RE: BMW 540i (E39) manual: Spotted
Discussion
I had one of the rare manual E39 530i Sport.
Great car, but the gearbox did have a bit a long throw to it - apparently this can be improved by adding a shorter knob (
) - I never got around to changing though.
The mpg on manual BMWs has always been much better than the equivalent auto but the CDV (Clutch delay valve) can take some getting used to.
I sold it to a fellow PHer who took it to use while he worked in Italy.
Great car, but the gearbox did have a bit a long throw to it - apparently this can be improved by adding a shorter knob (
) - I never got around to changing though.The mpg on manual BMWs has always been much better than the equivalent auto but the CDV (Clutch delay valve) can take some getting used to.
I sold it to a fellow PHer who took it to use while he worked in Italy.
Motorrad said:
hwajones said:
I agree, an Auto box is the way to go with a motor like this...
Only problem is they're prone to failure and f
k the economy. Obviously MPG is not really an issue with a V8 as you don't buy one to scrimp on fuel. However if you're wanting an economical diesel utility vehicle the manual is sadly the only way to go IMO.edit: b
d predictive textEdited by Motorrad on Tuesday 19th August 15:18
I ran a 100k 540 touring with an auto box. apart from the servicing I Spent £200 having the sealed for life gearbox serviced and new fluid before putting another 45,000 miles on it over 2 years.
They are only as unreliable as the owners want to make them due to the low purchase price people arent maintaining them properly.
As for economy bristol to guildford every week 36-37mpg from the 4.4l v8 cruise on set to 80leptons.
IanCress said:
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.
That number would be zero. The manual wasn't available in the Touring at all. Sadly. Conversions have been done, but it's tricky.llyrowenjones said:
My friend is currently driving a later auto 540i M Sport. Really is quite something for little money. I was also attacked by an early 540i in South Wales and they really do shift, even if they do weight around 7 tonnes. Decent sound, but it would benefit doing something to get a little bit more noise from the exhaust. Other than that, it's a great car if you want to be different.
Bargain of the century I say to myself every time she purrs to life..... apart from the fuel bills. £450 insurance for a 22 year old isn't too bad considering the lovely V8 rumble. Motorrad said:
Who gives a fk. One is an M car the other is just another E39. The manual boxes are horrible anyway I know, I own one.
Funny, I daily drive a 540i 6-speed and it's one of the best manuals I've ever had (and I've had MX-5's). The great thing is that the power band is so huge you don't have to shift so often. One thing though, I almost never use 1st gear unless I'm on a hill or really want to launch fast. Much smoother starts if you start off in 2nd.k. One is an M car the other is just another E39. The manual boxes are horrible anyway I know, I own one.Also, it's the same transmission as in the M5. Only difference is the M car gets LSD.
Emeye said:
I had one of the rare manual E39 530i Sport.
Great car, but the gearbox did have a bit a long throw to it - apparently this can be improved by adding a shorter knob () - I never got around to changing though.
I have the same - the shorter knob completely changes the gearchange. Great car, but the gearbox did have a bit a long throw to it - apparently this can be improved by adding a shorter knob (
) - I never got around to changing though.
Fox- said:
I have the same - the shorter knob completely changes the gearchange.
Is that without changing any of the actual mechanism I take it? Which car is the lever from?I have a short shift kit fitted and find it too notchy. It's been like this since I got it and I've been thinking about going back to the standard shift but fear the throw might end up feeling too long. I'd driven a Boxster recently and couldn't believe how long the throw was, somewhere in between would be nice, the e46 330 was about perfect.
I don't know, I personally like the long throw, more agricultural (which I like), and I always think that hustling a car like that is much more fun! With regards the steering, I personally have more confidence in the steering of my aged E34 with recirculating ball steering than I do our works 116i with ePAS.
Having said that I have driven a 6 cylinder E39 and the steering was very nice.
Having said that I have driven a 6 cylinder E39 and the steering was very nice.
chungasarnies said:
Can anyone who's actually had both tell us how big a difference there really is, or is this just something people on the internet say?
If we're talking difference in power/drive it depends on your style, but for the average driver (and given the type of car this is) the vast torque of the v8 makes an incredibly pronounced difference. I've always felt the m54 was a bit of a let down in terms of low down torque, the n52 that succeeded it was leaps and bounds better! That said get it above around 3.5k and it really comes alive (and good grief does it sing), but by that time you won't have seen which way a 540 went...As for how they steer I can't really comment, I'm comparing a late e46 330 with an e39 540, but even in the 330 the motor felt somewhat underpowered. I got so fed up of yobos in hot hatches wanting to 'drag' me (and admittedly fed up of not being able to shake them) that i debaged it.
ManOpener said:
danielj58 said:
okie592 said:
Less hp than a golf R and more to buy than a 2 year lease? Or even the lease on a m135i?
No ta.
That's not even apples to orange though... After 2 years how much golf R do you own?No ta.
gentelman said:
That number would be zero. The manual wasn't available in the Touring at all. Sadly. Conversions have been done, but it's tricky.
Not wanting to start an argument but I am afraid I believe that to be incorrect. I have a 540i Touring with manual box and as far as I know that is how it came from the factory and was not ever 'converted'.
It is a nice car for cruising but not especially quick. Have had no big bills with mine. As a previous poster mentioned the tailgates are a weak point as mine is also pretty rotten.
I was so impressed with the E39 in general that it convinced me to also add an M5 to the fleet!
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