540i E39 buyers guide
Discussion
Hi I would like to request info regarding the E39 540i.
I am 24 and have promised myself a V8 as my next car. Previously owned a 2.0 Capri and now driving a Saxo VTR! The bimmer ticks the boxes, plus it's got the comfort and also the practicality of being a fairly compact a 5-door.
From my brief research and from previous general buying experience I can gather that paying a bit more goes a long way i.e. get FSH.
I would like a near standard example, automatic transmission (strangely appeals to me as a few years ago I would have wanted a manual) and perhaps fitted with LPG. In fact I like the prospects of LPG though have no experience of cars fitted with LPG capability.
Cheers
P.S. how much per year will the average BMW servicing cost?
I am 24 and have promised myself a V8 as my next car. Previously owned a 2.0 Capri and now driving a Saxo VTR! The bimmer ticks the boxes, plus it's got the comfort and also the practicality of being a fairly compact a 5-door.
From my brief research and from previous general buying experience I can gather that paying a bit more goes a long way i.e. get FSH.
I would like a near standard example, automatic transmission (strangely appeals to me as a few years ago I would have wanted a manual) and perhaps fitted with LPG. In fact I like the prospects of LPG though have no experience of cars fitted with LPG capability.
Cheers
P.S. how much per year will the average BMW servicing cost?
Edited by OctaneV8 on Monday 24th August 22:40
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
Buy mine and find out
To be honest they are no more expensive to run than a Mondeo, as long as you get them serviced properly.
Fuel is the only issue really, there's no denying they can be a bit thirsty.
On the tourings you have to check there's no crashing over bumps (rear subframe bushes) and that the rear stays level long after the ignition is off (air suspension bags can perish leak). The tailgates on tourings are also prone to rust. REar cup holders always break too.
They are also known to have issues with front wheel wobbles which can be any number of front suspension bushes/links.
Get a good un and they are probably the best car ever made.
Buy mine and find out
To be honest they are no more expensive to run than a Mondeo, as long as you get them serviced properly.
Fuel is the only issue really, there's no denying they can be a bit thirsty.
On the tourings you have to check there's no crashing over bumps (rear subframe bushes) and that the rear stays level long after the ignition is off (air suspension bags can perish leak). The tailgates on tourings are also prone to rust. REar cup holders always break too.
They are also known to have issues with front wheel wobbles which can be any number of front suspension bushes/links.
Get a good un and they are probably the best car ever made.
dave_s13 said:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
Buy mine and find out
To be honest they are no more expensive to run than a Mondeo, as long as you get them serviced properly.
Fuel is the only issue really, there's no denying they can be a bit thirsty.
On the tourings you have to check there's no crashing over bumps (rear subframe bushes) and that the rear stays level long after the ignition is off (air suspension bags can perish leak). The tailgates on tourings are also prone to rust. REar cup holders always break too.
They are also known to have issues with front wheel wobbles which can be any number of front suspension bushes/links.
Get a good un and they are probably the best car ever made.
I think you will find the tax is only £190 on our pre 2000 cars !!Buy mine and find out
To be honest they are no more expensive to run than a Mondeo, as long as you get them serviced properly.
Fuel is the only issue really, there's no denying they can be a bit thirsty.
On the tourings you have to check there's no crashing over bumps (rear subframe bushes) and that the rear stays level long after the ignition is off (air suspension bags can perish leak). The tailgates on tourings are also prone to rust. REar cup holders always break too.
They are also known to have issues with front wheel wobbles which can be any number of front suspension bushes/links.
Get a good un and they are probably the best car ever made.
eliot said:
dave_s13 said:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
Buy mine and find out
To be honest they are no more expensive to run than a Mondeo, as long as you get them serviced properly.
Fuel is the only issue really, there's no denying they can be a bit thirsty.
On the tourings you have to check there's no crashing over bumps (rear subframe bushes) and that the rear stays level long after the ignition is off (air suspension bags can perish leak). The tailgates on tourings are also prone to rust. REar cup holders always break too.
They are also known to have issues with front wheel wobbles which can be any number of front suspension bushes/links.
Get a good un and they are probably the best car ever made.
I think you will find the tax is only £190 on our pre 2000 cars !!Buy mine and find out
To be honest they are no more expensive to run than a Mondeo, as long as you get them serviced properly.
