Be patient, keep lookin, you'll find a better one, there's tons out there right now and they seem to be dipping in $$$, I really dont think it gets better than this car for the $$$, this should be my next car as well,
With headers+full exhaust, ECU upgrade, intake, pullies they're putting
375-395 rwhp.
check out M5board.com tons of info on there.

 

agree, that's pretty much my take as well, that's part of the reasons why we dropped the m5 idea. we can probably afford to have it as an "extra" car, but not daily driver for sure

 

Don't expect an ownership experience like a Camry. They are high performance cars. At this point, all of their faults are pretty well known and you don't have to bow to dealer to have them fixed. The key to an //M car is to spend the money on maintenance to avoid the unexpected. If you aren't willing to do that, don't buy one.

Even my old E34 with the stock suspension was amazing, just totally composed and unflappable. A bit too soft for my track work which is why I swapped it out.

There are cars out there with 400hp but not for the price of the E39 and not with multiple throttle bodies. :-) That is what allows them to pull so hard at high rpm and what makes them so responsive. The CTS-V is worth having a look at but they have some issues as well (failing differentials).

I have driven an E39 M5 and what I liked was that it was like a 540i/6 while driving around town but a beast when you wanted it to be.

 

Even if the car is no longer under warranty?