfalls of the engine and how to properly address them. And see if it’s cost effective as well. Thanks
I believe a manual swap is not too tricky to do on these. At least in the E46 M3, the gearbox was the same, and you just have to replace the SMG shifting bits with a manual gear lever. The difficult bit might be sourcing the appropriate pedal box, center console and gear lever, which would be US parts.
I own one of those, same interlagos blue and same grey leather. used it as a daily for 2 years. Paid 30.000 euros for it and warranty company paid 20.000 euros in two years in repairs! worst was hydraulic unit of smg gearbox which was 5000 euros! in normal mode ie 400 hp it is lethargic and fabulous with 500 hp. Perfect for german or polish motorways between 150 and 250 kmh. On B roads it feels huge. And in most countries it is impossible to insure. So I have kept it for special occasions, rest of the time i drive a 135 twinturbo convertible 6 sp manual. It is faster than the M6 in normal driving and a lot more fun, also it drinks 8 l/100 km vs 15 to 25 for the M6. But please buy one you will enjoy it!
So I owned a pristine 2010 M5, and I purposely wanted the SMG. It fits the purpose of the car better (luxury GT). Like a manual, SMG requires finesse and practice to drive correctly and smoothly. These are definitely heavy, but absolutely nothing short of a Honda S600 (which I own) or a Lexus LF-A or Carerra GT offers sounds as intoxicating as this engine.
Yes please restore one of those cars. I am sick of seeing different TH-camrs and people ruining them and scrapping them. Calling them basketcases and throwing them away not understanding that the cars are 10+ years old and are now requiring care. Those are wonderful, amazing cars and I would love to see one finally getting the care it deserves.
I owned an E60 M5 a few years ago. As you say in the video, there are many reasons NOT to own an S85 engine with SMG box. But here I am, watching V10 videos and pondering buying another. They are outstanding value compared with the competition. Go for it!
Have daily driven my E60 M5 6speed for 9 plus years - 165k on the clock - runs just fine... gas is an issue, but all the "don't buy this car bs" simply is not an issue for me at least. Worse thing I need to replace was at 145k, I replaced the rear diff. I do not drift it, do not drag it - and hardly ever 'exceed' the redline. Buy it - Drive it!!
You’re tempting me to buy one lol. I’ve been looking at them for a while now but I know if something somewhat catastrophic happens i probably won’t be able to afford it fix it
Mike, you are still young. Patience will put you in a V10 soon enough, and it will be a special V10 from a unique manufacturer in a sports-built chassis from a reputable company. The BMW is just you not being willing to wait.
It’s lovely but that after market front bumper is straight up disgusting By the way, If you really try for it. You can get 26mpg on a motorway cruise. Not driving it the way you’re meant to but worth knowing
1800 usd installed in many shops. Done it mysfelf. If you buy a well sorted low miles, which are cheap 30k and drop 3k on maintaince the cost of a new civic its actually not bad for a 500 v10. Had my car for 5 years and it has been more reliable that my c6 corvette and other cars in the past..it just takes the proper owner meaning a owner that reads and prevents.
The thought of taking this on as a project car really stresses me out! Lol. It's got massive potential, but there's going to be some bad headaches along the way (unless you've already got it planned?) I'd try the Audi V10 out as well and see if it they're more viable and could be tuned up or electronically boosted too
I owned an E60 M5 for 4.5 years after E39 M5 ownership. After the E60 M5 I owned an F10 M5. The E60 M5 is just an Epic car with so much soul and character which the later cars lack even though they have a lot more power. When my SMG pump gave up I decided to converted my E60 M5 to 6 speed manual with OE parts same as North American cars. I have since converted 2 E60 M5 to 6 speed manual in the UK and onother on its way. I loved my E60 M5 both in SMG and 6 speed manual, it has so much soul and character its pretty much irreplaceable with anything else and you should 100% go for it and do a buy.
I prefer the SMG for this car over the manual. All the praise probably comes from people who have never driven an s85 paired with the 6mt. The manual box comes from the 550i. The 550i has an engine with similar torque but like 2000rpm lower redline. The gear spread is far too wide. The car feels lethargic as every upshift drops you off the torque peak. In contrast with the SMG3 it has this frenzied fanatical nature as each next gear slams home barley shorter than the previous.
MPG becomes an issue when you have a small gas tank which thus car does. Had an e60 M5 with lowered suspension. It was epic. Would buy again if only it had a bigger tank.
