My BMW E39 540i Sport
Discussion
Hello again!
Those of you who follow my Elise thread will know it's recently been victim to a Class 1 imbecile who has reversed into it causing the front clamshell to require replacement. Rather than build up ridiculous hire car costs for the third party to later reject I decided to buy my own, not least as I have some road trips planned for Europe over the summer.
Having owned an E46 330i Saloon with a manual box I've always had a hankering for an E39, to me it is the best looking normal car BMW have built in the last 20 years or so, it still looks modern and people still admire it on the road, well I think they do! The early E60s have dated quickly compared to this, it certainly doesn't look 13 years old! As it will be a commuter and road trip car it had to be auto. Man maths dictated it should be a 540i. I looked at 2 at the beginning of this week and on Tuesday picked this up having found it on the classifieds here, the seller was of course a proper PHer and a true gent and massive BMW/Alpina enthusiast, had a stunning F10 B5 BiTurbo in the garage. Most importantly he has taken great care of this 540i, most of the things listed to watch out on them have been replaced, the headlight units are new, the rocker cover gaskets are done, the hedgehog matrix thing is done, and so is the LCD display on the dash, it also has a Full BMW Service History, the last one being Inspection 2 done by a specialist. This car just felt right, not least because Simon from E-Maps has worked some magic on it and it is alleged to be putting out 310bhp now. Oh and it's not even down 80,000 miles yet, barely run in!
Without further ado photo time!
BMW E39 540i Sport by tlynchie, on Flickr
BMW E39 540i Sport by tlynchie, on Flickr
BMW E39 540i Sport by tlynchie, on Flickr
BMW E39 540i Sport by tlynchie, on Flickr
BMW E39 540i Sport by tlynchie, on Flickr
BMW E39 540i Sport by tlynchie, on Flickr
As you can see it is pretty well specced with lashings of cow and tree. There is even some electricity inside it! Colour is BMW Individual Slate Green, so now I own two green cars. Yay!
Of all the cars I have owned this best demonstrates two personalities, it wafts around town and makes a breeze of any normal traffic situations, sits calmly and patiently in traffic no bother, breezes along the motorway too. Then when you pop the gearbox into sport mode, floor it and let it kick down it absolutely flies! I wouldn't so much call it acceleration so much as building momentum at an alarming rate. Some people I'm sure will bring up the M5 v 540i debate, well I test drove an M5 a few weeks back and considering it has been my realistic dream car for as long as I can remember it left me bitterly disappointed, it didn't feel that fast and didn't sound that good. The opposite of the 540i, I didn't expect it to feel so brisk, while being so quiet and comfortable, and the noise I expected to be quiet, you still know it's a V8 though, and of course it's a lot cheaper than the M5. Fuel consumptions seems good, being careful on my short morning commute where I don't get much above 30 I got 23.5 mpg, in heavy traffic this drops to around 19 though. In summary I love this thing! Bring on the road trips!!
Those of you who follow my Elise thread will know it's recently been victim to a Class 1 imbecile who has reversed into it causing the front clamshell to require replacement. Rather than build up ridiculous hire car costs for the third party to later reject I decided to buy my own, not least as I have some road trips planned for Europe over the summer.
Having owned an E46 330i Saloon with a manual box I've always had a hankering for an E39, to me it is the best looking normal car BMW have built in the last 20 years or so, it still looks modern and people still admire it on the road, well I think they do! The early E60s have dated quickly compared to this, it certainly doesn't look 13 years old! As it will be a commuter and road trip car it had to be auto. Man maths dictated it should be a 540i. I looked at 2 at the beginning of this week and on Tuesday picked this up having found it on the classifieds here, the seller was of course a proper PHer and a true gent and massive BMW/Alpina enthusiast, had a stunning F10 B5 BiTurbo in the garage. Most importantly he has taken great care of this 540i, most of the things listed to watch out on them have been replaced, the headlight units are new, the rocker cover gaskets are done, the hedgehog matrix thing is done, and so is the LCD display on the dash, it also has a Full BMW Service History, the last one being Inspection 2 done by a specialist. This car just felt right, not least because Simon from E-Maps has worked some magic on it and it is alleged to be putting out 310bhp now. Oh and it's not even down 80,000 miles yet, barely run in!
Without further ado photo time!
BMW E39 540i Sport by tlynchie, on FlickrBMW E39 540i Sport by tlynchie, on FlickrBMW E39 540i Sport by tlynchie, on FlickrBMW E39 540i Sport by tlynchie, on FlickrBMW E39 540i Sport by tlynchie, on FlickrBMW E39 540i Sport by tlynchie, on FlickrAs you can see it is pretty well specced with lashings of cow and tree. There is even some electricity inside it! Colour is BMW Individual Slate Green, so now I own two green cars. Yay!
Of all the cars I have owned this best demonstrates two personalities, it wafts around town and makes a breeze of any normal traffic situations, sits calmly and patiently in traffic no bother, breezes along the motorway too. Then when you pop the gearbox into sport mode, floor it and let it kick down it absolutely flies! I wouldn't so much call it acceleration so much as building momentum at an alarming rate. Some people I'm sure will bring up the M5 v 540i debate, well I test drove an M5 a few weeks back and considering it has been my realistic dream car for as long as I can remember it left me bitterly disappointed, it didn't feel that fast and didn't sound that good. The opposite of the 540i, I didn't expect it to feel so brisk, while being so quiet and comfortable, and the noise I expected to be quiet, you still know it's a V8 though, and of course it's a lot cheaper than the M5. Fuel consumptions seems good, being careful on my short morning commute where I don't get much above 30 I got 23.5 mpg, in heavy traffic this drops to around 19 though. In summary I love this thing! Bring on the road trips!!
