E39.... worth it?

E39.... worth it?

Author
Discussion

KingOfTheRodeo

Original Poster:

63 posts

109 months

Sunday 20th September 2015
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evening all

looking at investing in a e39 bmw. really like the understated looks of it. yes it's old, but my god, in my opinion, it's aged well. I've been hooked on this video of late... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmv1k88i3NA (can't afford M5... as much i'd want one)

i've a budget of around 4k and ideally looking for a sport variant. guess I'd be looking at higher milage cars? what's the ideal limit of miles before they can become troublesome?

is it big enough for a family. can a baby seat fit in the back comfortably? are the boots big?

i've considered a e46 saloon/estate but would these be too small?

what engine should i look at? i don't do many miles at the moment...

are they ideal daily drivers? will they give me loads of trouble?


thanks

andyiley

9,105 posts

151 months

Monday 21st September 2015
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I recently sold on my e39 530 I 2001 sport with under 120k miles and it was showing its age very well, still drove superbly and with reasonable economy also, I had it lpg converted to help this, but it was probably the best all round car I have ever driven. Averaging around 30mpg over the time I had it carrying around my heavy right foot.

You can pick up ones like mine for under £3k with ease, things to check for good history, no rust on door bottoms, boot lids and rear wheel arches.

I spent a long time looking for one before buying mine & it was time/money well spent.

Budget for a FULL set of suspension & sub-frame bushes all round and you won't regret it £400 with a good brand on the bay that is e for a do-it-yourself weekend job spent with a bearing puller & socket set.

Collectingbrass

2,198 posts

194 months

Monday 21st September 2015
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I have a 51 plate 525 manual SE, bought last year for £2,750 with 63K miles, now at 87k. It returns around 27mpg around town with the aircon on and a heavy right foot, motorways without the aircon will see circa 32 mpg. It is a lush car, and the best of all the £2k - £3k sheds I have owned in the last ten years (Rover 420, 2 SAAB 900s and a Mondeo)

Hunt around and take your time, like ladies day at the races there are some good ones out there and some right mingers. Budget on looking after an old car and you won't go far wrong, in addition to being old & needing their bushes replacing they have a weak point in the cooling system so budget for a radiator, pump, and thermostat swop (change from £400 for parts) if that hasn't already been done. They are very easy to work on, far easier than Fords of a similar era and if you are handy with spanners you'll have enough left out of your £4k for another toy too.


_Deano

7,405 posts

252 months

Monday 21st September 2015
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I would highly recommend a 530i e39, i've had two over the years.
Ran the last one for just over 4 years and it was a pleasure to drive and easy to maintain; parts were cheap from places like Carparts4less.
As mentioned above, rust will be a PITA to clean up, but look for a well maintained model, rather than age/milage.

halo34

2,429 posts

198 months

Monday 21st September 2015
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Whats the performance like as you run up through the models?

I wanted a 540i as a fun car, but 530i seems cheaper and more available in manual format - though I really want a v8.

andyiley

9,105 posts

151 months

Monday 21st September 2015
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The 530 is the best of the lot under the M5.

It is lighter, more nimble, better handling, virtually as quick real world & more economical, the howl of the N/A straight 6 is actually better sounding than the v8.

The 540 for some reason has a steering box rather than a steering rack IIRC which dulls the steering, the heavier front end doesn't help it either.

Depthhoar

673 posts

127 months

Monday 21st September 2015
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andyiley said:
the howl of the N/A straight 6 is actually better sounding than the v8.
Ooooh....heresy! wink

(Though I concede the I6 can make a glorious noise as well!)

andyiley

9,105 posts

151 months

Monday 21st September 2015
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OK, maybe t have been biased, but the I6 does sound fantastic when on full howl!

MarkwG

4,812 posts

188 months

Monday 21st September 2015
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andyiley said:
The 530 is the best of the lot under the M5.

It is lighter, more nimble, better handling, virtually as quick real world & more economical, the howl of the N/A straight 6 is actually better sounding than the v8.

The 540 for some reason has a steering box rather than a steering rack IIRC which dulls the steering, the heavier front end doesn't help it either.
Mostly opinion rather than fact: I've driven 520s, 528s, 530s & 540s, & presently drive an Alpina B10 V8: they're all different, rather than "better" than the others, & as for the six sounding better than a V8...rolleyes
All the weight/steering/economy stuff is related to how you want to drive it: try as many as you can, buy the one you like, & you won't be disappointed.

alistair267

218 posts

147 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2015
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I can't help with the e39 question but I can regarding the size of an e46 as I have a 330i Touring (and two children).

They are quite small and so if space is an issue the e39 will be a much better bet. In my e46 I have the seat all the way back as I am quite tall. My 3 year old can fit behind me but not the 3 month old who is in a rear facing car seat.

The boot is also not huge - once our massive pram (god knows why it is so big) is in, there is not a huge amount of room for anything else.

I would like to get an e61 so that we have a bit more space but OH not keen on getting anything much bigger as we live in London and parking an issue...

