E39 525D or 530D
Discussion
Hello,
Newbie here and looking for some advice. Having reached the grand old age of 28 I've decided I want to get a car with automatic transmission (I do around 15k a year, mainly motorways and A roads). I've read a lot of reviews about the E39 that say it is a solid, well built and reliable car. I'm looking at either a 2000-2002 525D or 530D as they seem fairly economical. I'm not too bothered about ones with high mileage as they seem to go on forever.
I was just wondering whether anybody on here can offer any advice or warnings regarding either of the above models.
Bertie W
Newbie here and looking for some advice. Having reached the grand old age of 28 I've decided I want to get a car with automatic transmission (I do around 15k a year, mainly motorways and A roads). I've read a lot of reviews about the E39 that say it is a solid, well built and reliable car. I'm looking at either a 2000-2002 525D or 530D as they seem fairly economical. I'm not too bothered about ones with high mileage as they seem to go on forever.
I was just wondering whether anybody on here can offer any advice or warnings regarding either of the above models.
Bertie W
I've got an e39 530d touring with 131,000 (52 plated) on the clock. Nothing has gone wrong yet (she's been super reliable) but if you read the threads on here you'll see that time and time again the gearbox comes up as a potential headache on these.
They are sealed for life which causes immense grief as they inevitably need go wrong at some stage in their lives. Read the threads for more (use the search function).
Interiors wear well (I've bought a luggage protector off ebay for £20 that's helped preserve things too.) Some of the cup holders and switches on the panels also tend to come loose, fall off, need replacing but BMW supply them so no bother.
It's an epic car and my wife (whom drives it, I've got an e30) absolutely loves it.
They are sealed for life which causes immense grief as they inevitably need go wrong at some stage in their lives. Read the threads for more (use the search function).
Interiors wear well (I've bought a luggage protector off ebay for £20 that's helped preserve things too.) Some of the cup holders and switches on the panels also tend to come loose, fall off, need replacing but BMW supply them so no bother.
It's an epic car and my wife (whom drives it, I've got an e30) absolutely loves it.
Bertie; it depends on the journey to be honest. low 30's if the wife is pottering around local towns (90% on b roads) or 45+ on our trips to London. I actually achieved 51mpg on the last trip to London but that was with the kids and the wife sleeping almost the entire way so had to behave myself.
She hates short journeys (the car, not the wife!).
I'm really thinking about buying the performance down-pipe from these people
http://www.ecotune-scotland.co.uk/product/BMW_E39_...
in the hope that mpg improves on the short stuff (it's bound too on the longer trips).
The trouble with draining the gearbox is that if you put the wrong oil in you'll royally f
k it. It's got to be exactly right otherwise it's kaput. Some (not all) garages simply whack in regular gearbox oil which is wrong.
She hates short journeys (the car, not the wife!).
I'm really thinking about buying the performance down-pipe from these people
http://www.ecotune-scotland.co.uk/product/BMW_E39_...
in the hope that mpg improves on the short stuff (it's bound too on the longer trips).
The trouble with draining the gearbox is that if you put the wrong oil in you'll royally f
k it. It's got to be exactly right otherwise it's kaput. Some (not all) garages simply whack in regular gearbox oil which is wrong.Edited by Oi_Oi_Savaloy on Friday 20th August 12:11
Edited by Oi_Oi_Savaloy on Friday 20th August 12:20
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