Has anyone owned an M5 and an E63 AMG?

[millo777]

It may come down to finding a suitable non trashed example of either, especially if you're buying outside of the approved used dealership stock.

I doubt you'd be diappointed with either, so the main decision is which you prefer looks wise I reckon.

Having lived over there for 4 years, I can only remember one decent road in the whole of the UAE to take a car for a blast which is the hill up to Jebel Hafeet. Other than that there are some interesting roads over in the Musandam area of Oman, but thats a bit far for a Friday morning thrash. So without any nice country lanes and twisties, a comfortable cruiser is what you want. Get yourself an S65.

The fastest cars in the UAE are the ones that can take speed humps the fastest. Those feckin speed humps are eveywhere, and getting bigger every year. It's funny to see a lambo or mincing over speed humps at 1mph while in a 4x4 you can float past at 60kmph without slowing down. Theres a reson the and Cayenne Turbo are like house wine in the UAE.

If you haven't already been using a rental car, make sure you do before you buy a nice car for yourself. I don't know anybody that drives in Dubai that hasn't had a prang, so best to do it in a rental. The fact that sat nav doesn't work, the road network is changing daily, getting used to a wrong hand drive and the mental driving in general always leads to a few knocks.

Needless to say get anything you buy thoroughly inspected. People tend to abuse cars somewhat out there.

When driving, avoid for the sake of your life Landcruisers with Abu Dhabi plates and Nissan Sunny's with Sharjah plates. Either is capable of causing death and road chaos at any moment!

 

[James Rothwell]

That's very true, there aren't many of either for sale and like you say finding a good example of one isn't an easy job.

Funny you should mention Jebel Hafeet, I was there on Friday with some friends, had a nice ride up and down in some nice cars but none of my friends have an AMG of any flavour, still the M6 and 997 Turbo entertained me enough. I also went to Kalba a while ago and the roads there are nice but a little rough.

I think getting something that is powerful but a little soft is the right thing to do, I'd love an S65 but I can't afford to spend that much!

The roadworks isn't so bad here now as it was 4 years ago when I first started coming here, so much has changed. Apart from The Springs which has a totally inordinate amount of speed bumps the rest of the places I tend to go are free from them and where I'm living has no speed bumps either. Oh apart from JLT that's still littered with speed bumps but mostly because it's still a construction site.

I'm not worried about LHD at all since I've driven LHD in driving on the right countries before, the driving standard however is hilariously poor it makes the Bulgarians look good.

I'm going to steer clear of any US imports and hopefully I'll find a nice one that hasn't been battered or thrashed too much. Luckily most of the GCC spec'd ones come with most of the options ticked.

Haha oh yes, any car with a low numbered plate has a right of way and as for the Sharjah plated Tiidas, Yaris', and Sunnys, I give them a wide berth since they love to do really stupid things whilst driving.

I think this has made up my mind, assuming I can find a nice one I shall try and hunt down an E63 AMG, I'll look for a 2008 but try to find a 2009 as I'd like the newer comand system.

 

[gIzzE]

I have driven the M5 loads, great car for what it is, really does shrink around you in a way that defies logic, the acceleration is brutal and in S6 mode the gearchanges are like a sledge hammer in your back, the whole thing is just immense.
Switch it over to comfort mode (set up as you like in idrive) and it almost becomes the perfect cruiser.

Almost?
Well the SMG gearbox that is what makes the car for me when you're in attack mode then ruins it completely as an every day driver. Don't get me wrong I like SMG and had it in my M3 and CSL, but for some reason in the M5 it doesn't work right for me, I would buy an M5 because of the times I want a motorway mile muncher as well, and that 'box ruins that.
The other thing is range, I got 180 miles out of the first tank and 190 out of the second, it likes to drink but also has a crap tank size.
I am so pleased I got to test it over a 2 days as I would have sold it straight away.


The E63 does feel as sharp, but just seems to be a better all round package.
Just as quick, still incredibly nimble, sounds nicer, and does the motorway thing too.


The one I would take though is an Alpina B5, that combines the best bits of the M5 and the E63 and gives you everything.


Sytner Coventry : ALPINA SALOON B5 V8 Switch-tronic

Ignore the wood, replaced for peanuts.........

W SPECIALIST CARS LTD : BMW ALPINA BMW ALPINA B5 SWITCH-TRONIC

They did a B5s too, 2008 on, but they don't come up for sale often, but then when you have a car like that which does the sprint to 60 in just over 4 seconds and will hit 200mph while carrying the family in complete comfort and will return an average of 24mpg for most owners what would you swap it for??

