Parts availability for E39 M5 - what's the status?

[Casa de Mesa]

I'm getting more serious about finding a project E39 M5 to eventually become my daily. However ever since reading this post (quoted just below) I'm a tad gun shy:

Part support is the main reason I'm selling our e39 M5. It's getting sketchy out there.

I'm not really sure why they're doing it. A friend of mine that works for BMWNA told me that parts is ~25% of their revenue, and more of profit. Do they think people are going to buy new BMWs if part support dries up for the old ones? I know nothing they make today interests me in the slightest, so they'll just lose my parts money if they stop making parts.

... at least they sold a shit ton of e46 M3s, so for most things there will likely be an aftermarket solution.

From the google machine, it's telling me that the plastic bits are the harder parts to find but the mechanical stuff is pretty much still available. Searching this site for via Google turns up a minefield of posts from people with "E39 M5" in their sig lines but nothing on the topic.

So what's the skinny? Are parts harder to find than with the E46 M3 chassis? Or are they on par?

If this needs to be moved into another sub-forum, please do. Wasn't quite sure where to post this topic...

-Casa

[Tbonem3]

My friend just restored a e39 m5 this year, I don't think he had too much trouble finding parts. You may have to "settle" for used/refinished parts sometimes instead of factory fresh maybe.

I'd say go for it, one of the best cars ever made. I'd be searching for one too, but the e90M fills that spot for me.

[Slideways]

20k E39 M5 ever made

57k E9X M3 ever made

You'll have better luck finding parts for the E90 M3 - the better M5

[Obioban]

I miss my e39 M5.

… and remain convinced that the e39 530i with manual is the best overall car ever made. Kind of want to build one with an s54/420g.

[Obioban]

My friend just restored a e39 m5 this year, I don't think he had too much trouble finding parts. You may have to "settle" for used/refinished parts sometimes instead of factory fresh maybe.

I'd say go for it, one of the best cars ever made. I'd be searching for one too, but the e90M fills that spot for me.

Used parts are a necessity at this point— Clemster is almost single-handedly keeping the platform viable.

[Tbonem3]

I miss my e39 M5.

… and remain convinced that the e39 530i with manual is the best overall car ever made. Kind of want to build one with an s54/420g.

I can't see the s54 suiting it though can you? S54 is so fkn manic. Seems like the m5x/n52 is closer to s62 which is in the e39 m5 and suits e39 well.

Is an s62 into a 530i a non starter when the m5 exists?

[TexaZ3]

New OE parts are getting more and more expensive. I'd say a good number still available, just not cheap. Some are NLA. But like with everything in car world - there are used parts and there are newly made parts. E39 is not nearly as bad as E34 or E31.
E39Ms are awesome. Love mine to bits.

[Casa de Mesa]

Thanks for this fellas, it helps a lot. I've worked my way through buyers guides but as we all know, sometimes those don't tell the full story and none of them address parts availability well. Examples below:

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a32599416/bmw-e39-m5-buyers-guide/

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/e39-bmw-m5-buyers-guide/

https://www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/buying-guides/buying-guide-bmw-m5-e39-1998-2003/

https://www.m5board.com/threads/m5-common-problems-and-running-costs.56642/

For those that own/have owned these, are there any jobs that aren't doable at home?

For example, it seems the double Vanos units on these go bad, and rebuilding them require specialized tools. But admittedly, I haven't yet gone down the many disparate rabbit holes on each topic - Vanos, subframe mounts, spark plug replacement (ITBs in the way), etc. - to understand if these are truly not DIY or are things that should be avoided by the first time mechanic but are otherwise doable for the somewhat-competent.

Re: a new M car, I've considered an E90 M3 (in part because of the incredible find you got Tbonem3). It's on the list.

My college roommate's father had a 540i M-Sport that at the time, was just such an epic car to me (except for his auto transmission spec). The E39, much like the E46, has always been a special car. I may end up rolling the dice.

TexaZ3 what year is yours? That is one beautiful car.

