Where to find an E39 530i/525i Sport?
Discussion
E38Ross said:
How many miles has the old girl done now fox-?
How many miles have you covered in those 6 years, and how many miles per year you doing at the moment?
Still looking lovely. My E38 has upped its mileage as I've got a job 20 miles each way (17 of which are motorway so the engine won't be wearing much!)
Ross.
At some point next year (hopefully) my commute will be 50 miles each way for 4-6 months from Poole to Portsmouth and back. Only twice a week though, at the weekends, and not every weekend at that. I will hardly, if at all use it during the week Much better for it however than the 6 miles each way it goes at the moment.How many miles have you covered in those 6 years, and how many miles per year you doing at the moment?
Still looking lovely. My E38 has upped its mileage as I've got a job 20 miles each way (17 of which are motorway so the engine won't be wearing much!)
Ross.
Max M4X WW said:
I appreciate it looks pretty good, but they could have made it look so much better if they had 'faked' the design of the opening front cassette mechanism.
It looks like its more for an E46 IMO.
Only because you know exactly what both units look like. It fits the interior really well and looks like it was meant to be there - there isn't an OEM BMW one beside it to compare with It looks like its more for an E46 IMO.
Max M4X WW said:
Does your car have extended leather or have you added the leather console?
I added the console.sparks_E39 said:
E38Ross said:
How many miles has the old girl done now fox-?
How many miles have you covered in those 6 years, and how many miles per year you doing at the moment?
Still looking lovely. My E38 has upped its mileage as I've got a job 20 miles each way (17 of which are motorway so the engine won't be wearing much!)
Ross.
At some point next year (hopefully) my commute will be 50 miles each way for 4-6 months from Poole to Portsmouth and back. Only twice a week though, at the weekends, and not every weekend at that. I will hardly, if at all use it during the week Much better for it however than the 6 miles each way it goes at the moment.How many miles have you covered in those 6 years, and how many miles per year you doing at the moment?
Still looking lovely. My E38 has upped its mileage as I've got a job 20 miles each way (17 of which are motorway so the engine won't be wearing much!)
Ross.
vano said:
530i is the way to go.
The main disadvantage of V8 powered E39(535/540/M5) is numb steering.
V8 models were fitted with steering box which is not as precise as rack and pinion on 6 cylinder cars.
This is well known to be the case for the E39, but out of curiosity does anyone know if it is also true of the E38 7-series, which also came with a straight six or V8?The main disadvantage of V8 powered E39(535/540/M5) is numb steering.
V8 models were fitted with steering box which is not as precise as rack and pinion on 6 cylinder cars.
LC23 said:
I'm now thinking that it would be best to not get hung up on the nav (although I actually quite like the way it operates - you should try the Volvo unit in the Aston) as finding a decent manual 530i Sport is hard enough in the first place.
If you consider Autos and want a 30i. Then try seeking a Champagne II edition.It will come with all the good spec by default.
MK4 Nav, bluetooth etc etc.
Lowtimer said:
vano said:
530i is the way to go.
The main disadvantage of V8 powered E39(535/540/M5) is numb steering.
V8 models were fitted with steering box which is not as precise as rack and pinion on 6 cylinder cars.
This is well known to be the case for the E39, but out of curiosity does anyone know if it is also true of the E38 7-series, which also came with a straight six or V8?The main disadvantage of V8 powered E39(535/540/M5) is numb steering.
V8 models were fitted with steering box which is not as precise as rack and pinion on 6 cylinder cars.
It may not be "as precise" but it's still perfectly fine, and the V8 more than makes up for it.
If you're thinking of a 530i, I'd suggest you consider the 540i as the alternative rather than the 525i - you make effortless progress in the 540i where you need to work the 525i that much harder. You'll find running costs to be similar across them all.
Output Flange said:
Not sure, but it's an over-egged point on the E39s - yes, there's a slight difference but it's nowhere near the yawning chasm people make out. After all, how many M5 owners complain about the steering being vague?
The M5 has a much better steering box though, so much so that some 540i owners retrofit it.OP - not sure if you are still on the look out but there is what looks like a nice looking 530i Sport Manual on ebay now:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
I have no link to the seller but was also looking for one a while back and still have the search alert set up!
It's a facelift as all 530i's are but an early-ish one so has the older style wheel (not sure if any other significant changes - not much I don't think)and no satnav but looks tidy enough at decent miles and has the useful 'through-load' folding seats option. Looks smart enough in the pics, £2,995 seems reasonable and looks like he's open to offers...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
I have no link to the seller but was also looking for one a while back and still have the search alert set up!
It's a facelift as all 530i's are but an early-ish one so has the older style wheel (not sure if any other significant changes - not much I don't think)and no satnav but looks tidy enough at decent miles and has the useful 'through-load' folding seats option. Looks smart enough in the pics, £2,995 seems reasonable and looks like he's open to offers...
Naldrett said:
OP - not sure if you are still on the look out but there is what looks like a nice looking 530i Sport Manual on ebay now:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
I have no link to the seller but was also looking for one a while back and still have the search alert set up!
It's a facelift as all 530i's are but an early-ish one so has the older style wheel (not sure if any other significant changes - not much I don't think)and no satnav but looks tidy enough at decent miles and has the useful 'through-load' folding seats option. Looks smart enough in the pics, £2,995 seems reasonable and looks like he's open to offers...
Looked good until the part where he said it does 30 mpg around town. Not in Bournemouth matey!http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
I have no link to the seller but was also looking for one a while back and still have the search alert set up!
It's a facelift as all 530i's are but an early-ish one so has the older style wheel (not sure if any other significant changes - not much I don't think)and no satnav but looks tidy enough at decent miles and has the useful 'through-load' folding seats option. Looks smart enough in the pics, £2,995 seems reasonable and looks like he's open to offers...
3 grand is reasonable enough and compared so some godawful early E60 at twice the price, it looks like value. If might have a couple of rusty bits and plenbty of stonechips, but it's an eleven year old car selling for around a tenth of what it cost new. If it's a decent example that drives okay and all the toys work, it's worth buying because it'll do another 100'000 miles of it's maintained. You could spend another six months looking and not find a better one. The manual box is one less thing to go wrong at that age as well.
OP
I would be holding for a E39 540i Manual Gearbox or E39 530i Manual Gearbox
Buy on condition and FSH
540 top of the normal E39s and you got a V8 and proper chrome kidney grilles like the M5 to distinguish it from the 'lesser' 5 Series
530i best of the straight sixes; decent pace; prob good value for money but 540i should be within your budget give or take
525i too slow and heavy I think ?
Go for 2000 onwards as facelift
Still don't totally rule out 540i Auto .... Might be a good cruiser but if you manage a 540i Manual Gearbox and a Good one .... Take pride you have a VERY RARE E39!!!!
PS don't worry about nav it should not be a deal breaker .... Go for one with low owners and low miles .... Good luck :-)
I would be holding for a E39 540i Manual Gearbox or E39 530i Manual Gearbox
Buy on condition and FSH
540 top of the normal E39s and you got a V8 and proper chrome kidney grilles like the M5 to distinguish it from the 'lesser' 5 Series
530i best of the straight sixes; decent pace; prob good value for money but 540i should be within your budget give or take
525i too slow and heavy I think ?
Go for 2000 onwards as facelift
Still don't totally rule out 540i Auto .... Might be a good cruiser but if you manage a 540i Manual Gearbox and a Good one .... Take pride you have a VERY RARE E39!!!!
PS don't worry about nav it should not be a deal breaker .... Go for one with low owners and low miles .... Good luck :-)
Edited by thepony on Saturday 29th September 23:17
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