I love this M6 I grew up kinda around this era and this one in blue is just dream spec for me. I don't even like Bmw that much but this has to be one the best BMWs they made . Yes there would be problems but i low-key wanna own one in the future to see what it's like. So yes buy it
Love the V10.. but to me it more something you going to take to the track so it's been run at the limit then you can really appreciate that beautiful sound track... For a daily drive maybe rather a V8 Jag....or a Lexus like the ISF or GSF
Buy it! It will have problems, but a v10 in a comfortable car with a great sound track. In years to come, you will be able to remember that sound. I did something similar in 1967, I got the original Prince Skyline GT that was setup to race. Treble twin throat Webbers, 5 speed box, discs all round and race suspension. I used it on the tracks in Australia and on the road. When it broke it cost a fortune to fix. But at 76 years only now, I still remember the sound and it brings a smile. So many of my mates now say, they should have got such-and-such car and they didn't. Just buy it.
That SMG box sounds like a Wilson pre-selecter bus gear box! Go down a gear as you approach a corner and up again on the way out and it will sort itself out, eventually!
I'm going to say yes, I daily drive an e63 635d, and with little more than a mild remap and some decent tyres, 3 years into ownership, I still have that look back at the car over the shoulder as you walk away from it.
Torque is for people that don't know how to drive. The S85 is one of the best engines BMW has ever built and it was wonderful to drive in the E60. I owned a brand new one back then for 3 years and loved every second of it.
I’m On a trip in my v10 M6 from 20kms south of Nürnberg to Frankfurt which is 160 miles on an empty Autobahn, I went through a litre of oil and a full tank of petrol 70 litres, drive it like it supposed to be driven and it will eat petrol and anything else you give it, however it was a brilliant car.
Feels like daily driving this V10, with its mpg, in the current environmental climate is either silly or wilfully confrontational. Get it as a project and occasional (every other week?) car and you could justify it for the noise alone. It’s a lovely thing but you shouldn’t use it daily today…
I daily drive my E60 M5, it's an acquired taste but there is no noise like it. Had 14k miles of totally trouble free motoring last year.. just buy one!
Whatever upgrades you're thinking about doing, don't forget the tow hook. For towing fuel which you will undoubtedly spend while driving around, because that sucker is thirsty.
I would avoide like the plague. Like you said they are cheap for a reason. A Jaguar 5.0 supercharged car will be better and won't cost you a fortune to run. It's also not turbo powered but supercharged.
An OK at best, money pit, just for V10 kudos.. the idea of possessing it is almost certainly more exciting than actually having it (like your high-school crush). No one will be able to convince you not to get into it, but as soon as you have it you'll start to look for something else.
I'm stateside and have been debating between the M6 or a 645/650 coupe. And this video just made that decision even more harder lol. I work remote so it would be more of a weekend or intown go getter so to speak and once a month where I have to drive from Kentucky to Nashville, TN for company meetings. My income not a problem. However the problem is finding one that has been reasonably kept up.
Rs4 avant v8 4.2 no turbos 8.250 Rev band , 450 hp with mil tech exhaust inlet tweaks delimited hp will be up there and the 200 mph, add dynamic gearbox 4x4, finally the estate back is real handy 👍👍👍👍👍
lol rod bearings are not the only reason they are cheap, you were right about the fuel consumption.. 7-10mpg is about right for around the town. Neighbour had one from new for about 4 years but sold it at 85,000 miles after his service / repair was 14,000 and something else broke shortly afterwards.
Not to mention it was developed during V10 era in F1 when BMW was top PU in F1. This makes it any BMW F1 fans #1 in my opinion. Will appreciate for awhile too
It's solid buy and the big maintenance items (including the bearing replacement) are not too expensive. I would not however daily it. It's a weekend car.
You’ve got to get the M6. I own a e90 335i with the N54 and it’s so fun to drive and I’m sure the M6 is even better. Also, the opportunities that come along with BMW ownership are crazy. I got my license a month ago, and I’ve already been featured in a magazine, driven Sebring and gone to car shows. BMW ownership is the best.
The reason the M6 is so light in comparison to the m3 is because during the e6X generation BMW went to extreme lengths to make the bodies lighter. They constructed the cars with the GRAV (Gewichtsreduzierter Aluminium Vorderwagen or weight reduced Aluminium front end) so basically, the whole front structure of the body is made of Aluminium. The 3 Series didn't get that. The goal was to achieve a perfect weight distribution even with the biggest and heaviest engine options.
