Sure we can chat. It's still at the shop and I want to get it detailed next.

It's not black per say. It's a reallllllly dark blue. I can pos more pics after the detail.

You do need to set aside a yearly maintenance budget. It's always something with these.

I'll try and pull my receipts for the last say 2y and list what's been done here.

Yep (if I'm remembering correctly also :))

Yep. Looked it up. Some differences in the rack vs. the 540, supposedly.

East/west coast is no problem . . . I am still unemployed, I'd be more than happy to fly out and bring it home for anyone!

Kevin, I swore back in the 80's I'd never own a black car again . . . . I miss my black S4

It's not black!!! Lol

I think the maintenance thing is overblown. My M5 was very reliable, never left me stranded. It wasn't cheap, but it wasn't out of normal w/ my other BMWs.

Both my e39 540 wagon and my e60 535xiT cost a lot more to maintain. I've read the regular 540 v8 is less reliable and needs more then the S62 in the M5.

If Kevin is comfortable with the maintenance requirements of his e38s, He should be fine with an M5 (especially w/ the maintenance Theo has already done.

Low mileage ones are starting to sell for a lot. They haven't depreciated at all in the last few years from what I've seen.

Lol

But why does your add say Carbon Black?

Because "Carbon Black" is German for "Really Dark Metallic Blue." :dunno:

Man, I love those wheels. They'd look pretty weird on a non-E39, but they're easily the best wheels you can get for that platform.

Items that have been addressed in the last 2-3 years. Some of which was covered by the extended warranty until it ran out.

In the shop now:

- New power steering pump
- New rear bushings
- New value cover gaskets
- New power steering lines
- New washer fluid reservoir
- New vanos sensors

Older:

- New radiator
- New AC compressor
- 3 new window regulators - Waiting for the 4th to act up - Driver rear door
- New brakes - Rotors, Pads Sensors
- New driver’s door mirror - The folding motor went south and you can ONLY get the entire mirror as one piece and not just the folding motor - Do not ask how much GRRRR
- New throttle bank position sensors
- New throttle actuator
- New fuel tank breather
- New Thermostat
- New front control arms
- New front control arms bushings
- New Guibo
- Had all 4 rims professionally refinished
- New driveshaft center support - The noise coming from this was SO annoying
- New airbag control unit - Not because they ever deployed - This module buried in the center counsel just decided to go south - =\
- Also had both front and rear bumpers repainted - Front bumper got a full clear bra - The rear was done because of slow impact damage from the prior owner that finally got to me enough to have it re-sprayed.
- Fixed the leaky rear view mirror issue that plagues all of the M cars.
- Two new OEM fog lights - I had aftermarket Xenon items in there and I wanted to return to stock for the sale


Also to note but not done within the last 3y. There are other repair items older than 3y but maybe not as relevant at this point.

- New clutch and pressure plate at about 68K miles.
- The prior owner had the dash panel replaced for some dead pixels. They are all in working order still at this point
- I also just got the very last DVD maps BMW is going to make for this series nav. 2015
- Installed an Aux out cord in the glove box. 2003 was the first year this was possible with the stock head unit.
- Also added this custom cup holder as the stock ones are useless - I replaced the entire stock unit around 2010 when they broke and stayed permanently open - After I replaced the unit I never opened them again.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/1223848...&ul_noapp=true

If I remember more I will add to the list later.

Near term concerns if any (These were on my near term list if I kept the car)

- Still has the original water pump
- Still running the original struts and shocks
- The fourth window regulator as mentioned above - It's working fine but based on replacing the other three in the last 11 months it sounds like a ticking time bomb