RE: Shed of the Week: BMW 528i (E39)
Discussion
Shed said:
Joji also did the E36 and E90 3 Series, and the least said soonest mended Z3.
It’s sentences like this that make me wonder if ‘Shed’ is a real person. I’m beginning to suspect ‘Shed’ is a Markov chain text generator program that has been fed a corpus of Top Gear and Honest John articles...pSyCoSiS said:
Also, I think these were the only 5er that came with just 6 cylinder engines as a minimum, whether it be diesel or petrol (not sure if the Continent got 4 pots?).
The continent got a 520d, with a whopping 136 bhp. Interestingly even my UK market handbook features "520d" on the cover (BMW used to list every variant on the cover) Triumph Man said:
pSyCoSiS said:
Also, I think these were the only 5er that came with just 6 cylinder engines as a minimum, whether it be diesel or petrol (not sure if the Continent got 4 pots?).
The continent got a 520d, with a whopping 136 bhp. Interestingly even my UK market handbook features "520d" on the cover (BMW used to list every variant on the cover) Limpet said:
For the VAG stuff you also have VAGCOM/VCDS that can do everything the dealer tools do, and more. Could you run one of these on a similar basis? Genuine question, I don't know much about the E39.
To an extent, but they were complex for their time and working on one shows two things - firstly the level of engineering that went in to them, and secondly, how they had inherent flaws in some of the components used to deliver it. ABS sensors, chocolate cooling system, crankcase breathers (on 3.0d engines), injectors.In terms of codes....earlier E39s have a different ODB connection but you can get an adapter cable. BMW's fault codes a bit more transparent than, for instance, VWs. £35 will get you a really good generic code reader which will tell you pretty much everything about all E and F series beemers.
My main advice for anyone buying an E39 is to get it up to temperature and let it run for a while whilst watching the temp gauge like a hawk. I got burned on this with one that drove perfectly but cooked itself the next day.
pSyCoSiS said:
Triumph Man said:
pSyCoSiS said:
Also, I think these were the only 5er that came with just 6 cylinder engines as a minimum, whether it be diesel or petrol (not sure if the Continent got 4 pots?).
The continent got a 520d, with a whopping 136 bhp. Interestingly even my UK market handbook features "520d" on the cover (BMW used to list every variant on the cover) Yep, the 528i, for me the one that got away. Twice I was on the verge of buying and the Mrs Jettisoned the plans! In 2009 haggled down a seller to £1750 on an immaculate 528i, which was then only 11 or 12 years old. Imagine trying to find an equivalent 2007 model now for that money!
Surely in 5 years time it will be impossible to buy an E39 like this for £1500, based on E34 values?
daveco said:
I think autocar got a 0-60 time of 6.8 seconds out of a manual 528, and a fairly impressive 0-100mph time as well.
Would that fuel the rumours that these engines are sometimes (a lot of the time) more powerful than the manufacturer's data? The 530i manual with 230bhp was supposed to do 0-60 in 7.1 seconds so the 528i surely must have been running more than 193 bhpTriumph Man said:
daveco said:
I think autocar got a 0-60 time of 6.8 seconds out of a manual 528, and a fairly impressive 0-100mph time as well.
Would that fuel the rumours that these engines are sometimes (a lot of the time) more powerful than the manufacturer's data? The 530i manual with 230bhp was supposed to do 0-60 in 7.1 seconds so the 528i surely must have been running more than 193 bhpdarkblueturbo said:
I used to have an E39! Awesome. I’m tempted, but the kids need Christmas presents more than I need a new shed.
So what does the F stand for in the newer BMW models?
No they don't. It's time you go back to traditional values and teach them about the true meaning of Christmas. So what does the F stand for in the newer BMW models?
KPB1973 said:
Limpet said:
For the VAG stuff you also have VAGCOM/VCDS that can do everything the dealer tools do, and more. Could you run one of these on a similar basis? Genuine question, I don't know much about the E39.
To an extent, but they were complex for their time and working on one shows two things - firstly the level of engineering that went in to them, and secondly, how they had inherent flaws in some of the components used to deliver it. ABS sensors, chocolate cooling system, crankcase breathers (on 3.0d engines), injectors.In terms of codes....earlier E39s have a different ODB connection but you can get an adapter cable. BMW's fault codes a bit more transparent than, for instance, VWs. £35 will get you a really good generic code reader which will tell you pretty much everything about all E and F series beemers.
