Thinking of a beemer

[ICSD]

I'm half thinking of getting an E39 530i Sport and I wondered if it's OK to buy a 70-80k miler - do they go on forever? Also any other info would be great.

Secondly - what do you guys think of an E24 M6 as an alternative. Always loved the shape!

[dcb]

ICSD said:

I'm half thinking of getting an E39 530i Sport and I wondered if it's OK to buy a 70-80k miler - do they go on forever? Also any other info would be great.

This is getting to be a FAQ, but provided the E39 has been looked
after, 70-80K is only just run in.

Touch wood, expect 200K and or ten years before the bills get
too serious.

Personal taste is everything, but I find the sport models
way too firm for road use.

Either that or the local roads are as rough as a Scotsman with
a hangover ;->

[stub]

I'd say what he said.

Great car with a great motor. Go drive it!

[derin100]

ICSD,

You are looking at two cars that are so 'poles apart' that it is slightly worrisome!

Both are great cars in their own respects. I have over 25 years of BMW ownership under my belt ( www.bmwclassics.co.uk/ ) so I do have some insight.

The E39 is a car that you have very little to worry about...a great car that will do "exactly what it says on the can".

The E24 M635CSi on the other hand is one of the greatest BMWs but also potentially one of biggest 'cans of worms' you could possibly hope to open!

If you aren't absolutely sure of what you are taking on then... "don't even 'go there!"

Without any degree of condescension I would say...

Well, put it this way, I owned a 3.0 CS for 13 years...if I were considering buying an M635CSi it would have to SO at the upper upper end of the market that it almost wouldn't make sense to me and would only be for the most 'die-hard' of E24 enthusiasts.

"Terminal rust"...as far as I'm aware...is not something that afflicts E39s ( I hope not! Because I own one as a daily diver!). Cars 'without terminal rust' are (unfortunately) becoming the E24 exception.

I don't mean a bit of superficial, surface rust...I mean proper "Old Skool E9-Type"..."structural", "bend", "break", "snap in half", "good-bye car" kind of rust!!!

Most other things can be fixed...you try fixing that kind of thing!

[ICSD]

derin100 said:

ICSD, You are looking at two cars that are so 'poles apart' that it is slightly worrisome! Both are great cars in their own respects. I have over 25 years of BMW ownership under my belt ( www.bmwclassics.co.uk/ ) so I do have some insight. The E39 is a car that you have very little to worry about...a great car that will do "exactly what it says on the can". The E24 M635CSi on the other hand is one of the greatest BMWs but also potentially one of biggest 'cans of worms' you could possibly hope to open! If you aren't absolutely sure of what you are taking on then... "don't even 'go there!" Without any degree of condescension I would say... Well, put it this way, I owned a 3.0 CS for 13 years...if I were considering buying an M635CSi it would have to SO at the upper upper end of the market that it almost wouldn't make sense to me and would only be for the most 'die-hard' of E24 enthusiasts. "Terminal rust"...as far as I'm aware...is not something that afflicts E39s ( I hope not! Because I own one as a daily diver!). Cars 'without terminal rust' are (unfortunately) becoming the E24 exception. I don't mean a bit of superficial, surface rust...I mean proper "Old Skool E9-Type"..."structural", "bend", "break", "snap in half", "good-bye car" kind of rust!!! Most other things can be fixed...you try fixing that kind of thing!

Wonderful insight thanks - I think then that the E24 is out as I have heard of rust problems before.

dcb said:

Personal taste is everything, but I find the sport models way too firm for road use.

I'm looking for one car that will take me away from an '88 911 and '96 Saab 9000 combination so I'm definitely going to need the sport model to make up for the loss of my 911.

[ICSD]

BTW derin100 I love the Alpina you have for sale.

[derin100]

HAD for sale...I sold it about 6 weeks ago...regretting it already!

As is the 840Ci Sport on the same page...just about to amend the page.

Oh well...you can't keep'em all I guess....

But...I'm working on something even better at the moment...

Watch this space (as they say!)

>> Edited by derin100 on Friday 21st April 17:56

[fluffnik]

ICSD said:

BTW derin100 I love the Alpina you have for sale.

ALPINAs rock.

The E39 based B10 came with a choice of I6 (3.2 then 3.3) or V8 (4.6 then, as V8s, 4.8) engines; most 6s are manual but all the 8s have Switchtronic autos with wheel mounted shift buttons.

The 6s are nearly as powerful as the 540i but retain R&P steering, the 8s are nearly M5 quick and will run to ~170mph given space.

Both have ALPINA's superbly tuned suspension which has a better, handling biased, ride/handling compromise than any BMW option and most major on extra interior plushness too.

Servicing costs are much closer to those of the base beemer than an ///M.

I love my B10 V8.

Second hand prices are stupidly low considering how much more you get.

[ICSD]

I'm rather getting into this Alpina thing, not really been aware of them before.

So, boot space and rear legroom aside, a B3 or a B10?

[fluffnik]

ICSD said:

I'm rather getting into this Alpina thing, not really been aware of them before. So, boot space and rear legroom aside, a B3 or a B10?

You'll get more Eethirtyninieness from a B10.

Don't have any B3 experience but those that have them seem to like them.