Tuesday 19th August 2014

BMW 540i (E39) manual: Spotted

Thought the cut-price M5 was rare? There are two in the PH classifieds!

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Hopefully you do the same. Whenever a BMW becomes old enough to be interesting you take a quick glance at the bootlid to check the badge. Only fleeting mind, just so everyone else doesn't think you're entirely mad. Sometimes there will be some real beauties, an E38 750 perhaps or an E30 325i. On most occasions you'll find yourself peering at an old 5 Series diesel and looking odd.

Now this is how to do discreet

In extremely rare instances an intriguing non-M BM may be ahead in a queue, as was the case yesterday with an E39 540i. It's one of those cars that needs a car person to spot; to everyone else it looked like a rather scabby 15-year-old 5 Series. But there's a 286hp 4.4 V8 in the old shed, and that makes it quite cool.

Onwards to the classifieds! There's a quintet of 540is on PH, this lovely Touring about as pleasant as this modified example is contemptible. Anyway, continue scrolling and up pops this '540i very rare six-speed manual'. Cool car! Perhaps not immaculate outside but seeing a detailed specialist service history, four new Bridgestone Potenzas plus a seemingly excellent interior are all good signs. Without comparing back to back with an M5 it's hard to be definitive but given BMW apparently considered not making an E39 M because of how good the 540i was should say a lot. For under £4K when M5s start at £6Kwith problems it's very tempting.

And the cheaper V8 manual option

Scroll down to the last 540 and there lies this Anthracite Grey stunner. Reputedly 'owned by an Elderly Gent from New' (how old was he in 2000?), the spec sort of reflects that. Grey with more grey and lots of wood, it's fairly staid even as German saloons go. But it would be nice to think our senior owner was a bit of a scallywag too, given he's specced his manual 540i debadged. How on earth could you tell? This car is harder to justify as its tiny mileage puts it right into M5 money (£10K) but that doesn't prevent it being one of the best Q cars around. Makes an M5 look positively gaudy. There can't be too much demand for old non-M V8 BMW saloon amongst regular folk so negotiation would surely prove beneficial. Imagine how haughtily you could view every diesel M Sport driver in this, knowing a near-300hp V8 lays beneath that plain exterior.

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BMW 540i
Engine: 4,398cc V8
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 286@5,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 325@3,600rpm
MPG: 23
CO2: 295g/km
First registered: Both 2000
Recorded mileage: 105,750/20,000
Price new: One was specced to over £62K!
Yours for: £3,750/£9,990

Original ad for the cheaper car here and the 20K-mile car here.

[JakeT]

Properly beautiful car. Odd spec though, with electric seats and no buttons on the dash for heating them. Grey leather on BMW's of this vintage is gorgeous also.

[Motorrad]

You'd have to be insane this is M5 money.

[balls-out]

Motorrad said:

You'd have to be insane this is M5 money.

I suspect ownership costs will be somewhat lower. Buying an M5 can be the cheapest part of the process...

[JakeT]

Motorrad said:

You'd have to be insane this is M5 money.

The only thing I would say is the £9,000 model has 22k on the clock and looks properly new. There's some more pics on the AT ad and everything looks pristine. Most E39 M5's are getting up there now.

[thatguy11]

So much want! Now these are proper barges, big V8 lumps

[buggalugs]

I ran an E34 540 6 speed for a year, loved it. Felt fairly tank-like to get into but with speed, grip and ballance. The E39 640 felt a bit 'lighter' but not sure if it literally was. Straight line the E39 M5 is noticably louder and faster, but I prefer the ride of the 540's, I found the M5 a bit hard & jiggly around town, and it's a bit more stealth.

[ECG1000]

My Dad had one of these back in the day before going for an M5.
I'll never forget the sound of that V8!

[Neil G60]

Comfort seats AND double glazing! Amazing spec. Price is insane though. Not even that car with Sport trim would fetch that, let alone an SE.

