'03 525iM-Sport
Discussion
Got me this a few days ago. Plans to do first is to iron out a few niggles and give the car a thorough clean inside and out when the weather improves. Even though I like the standard Style 66 I can't help but think that a set of fresh staggered Style 5's would look good on it, but they are hard to come by, as are the Style 37's which I know look fab on an E39 are, but thats for the future, as are the suspension, feels tight enough but a sensible Bilstein/Eibach set-up and new bushes usually do wonders. Tyres will be changed as well, it had Contis SC3's from the stone-age up front and brand new Nankangs NS-whatever at the rear, the only good thing that can be said about those is that they are in the correct dimensions, other than that they are rubbish, specially the rears are being very noisy.
It's in good general shape for an E39, pretty much rust free, one speck between the doors on the passenger side that will be sorted, but the car has had a partial re-spray at some point, so I'm guessing that that has something to do with the cleanliness of the bodywork.
Interiour is in very good albeit boring gray leather nick, if I had the choice I'd rather have a black leather interiour, but in this case the exteriour colour and the general nick of the car and the fact that it has a manual gearbox was the selling point.
It was sold new in Sweden and has the usual Swedish povvo-spec, no PDC, no sunroof, which I honestly can do without, manual seats, standard stereo, no sunblinds etc, but I guess fewer things will fail because of that
It's very quiet, not as my old E38's quiet, but sufficient, very smooth, sounds good when pushed and being a very flexible and lovely engine all around, fast it is not, but it's enough for what I looked for this time.
Pics: very dirty, drove it 120 miles home in rain and on very greasy post-snow Swedish winter roads. Seat cover on the drivers seat for work.
It's in good general shape for an E39, pretty much rust free, one speck between the doors on the passenger side that will be sorted, but the car has had a partial re-spray at some point, so I'm guessing that that has something to do with the cleanliness of the bodywork.
Interiour is in very good albeit boring gray leather nick, if I had the choice I'd rather have a black leather interiour, but in this case the exteriour colour and the general nick of the car and the fact that it has a manual gearbox was the selling point.
It was sold new in Sweden and has the usual Swedish povvo-spec, no PDC, no sunroof, which I honestly can do without, manual seats, standard stereo, no sunblinds etc, but I guess fewer things will fail because of that
It's very quiet, not as my old E38's quiet, but sufficient, very smooth, sounds good when pushed and being a very flexible and lovely engine all around, fast it is not, but it's enough for what I looked for this time.
Pics: very dirty, drove it 120 miles home in rain and on very greasy post-snow Swedish winter roads. Seat cover on the drivers seat for work.
Edited by PowerslideSWE on Wednesday 23 March 19:12
Roger Woods said:
An e39 is up there as pretty much the best car I have ever had, and there has been a few!
They are great, but it's important to find a cherished one, this is my 4th since october...Hopefully I'll keep this one a while, was looking for a 530 tbh, but they are hard to find with a manual gb and M-sport package.
In other related and un-interesting news
Car is running great, will not change the wheels unless I stumble upon a set of genuine style 37's for peanuts, a scenario that is very unlikely to happen, I like the ride on the 17's.
When I got the car it took me a few days to realize that it was leaking oil, and not a few drops, actually leaking like a torpedoed oil tanker. Bottom half of the engine and undercarriage was soaked, and immidiate thoughts of financial rape occured, that and a VERY grumbly right rear wheel bearing, so grumbly infact that I first thought the diff was shot. So bearing changed and a leaky O-ring connecting the block and the oil filter canister.
Both now fixed by a friendly Hungarian mechanic for the reasonably pricely sum of £200-ish including parts, a good tradeoff since my fists are made of ham and my own garage is occupied with my friends mint one owner before him e39 M5.
So now the car rides smooth and as quiet as the brand new Nankang NS2 rear tyres will allow for. PO fit them, and for that offence he should be beaten in public with a stick as they are very very loud for a modern tyre. E39's are quiet inside, but this one is a little more un-quiet than my other 3 before it, so I assume it's the tyres.
Car is running great, will not change the wheels unless I stumble upon a set of genuine style 37's for peanuts, a scenario that is very unlikely to happen, I like the ride on the 17's.