The SMG changes faster the higher the revs. You have to put it in the fastest mode, and then make the changes on the redline. They are genuinely fast then. Unfortunately what this means is that when you're cruising around at 2,000 RPM the changes are slow and the shift quality is poor. You need to lift the throttle to get a nice change. It's an old tech that only works on the limit but hey. Manual conversion for the win. The rest of the car is terrifyingly old and weak. You're heavily reliant on previous owners looking after them and spending big money on maintenance over several years. Otherwise it WILL be you spending ALL the big money. It's so important to have one with mega history.
I had an 03 M3 SMG and at the same time a 96C4S + 95C2. I almost got killed twice due to the lag in that SMG while pulling out into traffic....where the porsches would just 'go', the Beemer hesitated to think what I wanted it to do. I wouldn't buy another SMG that had that problem, and yes it was/is a problem. If I were you I would pick up a 6 spd from the USA junkyard and send it over to the UK and install that. THEN you have a great car worthy of what you seek. Just my opinion...
I owned one and put 65,000 miles on it. whatever you buy it for, make sure you've got twice that amount set aside for maintenance!!! Actuators in the almost (but not really) dual clutch trans. Crank bushings which ALWAYS fail at almost exactly 79,000 miles ($7,000 job)!!! $750 spark plug changes! $25 a quart 'special' castrol. Buy a ferrari, the maintenance is way cheaper! :)
Always loved these. Maybe worth doing some work to make it even more appealing, still pretty awesome car for relatively low cost. These things are fading out fast
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BUY IT. AND MAKE AS MUCH CONTENT AS YOU CAN
BUY ONE!!
Get an E39 Mike. Much better car
@@animalcol1 true e39 is the best all round bmw imo, has a little bit of everything
Brillant video
Thats my dads old car! Crazy seeing that its still around with the numberplate 😂
Lol Hamza that’s crazy, you should try buy it back. Great for your youtube content but bad for the wallet lol
No way! How was his experience with it?
@@mikedrivetribe8314 Yeah it’s great to see it’s still out there! There’s a 10 year old revving clip of it on my channel (just sort oldest to new lol)
He had it for 5/6 years, it’s been while. From what I remember the only issues were constant 02 sensors. But he took out extended warranty for piece of mind. Sold it when it was on mid 50k mileage. Guessing it’s the had the full works from Mr Vanos now?
ulan benim peder bana akbil bile almiyordu millette ne babalar var
@@TRHamza no need to lie, mate. 😂
This is like the only car where the US got the best version that other countries didn't (you could have an M6 with a manual in the states, no SMG finnickiness)
Who cares it still has a top speed of over 200 mph
@@anthonyk Having driven both an M6 and two M5's of this generation, their top speed is the least exciting thing about them.
No one had an E61 M5 with a manual, so the best doesn’t exist.
@@jochem1986 imagine a manual E61. That would be my ultimate dream daily by far. Especially in Interlagos blue, Logic 7 sound system, extended leather package etc.
Why wasn’t the manual offered elsewhere?
You have my vote. I daily drive an e60 M5. It’s awesome. I love the Smg 7 speed transmission. The shift speed is adjustable, if you turn it up to 6 it shifts in .4 seconds. Driving the car takes me away from the troubles of the world. I do all my own maintenance and repairs. It’s great to work on. Keep it full of the proper oil and don’t lug the engine to extend the life of the rod bearings. I have 100% confidence in my M5 and when it has a fault, I fix it. Cheers from the USA.
I daily drove mine too but was filling up about twice a week. She was a thirsty beast!
same (6mt e64 here) - daily it, do the maintenance, it's the most rewarding daily
as comfy as u want when u want
and screaming 8krpm v10 sport car when u want
edit: it's my only car !
Im with you brother, I own a white 2006 m6 and a 2012 m3. Rod bearings done and love these cars are bang for the buck a great choice specially m6s considering how cheap they go for. Rather buy a well taken care off m6 for 25k-30k and drop 3k on preventive maintainance and your only at 33k the cost of a brand new civic.. Amazing cars, both engines sound glorious.
I daily mine as well it’s a very rewarding experience
just picked up my m6 with akro straight pipe and i m nutting every time i drive
I bought an e63 M6 in April, absolutely loving it. The gearbox gets less irritating over time, you learn to use the throttle pedal to 'make' it shift when you want it to in auto mode.
A set of slightly stiffer springs make them a lot livelier in corners and don't seem to make the ride much worse as they do in lighter cars.
The way I look at it, the opportunity to have a 500bhp V10 is not going to be around forever!
which springs did u go with
I owned one for 6 years... Glorious sound, insane revving engine and incredible acceleration. Mine was derestricted and I took it all the way to 204mph.
Just do your rod bearings... Never had a days issue.
