RE: SOTW: BMW 528i (E39)
Discussion
HON2A said:
Just purchased (£2000) and sold (£1950) the E39 touring 525, 8 months ownership, 4000 miles, no problems, free motoring at this price for such a well built and engineered car ... like it
I'm calling PHOTOSHOP - it's a BMW between the lines in a carpark, never happens.You'll note the 2 photos closest to that one have cars parked partly or completely on the pavement - that's BMW drivers for you. This is clearly a cloner job
LewisR said:
neil_bmw said:
offendi said:
Chavtastic, coming to a council estate near you
Chavtastic? I have to assume you are trolling?Not a hint of aftermarket
styling, completely standard, aged well and pretty elegant for a 90's barge. martynr said:
I know someone who drives e39 530d auto, over 190k miles. The gearbox needs heating up before drive off or it will go into limp mode. It had suspension work for over £1k.
At this price I would look very hard, suspension work is expensive as well as gearbox. The car might be clocked if there are no previous MOTs. So I would check with DVLA.
I drove it a few times and I did not like it. The suspension is hard for my liking. The car seems to be huge, but cramped inside although not as bad as e34. The seats seem to be short and uncomfortable.
I would rather get GS300. It is so quite inside, but looks like a frog from outside...
I have to disagree with almost everything in your 2nd half of your post! (Still unsure of who the trollers are on here ha ha!)At this price I would look very hard, suspension work is expensive as well as gearbox. The car might be clocked if there are no previous MOTs. So I would check with DVLA.
I drove it a few times and I did not like it. The suspension is hard for my liking. The car seems to be huge, but cramped inside although not as bad as e34. The seats seem to be short and uncomfortable.
I would rather get GS300. It is so quite inside, but looks like a frog from outside...
The damping in the sport model is absolutely perfect, its just right. Not hard or crashy at all it soaks up bumps beautifully and handles very well for a big-ish car. The sport seats (maybe my frame) are very comfortable indeed and with a large range of positioning and i have found it to still be very comfortable on journeys of 10 to 12 hours. The interior is actually very spacious. My only gripe with the interior of my own car is the lack of folding rear seats to allow longer boot access for larger items, which i believe was an option. It is SO far ahead of a GS300 in all but reliability and comfort which i found both to be very good and yes i have driven both extensively.
I had one of the first 528 e39s, kept it for 7 years, then swapped it for one of the last 530d models, which I still have. So I've been driving e39s for around 16 years now. In all of that time neither of them ever put a foot wrong, carrying me and my family, normally at pretty high speed, for over 300k.
Over that time, I've probably spent about an average of £1k a year on maintenance, so not really cheap to run, but compared to the depreciation on a replacement (which would probably not be as good) it seems like a bargain.
As someone said above, if they still made them, I'd buy a new one. As it is, I can't see any reason to get rid of the 530d. The bloody things are addictive.
Over that time, I've probably spent about an average of £1k a year on maintenance, so not really cheap to run, but compared to the depreciation on a replacement (which would probably not be as good) it seems like a bargain.
As someone said above, if they still made them, I'd buy a new one. As it is, I can't see any reason to get rid of the 530d. The bloody things are addictive.
Great SOTW - altough there are much better E39s out there, with higher spec and in decent condition for around that sort of price.
My Dad used to have a P Reg 528i SE Auto a few years back. Beautiful engine, but the auto gearbox eventually gave up the ghost so he got rid.
However, for his birthday, we got him a 2001 Facelift E39 530i Sport Auto.
It is Individual Velvet Blue, Full Champagne Nappa Leather with Velvet Blue Piping, Xenons, Heated Leather, 18 M-Parallel Alloys, Leather Stithced Side Trim, etc.
£15k worth of extras from new, and apparantly one of only 14 with that combination in the country!
It genuinely looks like a £10k+ car, and alot of people, at first glance, think it's an M5.
It's smooth, quick, comfortable, responsive and it looks absolutley stunning. It's hard to actually think of a better, all-round car.
My Dad used to have a P Reg 528i SE Auto a few years back. Beautiful engine, but the auto gearbox eventually gave up the ghost so he got rid.
However, for his birthday, we got him a 2001 Facelift E39 530i Sport Auto.
It is Individual Velvet Blue, Full Champagne Nappa Leather with Velvet Blue Piping, Xenons, Heated Leather, 18 M-Parallel Alloys, Leather Stithced Side Trim, etc.
£15k worth of extras from new, and apparantly one of only 14 with that combination in the country!