My main advice for anyone buying an E39 is to get it up to temperature and let it run for a while whilst watching the temp gauge like a hawk. I got burned on this with one that drove perfectly but cooked itself the next day.
Triumph Man said:
Would that fuel the rumours that these engines are sometimes (a lot of the time) more powerful than the manufacturer's data? The 530i manual with 230bhp was supposed to do 0-60 in 7.1 seconds so the 528i surely must have been running more than 193 bhp
The featured car has the M52tu B28. Power is restricted to meet German tax laws of the era I believe. The main restriction is the inlet manifold. You can fit the manifold from an M54 B30 to gain more power. Though you need an adaptor plate to fit the throttle body. These are available from Bimmertune. No remap is needed though you’d probably get more power if you did have one. You also need the B30 DISA valve. Superb Shed!
In fact, it seems wrong to be calling it a shed!
I've been in possession of a 52 plate 530i Sport for the past 3 weeks and I'm loving it so far, despite the niggles from it being laid up for around a year.
My other BM is an E34 540i and as much as I adore the old girl (she's still my favourite!) The E39 is a massive leap ahead and in manual guise with the steering rack on the 6 pot models is a far better steer. Surprised to find that it actually 'shrunk' on a b road, it feels surprisingly agile for what is a very big, heavy car.
Performance in my 530i Manual is only a bit off my 540i Auto from a standstill, I'd say in gear at motorway speeds the 540 would disappear. However I used to average around 20mpg mixed in the 540, whereas I'm getting around 34 mixed in the 530.
The current oil consumption (DISA and CCV replacement required.) Probably offsets the decent fuel economy though...
In fact, it seems wrong to be calling it a shed!
I've been in possession of a 52 plate 530i Sport for the past 3 weeks and I'm loving it so far, despite the niggles from it being laid up for around a year.
My other BM is an E34 540i and as much as I adore the old girl (she's still my favourite!) The E39 is a massive leap ahead and in manual guise with the steering rack on the 6 pot models is a far better steer. Surprised to find that it actually 'shrunk' on a b road, it feels surprisingly agile for what is a very big, heavy car.
Performance in my 530i Manual is only a bit off my 540i Auto from a standstill, I'd say in gear at motorway speeds the 540 would disappear. However I used to average around 20mpg mixed in the 540, whereas I'm getting around 34 mixed in the 530.
The current oil consumption (DISA and CCV replacement required.) Probably offsets the decent fuel economy though...
So far, everyone seems to be in agreement that this is one of those increasingly rare machines that is impossible not like / admire / love.
I am as much in awe of this machine as the next person but cumm'on, this is PH; where's the contrary opinion? Someone please come along and slag it off, just to restore normality.
I am as much in awe of this machine as the next person but cumm'on, this is PH; where's the contrary opinion? Someone please come along and slag it off, just to restore normality.
KPB1973 said:
Limpet said:
For the VAG stuff you also have VAGCOM/VCDS that can do everything the dealer tools do, and more. Could you run one of these on a similar basis? Genuine question, I don't know much about the E39.
To an extent, but they were complex for their time and working on one shows two things - firstly the level of engineering that went in to them, and secondly, how they had inherent flaws in some of the components used to deliver it. ABS sensors, chocolate cooling system, crankcase breathers (on 3.0d engines), injectors.In terms of codes....earlier E39s have a different ODB connection but you can get an adapter cable. BMW's fault codes a bit more transparent than, for instance, VWs. £35 will get you a really good generic code reader which will tell you pretty much everything about all E and F series beemers.
My main advice for anyone buying an E39 is to get it up to temperature and let it run for a while whilst watching the temp gauge like a hawk. I got burned on this with one that drove perfectly but cooked itself the next day.
You may also have issues with minor electrical stuff (mine had a broken window regulator on the nearside rear, which never bothered me: left it broken) and a passenger side seat occupation sensor (which is a ballache to fix and causes an airbag warning problem).
Apart from that, great car. It even took an accidental 3ft launch off a yump well. I miss it.
mrbarnett said:
So far, everyone seems to be in agreement that this is one of those increasingly rare machines that is impossible not like / admire / love.
I am as much in awe of this machine as the next person but cumm'on, this is PH; where's the contrary opinion? Someone please come along and slag it off, just to restore normality.
Ah faaaacking old German Heaps, Korean is where it's at. Steering box blahdy blah....I am as much in awe of this machine as the next person but cumm'on, this is PH; where's the contrary opinion? Someone please come along and slag it off, just to restore normality.
lol jks I love my E39, and I know only the V8s had a steering box. That's a whole different argument...
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