Might as well buy one and drive it as a daily while we still can! 🙃
Nobody is stopping anyone from purchasing used cars. Not even after 2030 🙂
@@ASRmann *No rules have been put in place YET to stop people buying used V8/V10/V12 after 2030.
@@1993j I do not believe they are intending on destroying the used and classic car market. That really does not make any logical sense. The idea is a gradual phase out of petrol and diesel cars running on the road. We will be able to run fossil fuel cars for quite some time yet, it will just become more and more economically unfeasible for 95% of the population to do so.
The v10 M5 is reliable even with smg. I have 2010 Bmw m5 v10 with 150,000 miles with the original rod bearing.
@@The_North0 Because you probsbly maintain it, and not trash it, even then, 150k is extremely lucky. I've seen them go at 30k. And i've seen plenty....
I've had my M6 (same blue) for over 8 years, and it still puts a smile on my face, don't think I'll ever sell it, I get why people moan about the SMG but I wouldn't have it any other way I think it great, the punch you get at full chat when changing gear just adds to the experience, DC is great but you lose the rawness....14 years old and there's still not much that keeps up with it as far as daily drivers go, and sounds soooo much better than the turbo's do!
These cars are amazing, particularly even in manual. You simply have to conduct your maintenance preventatively which is no problem. The issue with these cars is they are affordable, and so most people that pick them up are broke and end up not spending any money on preventative maintenance. Even the SMG is a misunderstood transmission. It has lubrication issues, and is very easy to maintain and prevent from breaking with proper lubrication, that's it.
Had the M5 and can tell you you're wrong. While the car is absolutely amazing, it broke monthly for years. I had the SMG (it's faster than they say here in it's fastest setting at 65ms.) And while it was only a matter of time, that part didn't break. I did have a gasket leak all the transmission fluid on to my clutch and flywheel ($12,000 gasket failure). Each of the four actuators have weak plastic parts and the teeth wear out on every one. At $1000 each plus hours of labour - just do them all at once. At just 130,000 my catalytic converters were inefficient. All four of them needed to be replaced and two are built into the headers. Want to change the battery? Better have a bmw dealer close. Oil change? 9 liters of $20/l oil. Windshield? $1500 if you have the HUD.
But that sound 🤤. I refer to that car as my crazy ex girlfriend. A wicked fun ride but she has some screws loose
@@akaadamrg that's what I heard. The v10 is extremely unreliable...
Um no BMW’s are completely unreliable. That’s why you find them for cheap in the first place…..
@@akaadamrg a lot of what you described could have been prevented and the rest is wear and tear. I am amazed you went 130kmi on the original cats. Not marginalizing your experience just stating that you can catch catastrophic failure before it happens particularly in the case of your gasket which would have been sweating at a minimum. The SMG issue may have been caught if there was preventative maintenance done on the pump.
@@furretthefuzzynoodle3896 no. It's just what you get for driving a 500hp v10. It needs tlc. People maintain them like they are a corolla.
Just got for it !! I have exacly this car in same color and just love it. Bought it second hand back in 2009 and still a strong performer. Driven it around most of Europe over the years and done serious push the limit driving in the Alps on numerous occasions and having great fun. Yes small bumps on the way, but nothing serious and honestly it has been put to the limits. Every time I take it out for a spin it just lifts the spirit and gets you smiling
I'd say... yes IF you're going to see how fast you can fire it down the autobahn (with a little tuning work as well)
I can assure you that Germany, as part of the European Union, will be facing very strict emission limits (nitrogen and CO2) in the very near future and that drastic speed limits will soon apply on all it’s highways. I would seriously consider that when buying this car. We in Holland (as adjacent country), are already facing these unfortunate facts.
Mike, If you have sponsors helping you get it done, then great! But, if it was you yourself making the purchase and taking this on, I would have said perhaps it could turn out to be an expensive monster to upkeep.
This. Ticking time bomb cars, riddled with problems. Very easily mechanically totalled.
I've bought one recently. Fuel wise, yes they're crippling. And yes, they do love to throw issues at you, most of which aren't too expensive to fix in cost of parts, but if you don't have the ability to diagnose complex problems and replace the parts yourself, it would be very expensive.
I actually like the styling, the weird lines through the headlights and kidneys sorta add some suave.
The car might become a pain in the lower back, but i think it looks and sounds pretty neat.
Much better than oversize grill.
Life's short. If its what you want & makes you happy then it's worth it. I made the same decision swapping from a diesel volvo daily to an audi s4 with the 3l sc v6 and although the mpg is half and my wallet stings after long trips - having something that I go out to in the morning and actually want to get in and drive makes it all worth it.
