RE: SOTW: BMW 528i (E39)
Discussion
I had a manual 540i touring for 2.5 years and did 24k miles in it. I lost £600 in depreciation and around the same again on parts and repairs(suspension bushes, radiator, disks and pads). So for circa £1200 + fuel I wafted round in something extremely pleasant for a few years.
That car cost £45k when new, I put on a fifth of it's total mileage for £600 depreciation! It also averaged 24mpg which was acceptable.
I did have access to an autologic and a ramp. If you are ok with DIY car repairs I would advise any e39 as a good cheap'ish motor to smoke about in.
That car cost £45k when new, I put on a fifth of it's total mileage for £600 depreciation! It also averaged 24mpg which was acceptable.
I did have access to an autologic and a ramp. If you are ok with DIY car repairs I would advise any e39 as a good cheap'ish motor to smoke about in.
Things to look out for have all been mentioned above really.
Manual or auto? Which do you prefer driving? Buy that one as both are very good.
528i (193 PS) was pre-facelift (1996-mid 2000) only, it became the 530i (231 PS) thereafter, similarly the 525i (192 PS) superseded the 523i (170 PS) and the 520i went from a 2.0 (150 PS) to a 2.2 (170 PS).
528/530 upwards I'd tend to go auto but if the car overall was in good condition I'd buy it with either 'box, engines below that works better as a manual IMO.
Manual or auto? Which do you prefer driving? Buy that one as both are very good.
528i (193 PS) was pre-facelift (1996-mid 2000) only, it became the 530i (231 PS) thereafter, similarly the 525i (192 PS) superseded the 523i (170 PS) and the 520i went from a 2.0 (150 PS) to a 2.2 (170 PS).
528/530 upwards I'd tend to go auto but if the car overall was in good condition I'd buy it with either 'box, engines below that works better as a manual IMO.
I bought a E39 540iA Touring for £1590 delivered last year, with no serious faults, I am picky and did some bits that I felt necessary etc. Wonderful car for money, doing 27.1 average over the year but a few motorway miles and not a lot around town.
£40k plus for under £2k - I will accept the risks and manage the car and any issues, a real goer without being an M5, 85% of the performance for £2k and it will carry stacks of stuff in quiet sophistication.
ps I also have the big white W126 500 sel that appears on P/H sundays and has been posted a few times as flavour of quality now long gone.
£40k plus for under £2k - I will accept the risks and manage the car and any issues, a real goer without being an M5, 85% of the performance for £2k and it will carry stacks of stuff in quiet sophistication.
ps I also have the big white W126 500 sel that appears on P/H sundays and has been posted a few times as flavour of quality now long gone.
Edited by urquattro on Sunday 8th April 12:15
Edited by urquattro on Sunday 8th April 12:20
hora said:
How long have you had it and what's wrong (fiddly bits)?
October 2008I'ts not bad for it's age, but then it isn't pristine and would probably sit in the average to good bracket for these cars. Couple of small rusty bits, a slight wobble around 70-80 mph and it does wonder slightly to the left (needs tracking, which I am getting round to sorting) and the rear parking sensors don't always work. It's had a lot of usual E39 niggles sorted though. It could use a good detail clean to bring up the paintwork, it does have 5 green service lights. My indie reckons the water pump and viscous coupling should need doing soon. So in all honesty it probably will need £500 or so of work to bring it up to scratch. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it just yet.
How much would it be to do the following items? Quite fancy a shed and need to budget up first.
1) springs
2) dampers
3) suspension bushes
4) subframe bushes
5) plastic water pump for a metal one
6) viscous fan
7) radiator
8) cabin heater fan
Any other common failure points?
Many thanks in advance.
1) springs
2) dampers
3) suspension bushes
4) subframe bushes
5) plastic water pump for a metal one
6) viscous fan
7) radiator
8) cabin heater fan
Any other common failure points?
Many thanks in advance.
S. Gonzales Esq. said:
I'm going to be at the Wales driving day - when I've seen the routes I'll decide whether to bring the 540 or Peugeot 306. One for A-roads, the other for B-roads.
Great, see you then. I went for a fish and chip run to letterston a few weeks ago and it was great fun. hora said:
Ok, I'm going to pull the trigger. 528 E39 manual or auto?
