Any 540i owners want to share their ownership experiences?

[Gutless vvti]

Hi folks,

I am considering an e39 540i.

Are they any good?

I briefly owned a Lexus LS400 last year, and could just about afford the petrol costs. I just found it rather dull. I want a V8 with character!

Gutless vvti

[sprouting]

I have an e39 540i touring and love it's all round ability, but for full fat character look at the e34 540. My previous car was an e34 535 and they're a bit more involving to drive, and might just give you the character your looking for.

[GuinnessMK]

I had an E39 540i Touring. Buy on condition not mileage...

Indecently quick, but hard on consumables tyres (all 4 every 10,000 miles) and brakes (needed new discs and pads, twice in a year).

20mpg average was too rich for me when I was averaging 30,000 miles a year.

It also needed a water pump, new radiator, new fuel pumps in my 12 months of ownership.

Finally, I didn't really enjoy the whole autobox / tiptronic thing. Put the autobox in sport and plant the loud pedal and it was OK. But trying to wiggle the stick manually was never as engaging as I'd hoped it would be.

Just my 2p.

[Crombers]

I'm not sure the 540 V8 has bags of character as such.

It's more of a waft-tastic barge, certainly in comparison to the 6 cylinders. That said I always preferred the V8 to the sixes, even the steering box felt better suited to the V8 despite the bashing it recieves for lack of precision.

I found the Alpina B10 delivered on the character front where the 540 failed. Sharper, faster and much improved handling resulted in a far more enjoyable drive.

That said, perhaps my 540 was a lemon as it cost me a fortune in repairs in the 3 years I had it. With that in mind check the following on any you look at as I had to replace everything on the list:

Smooth changes on the auto box (solenoid valve failed on mine preventing shifts - circa 130k)
Cam cover gaskets leaking oil
Intake manifold gaskets - vacuum leak dulling performance
Cats rattling - 140k
MAF failed dulling performance
Cooling system fragile, expansion tank, radiator and hoses need replaced after 60k / 8 years
Auto trans oil cooler - leak free
Random misfires - coil packs / vacuum leaks / O2 sensors
Judders under light breaking felt through steering wheel - thrust control arms
Rear wheels stepping out on uneven roads - wishbones

I had the 528, 540 and B10 and enjoyed them all. The 528 was by far the most reliable and the B10 the most enjoyable.

Spend the time finding a good 540 or you'll be disappointed!