My E39 540i Touring

Author
Discussion

petrolveins

1,780 posts

172 months

Thursday 2nd October 2014
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Stunning car OP. E39 540i owner here too (facelift sport saloon). There is a understated charm to the pre-facelifts that the later ones don't have so much.

McSam said:
Unlikely question for a big auto estate, but how quick does it feel? I've been tempted by a 540iA saloon before now, don't do many miles so anything over 20mpg is acceptable, but I worry about the power being lost to the mass and the gearbox.
Edited by McSam on Friday 26th September 18:40
I used to have an E46 330i manual and now have an E39 540i Sport Auto Saloon, feels faster than the 330i for sure. It actually deels faster in D in the box rather than S, I think it's just the surge or torque, but there's no let up whatsoever. Feels strongest above 4,000rpm. Told mines been remapped to 310 bhp, cant verify but it feels all of 300bhp strong. Have to say I much prefer the Gearbox to even a lot of modern stuff, it's so responsive from a standstill, just poke it and it goes, no delay. Would never have a manual over this. Also does 21 mpg daily and 30mpg on a good run. Should be for sale soonish too :P There's a thread on here.

Max M4X WW

4,789 posts

181 months

Thursday 2nd October 2014
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petrolveins said:
Feels strongest above 4,000rpm.
Oh yes, that's when the noise gets good too smile

AGAR

404 posts

207 months

Friday 3rd October 2014
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Looking good Big G! I think Alpina rims would suit it perfectly, although maybe that's been done to death?

Is that Coldo I saw posting too?

RS Grant

Original Poster:

1,416 posts

232 months

Friday 3rd October 2014
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McSam said:
hope it does, it looks brilliant! Do feel free to drop me a PM if you want rid of it, it's an itch I need to scratch at one time or another.
Yeah no worries, I will give you a shout when the time comes for the big 5 to move on. It's fighting stiff opposition due to its size, in fact, I'm the only one who has driven it so far. smile

sixpistons said:
CSLs look great on the right car, but I think they'd look a bit brash on an old 5 series. I reckon stick with something that was originally available with the E39 - something like style 32s can be had on ebay pretty cheap and look great.

Like this:

Pappagallo said:
Style 32s are a very good suggestion for yours I think.

M Parallels always look good but suit a Sport model more.

The CSLs would be just wrong!
Usget said:
Style 5s or 89s would look suitably OEM+ I think.
Yeah I think you guys are right.. the CSLs aren't the way forward with this car, might look a bit too 'scene' and barry'd up on the E39.

Absolutely love M-Parallels, but again, not sure that an SE-spec car would look right with them. The majority of style 32s which I've found seem to be in E36/46 fitment, which isn't a bolt on job for an E39. I'm trying to sort out a deal on some 18" Hartge alloys, similar in design to style 32s. If that happens then I'll fire some pictures of them up when I collect them.


Cheers,
Grant

RS Grant

Original Poster:

1,416 posts

232 months

Friday 3rd October 2014
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Dannbodge said:
Sod the 540 I want that 335i. That is actually awesome.

If I get one....I'm getting those wheels for it!
Haha, thanks mate.. unfortunately the car wasn't as nice to own as it was to look at!! But the CSLs made a huge difference to the way the car looked, it really deserved more than the standard 18" MV3s and the CSLs fitted the bill perfectly.


Cheers,
Grant

RS Grant

Original Poster:

1,416 posts

232 months

Friday 3rd October 2014
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philmots said:
Saw this on ebay, was on there a while! I was half tempted but I've a different plan at the minute!
I'm not sure how long it was for sale, but if it did linger at all then I can only imagine it was due to the colour combination... which is definitely different. But coming from a Black 123d, Black M3 and Black 335i..... it's a nice change for me!! smile


Cheers,
Grant

RS Grant

Original Poster:

1,416 posts

232 months

Friday 3rd October 2014
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Pappagallo said:
Sadly it'll never sound like one of those but you'll get a nice tune or two out of it! I was lucky and found a lightly used Eisenmann 550i rear section for a bargain price. It gives just enough noise without being lairy or annoying.
Max M4X WW said:
This was mine with both rear cannons removed and the Y still there, see my channel for a video with just one rear cannon removed..

http://youtu.be/_a33CLgP7GY?list=UUPc4PvwyEyhSsUlW...
Yeah I'm wanting something subtle when cruising, but don't mind it bringing a bit of noise to the party on the occasion it's given some decent throttle... your car sounds good Max. I was looking to remove both rear boxes and replace with a straight bit of pipe. Two pictures below show the standard system and the sort of replacement I'm after.





Cheers,
Grant

RS Grant

Original Poster:

1,416 posts

232 months

Friday 3rd October 2014
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Pappagallo said:
Would be interesting to hear about this as I often dream about getting them to fit a Quaife LSD.
Once all outstanding business with them has been dealt with, I'll be detailing my ownership experience with Birds over the last 6 months... not expecting many people to engage with the thread because there are quite a few Birds fanboys on here. But what I will say just now is, their Quaife LSD worked fantastically well and made the 335i waaay more useable compared to another I've driven with an open diff.


Cheers,
Grant

RS Grant

Original Poster:

1,416 posts

232 months

Friday 3rd October 2014
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petrolveins said:
Stunning car OP. E39 540i owner here too (facelift sport saloon). There is a understated charm to the pre-facelifts that the later ones don't have so much.
It's funny, before I picked it up, I was thinking that I would facelift the car and fit sport bumpers.. but when I got hold of the car and saw that the headlights are like new, the bumpers are in decent nick, chrome work isn't dull and buggered... I decided that it'd be a bit silly to tear it all apart and make a Sport replica so I'll just embrace the ?retro? pre-facelift look. smile


Cheers,
Grant

RS Grant

Original Poster:

1,416 posts

232 months

Friday 3rd October 2014
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AGAR said:
Looking good Big G! I think Alpina rims would suit it perfectly, although maybe that's been done to death?

Is that Coldo I saw posting too?
Thanks Rich!! Aye it's a tough call on the wheel front, trying to sort out some 18" Hartge wheels for it but kind of stuck between what he wants and what I'm prepared to pay, haha.

Hmmm yeah I had assumed that 16 plates is reference to Big Coldo's supernatural dead lift ability. smile


Cheers,
Grant

g3org3y

20,606 posts

190 months

Saturday 4th October 2014
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Lovely car. smile

CSLs on this would be criminal wink

Type 32 multispokes or Type 5 cross spokes would be my preferred option. Otherwise, a set of 18 inch Alpina Softlines would look lovely.

The only thing putting my off E39 Tourings is the self levelling rear suspension which I understand is ££ if it goes wrong.


Stoatman

592 posts

166 months

Saturday 4th October 2014
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What's the going rate for these, north or south of 3k ?. The reason I ask is , there is a saloon that looks immaculate with 79000 miles on, full history close to me and it's 2999. I'm looking for a non sensible run about and am tempted. Is that ok money ? It is at a dealer and I am guessing some kind of warranty against catastrophic bork

RS Grant

Original Poster:

1,416 posts

232 months

Saturday 4th October 2014
quotequote all
g3org3y said:
Lovely car. smile

CSLs on this would be criminal wink

Type 32 multispokes or Type 5 cross spokes would be my preferred option. Otherwise, a set of 18 inch Alpina Softlines would look lovely.

The only thing putting my off E39 Tourings is the self levelling rear suspension which I understand is ££ if it goes wrong.
Good shout on the wheels, Alpinas would definitely be another good option on this car.

The SLS won't be cheap if it goes nips north and it's replaced with new parts, but there are a lot of these cars being broken for spares so I should be ok picking up a second hand pump/bag if it needs it. Although I think I saw someone on the 5-series forum mention converting their E39 Touring to conventional 'static' springs, so it is possible with a bit of spannering.