Anything to look out for on this engine and best years on the E39? Of course I'd do the normal car common sense checks.
If the performance matters to you, the manual seemed to record appreciably faster times looking back at the road test figures. Other than that, seems to be personal preference as to 'boxAnything to look out for on this engine and best years on the E39? Of course I'd do the normal car common sense checks.
Edited by hora on Sunday 8th April 11:09
s m said:
hora said:
Ok, I'm going to pull the trigger. 528 E39 manual or auto?
Anything to look out for on this engine and best years on the E39? Of course I'd do the normal car common sense checks.
If the performance matters to you, the manual seemed to record appreciably faster times looking back at the road test figures. Other than that, seems to be personal preference as to 'boxAnything to look out for on this engine and best years on the E39? Of course I'd do the normal car common sense checks.
Edited by hora on Sunday 8th April 11:09
Owned an E39 M5 for three years with no expensive bills in 40,000 miles. All the other variants have driven been wonderful a depth of engineering that you get with no other car.
I think they are an excellent used car, loads of second hand spares about if things go wrong or get biffed, independent servicing id reasonable, depreciation negligible.
Compare that to a new supermarket variety Ford or Vauxhall and eye watering depreciation?
Bargain!
I think they are an excellent used car, loads of second hand spares about if things go wrong or get biffed, independent servicing id reasonable, depreciation negligible.
Compare that to a new supermarket variety Ford or Vauxhall and eye watering depreciation?
Bargain!
I didn't know what Nikasil is so I also Googled, and read this http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E32/Nikasil.htm headed "THE BMW V8 NIKASIL MYTH"
edit: so why doesn't the link work?!?
edit: so why doesn't the link work?!?
Edited by tosh.brice on Monday 9th April 12:40
Edited by tosh.brice on Monday 9th April 12:40
DSLiverpool said:
The AC s
tzner stuff, in my opinion anyway, doesn't add value to the car. I maybe reduces it slightly, so don't let them try to fool you if you go to view.The 3.5l V8 engine is the most "unloved" due to it supposedly having the power of the 3l Six, and the economy of the 4.4l V8. This will also be a useful bargaining tool if you needed it.
After that, you buy on condition and service history more than miles, (although this one has done quite a lot.)
When it boils down to it, it is a £2k punt. To some people, that's a lot of money, to some it's not. Personally I don't like the body kit, so I'd keep looking, but others may like it. Whatever you buy it for, keep an equal amount to one side as an emergency "Bork" fund.
If you buy it, do let us know!
Was always reading how good the e39s were, went from 3 series and the jump in quality is noticable- so i bagged a good one while i could, bought an 02 530i sport, blue with creme leather but top half of cabin is black, 83k all for 3k, inc sat nav, 18" paralell alloys, etc etc what a car for the money.
3.0 litre is one of bmws best engines apparantly, sounds awesome. Handing and ride amazing, taught yet supple. So sure footed.
I was made aware the steering rack is different on the v8 ones as there was no room for the rack and pinion setup, so the v8s were not as sweet a steer?
I havent driven one so i dont know...
3.0 litre is one of bmws best engines apparantly, sounds awesome. Handing and ride amazing, taught yet supple. So sure footed.
I was made aware the steering rack is different on the v8 ones as there was no room for the rack and pinion setup, so the v8s were not as sweet a steer?
I havent driven one so i dont know...
Careful buying is the key - pay attention and you can get a really nice 540i for £1350: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130676760489#ht_928wt_14...
Miss it the first time though, and you'll have to haggle it down from £2700: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251036945220#ht_6590wt_1...
Miss it the first time though, and you'll have to haggle it down from £2700: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251036945220#ht_6590wt_1...
S. Gonzales Esq. said:
Careful buying is the key - pay attention and you can get a really nice 540i for £1350: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130676760489#ht_928wt_14...
Miss it the first time though, and you'll have to haggle it down from £2700: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251036945220#ht_6590wt_1...
Of course, these prices are not necessarily representative of a Sport model, which should be higher. IMHO, they look much better too.Miss it the first time though, and you'll have to haggle it down from £2700: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251036945220#ht_6590wt_1...
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