RE: Shed of the Week: BMW 528i (E39)

RE: Shed of the Week: BMW 528i (E39)

Author
Discussion

Neil E 99

119 posts

115 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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Had a few E39s including a M5

The best all rounder for the family at the time was the1999 528i estate.

It went very well, was comfy though a bit lardy round the bends but the wife loved the comfort.

230 k when we sold it, minor repairs was all it cost us over the 5 years.

Fab car

J4CKO

41,551 posts

200 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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kellyt said:
All in all, good to see Shed making a come back to form, by simply picking a nice car. That's all it takes isn't it?

For me, I have a renewed curiosity in a 540 E39. The guy that put the DAB in my current motor was extolling their virtues and they don't half look good.
You cant have an E39 every week, thats the point, so its not a "return to form", will you predict Sheds demise next week when its not an E39.

It would be pretty boring and be called "E39 of the week"

Limpet

6,309 posts

161 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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crusty said:
Over the last 10 years, myself and a few mates have done a kind of top gear challenge, buy a car for £500 then get it to the ring and back and have as many sideways opportunties as possible.

So the basic car needed to be RWD and manual and as powerful as possible.

Our go to car has always been a BMW 5 series, we started with E34 535i but they became too expensive, then moved on to E39 528i, shame that now they seem to be hard to find for £500.

Both types were absolutely brilliant, think the next £500 car is going to have to be an RX8
I would have thought a £500 RX8 would struggle to even make it to the Ring wink

Caddyshack

10,796 posts

206 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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My e39 540i was one of the best cars I owned. I once read and article about modern cars that said the best riding car was a 2004 528i and it was written in 2012 Ish. I keep thinking I should buy another e39, maybe an M5 or maybe a 530 or other v8.

I have often said that if you could only own 1 car for the rest of your life an e39 should be it and I run a new full fat Rangie.

kainedog

361 posts

174 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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my 525d , I actually love it and will be sorry if it dies

njw1

2,068 posts

111 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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Seven pages of pretty much 'e39's are awesome!' Because they are, here's my 540;



I've changed the wheels since that photo was taken;


Caddyshack

10,796 posts

206 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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Looks great on the new wheels, the old ones looked a bit odd.

Caddyshack

10,796 posts

206 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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kainedog said:
my 525d , I actually love it and will be sorry if it dies
That looks brilliant. Love it.

LosingGrip

7,817 posts

159 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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My first BMW and I loved it! It's the only car I regret selling. Sadly it got scrapped not long after I sold it. Just everything about it was lovely. Effortless to drive. Just ignore the MPG (I got less than 20 around town).

If I could justify another, I'd buy it. Other half might kill me though...

kainedog

361 posts

174 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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Caddyshack said:
That looks brilliant. Love it.
Heated seats , ice cold air con , a remap and I believe rare ish automatic boot. Best 3k I’ve ever spent and never let me down

kainedog

361 posts

174 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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njw1 said:
Seven pages of pretty much 'e39's are awesome!' Because they are, here's my 540;



I've changed the wheels since that photo was taken;

Specially love the dial layout and the dash which reminds me of my old e30’s and my dads e21

Triumph Man

8,690 posts

168 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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As we’re posting photos of our E39s, here’s mine -

It’s a 2001 530i SE with manual transmission, and I love it (most of the time)


Pericoloso

44,044 posts

163 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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J4CKO said:
You cant have an E39 every week, thats the point, so its not a "return to form", will you predict Sheds demise next week when its not an E39.

It would be pretty boring and be called "E39 of the week"
The LDV van a couple of years ago was hilarious and the Metro with extended roof for wheelchair user.

rallycross

12,790 posts

237 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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Pericoloso said:
The LDV van a couple of years ago was hilarious and the Metro with extended roof for wheelchair user.
'Metro-spaz' was one of the best ever.

Its been a while but this is my last E39, dull as anything to drive but incredibly well made/solid/comfy and one of the best cars for towing a racing car I've ever had.







bigvanfan

378 posts

132 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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kellyt said:
I've had worse damage fixed for worse cars. If you look at it in the round, it's a nice motor. Worth keeping on the road as it'll be uber comfortable, pretty quick and sublimely 6 cylinder smooth. If that doesn't tick enough boxes, then it's obviously not your sort of car. Which is totally fine, it can't be everyone's.
That is massive sill damage on that car , that will be an exhaust, prop shaft, fuel tank out job then a full 2 days welding , just had my alpina b10 done and that looked perfect until the plastic sill covers came off

njw1

2,068 posts

111 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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rallycross said:
Pericoloso said:
The LDV van a couple of years ago was hilarious and the Metro with extended roof for wheelchair user.
'Metro-spaz' was one of the best ever.

Its been a while but this is my last E39, dull as anything to drive but incredibly well made/solid/comfy and one of the best cars for towing a racing car I've ever had.











That's not the first time I've heard it said that an e39 is dull to drive. Personally, I don't think it's actually that they are dull to drive, more that an e39 is so competent it gives the impression of being a bit boring, although I'm biased of course. smile

kellyt

158 posts

119 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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J4CKO said:
You cant have an E39 every week, thats the point, so its not a "return to form", will you predict Sheds demise next week when its not an E39.

It would be pretty boring and be called "E39 of the week"
I never predicted the end of the Shed articles. Ever. But I do know the difference between a boring heap of rust, and a decent car.

PowerslideSWE

1,116 posts

138 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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While everyone shows their e39 I might aswell show mine. '00 M5, 90k miles Imola red although it always look japan red in photos. It's been flawless apart from a semi-dead exhaust CPS that I'll (try to) change this winter while it's in hibernation. I've had quite a few E39's and I really think a manual 530 Sport is the pick of the bunch, light'ish on it's feet, very good on petrol as comfy as any other e39 and fast enough.





And my previous 530iM





Edited by PowerslideSWE on Friday 30th November 23:11

PowerslideSWE

1,116 posts

138 months

Friday 30th November 2018
quotequote all
kainedog said:
my 525d , I actually love it and will be sorry if it dies
Fantastic looking that, M-sport trim and 37's look great.

kainedog

361 posts

174 months

Friday 30th November 2018
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Does anyone know if I can somehow get Bluetooth connection to my phone /usb or such like without changing much , its got tape deck up front , multi disc in boot and massive Nokia modem for car phone there too . Must be able to tap into them ??