[theJT]

Can someone who's driven both compare the 6 speed in this to the one in the 330? I tried a 330 with a 6 speed manual in it not long ago and it was a horrible gearbox. 1st seemed to go on forever and there was nothing to work with in either 5th or 6th. I imagine with an extra 50 or so BHP to work with the top end of the box would be more bearable in this?

[IanCress]

That, but in estate guise would be perfect. Looked for quite a while for a 540i Manual Estate but I never found one. Must have sold in tiny numbers.

[chungasarnies]

I don't care what the mileage is, mad mad mad for 10k. Don't give us that guff about 'it's cheaper to run than an M5' either, it's a 14 year old V8 BMW, not an econobox

[pSyCoSiS]

These are fantastic cars with a proper engine.

Manual gearbox would be the sweet spot.

E39 has to be one the best built 5 Series, which is apparent even well you sit in 250k+ mile examples with how solid everything still feels.

I sat in my cousins 2009 E60 M Sport over the weekend, and all the switchgear felt flimsy and already starting to wear out!

Grab one whilst you can!

[hwajones]

Fantastic Car!
Dad had one new, pulled like an absolute train...

[anonymous-user]

chungasarnies said:

I don't care what the mileage is, mad mad mad for 10k. Don't give us that guff about 'it's cheaper to run than an M5' either, it's a 14 year old V8 BMW, not an econobox

Quite, and you'd hardly have the thought of 'is it cheap to run?' when buying an old M5. 10k is silly money.

[The Don of Croy]

An automotive delight - these are so nice inside...proper switchgear and OCD attention to detail.

My ex-boss bought his in 1997 and sold it last Dec at 120k+ miles with barely any problems (everything done at service - plus some suspension items later on). Still on original clutch etc (only a 523 but he could at least drive it to the limit). Depreciated from £33k new to £1500 cash.

[Tib]

bahaha. 8 grand for an 18 year old Cat C 5 series.

As you were.

[ManFromDelmonte]

St John Smythe said:

chungasarnies said:

I don't care what the mileage is, mad mad mad for 10k. Don't give us that guff about 'it's cheaper to run than an M5' either, it's a 14 year old V8 BMW, not an econobox

Quite, and you'd hardly have the thought of 'is it cheap to run?' when buying an old M5. 10k is silly money.

My biggest problem would be that after 5 years and you've put 65k miles extra on it, the M5 will still be worth fairly strong money (as it is am M5) whereas the 540i will be worth far less. Should help justify a bit of the running cost differential.

[jamespink]

buggalugs said:

I ran an E34 540 6 speed for a year, loved it. Felt fairly tank-like to get into but with speed, grip and ballance. The E39 640 felt a bit 'lighter' but not sure if it literally was. Straight line the E39 M5 is noticably louder and faster, but I prefer the ride of the 540's, I found the M5 a bit hard & jiggly around town, and it's a bit more stealth.

I agree, My E39 M5 now sports Bilsteins with standard springs and even I have to admit its "firm". That said, it's just a joy when you are on it. Strong control and laugh out loud grip with 275's on the back. I have previously had a 535 and always wanted the 540 but after the M5 motor I could not warrant the lesser motor. 100bhp is a lot of difference! Incidentally, my M5 has been low on running costs other than its appetite for warping front discs. Given the pasting it gets as a daily driver, its cheap to run (average 20.4mpg in 50,000 miles) and never breaks. Totally recommended as reliable most bang for buck performance car.

[jamespink]

theJT said:

Can someone who's driven both compare the 6 speed in this to the one in the 330? I tried a 330 with a 6 speed manual in it not long ago and it was a horrible gearbox. 1st seemed to go on forever and there was nothing to work with in either 5th or 6th. I imagine with an extra 50 or so BHP to work with the top end of the box would be more bearable in this?

You hit the nail on the head. In an M5, the 400hp + 400ft/lb make each gear relevant. Even first if you spank it off the line, viciously quick...

[pSyCoSiS]

And £8k for that modified one is ridiculous!

You can get a nice genuine Sport model, unmolested with low miles for under £5k...