E39 540i - who should check it over?
Discussion
Hi all, I'm in the market for an E39 5 Series Touring, ideally the 540 derivative. I'm not ruling out the 530 but I would like a V8 for the extra poke.
I've read as much as I can find on the forum about the general things to look for on a 5 Series Touring but I have a car in mind (540i Sport) and I would like to get it inspected, providing I like the thing. Who is best to do this? Will a BMW technician come out and plug a diagnostic sensor in? Are the RAC/AA any good?
Can someone check the things I think I should be looking for and add/amend at will?
1. Rear air suspension - check it stays up after switching car off (how long should I wait?).
2. Crashing over bumps, indicative of suspension wear.
3. Radiator and hoses, check for leaks, wear.
4. Oil leaks around engine, some from the rocker cover is okay (true?).
5. Check rear tailgate for rusting.
7. Check pixels, electrics work...check again.
8. Check no pulling/vibration under braking - discs, pads.
9. Check steering for knocking/vibration - (wheel bearing problems?)
Any help you can offer will be gratefully received.
Cheers
Stiggy
I've read as much as I can find on the forum about the general things to look for on a 5 Series Touring but I have a car in mind (540i Sport) and I would like to get it inspected, providing I like the thing. Who is best to do this? Will a BMW technician come out and plug a diagnostic sensor in? Are the RAC/AA any good?
Can someone check the things I think I should be looking for and add/amend at will?
1. Rear air suspension - check it stays up after switching car off (how long should I wait?).
2. Crashing over bumps, indicative of suspension wear.
3. Radiator and hoses, check for leaks, wear.
4. Oil leaks around engine, some from the rocker cover is okay (true?).
5. Check rear tailgate for rusting.
7. Check pixels, electrics work...check again.
8. Check no pulling/vibration under braking - discs, pads.
9. Check steering for knocking/vibration - (wheel bearing problems?)
Any help you can offer will be gratefully received.
Cheers
Stiggy
Hi Stiggy,
Good choice, sir!
1. Rear air suspension - check it stays up after switching car off (how long should I wait?).
Probably a good half hour at least. Holed airbags will hiss at the very minimum, or deflate very rapidly indeed so easy to spot shagged ones.
2. Crashing over bumps, indicative of suspension wear.
From the rear - could be just loose stuff in the boot/tool holder. Front - defo check out further.
3. Radiator and hoses, check for leaks, wear.
Yup.
4. Oil leaks around engine, some from the rocker cover is okay (true?).
Yup, a bit from the rocker covers isn't a big deal assuming it's not leaking into your spark plug wells.
5. Check rear tailgate for rusting.
Plus wheels arches.
7. Check pixels, electrics work...check again.
Yup. Dead pixels can be fixed quite cheaply these days (under £100) so not a biggy.
8. Check no pulling/vibration under braking - discs, pads.
Yup again!
9. Check steering for knocking/vibration - (wheel bearing problems?)
Or worn shocks/top mounts.
I'd also have a look underneath and make sure the gearbox isn't leaking. Smells bloody horrible if it is!
Gearbox (auto) should be smooth and jerk free. Check sport/manual mode works fine.
Climate - make sure that it blows evenly and is cooling/warming correctly. Dead 'Hedgehog' can run your battery flat by running the interior fans after turn off.
Make sure all the bells and whistles work. Check out the history very thoroughly. Can be run on the cheap (bar fuel!) but it'll catch up with someone eventually! Find a pampered one in other words
Good hunting!
Steve
Good choice, sir!
1. Rear air suspension - check it stays up after switching car off (how long should I wait?).
Probably a good half hour at least. Holed airbags will hiss at the very minimum, or deflate very rapidly indeed so easy to spot shagged ones.
2. Crashing over bumps, indicative of suspension wear.
From the rear - could be just loose stuff in the boot/tool holder. Front - defo check out further.
3. Radiator and hoses, check for leaks, wear.
Yup.
4. Oil leaks around engine, some from the rocker cover is okay (true?).
Yup, a bit from the rocker covers isn't a big deal assuming it's not leaking into your spark plug wells.
5. Check rear tailgate for rusting.
Plus wheels arches.
7. Check pixels, electrics work...check again.
Yup. Dead pixels can be fixed quite cheaply these days (under £100) so not a biggy.
8. Check no pulling/vibration under braking - discs, pads.
Yup again!
9. Check steering for knocking/vibration - (wheel bearing problems?)
Or worn shocks/top mounts.
I'd also have a look underneath and make sure the gearbox isn't leaking. Smells bloody horrible if it is!
Gearbox (auto) should be smooth and jerk free. Check sport/manual mode works fine.
Climate - make sure that it blows evenly and is cooling/warming correctly. Dead 'Hedgehog' can run your battery flat by running the interior fans after turn off.