[TexaZ3]

Casa de Mesa Mine is a 2000, the only pre-LCI model year for USA. You can tell by the headlights that don't have the silly angel eyes - the only way I'd have it as I can't stand the halos.

I had this since 2017, and it has been incredibly reliable. I've done a lot of maintenance on it, and EVERYTHING I was able to DIY. M5board is choke full of information and very knowledgeable people on every topic of E39, similar to what we have here for E46 and what old M3F used to be. They are also somewhat similar cars from the technical standpoint.

Vanos units are mostly bulletproof, some need re-soldering board contacts, but S62 motor won't grenade if your Vanos fails. No rod bearing issues, no subframe issues, no gearbox issues with these cars. The only even remotely similar problem with these motors is timing chain guides, but these will give you ample warnings before failing, and most failures happen on cars 150k and over.

Again, they are fantastic cars, I personally consider E39M one of those quintessential BMWs and a forever car for me.

[George Hill]

Parts are still available mostly available. There are odds and ends that can be an issue but not the end of the world to find used. Adam/Clemster from the M5Board is a great resource for used parts as well.

The biggest thing is everything is just getting so expensive. As an example the expansion tanks yellow, they don't seem to fail, they just get ugly. The tank 2-3yrs ago was something like $140 retail, now its around $350.

[01SG]

Casa de Mesa

No rod bearing issues, no subframe issues, no gearbox issues with these cars. The only even remotely similar problem with these motors is timing chain guides, but these will give you ample warnings before failing, and most failures happen on cars 150k and over.

Doesn't the M5 use the same 420g as the M3? Not that I believe it's prone to problems, quite the contrary.

If the timing chain guide issue is the same as the 540, mine only let go after 200,000 miles and didn't even bend the valves. Was able to get it going again, although the job is about as big a nightmare as you can imagine.

[EthanolTurbo]

One of the all time greatest cars ever. That being said, the E90 M3 has better parts availability and is easier to deal with overall. The M5 feels a lot different, the torque is awesome as is the styling and overall feel.

[repoman89]

There isn’t much that’s impossible to get, but a lot of stuff is quite expensive. Here are a few examples with prices from memory:

Front underbody plastic engine cover: $460
Underbody transmission cover: $400 (just bought both of these)
Front “pork chops”: $700 each!! (Buy the $150 Ukrainian eBay ones)
Rear swing arms: $750 each, bushings not available separately without custom work
Timing chain guides: parts approaching $2000 and probably worth buying to hoard. They go in and out of stock

The stock brakes don’t feel that great — E65 MC upgrade highly recommended, and I just spent close to $8k on Brembo GTs to go one step further. The steering is nowhere near E46 quality but not bad with fully refreshed linkage and monoballs in the front thrust arms, and with the servotronic assist lowered IMO. The engine is complicated to work on and there’s a lot less space in the engine bay. The car feels more different to drive than an E46 M3 than one would expect.

The car is just bad ass and exudes class if it’s clean. It’s an amazing complement to an E46 and IMO well worth owning despite the expensive parts. Prices on them are down significantly so up front savings vs a couple years ago should help. I’ve owned mine for five years and spent most of that time swapping my M3 and M5 between my one car garage and a storage unit. Whenever the M5 was stored I almost always found myself wishing that was the car in the garage — so sadly my M3 has been sold.

Random recent pic of mine used appropriately: road trip dog and bike transporter

[bmwfnatic]

I own one, currently doing a bit of an interior restoration on mine, parts availability is starting to annoy me, especially little plastic pieces, or for example some A pilar trim, nope. While on the E46 nearly everything is still available.

But in terms of maintenance items, parts really aren’t a problem.

Pretty much everything on this car can be DIY, VANOS included. It’s very similar to the S54.

Unpopular opinion ahead, I would like to add one thing, even though I might get hate for it.

I bought this car because of what other people have said about it, about it being the best car/M5 ever. I have to disagree, I also own a manual E60 and I find myself picking it nearly every time over the E39, except for looks maybe.

[Mystic3]

Just a quick word to those that it might help I have 530 driver side door panels some window glass and various other door parts and a staggered set of style 65 Wheels that I no longer have use for