Fuel is the only issue really, there's no denying they can be a bit thirsty.
On the tourings you have to check there's no crashing over bumps (rear subframe bushes) and that the rear stays level long after the ignition is off (air suspension bags can perish leak). The tailgates on tourings are also prone to rust. REar cup holders always break too.
They are also known to have issues with front wheel wobbles which can be any number of front suspension bushes/links.
Get a good un and they are probably the best car ever made.
Ah well, hopefully it won't sell
OctaneV8 said:
Hi I would like to request info regarding the E39 540i.
I am 24 and have promised myself a V8 as my next car. Previously owned a 2.0 Capri and now driving a Saxo VTR!
I think you're a bit young for a middle aged car likeI am 24 and have promised myself a V8 as my next car. Previously owned a 2.0 Capri and now driving a Saxo VTR!
the five series. Even more so for the V8 version.
If nothing else, the E39 V8 is IIRC group 19 - you will
struggle with insurance at the age of 24.
How about a nice six cylinder 325 as the next step up
and leave the V8s until you are thirty ?
You wouldn't want to get old before your time, would you ?
dcb said:
OctaneV8 said:
Hi I would like to request info regarding the E39 540i.
I am 24 and have promised myself a V8 as my next car. Previously owned a 2.0 Capri and now driving a Saxo VTR!
I think you're a bit young for a middle aged car likeI am 24 and have promised myself a V8 as my next car. Previously owned a 2.0 Capri and now driving a Saxo VTR!
the five series. Even more so for the V8 version.
If nothing else, the E39 V8 is IIRC group 19 - you will
struggle with insurance at the age of 24.
A 325Ci is a pointless car, it offers the running costs of a 330i without the performance.
They cost no more to run than a Mondeo, if you're lucky!
Otherwise you may end up shelling out thousands keeping it on the road. As long as you've got plenty of cash put aside for maintenance then a 540i is a fine proposition. Just don't by the first one you see, a lot of the earlier models have been neglected by owners who can't afford to maintain them.
Buy one that's been looked after and you'll reap the benefits.
And in my humble opinion, stamps in the service book don't always mean a great deal. Look for receipts showing new suspension components, MAFs, gaskets, cats etc etc if high mileage, maybe an autobox rebuild. My 540 had a BMW FSH when I bought and it still cost me a packet in repairs.
In my experience the 6 cylinders are more reliable - that said, I'd choose the V8 every time
Oh and I bought mine when I was 24, many moons ago. Don't listen to the 'your too young chat'!
Happy hunting
Otherwise you may end up shelling out thousands keeping it on the road. As long as you've got plenty of cash put aside for maintenance then a 540i is a fine proposition. Just don't by the first one you see, a lot of the earlier models have been neglected by owners who can't afford to maintain them.
Buy one that's been looked after and you'll reap the benefits.
And in my humble opinion, stamps in the service book don't always mean a great deal. Look for receipts showing new suspension components, MAFs, gaskets, cats etc etc if high mileage, maybe an autobox rebuild. My 540 had a BMW FSH when I bought and it still cost me a packet in repairs.
In my experience the 6 cylinders are more reliable - that said, I'd choose the V8 every time
Oh and I bought mine when I was 24, many moons ago. Don't listen to the 'your too young chat'!
Happy hunting
Crombers said:
a lot of the earlier models have been neglected by owners who can't afford to maintain them.
And some later ones by people who have enough money to treat the car as a disposable family run aboutCrombers said:
My 540 had a BMW FSH when I bought and it still cost me a packet in repairs.
Likewise 
But not sure what I would like better for the money dcb said:
OctaneV8 said:
Hi I would like to request info regarding the E39 540i.
I am 24 and have promised myself a V8 as my next car. Previously owned a 2.0 Capri and now driving a Saxo VTR!
I think you're a bit young for a middle aged car likeI am 24 and have promised myself a V8 as my next car. Previously owned a 2.0 Capri and now driving a Saxo VTR!
the five series. Even more so for the V8 version.
A Black 540i Manual, with some nice (OE) wheels (such a M Parallel's) is a very cool car IMHO...
dcb said:
OctaneV8 said:
Hi I would like to request info regarding the E39 540i.
