l am considering buying a used 2000 M5, with 114,000 miles, for around $15,000. Can anyone tell me some things about this car, from personal experience? l have never owned a 5 series, but have owned two 3 series... Any info would be helpful!
l would like to know if there are any little problems, (annoyances etc... ). Having owned some bimmers before, l know about the prices, but how is the comfort of the ride, handling, annoying stereo knobs... the little things and past experiances would be helpful!
Price is low because it is a family member...
Well, if someone hands me a $4000 bill for the exhaust, I'd just cut it off and run straight pipes! (No emission in my hometown!)

What do you need to know? 400 horsepower V8, room for 5, seems like the perfect car. Not too many problems with that model car but price seems a little low. Make sure you get it checked out and the engine compression tested. Remember parts will be about 5 times the cost of a regular BMW. But l know people who daily drive their cars and aside from routine maintenance, the car stays happy.

You have nothing to worry about quirks and such if you are already familiar with BMW cars. The M5 built on the E39 platform is one of the best if not the best cars BMW ever built.
What you have to worrry about is how the car was used and maintained during the past years. Have a BMW mechanic look at it just like you would on any other car.
Base your buying decision on the car is condition and not because it is cheap or coming from a family member.

No brainer - solid rocket sled on wheels (for what seems like a killer deal). l agree with the two previous contributers. However, the 8-cylinder E39s (540i & M5) r known for catalitic convertor problems. VERY expensive catalitic convertor problems.

The early E39s had rounded-eded cats & tended to clog - totally at random. The time bomb starts to tick around 60K miles. Mid way through the E39 generation, BMW switched to a squared-edged design that all reports seems to say is worry-free.

Put the car up on a lift. If the cats r curved/oval looking, then plan for $4,000 somewhere down the road. If they're boxy & square, you're good to go.

Even if u do have to replace the cats, you're getting a serious machine for a great price. Go for it!

UPDATE - unfortunately, if the cats go, that will cause an error in the OBD I l system (O2 sensors aft of the cats will read error). Speak with a knowlegeable mechanic - depending on where the car was originally titled, u may not have an issue if ur car does not have a downstream sensor. Again. either way - I'd jump on the deal (you lucky #&%*).