There are half a dozen estates made, I look on Pistonheads every week to see if one is for sale.

 

[Setanta]

AMG CL73, CL70, S60, S70.....

Mad to consider anything else when they are available over there.

 

[gIzzE]

What is your budget?

Some CL AMGs at a great prices now as Setanta says.

 

[James Rothwell]

AMG CL73, CL70, S60, S70.....

Mad to consider anything else when they are available over there.

They are some pretty rare beasts!!

What is your budget?

Some CL AMGs at a great prices now as Setanta says.

My budget is around 150,000AED and up to 200,000AED at a push if it's newer or has lots less KM.

Something like this -
Dubizzle.com | E-Class: 2007 E63 AMG 507HP - PERFECT CONDITION, CHEAPEST IN MARKET.

If it's still around in a week or so, once I've got everything sorted I think I shall go and have a look at it and see what I think. M5s are usually a little cheaper.

Some strong points for the M5 here which is interesting to read.

Oh and Setanta, I miss my old W140 so much I fully intend to get myself one here and make it absolutely immaculate...

Dubizzle.com | S-Class: Mercedes S600 L V12 1998 Navy Blue Japan import=

 

[gIzzE]

Interior might be a bit 'Dubai' but well worth a look.

Alpina B6

 

[James Rothwell]

That doesn't look too bad, but I'm after a 4 door saloon. My friend used to have an Alpina B5 before he got his M6 and he did say it was a nice car but almost impossible to sell once he was bored with it.

 

[John]

but almost impossible to sell once he was bored with it.

This was my experience with a B10 V8 (predecessor to the B5).

...and insuring it too was not fun. "Is it a BMW M5 B10?".



A lot of people have no idea what they are.

The only saving grace is that facelift 2007/2008 B5S onwards are rare which could be good for selling - but come at a premium because of that.

Personally, I would stick with the E63 idea...

 

[gIzzE]

If I could have any car in the world bought for me, but only own one car, I would have an E63 estate, I love them, they are stupid fast, sound like thunder, very practical and look very normal, a real Q Car....

Perfect!


However, the Alpina was more of a suggestion as an alternative for an M5, M5 is great but as a second car imho, and then if it is a second car you may as well get an M3.

 

[millo777]

There was 2 S60 AMGs on Dubizzle recently, and if you spend a day looking around the Al aweer used car area, then nip over to sharjah for the same you'll see plenty of examples of what you're looking for. If you don't, ask at some specialist dealers and they'll find it for you.

Welcome to Al-Balawi Used Cars specialise in importing Mercedes from Japan and can usually source almost anything. Thats where I got my S72 AMG when I lived there.

 

[James Rothwell]

Funny you should mention an S72 AMG, there was one for sale fairly recently. It looked a lovely car. Also recently there was a really clean W124 500E for sale.

When did you leave Dubai?

 

[millo777]

Almost exactly a year ago, got back to blighty 1st april last year. I'd been living there 4 years but back and forth since 1997, so know the place fairly well, along with all it's madness and frustrations. As I'm sure you've already experienced that it changes so quickly, new buildings appear, new road layouts etc etc

I'm sure I'll end up back there within the next few years. Paying tax, NI, pension frankly sucks a huge amount when you're not used to it. Not to mention everything seems cheaper over there, apart from booze. Have you got a liquer license yet, or still bootlegging it from the Baracuda in UAQ? everyone does in their first few months!

You know what I frequently miss the most? the hand car washes at the eppco stations! nowehere in the UK has hand car washes with ramps so they can clean the underside of the car. And they all close early here. I used to go and get my car washed at the gas station next to Ibn Battuta mall at 3am when there was no queue......

One final point, in case you've never bought a car in Dubai before....if you're paying using a car loan you have to check whether there is an existing loan on the car first. In typically Dubai fashion, you can't get a loan approved until the bank has proof the car doesn't have outstanding finance...and of course the person you're buying from can't pay his loan off until you've paid him. Catch 22. For this reason it's sometimes easier to get a personal loan so you have cash, but it'll cost you a bit more in interest points. This also makes it much easier to sell the car later on for the same reason. This is the reason so many people abandoned cars and fled when they found themselves out of work. They simply couldn't sell them.

The w140 still has a very good rep out there, much like Russia, it was the top MB model when the place really started growing and people started making real money so it was a status symbol car. One of the top bods in Dubai police collects w140s and r129s and has an awesome garage of about 20 rare AMG cars form that period. Nice guy as well. I had several Emiratis flag me down and offer me cash for the S600 I imported back to the UK, and I sold the S72 in the same way, at the petrol station just before the Palm Jumeriah turnoff (the one with the 24hr Burger King)! Happy days!