I myself have an 08 s85 m6 and when I tell you driving it around casually is a real treat but it’d be awesome to see someone like you do a full on in-depth review of the car
I had the 650i version of this car and adored it. Had it chipped as well. V8 and normal auto transmission was fantastic. Had for 5 years and not a single issue. Swapped it for a CLS63 AMG and regretted it. After 2 years went back to the newer 650i
Why would you chip an n/a V8? The gains are so small..
@@jochem1986 agreed but got it done anyway 🤷♂️
As a big BMW guy (and a life long BMW owner) I'd love to see this on the channel!
If you rebuild the engine fix the bearings and the other few wearables and known issues it should be fine for a quite a long time...especially if you look after it properly and change the engine oil much more frequently...like every 15000km max.
Sure it might not be the prettiest BMW out there but it is an interesting looking car and you will never mistake it for something else. Totally unique looking vehicle...and that's always something to admire....well okay maybe not if's a Fiat Multipla...but that's another story from (most likely) another planet.
So yeah. Go for it! I for one would love to see it! And would love to see a proper restoration video especially of that magnificent engine!
15k? Try 5k haha
As an owner of a White M6 2006 for 5 years I can say its a beauty. Drives great, super fast and very comfortable. Rod bearings done.
I have a 2010 M5 with 14K, yes I don't drive it much but when I do I just go to the canyons for spirited driving. It is a blast of a car. They loosen the bearing tolerances on the mains so the bearing issue is not as bad in the later versions. 2010 was the last year.
The thing is, if you can afford a car with high fuel consumption and which might require parts to be replaced, you should definitely buy it. For 10000, you're getting a V10 BMW. Also, the extra money you might spend on buying a brand new car can be spent on the mods or this one.
believe me the extra money saved from not buying a new car will still end up being spent on repairs
@@woah_astro3867 100
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People forgot how to enjoy driving, this car is pure pleasure. Imagine coming back home from work and you just put your foot down and the V10 symphony starts
I'd spend a bit more than 10k on one, that really would be bottom end. Mine has never let me down in 2 years and I'm never going to sell it. Words cannot describe the attachment I have developed for this car. Ive had m2's and various other 4-600bhp cars and this by FAR is the best car I have ever owned. The engine noise is beyond addictive. The SMG gearbox is lovely to drive with in manual. Spend 1.5k on rod bearings if it hasn't already be done, happy days.
Oh fuel is bad tho lol
One of the prettiest cars BMW ever made. And in that colour it looks stunning. Go on you know you want to.
I have a 635d. It's a fantastic daily..
These things are really interesting. I’d love to see you do a series on it
Magnificent. This truly was the best era of modern cars. V10s were all the rage back then
Mike, if you can make it happen, I say go for it! It would make for a fun series of videos, and it would give a V10 the love it deserves. The days of the V10 are severely numbered, and they're only going to become more rare.
Yes a BMW M6 should be the next project car on this channel. I recommend if you get a M6 change the transmission to a 6 speed manual. I am looking forward to seeing more V10 content on this channel.
I would like to see what happens with a M6 project - A year in the life type stuff, the rebuild of course and last but not least the cost of MOT etc. Naturally you will have to do an epic road trip up north as part of it!
got an E64 with a 6 speed. This car has gotten so much better with time. every time i drive it i love it more and more
Everyone that ever passed on owning this car missed out. I don’t think it’ll ever blow up but if it does idgaf at least I didn’t pass on it because I read abt some guy somewhere that spun a rod bearing. I’m not doing my bearings but if I did it’d be abt the cost of a set of tires so the pearl clutching hysteria that surround this car has been fun to watch. So yes, the answer is always yes on this car. It’s just gotta be a stick.
idgaf is the right mindset to have when enjoying any car. Otherwise one can't really afford to enjoy it. But then again these people have no problem paying sticker for a modern "M" car with a turded up series engine and a vacuum cleaner exhaust note that looses more value the moment it's driven off the lot than the entire price of admission for this car.
I really love the shape of this bm, especially the lights and rims. The v10 is also surprising, one might have expected a v8
Yes. Please do the M5 or M6. It would be nice for someone to go over the pitfalls of the engine and how to properly address them. And see if it’s cost effective as well. Thanks
4:50 that transition is gorgeous. Give your editor a pat on the back! (And maybe a christmas honus)
I believe a manual swap is not too tricky to do on these. At least in the E46 M3, the gearbox was the same, and you just have to replace the SMG shifting bits with a manual gear lever. The difficult bit might be sourcing the appropriate pedal box, center console and gear lever, which would be US parts.