Make sure all the bells and whistles work. Check out the history very thoroughly. Can be run on the cheap (bar fuel!) but it'll catch up with someone eventually! Find a pampered one in other words
Good hunting!
Steve
The Stiglet said:
Do you think the suspension will need replacing considering it is 11 years old?
I think you just have to check the individual car you're looking at. At lot depends on how the car has or has not been used in it's lifetime. Parts may have already been replaced so that'd be a plus if you're worried about it.Stuff does wear out after a while though so expect some jobs to do. I've had a few bits go (see blog in profile) but nothing too major.
The Stiglet said:
I have heard they are very reliable cars but I do worry given the age of them...
They're very robust/well built so I don't tend to worry about mine. As mentioned before, try and find one with a good service history/evidence of it being looked after and that should be a good start.So, I went to see the car tonight and had a good drive in it. The first thing that got to me were the dents and damage to the front bumper as well as the plastic lip under the bumper. Apparently the owners wife hit the next door car?? Not major as such but very annoying because the bumper has actually been cracked in one area whilst the other areas are merely grazed and I'm precious!
Anyway, remaining bodywork very good (although it was dark) curbed alloys though. Nice interior but shouldn't the seats be electric? I was surprised. Nice TV, no pixel damage etc etc. Engine looked tidy and very clean, slight weeping from rocker cover, back left. Oil needs changed and smelt slightly 'burnt' and isn't really consistent with service history that says last oil change in 2007...only 7,000 miles since. Suspension pretty tight and doesn't roll, good gearbox. Felt brake pedal was more spongey than I would imagine but worked properly, not like the BMW 335d that I use. Slight growling noise from front wheels at about 40/45, I wondered if it was rust due to it sitting for a while or perhaps it was ball joints/bushes etc?
Major worry for me is the traction control warning light on, ABS warning light on and handbrake light on - is this an immediate walk away? Car has been sitting for some time so perhaps it is the wheel sensors but then it could be the entire ABS electrical box, which is mega money, or so I have read.
Clearly, the car needs an Inspection 2 service... £1,000? But I'm not sure how much the above would cost.
The seller, to his credit, is happy for me to take to BMW or AA/RAC but I think he is unaware of what we might find. Am I being too negative? Should I ask him to take it to BMW and have them look over it?
Please advise.
Many thanks.
Anyway, remaining bodywork very good (although it was dark) curbed alloys though. Nice interior but shouldn't the seats be electric? I was surprised. Nice TV, no pixel damage etc etc. Engine looked tidy and very clean, slight weeping from rocker cover, back left. Oil needs changed and smelt slightly 'burnt' and isn't really consistent with service history that says last oil change in 2007...only 7,000 miles since. Suspension pretty tight and doesn't roll, good gearbox. Felt brake pedal was more spongey than I would imagine but worked properly, not like the BMW 335d that I use. Slight growling noise from front wheels at about 40/45, I wondered if it was rust due to it sitting for a while or perhaps it was ball joints/bushes etc?
Major worry for me is the traction control warning light on, ABS warning light on and handbrake light on - is this an immediate walk away? Car has been sitting for some time so perhaps it is the wheel sensors but then it could be the entire ABS electrical box, which is mega money, or so I have read.
Clearly, the car needs an Inspection 2 service... £1,000? But I'm not sure how much the above would cost.
The seller, to his credit, is happy for me to take to BMW or AA/RAC but I think he is unaware of what we might find. Am I being too negative? Should I ask him to take it to BMW and have them look over it?
Please advise.
Many thanks.
You could take it to BMW then get a list of faults and haggle the price down accordingly.
Hint that the warning light fix is big money, mention the growling noise and use that to knock more off, if it turns out to be something else you have done ok. Bid £3000?
Inspection 2 is £350 at the main dealer I think (fixed price value service). If you want to just change the oil and filter, National tyres will do it for £30 if you book it online.
Did you spot the 2002 540i Sport Touring on AT for £4950, close your your postcode? Or is your budget closer to 4k than 5k?
Hint that the warning light fix is big money, mention the growling noise and use that to knock more off, if it turns out to be something else you have done ok. Bid £3000?
Inspection 2 is £350 at the main dealer I think (fixed price value service). If you want to just change the oil and filter, National tyres will do it for £30 if you book it online.
Did you spot the 2002 540i Sport Touring on AT for £4950, close your your postcode? Or is your budget closer to 4k than 5k?
IMHO the initial price was touch high before getting all those issues raised.
I know of 1 that may well be being sold in next couple of weeks or so for less money and by the sounds of it much better looked after, higher spec and cheaper. Let me know if you're interested and I can sort some info to PM to you.
I know of 1 that may well be being sold in next couple of weeks or so for less money and by the sounds of it much better looked after, higher spec and cheaper. Let me know if you're interested and I can sort some info to PM to you.
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