2000 E39 528i 110k miles - what to look for?

[Pommygranite]

Is there anything in particular to look for with a 110k e39 528i sport?

Cheers!

[Pommygranite]

I'm in Australia and clocking is much rarer than UK due to massive penalties and rust is rare due to climate so perhaps its just the cooling system?!

Is it an expensive fix?

[Pommygranite]

Thanks chaps, appreciated.

If anyone's interested its tis one :

http://stock.3mw.com.au/details/2000-bmw-528i-no-b...

Not many over her with silver trim and sports kit.

Expensive compared to te UK - £4700!

[Pommygranite]

sparks_E39 said:

Pommygranite said:

Thanks chaps, appreciated.

If anyone's interested its tis one :

http://stock.3mw.com.au/details/2000-bmw-528i-no-b...

Not many over her with silver trim and sports kit.

Expensive compared to te UK - £4700!

Worth it though, lovely car.

going to have a look Monday - looking forward to the test drive.

[Pommygranite]

Great thanks.

Any major 'service/replacement items' should have been done or due?

Are they chain or cambelt?

[Pommygranite]

Sounds promising. Was fearful of paying (here in Oz) not much for the car and a bunch more for upkeep. Nice to know it might be lowish.

Here speeding is enforced by nazis so very likely to have led a life where it has never exceeded 70mph and 4000rpm - cars have quite an easy life here.

Only thing is many cars don't get serviced/have service history and given the ad doesn't say it will be interested to see if it has it. If it doesn't ill probably walk away.

[Pommygranite]

sparks_E39 said:

Service history is really important with these cars. Hopefully it's been looked after. What's the reason a lot of Oz cars don't get serviced often?

My thoughts yeah.

I don't know, its like a mentality issue - I think many get done 'by myself or mate who's a mechanic'

There's no MOT/Annual Check either so a car could literally no maintenance or check for its entire lifespan. Frightening.

[Pommygranite]

Yeah absolutely but strangely I saw more knackered cars in the UK. Weird.

Have a look.... www.carsales.com.au. Exchange rate £1=$1.80.

Fancy a new M5 for £150k ....

[Pommygranite]

Had a look at the car and bought it - was in very good condition, immaculate boot/engine bay, no real dings or bodywork problems, worn leather but a full service book, all the pizels/electrics working and drove smoothly with ice cold air con so very pleased. Just been serviced and had new pads/disks which is good.


Couple of minor interior trim issues - centre silver colour flap missing (between gearstick and glove compartment) and stuck drinks holders but thats it.

Pick up later in the week, will put up pics if anyones bothered.

Thanks for the tips/help - appreciated.

[Pommygranite]

Thanks, i will do.

I found the accelerator and steering a little stiff and heavy but it seemed bmw 'normal' will just take some getting used to.

Felt quality though, really solid and good design integrity.

In some respects it suits Australia well as it didnt feel like it wanted to go all the time, more a cruiser so that might help not lose my license.

So - any upgrade enhancement ideas?

Not sure if it has the latest clear/red rear lights so might source those.

Also thinking the Angel Eye thing is a bit naff so might just try and refresh it all back to new with some good quality detailing products on the exterior, specifically the black exterior trim.

[Pommygranite]

Thanks for the ino.

looking at replacing the tape player/radio job by - seen a few aftermarket 7" screens like on later models such as:

http://www.dynavin.com/products/n6_e39.php

http://www.eonon.com/Car-GPS/Specific-Car-GPS/BMW/...

Any good?

[Pommygranite]

Thanks all for the tips.

Picked it up today and massively impressed - such a superbly designed, engineered and built car. Love it already.

Full of kit, all works well, not a squeek or rattle, no dead pixels,engine and gearbox fabulously smooth. I love the way it 'makes you drive' smoothly when taking off, lower speed and when you want to get your foot down its spot on.

Has 170k Kms and feels like it could do double.

2 minor faults have arisen on ay one though:
1. The brake light/rear light bulb error light has come on but all lights are fine - any ideas how to get rid of the warning?
2. The vanity mirror light doesn't work

Also the matte chrome cover on the ashtray lid is missing - can I find one without buying the whole gear surround? Can I buggery. Breakers yard it is.

Oh and there's only one key - $430 for another. Bugger,

Minor bits apart its just ace. I'm hooked.

Pics up at the weekend.

[Pommygranite]

Thanks for the info - i'll have a look as that seems very possible.

With regards to tuning, whats the easy/cheap quick wins?

[Pommygranite]

Thanks for all the tips - will definitely be sorting a few things out as mentioned. The cooling system gets mentioned everywhere! Will chase up the servicing garages and see if it was done. I have put it in Readers Cars.

Here it is









Clean-ish inside. Note



No dead pixels!



So, so smooth. Absolutely love it. Now cars here in Oz are expensive and especially here in WA where I live - I mean this is a 14yr old BMW for 4600 pounds (no bloody pound sign on keyboards here either...) but this was a good price for this car here in WA. What is great is that its quite heavy/smooth from no speed to speed and out here speeding is policed heavily with bad fines/points (think 100 pound fine & 2 points for 6 mph over the limit and they will do you, no let offs here) so it means nice and cruisy rather than always wanting to go.

Also love the fact its fully specced with M suspension, shorter final drive ratio, leather and full electrics. Its also got a full toolkit and a first aid kit under the passenger seat which was an amusing find.

A few things I just love in terms of attention to detail:
- one touch windows on all - I park in an underground ever day so nice to just flick the switch, no holding up and down.
- one touch sunroof switch
- electric under thigh seat extension
- non slip strips in the boot for my laptop bag
- one touch on the key lowers all the windows and opens the sunroof - great here when its 35 degrees and sat outside before getting in
- electric steering column raises and lowers when turning ignition off and on

A few things I do need to attend to:
- 3 cracked climate control buttons which is quite common I believe and cheap to fix
- had a foggy front headlight - one hour later, 4 grades of sandpaper and a plastic polish and its like new
- leather needs a good clean
- need to find a matte chrome cover for the ashtray as its missing - can I find one anywhere in oz? - anyone in the UK fancy sending me one in return for an Amazon gift voucher/other?!


Next steps I'm not sure on so welcome any views as don't want to chav it up:

Do I change the chrome kidney grill to a black one?



Black badge and script?



LED interior kit - bit harsh?






Welcome all the views on the potential mods.

Edited by Pommygranite on Monday 13th October 13:17

[Pommygranite]

hornetrider said:

Don't chav the badges or the interior lights. On an E39 I'd leave the kidneys as they are too.

Cheers - that's what I'm erring towards - clean and standard.