E39 Touring Buying Advice

[Legend83]

Am currently browsing for E61 models around the $10k mark as well as Merc E Class estates.

However, I am also a big fan of the E39 and the idea of NOT spending $10k! I am looking at petrol models as my commute is short and mileage will be low (aside from family holidays) - fuel bills are not a massive issue.

I appreciate that the E39 is ageing now and that I am likely to face some issues. What are the more expensive issues that I should check have been rectified when looking at prospective purchases?

Which model would one recommend? The 530i seems to be a popular choice for that good mix of economy v performance.

Spec? Desirable options?

Manual or Auto preferable?

Any thoughts on these as examples:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-530i-M-Sport-Touring...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-BMW-530I-SE-TOURING...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

How much is a set of tyres on average?

[forsure]

Lots of e39 fans here, and many threads about their issues.

This one's a good place to start:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... to me about the E39 5 series touring.

[E24man]

Try here http://forum.bmw5.co.uk

[bolide]

530i has a big reputation, as do the 525 and 530 Diesels. M-Sport models are a little harder-riding and generally have 18" wheels. The rest may have 15s, 16s or 17s so tyre prices vary

Typical problems seem to be auto box failures, front suspension bushes, rear wiper motors, LP fuel pumps on the diesels, swirl flaps on diesel autos and hedgehogs on all models

I've had mine two years and have replaced the front suspension bushes on the thrust arms (and they need doing again), one rear airbag spring, hedgehog and one piece of vacuum pipe

There are lots of options so do your homework and look carefully. When I replace mine I'll probably get the same again (525 Diesel) in a dark colour with a sunroof and M-sport

Nick Froome

[Fox-]

bolide said:

530i has a big reputation, as do the 525 and 530 Diesels. M-Sport models are a little harder-riding and generally have 18" wheels. The rest may have 15s, 16s or 17s so tyre prices vary

None of the Tourings are on 18's or wider rears as standard, BMW never offered this combination. As a result even a Sport on the 17 inch Sport wheels will set you back just a bargain £110 a corner for UHP tyres such as Eagle F1 Assymetric 2. Lovely. This is quite literally half the price of the same tyre on the back of an 18 inch fitted Saloon!

The main Touring-specific area of concern is the rear suspension which is air sprung and the bushes on the rear subframe. I gather it's fairly obvious in the way it drives if things are wrong here.

The two Sport's in the OP both look lovely and still running on premium tyres which is always a good indication of the previous owners attitude to cost. The SE will save you money as they are less desireable and drive nearly as well. If you are not bothered about looks an SE is probably a better buy, though the Sport looks a lot fresher still.

Edited by Fox- on Sunday 29th January 12:32

[Legend83]

Thanks Fox, what do you think to the prices?

[godskitchen]

I will just echo some of the other points here.....

The Hedgehog will go. It's easy to diagnose, the heater blower will not work. It's also an easy 10 minute fix.

If the suspension is on it way out or gone you will pick up on it very quickly when driving. A number of symptoms, the car will feel uneasy at the rear over bumps/cats eyes/pot holes. It almost feels as if the back end is going to kick out.

Replacing the bits can be pretty expensive. There is a special tool for doing the rear subframe bushes, you can buy it yourself for around £300. It's a pretty simple procedure to fit new ones if you have it and are willing and capable to do the work.

You are looking at around £600 for the work otherwise.

Turbos do go, I have heard of them going at 70k and one taxi near me has the original turbo at close to 300k..... Again symptoms are easy enough to spot when it is on its way out.

[Fox-]

godskitchen said:

The Hedgehog will go. It's easy to diagnose, the heater blower will not work. It's also an easy 10 minute fix.

This isn't quite true.

The Hedgehog causes a plethora of random issues, blower motor having a mind of its own, losing control over the blower motor, and blower motor coming on in the middle of the night and draining your battery.

If the blower motor plain doesnt work it's probably the motor itself - this is certainly what happened to mine. No blower at all, had to have a new blower motor.

[Neil G60]

18s were an option on the Sports so most will have the 17 inch "style 66" wheels. Also auto box failures are more common on the diesels I think. The petrol 'box is better. Some of the m54 engines drink oil so watch out for that.

Vibration at speed is something to watch out for. This can be a simple wheel balance job. Or something suspension related. As mentioned there's a lot of bushes on an e39 and they degrade over time, esp. on Sport models where there is less compliance in the set up.

Hedgehogs go but are cheap, only get genuine replacements. Same with the aux drive belts in the engine.

I run a 530i A Sport as my daily commuter to the station and for longer motorway work. I average about 25mpg give or take. Long gentle motorway runs are much better. I got over 35 once!

The Sports are well appointed anyway with late ones coming with climate, hid lights, auto wipers, leather and M Sport odds and sods. Plus the more obvious wheels and body additions. and of course leather.

I think it's a a great daily and you can pick minters up for small money now. Personally I would never get a non Sport as I think they look really dull. It also had to have the 530i, it's an absolute peach of an engine. They really don't make them like they used to.

Edited by Neil G60 on Sunday 29th January 17:36

[godskitchen]

Fox- said:

This isn't quite true.

The Hedgehog causes a plethora of random issues, blower motor having a mind of its own, losing control over the blower motor, and blower motor coming on in the middle of the night and draining your battery.

If the blower motor plain doesnt work it's probably the motor itself - this is certainly what happened to mine. No blower at all, had to have a new blower motor.

I would class all the above symptoms as "not working" it either works as intended or it doesn't work at all. I can see how my wording would cause confusion though, I didn't make it at all clear.

Just for any future referance, mine just stopped working one day, nothing at all. It stayed like that for 2 weeks until the Hedgehog was replaced. New hedgehog in and all was well.

[Fox-]

Legend83 said:

Thanks Fox, what do you think to the prices?

Provided they are nice examples - and thats a big caveat - I think they are priced fine. I have quite an odd view on the prices of these though which many disagree with, personally I think it's worth paying the money for a lovely one rather than saving a few quid for an average one. One of the cars above is quite low mileage, the other is an 04, and both seem on decent premium rubber etc.

There were only ever about 450 530i Sport Auto Touring anyway, so really there just isn't enough of these cars to go trying to find both an exceptional bargain AND a really nice example. Don't turn down a good one to save a grand or so, its a £5k car not a £15k car so the best possible deal matters less. I spent a good few months trying to find one and in that time there were probably a handful available on the market. Really tough to find. One was an 04 with 60k for a staggering £7k - I asked him for pictures with a view to making a lower offer given £7k was outrageous. He sent the pictures through. I asked him a question about the history only to find he'd sold it, despite the comedy pricetag.

I appreciate this is not a view that particularly mirrors everyone elses, and its a view dependant on viewing and finding it to be a great example. Even the tidiest of cars in the pictures can be a shed when you view it.