E39 Auto Box - Any good/problems?

[LC23]

Hi All

I'm hoping you can help me. I've recently sold my 330Ci sport coupe and am looking for an M3. In the meantime (as I am willing to take some time to find the right M) I need a car.

I'd like an E39 528i/535i/540i (not looking to spend more than £4k)and ideally it would be a manual. However, I know most of these come with the auto box. Are BMW auto boxes any good or will I need to be careful as they can have issues? And I know about the nikasil issue so I'm looking at March 98 onwards (although I think the nikasil issue only affected the straight six E39s?).

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[jamoor]

well my autobox stopped working yesterday and I am expecting a bill of over 1k, it may be better with the petrols.

HTH

[LC23]

Sorry to hear that. That's the kind of bill I'm trying to avoid as I don't anticipate having the car more than a few months as it will be shifted on once I get the M3.

[jamoor]

LC23 said:

Sorry to hear that. That's the kind of bill I'm trying to avoid as I don't anticipate having the car more than a few months as it will be shifted on once I get the M3.

I suggest a manual then, if you want to be 100% avoiding it.

[madou]

LC23 said:

I'd like an E39 528i/535i/540i (not looking to spend more than £4k)and ideally it would be a manual. However, I know most of these come with the auto box. Are BMW auto boxes any good or will I need to be careful as they can have issues?

I have an E39 540i with an auto box, which I think is really good This is the first auto box I have ever owned, the only thing you should be careful of is that whilst BMW claim it is sealed for life, some users have had the oil changed by a transmission specialist at 100k miles to improve life of of the box and performance

Edited by madou on Saturday 8th March 17:52

[eliot]

madou said:

I have an E39 540i with an auto box, which I think is really good This is the first auto box I have ever owned, the only thing you should be careful of is that whilst BMW claim it is sealed for life, some users have had the oil changed by a transmission specialist at 100k miles to improve life of of the box and performance

I've heard this too.
Once its over 100k, bmw consider it out of life anyway.

[LC23]

Thanks for the posts guys. Seeing as most of the cars I am lookng at are over the 100k mile mark, I think I'll stick to a manual box.

[madou]

LC23 said:

Thanks for the posts guys. Seeing as most of the cars I am lookng at are over the 100k mile mark, I think I'll stick to a manual box.

£75 inc vat upwards to change the oil

Edited by madou on Saturday 8th March 17:58

[E38]

Its less than 100K, in the US the 740 boxes were known to go anytime after about 70K, so best advice is to change it every 60K, and to avoid the big milers on the original box...

Disgusting what constitutes 'life of car' these days, I asked a porka dealer how long ceramic disc and pads last and they said the life of the car. I was shocked and mentioned how both me and my family have always kept our cars and almost never sold them on. 'Oh, well about 3-4 years then' ...

[swiftpete]

I've got one, there is nothing wrong with it really... I changed the oil and filter this last weekend. Recommended to do it every 30k. It's not that hard to do though. The only thing that's a pain is that the car is quite powerful and having an auto means you can't chuck it about the same as a manual. I'm looking for an m3 next but in the meantime it does do the trick and i've had 150mph out of it with ease.

[jamoor]

swiftpete said:

I've got one, there is nothing wrong with it really... I changed the oil and filter this last weekend. Recommended to do it every 30k. It's not that hard to do though. The only thing that's a pain is that the car is quite powerful and having an auto means you can't chuck it about the same as a manual. I'm looking for an m3 next but in the meantime it does do the trick and i've had 150mph out of it with ease.

I disagree, driving in sports mode can make it "chuckable" although I agree not as involving as a manual, I do prefer the lack of involvment when I get stuck in rush hour traffic!