I own one of those, same interlagos blue and same grey leather. used it as a daily for 2 years. Paid 30.000 euros for it and warranty company paid 20.000 euros in two years in repairs! worst was hydraulic unit of smg gearbox which was 5000 euros! in normal mode ie 400 hp it is lethargic and fabulous with 500 hp. Perfect for german or polish motorways between 150 and 250 kmh. On B roads it feels huge. And in most countries it is impossible to insure. So I have kept it for special occasions, rest of the time i drive a 135 twinturbo convertible 6 sp manual. It is faster than the M6 in normal driving and a lot more fun, also it drinks 8 l/100 km vs 15 to 25 for the M6. But please buy one you will enjoy it!
I had one, and glad I had the opportunity. 0-60 was 4-1s but it was the sub 10 second 0-100 that really impressed!
Not a fan of BMW as a brand during that era, but their 2 V10 cars are amazing in terms of engineering.
So I owned a pristine 2010 M5, and I purposely wanted the SMG. It fits the purpose of the car better (luxury GT). Like a manual, SMG requires finesse and practice to drive correctly and smoothly.
These are definitely heavy, but absolutely nothing short of a Honda S600 (which I own) or a Lexus LF-A or Carerra GT offers sounds as intoxicating as this engine.
Yes please restore one of those cars. I am sick of seeing different TH-camrs and people ruining them and scrapping them. Calling them basketcases and throwing them away not understanding that the cars are 10+ years old and are now requiring care. Those are wonderful, amazing cars and I would love to see one finally getting the care it deserves.
I owned an E60 M5 a few years ago. As you say in the video, there are many reasons NOT to own an S85 engine with SMG box. But here I am, watching V10 videos and pondering buying another. They are outstanding value compared with the competition. Go for it!
You will have to replace the actuators, the rod bearings, etc etc etc, my dream car though tbh
I dailied my E60 M5 for about 5 years. Still running strong at 164k miles. Its on weekend and roadtrip duty nowadays.
I have 150,000 on mine with original rod bearing. Very reliable. Key is maintenance and warm up the engine before going mental
Have daily driven my E60 M5 6speed for 9 plus years - 165k on the clock - runs just fine... gas is an issue, but all the "don't buy this car bs" simply is not an issue for me at least. Worse thing I need to replace was at 145k, I replaced the rear diff. I do not drift it, do not drag it - and hardly ever 'exceed' the redline. Buy it - Drive it!!
You’re tempting me to buy one lol. I’ve been looking at them for a while now but I know if something somewhat catastrophic happens i probably won’t be able to afford it fix it
I agree. Very reliable vehicle as mine has 150,000 miles with original rod bearing. Barely any issue with it.
Mike, you are still young. Patience will put you in a V10 soon enough, and it will be a special V10 from a unique manufacturer in a sports-built chassis from a reputable company. The BMW is just you not being willing to wait.
It’s lovely but that after market front bumper is straight up disgusting
By the way, If you really try for it. You can get 26mpg on a motorway cruise. Not driving it the way you’re meant to but worth knowing
Used to hate the look of these until a few years ago then I suddenly switched and think they're gorgeous
as long as you're okay with paying thousands to sort out the rod bearings, of course! go for it!
Thousands on everything. This car will cost you thousands and thousands in even regular maintenance
1800 usd installed in many shops. Done it mysfelf. If you buy a well sorted low miles, which are cheap 30k and drop 3k on maintaince the cost of a new civic its actually not bad for a 500 v10. Had my car for 5 years and it has been more reliable that my c6 corvette and other cars in the past..it just takes the proper owner meaning a owner that reads and prevents.
Ohh I feel like crying when someone mentions an m6 and “trips up to Scotland” in the same sentence there is a reason it has such a massive fuel tank!
Been looking at these for a while and I just think without a big budget or sponsor it's too high risk.
The thought of taking this on as a project car really stresses me out! Lol. It's got massive potential, but there's going to be some bad headaches along the way (unless you've already got it planned?) I'd try the Audi V10 out as well and see if it they're more viable and could be tuned up or electronically boosted too
Ah one of my dream cars, Chris Bangle's styling that fails to age even a bit as years progress
Clarkson had the BMW, Hammond was in the 911 and May was in the Aston.
The M6 is a beast! I got to drive one once and the engine note made me shake in the knees. Do it!
One of the most astounding cars ever to exist!