Stoatman said:
What's the going rate for these, north or south of 3k ?. The reason I ask is , there is a saloon that looks immaculate with 79000 miles on, full history close to me and it's 2999. I'm looking for a non sensible run about and am tempted. Is that ok money ? It is at a dealer and I am guessing some kind of warranty against catastrophic bork
That sounds like its worth a look. You could buy a 540i for <1000 privately; but I will wager that it would need money spent on it and the bill for repairs on a BMW-made 4.4 V8 can build up quite quickly... so it makes better sense to me (NB: time will tell if this is sound advice!!) to spend more money in the first place to buy a car with lower miles, full history, clean bodywork etc.


Cheers,
Grant

tali1

5,265 posts

200 months

Saturday 4th October 2014
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Maybe its just the pix but colour looks BWM familiar.The most striking thing for me were the range alloys - can't recall many 540s with them

Stoatman

592 posts

166 months

Sunday 5th October 2014
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http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Wheels on this ??. Seem a bit strange , bit blingy.

g3org3y

20,606 posts

190 months

Sunday 5th October 2014
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Stoatman said:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Wheels on this ??. Seem a bit st, bit blingy.
FTFY.

E46 M3 replica alloys in a chrome finish.

M badge on the boot (and grill) too.

Walk away!

g3org3y

20,606 posts

190 months

Sunday 5th October 2014
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RS Grant said:
g3org3y said:
Lovely car. smile

CSLs on this would be criminal wink

Type 32 multispokes or Type 5 cross spokes would be my preferred option. Otherwise, a set of 18 inch Alpina Softlines would look lovely.

The only thing putting my off E39 Tourings is the self levelling rear suspension which I understand is ££ if it goes wrong.
Good shout on the wheels, Alpinas would definitely be another good option on this car.
yes

I think 'spokey' wheels suit the E39, more elegant imo (buggers to clean though!).

Though the aforementioned Type 5 cross spokes are lovely too.


Stoatman

592 posts

166 months

Sunday 5th October 2014
quotequote all
g3org3y said:
FTFY.

E46 M3 replica alloys in a chrome finish.

M badge on the boot (and grill) too.

Walk away!
Interesting, thanks . Poor mods then. Maybe an enthusiast who got carried away?. I may keep looking then.

RS Grant

Original Poster:

1,416 posts

232 months

Sunday 5th October 2014
quotequote all
g3org3y said:
Stoatman said:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Wheels on this ??. Seem a bit st, bit blingy.
FTFY.

E46 M3 replica alloys in a chrome finish.

M badge on the boot (and grill) too.

Walk away!
I echo the above, I'd be wary.. but I'd still take a look and proper check of it. Only reason I say that is, a friends grandpa had a Lexus LS and he fitted the most halfords council looking wheels to it and V8 badges on the wings, haha... anybody that didn't know it would dismiss it as a chavtastic smoker; but knowing the car, he spend a fortune on servicing and repairs at Lexus making sure everything was right with it. This 540i might be the same?? It's not too far gone to bring back if the history, condition, mechanicals all check out and having the facelift lights fitted has saved some cash.


g3org3y said:
yes

I think 'spokey' wheels suit the E39, more elegant imo (buggers to clean though!).

Though the aforementioned Type 5 cross spokes are lovely too.
Style 5's look fantastic, but since this is going to be see as a daily throughout winter and I'm really anal about salt and crap being on the bodywork/wheels then something slightly easier to clean than Style 5s would be preferable, haha. Can imagine my OCD alarm going off after every journey with polished dishes like that!! laugh


Cheers,
Grant

Stoatman

592 posts

166 months

Wednesday 8th October 2014
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Not to derail this thread , but am still going to see the linked 540. I know the wheels should be killed with fire but I'm trying to look past them.

Are there any obvious things to look for which would make you walk away ? I have never owned an automatic, should the gear changes be seamless ? . I have read also about weak cooling systems , but does this manifest itself in daily driving or just let's go one day ?