I am 24 and have promised myself a V8 as my next car. Previously owned a 2.0 Capri and now driving a Saxo VTR!
I think you're a bit young for a middle aged car likeI am 24 and have promised myself a V8 as my next car. Previously owned a 2.0 Capri and now driving a Saxo VTR!
the five series. Even more so for the V8 version.
If nothing else, the E39 V8 is IIRC group 19 - you will
struggle with insurance at the age of 24.
How about a nice six cylinder 325 as the next step up
and leave the V8s until you are thirty ?
You wouldn't want to get old before your time, would you ?
Oh and the rest of your post is horsehit too
monthefish said:
dcb said:
OctaneV8 said:
Hi I would like to request info regarding the E39 540i.
I am 24 and have promised myself a V8 as my next car. Previously owned a 2.0 Capri and now driving a Saxo VTR!
I think you're a bit young for a middle aged car likeI am 24 and have promised myself a V8 as my next car. Previously owned a 2.0 Capri and now driving a Saxo VTR!
the five series. Even more so for the V8 version.
A Black 540i Manual, with some nice (OE) wheels (such a M Parallel's) is a very cool car IMHO...
okgo said:
Insurance will be cheaper on the 540 than most 3 series. Fact.
Really ? I just checked540 is group 18
320 is group 15
325 is group 16
330 is group 18
it says here. So my guess of group 19 for the 540 was one out ;->
Everything else being equal, if you can insure a 540 for
less than a 320 or 325, then you are doing well.
For a 24 year old with a group 18 car, I'd daren't think
how much the insurance premium would be for fully comp
with unlimited miles. There can't be many 24 year olds with
full NCB and no points.
okgo said:
monthefish said:
dcb said:
OctaneV8 said:
Hi I would like to request info regarding the E39 540i.
I am 24 and have promised myself a V8 as my next car. Previously owned a 2.0 Capri and now driving a Saxo VTR!
I think you're a bit young for a middle aged car likeI am 24 and have promised myself a V8 as my next car. Previously owned a 2.0 Capri and now driving a Saxo VTR!
the five series. Even more so for the V8 version.
A Black 540i Manual, with some nice (OE) wheels (such a M Parallel's) is a very cool car IMHO...
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1171066.htm
I think the mods fall just on the right side of the line with regards to taste, but I don't think the wheels are genuine.
dcb said:
okgo said:
Insurance will be cheaper on the 540 than most 3 series. Fact.
Really ? I just checked540 is group 18
320 is group 15
325 is group 16
330 is group 18
it says here. So my guess of group 19 for the 540 was one out ;->
Everything else being equal, if you can insure a 540 for
less than a 320 or 325, then you are doing well.
For a 24 year old with a group 18 car, I'd daren't think
how much the insurance premium would be for fully comp
with unlimited miles. There can't be many 24 year olds with
full NCB and no points.
I bought a 528, it cost 650.
To insure any kind of three series, was nearer a grand. Going by groupings is very naive.
monthefish said:
okgo said:
monthefish said:
dcb said:
OctaneV8 said:
Hi I would like to request info regarding the E39 540i.
I am 24 and have promised myself a V8 as my next car. Previously owned a 2.0 Capri and now driving a Saxo VTR!
I think you're a bit young for a middle aged car likeI am 24 and have promised myself a V8 as my next car. Previously owned a 2.0 Capri and now driving a Saxo VTR!
the five series. Even more so for the V8 version.
A Black 540i Manual, with some nice (OE) wheels (such a M Parallel's) is a very cool car IMHO...
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1171066.htm
I think the mods fall just on the right side of the line with regards to taste, but I don't think the wheels are genuine.
dcb said:
If nothing else, the E39 V8 is IIRC group 19 - you will
struggle with insurance at the age of 24.
struggle with insurance at the age of 24.
wouldn't have thought so. I had a VXT at 24 which was group 20, valued at £22k (ex demo), ungaraged, only car and cost me £780/year. I had 3 points but 7 years ncb.
Edited by Lefty Guns on Wednesday 26th August 13:19
But seriously 5/7 series are VERY cheap to insure for what they are.
This is because groupings are only half the story, a group 8 saxo VTR is going to cost one hell of a lot more to insure than the same group focus.
I can get insured on a V12 7 series for less than I can a 330CI. Because the 7. Go figure..
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