Has the E39 V8 market collapsed?

[nogsk]

Strange, but when I was looking 18 months ago, good ones were snapped up pretty quickly. Now I have to re sell, not a blimmin sniff at under half I spent! It's a reasonable example too!
Where have all the V8 lovers gone??

[MarkwG]

With petrol topping £1.40 a litre?!? That's a toughy...

[steve_bmw]

Sorry mate, I think you will struggle to sell it, e39's are a pain to shift, unless its a mint sport with all the toys selling for half its true value, p.x may be the only way out.

[Fox-]

It's a sign - keep it. Everything else is crap anyway so why would you replace it

[nogsk]

Believe me, I'd like to keep it - I've had getting on for 50 motors, new and old, fast and slow - this is a nice, fastish, comfy shed - however, I need something that can have a wheelchair rolled into it Have to p/ex for some revolting Fiat or Pug I expect.............

[Frances The Mute]

It appears that prospective buyers are getting into I6 cars instead.

The market seems to have altered substantially over the last 6 weeks or so.
I was looking for a decent 530 or 728 when prices of all cars - particularly leggy snotters, started to creep up.
Unsurprisingly, the decent specced/lower mileage cars started to disappear and the V8's variant were the only ones left languishing.

Most of the market is quite unreasonably priced for I6 cars now. Still, that gives V8 lovers a chance to get a good deal. Well, on the purchase price at least...

[nogsk]

Yes, I agree. As far as the fuel consumption issue I'd rather swan about in a proper car and use the money I saved by not buying an overpriced under spec'd eurobox to buy the juice......but I guess we all have different needs.

[The Stiglet]

Tell me about it. I've had my 540i sport in the classifieds for around 2 weeks now and not received a single call. It's got a 14 month warranty as well. Might be a tad expensive of course but a list price is only an indication of what I would consider selling it for.

I did go for a few test drives over the weekend and managed to get a £3,000 offer from a dealer for PX on a £15k car. I laughed but have things really come to that? I get the feeling that £3k is a pretty decent price but I paid close to £7k last October

Might just keep it. It does things so well anyway - drive it into dust!

[Max M4X WW]

The Stiglet said:

Tell me about it.

7k is a lot to pay, I think I know your car though and I think its fairly low mileage?

I paid £5250 for mine in April last year - spent a fair whack since though!

[steve_bmw]

I couldnt sell my last 2 e39's, part exchanged the last one for a z4, got 3 grand for my e39.
You wont get alot from a dealer in px now as he has to sell it on, with the market the way it is, I doubt many traders will even want it.
Such a shame as they are great cars.

[4rephill]

steve_bmw said:

I couldnt sell my last 2 e39's, part exchanged the last one for a z4, got 3 grand for my e39.
You wont get alot from a dealer in px now as he has to sell it on, with the market the way it is, I doubt many traders will even want it.
Such a shame as they are great cars.

+1 Traders are avoiding them like they've got the plague!.

I read an article somewhere recently that was saying that even at auctions the traders are having to take big engined cars back with them because there are no takers for them, and these were cars with no reserves!.

[The Stiglet]

4rephill said:

+1 Traders are avoiding them like they've got the plague!.

I read an article somewhere recently that was saying that even at auctions the traders are having to take big engined cars back with them because there are no takers for them, and these were cars with no reserves!.

Just to add to that, with E39 M5's being so cheap many people see the other E39 v8's as overpriced. Some good 540i sports are very close to M5 money (not that you'd want one at that price though).

Now that it looks as though I'm going to be keeping mine then, can anyone recommend a top auto specialist in the South East who can flush my gearbox? Should the diff be done too?

Cheers

[Jw Vw]

The Stiglet said:

Just to add to that, with E39 M5's being so cheap many people see the other E39 v8's as overpriced

Simply this.

[RockyBalboa]

The Stiglet said:

can anyone recommend a top auto specialist in the South East who can flush my gearbox? Should the diff be done too?

Cheers

Don't know of one in the SE personally but make sure that whoever you choose uses the correct gearbox oil (Esso/Mobil LT71141) and not Dexron. Also, replace the gearbox filter, sump gasket and magnets. Finally, you can also drain/re-fill the diff fluid and replace seal too.

[Cemesis]

The Stiglet said:

Now that it looks as though I'm going to be keeping mine then, can anyone recommend a top auto specialist in the South East who can flush my gearbox? Should the diff be done too?

Cheers

Give Lee Shannon a ring on 01420 520 880. He's in Bentley near Alton.

[eliot]

Loved my old 540. Replaced it with a vxr8. went from 18mpg to 12mpg!

[Welshbeef]

Given autocar had the new M5 review today and then past M5's highlighting £5k for the e39 m5 who in their right mind would buy a 540i or 535i v8? Difference is so small.

[Patrick Bateman]

In the purchase price maybe.

[The Stiglet]

RockyBalboa said:

Don't know of one in the SE personally but make sure that whoever you choose uses the correct gearbox oil (Esso/Mobil LT71141) and not Dexron. Also, replace the gearbox filter, sump gasket and magnets. Finally, you can also drain/re-fill the diff fluid and replace seal too.

Thanks for that Mr Balboa

[The Stiglet]

Cemesis said:

Give Lee Shannon a ring on 01420 520 880. He's in Bentley near Alton.

Will do.