I currently I have a 03 M5 and am considering getting a lightly modded 996TT sometime in the near future. In terms of reliability, the M5 has been pretty good over my 4 years of ownership. As the car is getting older things are coming up but it's not breakin the wallet yet. Since I will be looking for a 01-02 TT can I expect the same cost of maintenance and upkeep as the M5 or will it be substantially more(not talking about tires & insurance)? The car will be a light daily driver with about 5k miles a year. Thanks for the input.

 

I have had my car for over 6 years and have only changed to oil and had to fix the ignition swithc once. Other than that is has had no issues at all. I was modded at 500 crank hp for years and the last 2 at almost 600 crank and still no issues. My car is a tip and no problems at all. I do think that if you mod beyond 500 crank hp you will start wearing the clutch in a stick. Easily upgraded but not that cheap. If in stock or lightly modded form they really are bullet proof. Enjoy

 

How many miles on the M5? Up until I hit 100k on the odometer it hasn't cost much to maintain but in the last 14k I've been doing some upkeep ie, changed all cps, thrust arm busings, thermostat, rear diff seals and bank one vanos solenoid. I do love the M and will keep her a lot longer.

The p-car is flashed and a set of coilovers. I have had to change the head light switch, clutch slave acumulator and a tappet solenoid bracket to date. I have 58k miles, with the stock clutch on it now and feel like it is very reliable. I do think that the car in stock form, shocks, is a good daily driver. Just my .02

 

We've had a couple of Bimmers in the family, and of course I've got my 996TT. What's odd is that i'll not think twice about working on the Porsche. Yet every BMW I've had has seemed more complex to work on than any job I've done on my P-car.

Mike

 

I've got around 58k on the M5 with the inspection 2 just done(under warranty, whew) and now I have a SES that doesn't want to dissapear. It seems like changing the thermostat is the next step. I'm just wondering if I should expect issues like this to come up where,

-problem occurs
-run code reader to find out problem
-research on internet on what code means and what needs to be done
-either do work myself(not likely) or take it to a mechanic to fix.
-6 months later repeat steps

 

Its as reliable as a wood burning stove - especially the 996TT. Drive mine every day - through all weather, snow, temps. Doesn't matter. The car is a blast in the snow. Literally a tank. 62k miles, stonger than ever.....I don't miss a service, oil change. Not the cheapest car to fix, but you don't have to fix them all that often. IMO.....BTW - if my wife would let me, my third car would be an E39 M5. Love that car ever since seeing in 5th gear with Tiff some 10 years ago...

 

I had an E39 and it was not so reliable. However I did have a Dinan S2 on it. Had Valve Cover Gaskets like 3,4 times. Failed fuel pump, Vanos went out, clutch wore out etc.

From all of the people that I've met and known that have them I can't imagine it would have better reliability and less maintenance than a 996 TT which is pretty much a tank. I know lots of people that had the 4 or 6k (can't remember) Vanos replacement and numerous valve cover gasket problems.

That being said, I loved that car!!!

 

My friends E38 M5 has been nothing but trouble, 996TTs are proven tanks

 

996tt all the way!

 

I love Porsche and BMW too, but for my understanding I can`t compare a M5 E39 with a 996TT.

If you drive it at nuerburgring to compare you see different worlds....

M5 is heavy and the breaks can`t hold the power and the weight of the car on a hard driving.....that is a weak point...sorry it is a Sedan not a Sportscar...

If you need place for the family and power if you drive sometimes alone a M5 is the right decision...

I know you try to compare relaibility....For my understanding a stock 996tt against a stock M5 E39 the porsche is more relaiable at track use....(don`t think that conditions change if both cars tuned)

At daily use you don`t have a problem with a M5 or 996tt at this way it should be more a question what do I need? Space and Power ore more Power and a Track Performance....

 

A stock M5 has more of a soul than a stock 996tt. Stock turbo cars vs stock na...turbo 996 is very boring. An exhaust gives it some soul.

Other than that 996tt is a better car.

 

agree

 

does a muffler only make a car for you? I drived all new M Series on Nuerburgring...and i ordered a new m3 for 2010 ( and i hold my porsche be shure but i dont like use it daily) ...but it was different worlds and depends not from a muffler

 

Not always. In general its a combination of steering feedback, handling the sound and (hard to drive) part of the car. The stock 996tt is plain boring its just a fast GT car ...in fact my previous E46 M3 and E36 bmw's was much more exciting and had a soul in stock form.

Now by adding some suspension/power mods and a good exhaust will fix the sound and wakes up the car. That was my point...it gave the car some soul.

As i said before a 996TT is a far superior car in every other respect than a e36 M5. Now have you sat in a tubi exhaust V10 M5?? that thing sounds like a F1 car...now that's what i call a super exciting NA car.



996tt will never sound like that no matter what you do....you got to have a flat plane crank engine (Ferrari,lambos) or have a big NA motor.

 

When I was younger, loud was cool. While I like the sound of my car, it's hard to beat the sound of a nasty (muffled) high compression motor. Heck I am even in love with the sound of a RS6.