How do you justify buying an e28 M5? (longish) (archive)

First off let me say that I love the e28 M5. My dad bought one new in '88. It came with the ellipsoid headlights and 17" gold BBS wheels. Anyway, I turned 16 in 1990, and he would let me drive the car fairly regularly. I even took it to my Junior prom. He's a cool guy my dad. He sold the car in '93 with about 20K on it.

As a result of experiencing the M5 right out of the gate I have come to define what a sweet car is by how well it reminds me of my dads '88 M5. He has a Porsche 993 C4 Cabriolet now, and it just does not seem as fast (it is though...don't worry:-)

So having been scarred by this car I have decided that I ought to just buy one of the damn things. Here's where the trouble comes in. I cannot fully justify it. My thought process goes something like this...

Okay so I can buy an M5 with 130K-150K for ~$10K, but if/when the engine dies well a rebuilt one from a dealer is $13K!! Plus labor! Boom I have close to $25K in a 14 year old car with close to 200K miles on it. Hmm mabye I should just get a '95< M3 for the $25K in the first place. Then I could buy an extended warranty if I want. It's faster, newer, as good looking in it's own way. I'm sure I can get a 3.0l M3 engine for a hell of a lot less than $13K. Hey what about an S4? It's about as fast. I could get one of those w ~100K for around $14K, cheaper parts, AWD (it snows in Colorado), greater parts availability. Or hey how about I buy a GTI VR6 and supercharge it. I could probably pull that off for around $10K. 250hp in that light little car. I bet it'd be faster than the M5. And used VR6 engines are like $2500. Or I could spring for a lower mileage M5 and spend $15K-$16K. But it still feels like a time bomb, and at $15K-$16K, we're approaching M3 territory again.

So how do you all justify ownership? Is there a rational way to buy one or do you have to do it out of love? How do you make it work on paper? I already know the esthetic value of the car, and how I love it's soul. But really how long will the M5 engine hold out? And what will it cost to rebuild it? Who rebuilds them? What's the highest mileage seen on a non-rebuilt engine? Thanks for any responses and opinions.

Cory

Follow Ups:

Rebuild from dealer? Buy yourself a Ford Contour Ya Weenie! 16:04 3/23/2001 (1)
- Ah, that feels better... but seriously... JakeS 16:12 3/23/2001 (0)
there is no justification johnh 10:36 3/21/2001 (0)
You don't really want a VR6...I had two Josh 21:31 3/20/2001 (1)
- Re: You don't really want a VR6...I had two Cory Zumbrennen 03:15 3/21/2001 (0)
Re: Consider KennyG 20:05 3/20/2001 (1)
- Re: Consider Cory Zumbrennen 03:18 3/21/2001 (0)
It seems to me... Murray Cotter 10:04 3/20/2001 (1)
- Re: It seems to me... Cory Zumbrennen 03:26 3/21/2001 (0)
Money should play no part!! JamesM 09:53 3/20/2001 (3)
- Re: Money should play no part!! Cory Zumbrennen 03:34 3/21/2001 (2)
  - Shoot, you could rebuild the engine easily... JamesM 10:40 3/21/2001 (1)
    - Thanks for the links! Excellent! Punk Ass Sponge 23:24 3/25/2001 (0)
Mr. Bitter has some advice for Cory Cappy 08:47 3/20/2001 (2)
- Re: Mr. Bitter has some advice for Cory Cory Zumbrennen 03:42 3/21/2001 (1)
  - Get a job, buy your own car you punk-ass sponge. nt 10:38 3/23/2001 (0)

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