When I got the car it took me a few days to realize that it was leaking oil, and not a few drops, actually leaking like a torpedoed oil tanker. Bottom half of the engine and undercarriage was soaked, and immidiate thoughts of financial rape occured, that and a VERY grumbly right rear wheel bearing, so grumbly infact that I first thought the diff was shot. So bearing changed and a leaky O-ring connecting the block and the oil filter canister.
Both now fixed by a friendly Hungarian mechanic for the reasonably pricely sum of £200-ish including parts, a good tradeoff since my fists are made of ham and my own garage is occupied with my friends mint one owner before him e39 M5.
So now the car rides smooth and as quiet as the brand new Nankang NS2 rear tyres will allow for. PO fit them, and for that offence he should be beaten in public with a stick as they are very very loud for a modern tyre. E39's are quiet inside, but this one is a little more un-quiet than my other 3 before it, so I assume it's the tyres.
Edited by PowerslideSWE on Thursday 7th April 18:17
Lovely car OP, never used to be a fan of imola red but since I now have a broken E38 in that colour in my drive I've really fallen for it. (which is difficult on a car your meant to be breaking)
Stu530 said:
Well it just so happens I have a set of M parallels in my garage that are gathering dust.
Tyres have don't less than 500 miles. Id like the space back as they are now surplus to requirements. Let me know if you are interested. Not looking for loads of money for them
Sent you a PM in case OP doesn't want themTyres have don't less than 500 miles. Id like the space back as they are now surplus to requirements. Let me know if you are interested. Not looking for loads of money for them
Stu, I will look into what it may cost to ship them here (Sweden, can't be that expensive), if you might be interested in that. I very much want the wheels, send me a PM if you will of the price and possibly a pic or two. E39 fitment? 8" front and 9" or even 9,5" rear?
Edited by PowerslideSWE on Friday 8th April 20:11
Remagel2507 said:
Lovely car OP, never used to be a fan of imola red but since I now have a broken E38 in that colour in my drive I've really fallen for it. (which is difficult on a car your meant to be breaking)
Thanks Tricky colour actually, looks fab when polished and very bland when dirty, which it usually is in the crappy weather of northern Europe
I absolutely love e38's, I've had 3 swb 750's. Imola ones are very rare. Is the car not salvagable? (sp?) What engine is it?
PowerslideSWE said:
Thanks
Tricky colour actually, looks fab when polished and very bland when dirty, which it usually is in the crappy weather of northern Europe
I absolutely love e38's, I've had 3 swb 750's. Imola ones are very rare. Is the car not salvagable? (sp?) What engine is it?
Yeh I have noticed that I did actually give a couple of bits a polish and it looks great when the suns out lolTricky colour actually, looks fab when polished and very bland when dirty, which it usually is in the crappy weather of northern Europe
I absolutely love e38's, I've had 3 swb 750's. Imola ones are very rare. Is the car not salvagable? (sp?) What engine is it?
Its a later 728i, I bought it with the engine supposedly seized but tbh I've not really had a good look at it as I bought for parts so I could finish off my 740. I may have a proper look at it once I get round to starting the 740 again though. It does seem a shame to break it but it had the bits I wanted so unless I can find a spares or repair car with better spec it might stay that way
Remagel2507 said:
Yeh I have noticed that I did actually give a couple of bits a polish and it looks great when the suns out lol
Its a later 728i, I bought it with the engine supposedly seized but tbh I've not really had a good look at it as I bought for parts so I could finish off my 740. I may have a proper look at it once I get round to starting the 740 again though. It does seem a shame to break it but it had the bits I wanted so unless I can find a spares or repair car with better spec it might stay that way
Would love a late 728 actually. Economy of the straight 6 and the looks of any e38. Win win. Its a later 728i, I bought it with the engine supposedly seized but tbh I've not really had a good look at it as I bought for parts so I could finish off my 740. I may have a proper look at it once I get round to starting the 740 again though. It does seem a shame to break it but it had the bits I wanted so unless I can find a spares or repair car with better spec it might stay that way
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