I owned an E60 M5 for 4.5 years after E39 M5 ownership. After the E60 M5 I owned an F10 M5. The E60 M5 is just an Epic car with so much soul and character which the later cars lack even though they have a lot more power. When my SMG pump gave up I decided to converted my E60 M5 to 6 speed manual with OE parts same as North American cars. I have since converted 2 E60 M5 to 6 speed manual in the UK and onother on its way. I loved my E60 M5 both in SMG and 6 speed manual, it has so much soul and character its pretty much irreplaceable with anything else and you should 100% go for it and do a buy.
I prefer the SMG for this car over the manual. All the praise probably comes from people who have never driven an s85 paired with the 6mt. The manual box comes from the 550i. The 550i has an engine with similar torque but like 2000rpm lower redline. The gear spread is far too wide. The car feels lethargic as every upshift drops you off the torque peak. In contrast with the SMG3 it has this frenzied fanatical nature as each next gear slams home barley shorter than the previous.
Pretty sure the manual box was sourced from the e9x 6 speed manual, but maybe the same transmission.
Dude! Please do this car. It’s one of my dream cars. And in the us it’s still at a reasonable price, I hoping to buy one before my 30th birthday
MPG becomes an issue when you have a small gas tank which thus car does.
Had an e60 M5 with lowered suspension. It was epic. Would buy again if only it had a bigger tank.
I love this M6 I grew up kinda around this era and this one in blue is just dream spec for me. I don't even like Bmw that much but this has to be one the best BMWs they made . Yes there would be problems but i low-key wanna own one in the future to see what it's like. So yes buy it
Love the V10.. but to me it more something you going to take to the track so it's been run at the limit then you can really appreciate that beautiful sound track... For a daily drive maybe rather a V8 Jag....or a Lexus like the ISF or GSF
Yes!
Just do it. I want to see this! I'd love an E60 M5 myself.
Buy it! It will have problems, but a v10 in a comfortable car with a great sound track. In years to come, you will be able to remember that sound. I did something similar in 1967, I got the original Prince Skyline GT that was setup to race. Treble twin throat Webbers, 5 speed box, discs all round and race suspension. I used it on the tracks in Australia and on the road. When it broke it cost a fortune to fix. But at 76 years only now, I still remember the sound and it brings a smile. So many of my mates now say, they should have got such-and-such car and they didn't. Just buy it.
That SMG box sounds like a Wilson pre-selecter bus gear box! Go down a gear as you approach a corner and up again on the way out and it will sort itself out, eventually!
Yes, please go the V10 route! I would like to see that!
I'm going to say yes, I daily drive an e63 635d, and with little more than a mild remap and some decent tyres, 3 years into ownership, I still have that look back at the car over the shoulder as you walk away from it.
Torque is for people that don't know how to drive. The S85 is one of the best engines BMW has ever built and it was wonderful to drive in the E60. I owned a brand new one back then for 3 years and loved every second of it.
I’m On a trip in my v10 M6 from 20kms south of Nürnberg to Frankfurt which is 160 miles on an empty Autobahn, I went through a litre of oil and a full tank of petrol 70 litres, drive it like it supposed to be driven and it will eat petrol and anything else you give it, however it was a brilliant car.
It’s “the giant duvet on the back” that puts me off go for the m5 if you must
Feels like daily driving this V10, with its mpg, in the current environmental climate is either silly or wilfully confrontational. Get it as a project and occasional (every other week?) car and you could justify it for the noise alone.
It’s a lovely thing but you shouldn’t use it daily today…
I daily my m5. Not sure what you meant. Very reliable car
You can offset your carbon output. Shouldn't stop you having fun
I daily drive my E60 M5, it's an acquired taste but there is no noise like it. Had 14k miles of totally trouble free motoring last year.. just buy one!
Best engine sound ever!
Love the V10 but in the M5. But knowing BMW and their quirks, I stayed away.. Funny enough I went with an XFR and now deal with Jaguars quirks 😂
I know your feels.
Whatever upgrades you're thinking about doing, don't forget the tow hook. For towing fuel which you will undoubtedly spend while driving around, because that sucker is thirsty.
I would avoide like the plague. Like you said they are cheap for a reason. A Jaguar 5.0 supercharged car will be better and won't cost you a fortune to run. It's also not turbo powered but supercharged.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣jaguar🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
An OK at best, money pit, just for V10 kudos.. the idea of possessing it is almost certainly more exciting than actually having it (like your high-school crush). No one will be able to convince you not to get into it, but as soon as you have it you'll start to look for something else.