Very nice, really like the colour. I do miss mine, but it wasn't as nice as yours. They do go fairly well as you say, I think it's generally accepted that BMWs official power figure was a bit on the conservative side.
You plan on keeping it a long time? I'd be fairly tempted if and when you decide to sell...
You plan on keeping it a long time? I'd be fairly tempted if and when you decide to sell...
Great car, and very clean. An left-field choice for a 21 y.o., but a very good one.
How's the insurance premium for you?
I ran an E39 530dA Touring for a couple of years, but €385 road tax, €1,700p.a. insurance, and service bills totalling €2,400 meant it had to go. I still see it around and it's still very clean. Mine was metallic black with a yellow/cream hide interior.
How's the insurance premium for you?
I ran an E39 530dA Touring for a couple of years, but €385 road tax, €1,700p.a. insurance, and service bills totalling €2,400 meant it had to go. I still see it around and it's still very clean. Mine was metallic black with a yellow/cream hide interior.
Congratulations OP, great car. I don't think Slate Green was an individual colour, best way to check is the kick plates if it was they should have individual inscribed on them.
Regarding the E39 M5 I'm surprised you found it dissappointing, from what I can remember at the time the M5 was a totally different beast, better in every aspect.
Regarding the E39 M5 I'm surprised you found it dissappointing, from what I can remember at the time the M5 was a totally different beast, better in every aspect.
As you know I'm a big fan of this mate!
Still think that E46 I checked out for you was nice though, could have been a real beauty that. You've scratched 2 itches here though, E39 and V8!
ETA: Mega cool points lost by stating your age in the title
Still think that E46 I checked out for you was nice though, could have been a real beauty that. You've scratched 2 itches here though, E39 and V8!
ETA: Mega cool points lost by stating your age in the title
Edited by DanielJames on Friday 11th July 11:17
I love the subtlety of these, a V8 and a single exhaust, don't see that anymore! I agree, these old BMWs really have aged well, I'm currently looking at E36/E46 (I'm young too! - only 20) and the amount of car you get for the money is just fantastic. They really don't build them like they used to eh 
magnum555 said:
Regarding the E39 M5 I'm surprised you found it dissappointing, from what I can remember at the time the M5 was a totally different beast, better in every aspect.
I'm also surprised but I could be biased. My experience of a 540i was certainly that it rolled more when cornering, and felt a bit more ponderous with direction changes. The M5 doesn't always feel that fast because it's so effortless and refined, certainly when you have an Elise for comparison. Great photos too.As someone else once said - could anyone get away with selling a V8 today with just one exhaust pipe? The E39 pulls it off magnificently.
Thanks for all the comments guys, and thanks Mods for correcting my terrible english from the thread title and the age comment that went down so well :P
As for the M5 I drove it was atually at a BMW Main Dealer, though I realise now I didn't have the sport button pressed and probably didn't drive it long enough. For the twisty roads I enjoy though it's quite a big car so given the choice I'd still take the 540i Auto and have something else for a B-Road thrash!
I still stand by my E60 comments though, I really think the pre-faclifts non Xenon cars are looking quite dated. The face-lift front and rear lights on the E39 to me still look perfect today. I also have to agree, though very biased, that the E39/E46/E38 later interiors are among some of the best. They look sharp and clean today and everything is easy to find. E60 interior is also a lovely place, my Dad has one. But I think the current BMW interiors are messy and will date quickly. Much prefer my E39 interior to the F10, but then I much prefer cars from the 00s to the modern day.
People have questioned whether the colour is actually individual or not, the last owner had the same thing, there are no 'Individual' sill plates, but under the bonnet the colour stamp is marked 'Individual' and it is also down on the build sheet as 'Individual' along with the headlining. It was also listed on the build sheet as having the model description badge removed, a previous owner has stuck it back on, with the single exhaust I am tempted to de-badge it again, but I rather enjoy the comments when I am with the car when people ask if it's a 4 litre and I tell them it isn't..... it's a 4.4
Suggestions are open for the Elise replacement too, top of my list is the E46 M3, but I'm yet to drive one.I was planning to keep the 540i only until I had replaced the Elise, but seeing how nice and example it is I'm rather tempted to keep it, not sure even man maths can justify an M3 and a 540i!
As for the M5 I drove it was atually at a BMW Main Dealer, though I realise now I didn't have the sport button pressed and probably didn't drive it long enough. For the twisty roads I enjoy though it's quite a big car so given the choice I'd still take the 540i Auto and have something else for a B-Road thrash!
I still stand by my E60 comments though, I really think the pre-faclifts non Xenon cars are looking quite dated. The face-lift front and rear lights on the E39 to me still look perfect today. I also have to agree, though very biased, that the E39/E46/E38 later interiors are among some of the best. They look sharp and clean today and everything is easy to find. E60 interior is also a lovely place, my Dad has one. But I think the current BMW interiors are messy and will date quickly. Much prefer my E39 interior to the F10, but then I much prefer cars from the 00s to the modern day.
People have questioned whether the colour is actually individual or not, the last owner had the same thing, there are no 'Individual' sill plates, but under the bonnet the colour stamp is marked 'Individual' and it is also down on the build sheet as 'Individual' along with the headlining. It was also listed on the build sheet as having the model description badge removed, a previous owner has stuck it back on, with the single exhaust I am tempted to de-badge it again, but I rather enjoy the comments when I am with the car when people ask if it's a 4 litre and I tell them it isn't..... it's a 4.4
Suggestions are open for the Elise replacement too, top of my list is the E46 M3, but I'm yet to drive one.I was planning to keep the 540i only until I had replaced the Elise, but seeing how nice and example it is I'm rather tempted to keep it, not sure even man maths can justify an M3 and a 540i!
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