It genuinely looks like a £10k+ car, and alot of people, at first glance, think it's an M5.
It's smooth, quick, comfortable, responsive and it looks absolutley stunning. It's hard to actually think of a better, all-round car.
I've personally had several E39s, and there have probably been well over 15 in our family over the last few years. Facelift models are much better, they look a lot more modern, especially with the Angel Eyes.
They are last well-built 5 Series., and just eat up the miles, in near-silence. Yes, the W210 Merc is also a smooth car, BUR it drives nowhere near on the level of this.
Currently have a 2002 530d SE Touring. 221k miles, and still returns over 50mpg and does 140mph+.
The 528i / 530i are definitely the best petrol engines. 2.8 is silkier, whereas the 3.0 sounds throatier. Both superb powerplants, and if looked after, will do mega-miles, and probably the best commuting car
The 3.0 diesel (especially the later 194bhp model) is also a fantastic power plant - forget all those rubbish VAG diesels that don't ever return the stated economy!
They are last well-built 5 Series., and just eat up the miles, in near-silence. Yes, the W210 Merc is also a smooth car, BUR it drives nowhere near on the level of this.
Currently have a 2002 530d SE Touring. 221k miles, and still returns over 50mpg and does 140mph+.
The 528i / 530i are definitely the best petrol engines. 2.8 is silkier, whereas the 3.0 sounds throatier. Both superb powerplants, and if looked after, will do mega-miles, and probably the best commuting car
The 3.0 diesel (especially the later 194bhp model) is also a fantastic power plant - forget all those rubbish VAG diesels that don't ever return the stated economy!
Riggers said:
S8QUATTRO said:
E39 such a good car, i'm sure i'll have another in one form sooner or later, how long before sport model is SOTW money?
Facelift 530i Sport (or 530d) - that's the dream one for me... 
I'd say us Shedders will be waiting a while, however...
Unfortunately it keeps on going and bar an alternator I can't think of anything that has failed - yet. Just regular servicing and maintenance. Front end feels a bit wooly and may need bushes.
I say unfortunately because I'd like something different but little point at this stage of ownership. Run it until it dies.
Had 3 E39s over the last 8 years and loved them all. Admittedly the B10 V8 was far more special than the 528 and as such had a blank cheque maintenance routine (and it used it!).
The 528 manual was run on a shoe string and with nigh on 190k ringing up has carried the miles extremely well!
The 98 540 I ran was a right old money pit though, I'd stick with the 6 cylinder for shed money if I were to relive my E39 days.
The 528 manual was run on a shoe string and with nigh on 190k ringing up has carried the miles extremely well!
The 98 540 I ran was a right old money pit though, I'd stick with the 6 cylinder for shed money if I were to relive my E39 days.
hygt2 said:
I am still puzzled by the point of the 535i / 540i V8s as they are not that much faster than the I6 engines yet comes with high-10s mpg fuel bills ?
Having recently purchased a 540i Touring, I'm going to have to disagree with that. It is usefully quicker than the 528i (282 vs 193bhp IIRC), and I'm getting consumption figures in the 20s.I do like these, but i had one a few years ago and had a load of problems with it. In the end it was the Nikasil wear that killed it. I would go for the S type over the BMW any time, i drove one while i had my BMW and it left me wishing i had bought the Jaguar instead, more power, felt special and far more toys. Like the 5 series, if it's looked after, it will last. Not as many out there for shed money, but they are coming down.
Never had a 528 but between us my dad and I have done some 60k miles in a 523/535/525tds - have to agree they just soak up the miles, still look far more expensive than they are and carry off 'understated' in a way few other cars manage.
I would always opt for an straight 6 though, the 523 rarely cost more than regular servicing (up until the point we sold it at 133k) but the 535 would have quickly turned into a money pit (alternator, front calipers, rear suspension rebuild, numerous sensor faults, leaking radiator) had we kept it.
Currently have a W210 E320 and have to say while its nowhere near the drivers car any of the bmws were, its a lovely relaxed cruiser and cost me the same money.
I would always opt for an straight 6 though, the 523 rarely cost more than regular servicing (up until the point we sold it at 133k) but the 535 would have quickly turned into a money pit (alternator, front calipers, rear suspension rebuild, numerous sensor faults, leaking radiator) had we kept it.
Currently have a W210 E320 and have to say while its nowhere near the drivers car any of the bmws were, its a lovely relaxed cruiser and cost me the same money.
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