I'm stateside and have been debating between the M6 or a 645/650 coupe. And this video just made that decision even more harder lol. I work remote so it would be more of a weekend or intown go getter so to speak and once a month where I have to drive from Kentucky to Nashville, TN for company meetings. My income not a problem. However the problem is finding one that has been reasonably kept up.
Normally I’d say meh, but that front bumper upgrade (Auto Vogue?) totally transforms it 💯
You already can see its a M6(In the thumbnail). I would buy it,if I had cash😂🤣
Rs4 avant v8 4.2 no turbos 8.250 Rev band , 450 hp with mil tech exhaust inlet tweaks delimited hp will be up there and the 200 mph, add dynamic gearbox 4x4, finally the estate back is real handy 👍👍👍👍👍
V10’s are the best-sounding engines
Period
You'll need Richard's new shop to keep it running!
When you go below 15mpg it becomes “Smiles per Gallon” 👍🏻
it's a trade off that has equal value. I agree with Smiles per gallon.
I definitely think you should buy an m6 I personally think that it looks better than the m5 of the same era and you really don’t see them anymore
lol rod bearings are not the only reason they are cheap, you were right about the fuel consumption.. 7-10mpg is about right for around the town. Neighbour had one from new for about 4 years but sold it at 85,000 miles after his service / repair was 14,000 and something else broke shortly afterwards.
i remember choosing this car in need for speed hot pursuit over ten years ago now. oh how time flies.
Yessss 😍❤️ that's my dream car... The E60 M5 actually
By all means do it! But watch out for the rod bearings as you mentioned yourself, and you HAVE to manual convert it though!
Not to mention it was developed during V10 era in F1 when BMW was top PU in F1. This makes it any BMW F1 fans #1 in my opinion. Will appreciate for awhile too
It's solid buy and the big maintenance items (including the bearing replacement) are not too expensive. I would not however daily it. It's a weekend car.
9:11 ABSOLUTELY!!!!! but the first thing to get serviced HAS to be the rod bearings. upgrade it if possible.
You’ve got to get the M6. I own a e90 335i with the N54 and it’s so fun to drive and I’m sure the M6 is even better. Also, the opportunities that come along with BMW ownership are crazy. I got my license a month ago, and I’ve already been featured in a magazine, driven Sebring and gone to car shows. BMW ownership is the best.
It definitely needs an aftermarket front bumper and headlights and it certainly sounds better stroked with headers and exhaust upgrades
The reason the M6 is so light in comparison to the m3 is because during the e6X generation BMW went to extreme lengths to make the bodies lighter. They constructed the cars with the GRAV (Gewichtsreduzierter Aluminium Vorderwagen or weight reduced Aluminium front end) so basically, the whole front structure of the body is made of Aluminium. The 3 Series didn't get that. The goal was to achieve a perfect weight distribution even with the biggest and heaviest engine options.
The SMG changes faster the higher the revs. You have to put it in the fastest mode, and then make the changes on the redline. They are genuinely fast then. Unfortunately what this means is that when you're cruising around at 2,000 RPM the changes are slow and the shift quality is poor. You need to lift the throttle to get a nice change. It's an old tech that only works on the limit but hey. Manual conversion for the win. The rest of the car is terrifyingly old and weak. You're heavily reliant on previous owners looking after them and spending big money on maintenance over several years. Otherwise it WILL be you spending ALL the big money. It's so important to have one with mega history.
Go for it. It will be interesting to find out what you do with it and the running costs. Especially if the engine gets iffy!!!
the gearbox is tuned to shift slowly. you can actually tune the gearbox to shift faster. buy it!
I had an 03 M3 SMG and at the same time a 96C4S + 95C2. I almost got killed twice due to the lag in that SMG while pulling out into traffic....where the porsches would just 'go', the Beemer hesitated to think what I wanted it to do. I wouldn't buy another SMG that had that problem, and yes it was/is a problem. If I were you I would pick up a 6 spd from the USA junkyard and send it over to the UK and install that. THEN you have a great car worthy of what you seek. Just my opinion...
I owned one and put 65,000 miles on it. whatever you buy it for, make sure you've got twice that amount set aside for maintenance!!! Actuators in the almost (but not really) dual clutch trans. Crank bushings which ALWAYS fail at almost exactly 79,000 miles ($7,000 job)!!! $750 spark plug changes! $25 a quart 'special' castrol. Buy a ferrari, the maintenance is way cheaper! :)
I know where there is a E60 M5 touring for sale $40k NZD so roughly £20k now the touring version V10 of this car is a rare beast indeed
Always loved these. Maybe worth doing some work to make it even more appealing, still pretty awesome car for relatively low cost.
These things are fading out fast