Dannbodge

2,160 posts

120 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2015
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My dad has owned his E39 530d since new and it's been a superb car.

He has the tourer which has loads of bootspace and seated 4 teenage children easily (myself and 2 sisters) for all our yearly holidays.

The one issue he had was a turbine vane on the turbo broke but apart from that it's been perfect.

Great cars. They look great, drive great and are by far one of the best BMWs ever made.

Sohlman

590 posts

253 months

Thursday 24th September 2015
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Great cars but getting on a bit now.

Very late cars had isofix.

You may at a stretch be able to get an Alpina b10 3.3 manual which gives 540 pace with 530 running costs and Alpina looks.

Good luck

RC1

4,096 posts

218 months

Thursday 24th September 2015
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i sold the family barge an e39 525 sport touring less than a year ago... its the only car i've ever really missed.

buy one and love it like your first... they're awesome

i still get e39 lust each time i see one.... especially if im in the car that replaced it (tiguan r line....)

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

212 months

Thursday 24th September 2015
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Love my 530i.. totally worth it

counterofbeans

1,061 posts

138 months

Thursday 24th September 2015
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Definitely worth it


Esseesse

8,969 posts

207 months

Thursday 24th September 2015
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RC1 said:
i sold the family barge an e39 525 sport touring less than a year ago... its the only car i've ever really missed.

buy one and love it like your first... they're awesome

i still get e39 lust each time i see one.... especially if im in the car that replaced it (tiguan r line....)
The guy I bought my (1 owner, low low miles) 530d Sport from was buying a brand new Tiguan. I felt a little sympathy for him.

Esseesse

8,969 posts

207 months

Thursday 24th September 2015
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alistair267 said:
I can't help with the e39 question but I can regarding the size of an e46 as I have a 330i Touring (and two children).

...

I would like to get an e61 so that we have a bit more space but OH not keen on getting anything much bigger as we live in London and parking an issue...
I might be wrong, but I don't think the e39 is much if any bigger than a newer 3 series.

quavey

177 posts

151 months

Thursday 24th September 2015
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E39's are great cars, generally very well built a bit troubled by niggly problems but its mainly "old car" syndrome rather than anything serious.

I have a 530i Sport Touring doing large family car dutys and for tip running/trailer towing. (We have a 650i and a 116i as well, there's some brand loyalty for you). The 530i is brilliant though, great performance for the economy and of course sounds quite good however to reflect earlier comments it will never sound as good as a V8.

On purchase I had to replace the front brakes, rear tyres the 4 main arms, ARB drop links and D bushes along with the thermostat and the expansion tank cap but shes all tickety boo now. The majority of that was "shimmy" chasing, on these E39's its never just one simple thing and often several issues causing one similar fault. I think the PO had had a go as she already had two brand new front tyres. Anyway it now drives spot on and handles really well, I used to have an E39 M5 and to be honest the 530i doesn't feel like it handles much worse although that might say more that my old M5 was a bit tired!


lufbramatt

5,318 posts

133 months

Monday 19th October 2015
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I appreciate I'm a bit late to the party here.

I've had my 2003 e39 530i for about 15 months now and love it. Mine is a December 2002 build and has ISOfix in the back. Kids seats fit fine although the isofix isn't the easiest to get to the first time you attempt it.

The boots are huge even on the saloons, I've been camping in mine and didn't have to put anything in the cabin. Even with our slightly bulky Silver cross pram/pushchair thing in the boot, I managed to get a week's worth of luggage in the car for 3 adults and Lufbramatt Jr. recently.

The 3 litre 6 hustles the car along nicely, not a rocket ship but sharp enough off the mark even in auto flavour and you get to silly speeds quick enough on sliproads! Nice howl too as mentioned above, and silky smooth at low revs. Mine averages low 30's mpg, more "on a run" and less if I've got bikes on the roof.

I bought mine at 67000 ish miles and it's currently on 75000. Paid just over £4k for mine which I know is top dollar but it's an Individual spec one (techno violet/champagne nappa leather) with a decent options list. Only issues I've had were a sticky brake caliper (sorted for £65) and a little leak on the rocker cover gasket, took the opportunity to refurb the VANOS seals while I was there. Nice cars to work on, certainly much easier than all the VW's I've previously looked after. Only issue I have currently is a dodgy parking sensor with is a PITA as the beeps wake up the little one when I reverse on to the drive! Service parts are remarkably cheap for the non-M models.

My car had previously had all the rear brake lines replaced so watch out for that.

People love to tell you that you need a HGV to cart around kiddie stuff, but my sister in law manages just fine with a Skoda Citigo as their main car, just have to be organised! A big flat boot floor is useful though for nappy changes in the middle of nowhere though biggrin

johnfm

13,668 posts

249 months

Monday 19th October 2015
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"investing" in an e39? What's your investment horizon? 50+ years? Even then, not likely to be an investment.

However, I expect they are great cars for a daily driver.