What to replace an e39 touring with...the answer...perhaps?
Discussion
Just spent some time looking for the existing "what to replace an e39" thread and given up.
A week ago, I watched my trusty 530i sport touring drive away. Last night I collected its successor, a Cayenne Turbo.
On the face of it, it seems like a completely different kettle of fish, in reality it feels very much a home from home. The quality isn't up to the BM, doesn't even have carpet in the door pockets, but it isn't far off. It seems to have almost as much room inside, and its quite quick.
So for anyone looking for a bit of a left field option I'd suggest this could be it...and they're particularly good value as well.
A week ago, I watched my trusty 530i sport touring drive away. Last night I collected its successor, a Cayenne Turbo.
On the face of it, it seems like a completely different kettle of fish, in reality it feels very much a home from home. The quality isn't up to the BM, doesn't even have carpet in the door pockets, but it isn't far off. It seems to have almost as much room inside, and its quite quick.
So for anyone looking for a bit of a left field option I'd suggest this could be it...and they're particularly good value as well.
Hi,
I have an E39 Touring and right now, my plans are to just keep it long term and on the road. I'll perhaps get a newer Touring as well or indeed something faster later. I'd not really thought for one second for an older Cayenne as a replacement at all. I've seen them around of course, and a good mate purchased one brand new when they were a very recent appearance from Porsche. The E53 X5 which is a similar size to the Cayenne, has less load space in terms of litre space etc, so that really leaves these kinds of 'big' SUV type vehicles as more status symbols or what I very often hear as 'safer because you sit higher up' type reasons of purchase.
I'd daresay, that the vast majority of E39 Touring owners wouldn't consider a Cayenne as a suitable replacement if they were looking for something 'similar'. Part of that could also be down to the looks of the Cayenne as well!
Cheers, Dennis!
I have an E39 Touring and right now, my plans are to just keep it long term and on the road. I'll perhaps get a newer Touring as well or indeed something faster later. I'd not really thought for one second for an older Cayenne as a replacement at all. I've seen them around of course, and a good mate purchased one brand new when they were a very recent appearance from Porsche. The E53 X5 which is a similar size to the Cayenne, has less load space in terms of litre space etc, so that really leaves these kinds of 'big' SUV type vehicles as more status symbols or what I very often hear as 'safer because you sit higher up' type reasons of purchase.
I'd daresay, that the vast majority of E39 Touring owners wouldn't consider a Cayenne as a suitable replacement if they were looking for something 'similar'. Part of that could also be down to the looks of the Cayenne as well!
Cheers, Dennis!
I think 'what can replace an E39?' is an impossible question to answer as I honestly don't think that, pound for pound, there is anything that measures up - I keep having dark thoughts about changing mine - current favourite is an ML320 or a Touareg but I just can't bear the thought of parting with the best part of 20 grand. I'd much rather sell the Chimaera than the BMW......
I have a 530iT which is low miles and I use very little anyways. Can't bear to part with it as its such a nice car so I have taken to buying additional cars instead!
However, I'd agree that the only suitable replacements I see are Cayennes, Touareg, RR or latest 5 series, all would have to be the latest models though and would cost upwards of £30k.
OP just stumbled across this thread being in exactly the same position as you were a few months ago
have a lovely e39 525i sport touring thats served us well for 2 years. time for a change so until yesterday it was all about a c5 rs6 until i spent some time researching the ownership experience on rs246!
it now looks like its going to be a cayenne so might pick your brain on life post e39! did you get air susp and pdcc?
have a lovely e39 525i sport touring thats served us well for 2 years. time for a change so until yesterday it was all about a c5 rs6 until i spent some time researching the ownership experience on rs246!
it now looks like its going to be a cayenne so might pick your brain on life post e39! did you get air susp and pdcc?
Well...it's been expensive
Air suspension warning us ed to come on, sorted. With a. £30 o ring and about £150 labour
T hose went, dumping the coolant and leaving me stranded...about £500
Gearbox developed a leak a s a result of the previous owner not sorting an ongoing coolant leak quickly enough... About £1000
One of the transformers behind the multi functional display se e ms to have gone , me a Ning it's very dull. I'm expecting this to be a few £££ to sort.
BUT
Christ it's a stunning car, it moves like nothing that size has the right to, for the money, there's nothing else to touch it.
Any questions fire away.
P.s. all turbos have air suspension
Air suspension warning us ed to come on, sorted. With a. £30 o ring and about £150 labour
T hose went, dumping the coolant and leaving me stranded...about £500
Gearbox developed a leak a s a result of the previous owner not sorting an ongoing coolant leak quickly enough... About £1000
One of the transformers behind the multi functional display se e ms to have gone , me a Ning it's very dull. I'm expecting this to be a few £££ to sort.
BUT
Christ it's a stunning car, it moves like nothing that size has the right to, for the money, there's nothing else to touch it.
Any questions fire away.
P.s. all turbos have air suspension
Edited by hadenough! on Thursday 21st February 19:08
Out of interest why not an E46?
Early Cayenne Turbos are very expensive to run, fuel cost on the Turbo is brutal, as will be tax and insurance. Porsche parts are costly and these are complex cars.
A huge amount of performance for the money but there are genuine reason as to why they are cheap.
Early Cayenne Turbos are very expensive to run, fuel cost on the Turbo is brutal, as will be tax and insurance. Porsche parts are costly and these are complex cars.
A huge amount of performance for the money but there are genuine reason as to why they are cheap.
In my case I'm a bit of a pork fan and miss not being in one. I can't justify a car for a three mile round trip to and from the station each day so decided best bet to kill two birds with one stone and get something more capable and practical for family use and for me to fettle on the odd weekend
pincher said:
I think 'what can replace an E39?' is an impossible question to answer as I honestly don't think that, pound for pound, there is anything that measures up
I feel pretty much the same way about my e36 328i coupe - it does pretty much everything I could want from a car, to the extent that it is quite difficult to ever imagine myself in anything else. E46 is so stodgy by comparison. 5s are too big for my needs. Cooking 1ers aren't cheap (or pretty) enough. Sure, I get very tempted by import JDM coupes but the relatively poor MPG puts me off.
I may have to replace the E39 540iT as I don't think it would be able to tow the race car... the racer comes in at 1350kg ready to race - minimum weight as per regs, which means i need to find a trailer which weighs at 450kg max... Than I have to take spares and tools... Or am I missing something? I am really struggling with what to replace the E39 with? X5s of similar vintage perhaps, but they offer less space, and will have just the same problems, which have been attended to on my car... Don't want a Cayenne as I have an old Porsche and the running costs are scary compared to BMWs... Audi Q7s don't float my boat... Perhaps a Toerag V10 TD? Or the most bonkers of them all - stick the BMW approved Westfalia towbar on the E61 M5?
Cheburator mk2 said:
I may have to replace the E39 540iT as I don't think it would be able to tow the race car... the racer comes in at 1350kg ready to race - minimum weight as per regs, which means i need to find a trailer which weighs at 450kg max... Than I have to take spares and tools... Or am I missing something? I am really struggling with what to replace the E39 with? X5s of similar vintage perhaps, but they offer less space, and will have just the same problems, which have been attended to on my car... Don't want a Cayenne as I have an old Porsche and the running costs are scary compared to BMWs... Audi Q7s don't float my boat... Perhaps a Toerag V10 TD? Or the most bonkers of them all - stick the BMW approved Westfalia towbar on the E61 M5?
Basically you need something heavy - how about an old Bentley? £10k, 6.75 litre V8 and probably weighs as much as your house so should be able to tow pretty well 
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