So... What on earth do you replace an E39 BMW with?

[RWD cossie wil]

Ok, so maybe a bit of a boring what car thread, but I have had my E39 530d for just over three years now, and have managed to put 80k onto it in that time. It's now a few hundred miles short of 220k! Sadly it's starting to get a bit rough round the edges, mainly due to a badger strike last year, and being the daily hack that covers 100 miles a day commuting/ socialising plus any other extra journeys.

But main problem is just what do you replace an E39 with? It's just such a good car it's almost impossible to think of something that would get close to it for under 10k? I average just under 40mpg, and keep toying with the idea of an M3 (e46) or an M5 (e39), but not sure I could really justify halving my MPG whist doubling my commute costs, although a new job might be in the pipeline that would mean far less commuting! I did test drive an E60 535d, whilst the engine was great, the rest of the car didn't feel quite as well built as the 39, and don't even start on the infernal idrive thing!!!!

So, suggestions under or close to 10k please? Must be semi entertaining, rear wheel drive & have four decent sized seats & a boot, & not too disastrous to run?

[Patrick Bateman]

M5.

Stop being a big pansy.

[slash79]

You seem to be a BMW fan, so dare I say it....... Audi A6 3.0tdi Quattro!!??

[billywhizzzzzz]

I had an e39 530d touring and while it was good, I don't quite get the e39 love on these pages. It's a big, cumbersome barge, which as it's getting old, will be prone to rust or unreliability. I don't miss mine one bit.

An e39 330d touring is a million time sharper, crisper, faster and more agile. Get one of those. Or an e61 - despite your reservations, they're much better (and, of course, will be more reliable etc)

As a wild card, what about an s6 avant?

[Seesure]

Totally get where the OP is coming from.....have been in the same position myself very recently.

[dcb]

RWD cossie wil said:

But main problem is just what do you replace an E39 with?

E91. Every day of the week.

I found the E60 just too big and iDrive was a definite no thanks.

E91 only about 10cm shorter than E39, better on petrol,
faster, lower insurance group, cheaper maintenance costs.

[Chicane-UK]

A smidge over budget..

http://www.4starclassics.com/Alpina-B10-V8s-For-Sa...

[carlingofblack]

Audi A8 D3 .... Great value for money.

[Lowtimer]

The only good answer is another E39. Or put your money into getting your existing E39 refurbed. Having previously had two E39s and then gone over to an E91 for five years and a six-figure mileage, I am now back into an E39 which I've sunk some serious money into to make it fully fit and proper. And it is soooooo much better than any E90/91.

[Denis O]

X5. It's basically the same as the e39 with a few more steroids and 4 wheel drive.

I went e39 540i SE to an X5 4.6iS and was not disappointed. Since then I've had a 535D e61 and that is a great car.

[hornetrider]

All this bks about the E39 being vastly superior to the E60 is just that. bks. Buy a decent E60/1 and rejoice in driving a car that doesn't feel like it was designed in the early 90s.

The only issue I have with idrive is BMW in their infinite wisdom didn't fit a fan position adjustment dial to the dash. Ballache to adjust in idrive so I just leave the climate in auto these days.

[Schermerhorn]

The E6X series BMW's (5 and 6 series) still feel bang up to date in 2014 even though they were designed and released in the early 2000s. Their styling has aged well and their performance across the ranges are still on par with the latest stuff from BMW.

Get a 530D E61 Touring in M-Sport spec. They are cheap enough, parts are now reasonable and very little goes wrong with them.

[Stick Legs]

Keep the E39 for a couple more years until F10 530d have dropped below £10k for a good one. Not long now & you won't be dissapointed.

[Chapppers]

XFR?

[ajb85]

Audi A8 4.2 tdi?
Old shape Jag XJ 2.7 diesel is an impressive car to drive, always overlooked here.
Merc CLS 320 cdi? Fantastic engine, a nice modern upgrade from the e39.

[E65Ross]

hornetrider said:

All this bks about the E39 being vastly superior to the E60 is just that. bks. Buy a decent E60/1 and rejoice in driving a car that doesn't feel like it was designed in the early 90s.

The only issue I have with idrive is BMW in their infinite wisdom didn't fit a fan position adjustment dial to the dash. Ballache to adjust in idrive so I just leave the climate in auto these days.

Daft that is. E65 has adjustable dials. Cant remember last time I used them though as I leave it in auto.

I also prefer the ey

E60 to the E39.