New BMW thoughts and questions
Discussion
Ive been asking around and a few bmws have been mentioned to have a look for!
I have a budget of 3000 and had e39 5series 530i 540i 530d come into the equation of a new car for next year.
I have a mate who has only ever had bmws and when mentioned to him about the 530i he said i should try and find the diesel version to save running costs and still have some fun!
I also would like to know if finding a manual is necessary or are the autos faultless? Just someone with previous experience on the matter would be good!
Also if you have any other bmws that fit in my price range let me know! Im after a long distance tourer that i can have abit of fun with occasionally
Ste
I have a budget of 3000 and had e39 5series 530i 540i 530d come into the equation of a new car for next year.
I have a mate who has only ever had bmws and when mentioned to him about the 530i he said i should try and find the diesel version to save running costs and still have some fun!
I also would like to know if finding a manual is necessary or are the autos faultless? Just someone with previous experience on the matter would be good!
Also if you have any other bmws that fit in my price range let me know! Im after a long distance tourer that i can have abit of fun with occasionally
Ste
Your budget should get you a pretty good 530i. There is a reasonable performance difference between a 525i and a 530i so test drives would be advisable. The auto suits the car very well and I think there's far more of them than manuals. There is some talk of gearbox bork at higher mileages, but I think an transmission oil flush can head that one off.
All three models are good. Manuals are rare but autos go well but can have issues at higher mileage, though some people have no problems at all. I like my manual, OK it's got a long throw gear change but it suits the nature of the 530d in SE spec. An advantage of the manual on the 530d is that it doesn't have the dreaded swirl flaps - a metaphorical unexploded bomb just waiting to go off on many autos diesels.
If all 3 models are acceptable I would concentrate on sourcing the best condition E39 with any of those engines regardless of gearbox/spec. £3k is a decent budget and should get you a nice car.
Rust is an issue on these vehicles mainly (but not exclusively) on & near the boot lid, wheel arches, inside the fuel filler area, sills and jacking points. Outwardly very tidy cars can have serious rust around jacking points and inside the sills which can be very pricey to sort. Someone on another forum recently had their jacking points remade and welded in for about £500 but that seems like mates rates.
You can spend a fortune on sorting out the suspension (and steering on V8 models). Most E39s at high mileage will require quite a lot of work on this area of the car so better to buy one that's already had a lot of money spent on it here. Test drive a few. A good one will track arrow-straight without tramlining, or being twitchy at the rear. Any shimmy/judder at any speed, or when braking, will in most cases be suspension related. A seller who claims that the wheels just need rebalancing or it needs new discs to sort the problem is in all likelihood wrong. New brakes are not that expensive but they rarely solve the problem.
Good luck in your quest. Find a good one and you'll really enjoy driving it.
If all 3 models are acceptable I would concentrate on sourcing the best condition E39 with any of those engines regardless of gearbox/spec. £3k is a decent budget and should get you a nice car.
Rust is an issue on these vehicles mainly (but not exclusively) on & near the boot lid, wheel arches, inside the fuel filler area, sills and jacking points. Outwardly very tidy cars can have serious rust around jacking points and inside the sills which can be very pricey to sort. Someone on another forum recently had their jacking points remade and welded in for about £500 but that seems like mates rates.
You can spend a fortune on sorting out the suspension (and steering on V8 models). Most E39s at high mileage will require quite a lot of work on this area of the car so better to buy one that's already had a lot of money spent on it here. Test drive a few. A good one will track arrow-straight without tramlining, or being twitchy at the rear. Any shimmy/judder at any speed, or when braking, will in most cases be suspension related. A seller who claims that the wheels just need rebalancing or it needs new discs to sort the problem is in all likelihood wrong. New brakes are not that expensive but they rarely solve the problem.
Good luck in your quest. Find a good one and you'll really enjoy driving it.
So prefeably one that has had the work already carried out?
I know that money is good for a few different bmws but it will be a car i will hopefully keep and spend alot of time in for a good few years.
Are there any other models? 3series mainly that i should be looking for as well?
I would like a decent spec, all the bells and whisltes inside, to make it a comfortable tourer, what options should i look out for?
I know that money is good for a few different bmws but it will be a car i will hopefully keep and spend alot of time in for a good few years.
Are there any other models? 3series mainly that i should be looking for as well?
I would like a decent spec, all the bells and whisltes inside, to make it a comfortable tourer, what options should i look out for?
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