Need feedback on E60 M5

Redd wrote

Finally went to test drive an E60 M5. As expected the V10 dominates the experience. I've never driven a more Jeckyl & Hyde car - in 400hp mode and D2, the car is so lazy. Engine is slow to respond, upshifts take an eternity. Press the M Button to engage 500hp and S5 however, and it's like the you've just unleashed the hounds of hell under the hood. The difference is night and day. The car I drove had a Hartge exhaust and sounded great, but surprisingly not as huge of a difference compared to my FBO M3. I guess you really need straight pipes to hear the V10 scream.

In the end tho, the S85 wasn't enough of a difference over the S65 for me to justify a purchase. Steering feel was much more numb than the M3. EDC I felt didn't gel with the car - it was either way too wallowy in Comfort or way too overdamped in Sport. Coming from DCT, the SMG really does show its age. You need to really have it in S5 and full throttle upshifts to get any smoothness out of it but that's what I have the M3 for. So as a cruiser, the M5 is slightly flawed. The thing that got me the most tho, was the size and weight of the car. I didn't expect the near 2 ton weight to bother me so much but it did. I guess I'm just not a fan of big cars.

Stepping out from the M5 back into my M3, I felt that the M3 was so much easier to drive. No need to fidget with M buttons to get the engine response you want; perfect damping from the Ohlins R/T; and just basically a smaller and more nimble package. I know it's not fair to compare a stock M5 to a built M3, but I know if both were in my garage I would drive the M3 99% of the time. If used as a 2nd car, the M5 isn't a car you can neglect for long periods of time and then just start it and drive and not expect any issues.

I really wanted to like the E60 M5, I truly did. It was even a near perfect used unit too - MY2007 with 110k kms, Sepang Bronze with red extended leather and every option checked. Full service history and all maintenance done with solenoids, coils, dampers, and new engine and gearbox all within the last one year. But I guess I was just too spoiled by my M3.

Guess I'll look at R8's for my V10 fix.

pbonsalb wrote

DCT conversion. They have been put in many cars.

Redd wrote

Recently I've been thinking about getting an E60 M5 to keep the M3 company. I love the S65 to bits but I've done enough mods to the M3 that it's become borderline 'hardcore' - amazing fun to drive in the hills or track, but just a little bit tiring for daily use. So I thought of getting an M5 V10 for the days when I want a bit more lux motoring. The M3 will still be my main daily, and the M5 will be there for when I feel like a change of scenery.

I've looking for anyone who has owned an E60 M5 to share their experience. Even better if they have owned it at the same time as the E9x M3. For the M5, I would be looking for a MY2007+ and will be keeping it stock standard (fingers and toes crossed).

The specific questions I have are:
1. Is the E60 M5 similar enough to the E9x M3 that I would be silly to get two cars that are basically the same driving experience?

2. I'm not too worried about throttle actuators, rod bearings or SMG3, but VANOS failure concerns me. I know they updated the VANOS pump in MY2007+. Is the new VANOS pump basically bulletproof, or does it still fail but at a lower rate?

3. How many miles should I expect from the SMG3 clutch?

Any advice/feedback will be appreciated.