E39 530d questions

[Mr Whippy]

My dad is after a new vehicle.

For some reason he liked the look of a new shape Discovery, but they are expensive, slow, and tanks. He's a farmer so has a few Landies already, so really only needs a cruiser for the road, and a diesel because he's tight.

Sooo, 530d's... I intend to go test some but having never sampled the E39's I'm not sure what to write off straight away.


The sports look nicer, but have stiff suspension. Are they really stiff, or are they still old ish man comfortable? Are the SE's just wallowy and naff, or are they still a genuinely good car. Not that my dad is into his driving lots, but when the car is a good one with plenty of power he does complain about wallowyness/poor wheel control when gunning it

What changed at the 'angel eye' facelift? They look loads fresher and more modern, but is there anything important there underneath?

When did they swap to the newer 200bhp engine from the 185bhp one? Is the newer one much better in any significant ways? (I think if it were 'mapped' he'd be much happier and probably use it for towing too)


Any bad bits to look out for?

Seen lots at 150,000 miles so they appear to do the miles ok.


Thanks for any general advice. Budget I guess is from £5000 to £10,000...



Dave

[jamoor]

Mr Whippy said:

My dad is after a new vehicle.

For some reason he liked the look of a new shape Discovery, but they are expensive, slow, and tanks. He's a farmer so has a few Landies already, so really only needs a cruiser for the road, and a diesel because he's tight.

Sooo, 530d's... I intend to go test some but having never sampled the E39's I'm not sure what to write off straight away.


The sports look nicer, but have stiff suspension. Are they really stiff, or are they still old ish man comfortable? Are the SE's just wallowy and naff, or are they still a genuinely good car. Not that my dad is into his driving lots, but when the car is a good one with plenty of power he does complain about wallowyness/poor wheel control when gunning it

What changed at the 'angel eye' facelift? They look loads fresher and more modern, but is there anything important there underneath?

When did they swap to the newer 200bhp engine from the 185bhp one? Is the newer one much better in any significant ways? (I think if it were 'mapped' he'd be much happier and probably use it for towing too)


Any bad bits to look out for?

Seen lots at 150,000 miles so they appear to do the miles ok.


Thanks for any general advice. Budget I guess is from £5000 to £10,000...



Dave

Suspension is old manish comfortable, not too stiff, unlike the E46.
Angel eye changed front and rear lights and the satnav system to a widescreen one.

Steering wheel also changed to the new sport one.
New 193bhp one was introduced in 2001 I think (with the angel eye f/lift)
Don't map it.

Personally, I would get a petrol.

[Mr Whippy]

Is the 530i going to be more reliable and cheaper to run longer term...?

I'm assuming my dad will keep it essentially forever, until it rusts into the ground

Dave

[jamoor]

Mr Whippy said:

Is the 530i going to be more reliable and cheaper to run longer term...?

I'm assuming my dad will keep it essentially forever, until it rusts into the ground

Dave

Maybe, depends, there are some major weak areas that are big bills - Turbos £1k, Transmissions - £1.6k, Injectors - £1k

Apart from that bunch, there isn't much else to go wrong apart from niggly electronics.

[Mr Whippy]

As long as there are no proper show stoppers, like conrods snapping, camchain/belts snapping, or basically anything that puts an end to the entire lump, it doesn't sound too bad really

I'll have to go try a few out then... doesn't sound like too much to worry about really.


Any easy ways to tell if a gearbox is on it's way though... is that a recon exchange DIY kinda cost, or a main dealer swap?

Thanks

Dave

[jamoor]

Mr Whippy said:

As long as there are no proper show stoppers, like conrods snapping, camchain/belts snapping, or basically anything that puts an end to the entire lump, it doesn't sound too bad really

I'll have to go try a few out then... doesn't sound like too much to worry about really.


Any easy ways to tell if a gearbox is on it's way though... is that a recon exchange DIY kinda cost, or a main dealer swap?

Thanks

Dave

That's a transmission specialist, BMW will be the wrong side of £2.5k.

Gearboxes aren't always obvious, lockup is the biggest giveaway, accellerating between 55-95mph will not be smooth, car may vibrate/hesitate a bit like a misfire.
Apart from that, no real clues.

I may be tempted away from mine for the right money if he's interested, it's had both a new Turbo and a Transmission rebuild in the past year

[Mr Whippy]

jamoor said:

Mr Whippy said:

As long as there are no proper show stoppers, like conrods snapping, camchain/belts snapping, or basically anything that puts an end to the entire lump, it doesn't sound too bad really

I'll have to go try a few out then... doesn't sound like too much to worry about really.


Any easy ways to tell if a gearbox is on it's way though... is that a recon exchange DIY kinda cost, or a main dealer swap?

Thanks

Dave

That's a transmission specialist, BMW will be the wrong side of £2.5k.

Gearboxes aren't always obvious, lockup is the biggest giveaway, accellerating between 55-95mph will not be smooth, car may vibrate/hesitate a bit like a misfire.
Apart from that, no real clues.

I may be tempted away from mine for the right money if he's interested, it's had both a new Turbo and a Transmission rebuild in the past year

We'll have to go look at a few first, make sure he actually likes them, though I'm sure he will once he drives one vs his current, err, well, I don't even want to call it transport after driving it recently

Dave

[squeezebm]

Dave, you Bm LOVER i've ran a e39 530d on an MY02 for 5 years, and stuck loads of miles on it as i use it for work,they are an absolute star car with FBMSH your old fella with have a nice car and you will be CONVERTED ;)

[Mr Whippy]

squeezebm said:

Dave, you Bm LOVER i've ran a e39 530d on an MY02 for 5 years, and stuck loads of miles on it as i use it for work,they are an absolute star car with FBMSH your old fella with have a nice car and you will be CONVERTED ;)

Haha, I'm already converted to the benefits of a proper wheel drive car with a decent six potter up front...

Thats why I'm essentially making my dad get one... what else is there for an old person who is a tight farmer, but already has an off-road vehicle?

Audi don't make anything even half as interesting, their A6 quattro looks complete arse in comparison, yuck.
Ford, nope, Vauxhall, nope, Renault, haha, nope, Peugeot, nope... there just isn't really anything worth considering. BMW had the wafty but sporty diesel market wrapped up at the time with their 530d!

Dave