e39 523i

[wolfy1988]

Well after much deliberation, I took the plung and bought this.

The reason is that I was was made redundant before Christmas and was spending an incredible amount on the Saab.

Its a 1998 523i SE Auto with 130k miles and a LPG conversion.

It has the following:
MTec Steering wheel & Suspention
Leather
6 Disc auto changer
climate control
Reversing camara thingy
2 sets of wheels and tyres (winter & summer)

It also came with 2 tanks of fuel!

First 50miles impression:
Much smoother than my 95 Aero and I am releived to report this car handles which makes up for the lack of power compared to the Saab.

Pictures to follow

[dozydavenport]

Can't wait to see pics!
Very fond of these cars

[Mark-C]

Pics and cost would be good

Also what is the insurance like compared to the Saab?

[wolfy1988]

As promised, the pics: (From the ad mind, will get out and take some as soon as the weather improves)

Seen here wearing its Style 32s? With summer tyres, dont worry the M badge is no more

Again the M badge as well as model designation have gone.

Arguably the Coolest part of the car, the Car phone!!

Some sought of built in child booster seat.


I was looking through the a4 binder that came with the car, including the full BMW service history apart from the last 20k miles and I came across the original bill of sale!

Sold to a Mr K Speed in New Barnet for the sum of just shy of £35k back in 1998.

[wolfy1988]

Mark-C said:

Pics and cost would be good

Also what is the insurance like compared to the Saab?

I paid €2000 which works out to be £1600 in proper money.

Insurance over here in Ireland costs me a lot more than it did in England, I was paying circa €1200 for the 95 Aero and I am paying roughly €1k for the BMW.

[wolfy1988]

Just got back from a 400mile round trip to Galway (very nice place btw)

Initial impressions are good, very good actually, its a nice car. I will do a detailed comparison to my 95 Aero if anybody is interested.

Just gave it a wash and I though I would show it with its other set of Alloys (Turbines, I think) and Continental Winter tyres.



Thanks for looking

[TonyRPH]

Those wheels are a PITA to keep clean. My 523 had them too.

[wolfy1988]

Done another 2k miles in it:

I took it up a place called Sally Gap in the Wicklow mountains just outside of Dublin a few weeks ago.

Fantastic roads and wonderful views.

I love this car truth be told, in fact I like it more than the Saab 95 Aero it replaced in many ways.

First month was great fun as oversteer was available at every corner (Due to the unchecked tyre pressure of 41psi all round)






Considering this is a 15 year old car, I find the handling to be excellent, probably the most accomplished of all the cars I have owned.

The chassis is extremely progressive and forgiving.

Currently it is running faultlessly and with its LPG conversion it costing me €48 for an easy 300miles.

[wolfy1988]

Little update:

Realized That I have done 10k miles in the past 4months and I work from home!! I think thats quite impressive really.

'Lurch' has just breached 140k miles and all is well, couple of niggles and bits that need replacing.

All problems have been electrical, namely the ignition switch was causing all sorts of weird and wonderful goings with the car, I could replace it or repair, this is a bargain barge after all, so I chose the later.

The fix the ignition switch was a very simple job involving electrical spray, an ignition file and a magnet and pleased to report its been as good as gold since.

I will need new tyres soon as the winters are on circa 2/3mm and I am looking at getting another e39 to strip for bits, better wheels, electric heated leather and perhaps the 528 engine.

I have to admit, I am a bit of a BMW/e39 convert now as i have recently moved into the country side and am surrounded by fast windy B roads and there is something about this cars suspention setup that really performs well.

[wackojacko]

Style 32's suite it so well.

Enjoy.

[wolfy1988]

Little update, its still going strong. No problems since I repaired the ignition switch.

I have in fact bought another e39:



[url|http://thumbsnap.com/RMdGFRKS[/url]



The reason for the second one is it has a few parts on it that I would rather like to see on my one, namely the freshly tyred and immacualte Style 42 BBS wheels as well as the facelift front lights.

Before I bought it, the owner had fitted new brake discs and pads, struts, catalyst converter... the list really does go on
So the plan is to transfer it all to my own one and break the rest.

I will do all the stuff over the next day and report back with some before and after shots

[wolfy1988]

Over the weekend I did a few things to the old girl:

-Replaced the Style 32s for a set of staggered style 42 BBS wheels with new tyres
-Replaced the horrid carbon BMW badges front and rear with OEM BMW
-Replaced the chrome M5 style kidney grills for OEM BMW ones.
-Replaced front discs and pads.
-Replaced both front door seals as they had split.
-Fitted OEM BMW Medical box and bracket to passenger seat.
-Fitted new 'Tailored' mats.
-Fitted new Bosch Wipers.

Still to do:

-Full service
-Diagnose exhaust drone at 2k
-Adapt headlamp wiring to suit Facelift headlights.
-Sort a couple of very slight interior rattles
-Identify front suspension noise and replace

Before:



After:

[wolfy1988]

Just ticked over 143k miles last week and all is well.

I replaced the Style 42s (Pictured above) with the original 16s as I felt that the wide 17s (235/40 & 255/40) had quite a detrimental effect on the way the car felt. To me, there felt to be too much grip on the rear and it had lost its perfectly balanced feeling on fast B roads. Much happier with the comfy (225/55 16s

Also replaced the original headlights with a set of mint facelift angel eyes, they perform so much better at night.

I have 'the shimmy' at 70-80mph which I will need to sort.

I normally display a 3 month car itch and I have had this now for 6 months, I do keep looking for something to replace it with but its hard to think of anything tbh, I am still on the look out for a nice e39 540ia.

[vsonix]

do you still have the style 42s? Might be interested in a couple of weeks if you want rid...

[wolfy1988]

vsonix said:

do you still have the style 42s? Might be interested in a couple of weeks if you want rid...

I do but I am in Dublin, Ireland and I have a buyer for them already although no cash yet

[sparks_E39]

Lovely looking car. I love my 528, now moving on to a 530 Sport as there simply isn't anything better for the money. One tip, if you plan on keeping it much longer perhaps replace the water pump and viscous fan and maybe the radiator. £300 well spent. Very common failures, and you only cook these engines once.

[wolfy1988]

sparks_E39 said:

Lovely looking car. I love my 528, now moving on to a 530 Sport as there simply isn't anything better for the money. One tip, if you plan on keeping it much longer perhaps replace the water pump and viscous fan and maybe the radiator. £300 well spent. Very common failures, and you only cook these engines once.

Thanks Sparks

I agree with what your saying, I really cant think of anything else for the money. I have decided to keep this car for as long as possible and see how many miles and get out of her before any BIG appear. Then on to a 530/540/Alpina B10 - Depends on whats available in Ireland at the time.

I will look into the cooling system and get it sorted, I actually have a new rad in the garage for it.

DO a thread on your 530i

[sparks_E39]

wolfy1988 said:

Thanks Sparks


DO a thread on your 530i

No worries Nice to see an E39 being looked after. Too many are falling into the wrong hands.

Will do!

[wolfy1988]

Ecurie Ecosse said:

Looks great, and good to hear you are looking after it well.

That parts car with the BBSs was a great find!

Thanks EE, although my neighbour doesn't see the attraction. The guy next door said to me the other day 'Why don't you buy a newer car, then you wouldn't have to keep fixing things', when he sore it jacked up with the wheels off and the lights out. lol

Yeah the parts car was a good find, I paid €450 for it! and considering its 176k miles it drove faultlessly 3hrs back from the previous owners house.

[e21Mark]

Thinking of getting a 540 as a tow car.