RE: SOTW: BMW 528i (E39)

[HON2A]

McSam said:

Bugger, I voted 5 by accident on my phone when it should be a 9.

StevieB said:

(unfortunately I pushed wrong button and rated it a 5, doh!!!)

Feeling smug. I meant to vote 9. And voted 9.

[Luca Brasi]

Why would you buy some new boring little ecobox when you can have stuff like this? Proper shedding!

[neil_bolton]

mark1970 said:

Are these prone to VANOS issues?

Put bluntly: No.

[neil_bolton]

neil_bolton said:

Put bluntly: No.

Eta: a tougher more reliable engine you find hard to find.

[GBB]

RandomTask said:

If Quentin Wilson was to look at this he'd say 'Stick a private plate on it, and people will think you paid 4 times as much for it'

Nice shed.

He'd be right. I'm suprised by the number of comments I've had on my E39 535 Sport since acquiring it, people think it cost a lot, lot more than what I paid for it.

The 528/530 are probably the sweet spot of the range in reality though the sound of the V8 does make it more satisfying on some ways.

I don't think it will be long before a leggy v8 Sport is down at SOTW money.

[6potdave]

Good shed! Had this engine in the E36 I don't know how it would cope with that extra weight but it was a lovely lump, very smooth, torquey and responsive.

[crofty1984]

Riggers said:

Facelift 530i Sport (or 530d) - that's the dream one for me...

I'd say us Shedders will be waiting a while, however...

I had one. It was exactly as good as you think it is.

Then sold it to buy an mx5

[McSam]

HON2A said:

McSam said:

Bugger, I voted 5 by accident on my phone when it should be a 9.

StevieB said:

(unfortunately I pushed wrong button and rated it a 5, doh!!!)

Feeling smug. I meant to vote 9. And voted 9.

Shut up


Am I right in thinking this is the very same M52B28 as in the E36s?

[David87]

I have a deep hankering for a facelift E39 540i Sport, with the optional 18" wheels. I see one around and about locally to me every so often and it just looks so right in the dark metallic green that it wears. BMW should start up the manufacturing equipment for the E39 and sell them again - I'd buy one.

[Whiters]

6potdave said:

Good shed! Had this engine in the E36 I don't know how it would cope with that extra weight but it was a lovely lump, very smooth, torquey and responsive.

Agreed. It's a fabulous engine. Not to shabby on the economy front either (What Car mode off...and breathe). Great noise when stretched.

[ianwayne]

I saw a W reg E39 near me last week that was up for £995. It was at the roadside so did a U-turn and went back to look at it. Unfortunately, it was a 520, and in a dull matt burgundy. Been on my radar for a while these and my research has actually lent me towards the later 525i.

Edited by ianwayne on Friday 6th April 10:08

[LewisR]

For a minute there I thought that that car was my old one up for sale!!

Mine was a silver V plate, 528i manual with leather. I P/Xed it with 169k miles on it for a manual E60 530i. I've ranted forever and a day about how the E60 is a worse car than the E39 (although I like the styling now). My mum's '04 plate Fiesta has a better interior. It looks as though they took the E39 interior and then did a vast cost-cutting exercise on it. With hindsight, i should have bought a late 530i E39

[jonnydm]

Not easy to beat a good E39 and especially at this money and now that good ones are harder to find. Everyone should try one at some point - a proper car.

[Goatex]

Gonna attempt a picture of the 530i I had - first pic upload on this site so apologies in advance should it go wrong. Here goes...

[geraldorgan]

I have just sold mine after 100,000 miles of excellent motoring. Mine had 180K on it when I sold it for £700, cheap mainly because there are so many around. The only grumble I had is with the steering which (like the E34) shimmies slightly if everything is not cock on adjusted and tight. This is annoying and has little to do with wheel balance or all the usual suspects. I have had three 5 series and they all suffer.VERY tricky to get rid of without stripping the whole lot down and replacing. I am back with a 328 now and this is a lot tighter and responsive. Having said that the 528 is a brilliant car and for steady motorway munching at 35 mpg its a flying carpet ride.Check the rear wing behind the wheel arch as thats where they all rust first.If you want a nice comfy family car with a bit of grunt for the times when you want a sports car then a 528 is the way to go...get an auto with the steptronic box and get 2 cars for the price of 1.

[orangesrule]

GBB said:

I don't think it will be long before a leggy v8 Sport is down at SOTW money.

you would be correct, very nearly shed money, but considering the manual box - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E39-540i-Manual-Six-... that is a BARGAIN

Edited by orangesrule on Friday 6th April 10:23

[BorkFactor]

Great cars these, I have almost bought one on several occasions!

I have the similar engine (with twin VANOS?) in my E46 328i and it is lovely. I would be scared of the autobox in that one giving up the ghost though.

[PH lurker]

Saw this on another thread earlier this week.

Very nice car.

[offendi]

Chavtastic, coming to a council estate near you

[NSFW]

S8QUATTRO said:

i did buy one (530i sport) last year for just £1700, and it was in decent condition

had 4 of them in the last 3 years, 3 x black 1 and 1 x red

I have a black 528i sport and just wish i'd held off for the Imola Red - Simply love that colour (Or blue!)
I hate black! Forever cleaning it... Might sell my 528 Sport and get a 530 Sport in red now!