 

[amokwa]

Funny you should mention an S72 AMG, there was one for sale fairly recently. It looked a lovely car. Also recently there was a really clean W124 500E for sale.

When did you leave Dubai?

I worked in Riyadh a few years ago and was sorely tempted by a W124 500E and a silver W124 400E at the car souk !

From my experience with the heat and dust in the region I would plump for the AMG.

 

[James Rothwell]

Almost exactly a year ago, got back to blighty 1st april last year. I'd been living there 4 years but back and forth since 1997, so know the place fairly well, along with all it's madness and frustrations. As I'm sure you've already experienced that it changes so quickly, new buildings appear, new road layouts etc etc

I'm sure I'll end up back there within the next few years. Paying tax, NI, pension frankly sucks a huge amount when you're not used to it. Not to mention everything seems cheaper over there, apart from booze. Have you got a liquer license yet, or still bootlegging it from the Baracuda in UAQ? everyone does in their first few months!

You know what I frequently miss the most? the hand car washes at the eppco stations! nowehere in the UK has hand car washes with ramps so they can clean the underside of the car. And they all close early here. I used to go and get my car washed at the gas station next to Ibn Battuta mall at 3am when there was no queue......

One final point, in case you've never bought a car in Dubai before....if you're paying using a car loan you have to check whether there is an existing loan on the car first. In typically Dubai fashion, you can't get a loan approved until the bank has proof the car doesn't have outstanding finance...and of course the person you're buying from can't pay his loan off until you've paid him. Catch 22. For this reason it's sometimes easier to get a personal loan so you have cash, but it'll cost you a bit more in interest points. This also makes it much easier to sell the car later on for the same reason. This is the reason so many people abandoned cars and fled when they found themselves out of work. They simply couldn't sell them.

The w140 still has a very good rep out there, much like Russia, it was the top MB model when the place really started growing and people started making real money so it was a status symbol car. One of the top bods in Dubai police collects w140s and r129s and has an awesome garage of about 20 rare AMG cars form that period. Nice guy as well. I had several Emiratis flag me down and offer me cash for the S600 I imported back to the UK, and I sold the S72 in the same way, at the petrol station just before the Palm Jumeriah turnoff (the one with the 24hr Burger King)! Happy days!

I think everything seems cheaper over here because it takes a shorter time to earn the money to buy the item, plus not paying loads of tax every month is rather nice touch.

Nope, I haven't got my own license. Went to UAQ in December and stocked up and am only just starting to run out. My parents live here and they've been here for years, they've got a license if I want to get some locally.

Yeah I know what you mean, I think the customer service here is pretty good and I like how everything is open nearly all of the time.

I've seen a fair number of W140 & C140 in Dubai, there are loads in Al Ain though. Also seen more than I thought I would in Doha too, I think the W140 is popular in this entire region, even my Kuwaiti friend who comes to Dubai every weekend really rates it and says that in Kuwait it's more prestigious to have a immaculate W140 LWB than a W220.

Thanks for the tip on the banks, their system is rather a bit old fashioned compared to the UK. I'm going to stick with a normal personal loan anyway but what nobody seems to be able to tell me is if I can pay chunks of the outstanding amount early and reduce the term. I know you can settle it early in full but what if I want to pay 30k off early or something, nobody seems to know. I guess I can just leave it in an account until I can afford to pay it off in full.

I worked in Riyadh a few years ago and was sorely tempted by a W124 500E and a silver W124 400E at the car souk !

From my experience with the heat and dust in the region I would plump for the AMG.

I really love the 500E, if it was possible I think I'd have the E63 AMG as a daily driver and a W140 S600L, W124 500E, and a W126 560SEL in the garage for gentle drives out and I think over time they'd gain value anyway.

Just heard my visa is finally ready so I'm going to head to Deira and collect it and then get my medical, sort out an account with a bank and visit the idiots at the RTA office and get my license swapped over, wish me luck!!

 

[millo777]

Best RTA office to get your driving license is in Jumeirah Plaza mall. It's always empty.

Easy answer to the loan question is no you won't be able to pay chunks off and reduce the term. The most reasonable/forward thinking bank is RAK bank, but in essence they're all as bad as each other.

Good luck with the E63/M5 dilemma. Thats a dilemma most people would like to have!

btw, buy that S72 on Dubizzle! is only 48k aed.