Spending £4k on a 150k E39 530i – good idea?
Discussion
I looked at a E39 BMW 530i sport with LPG yesterday. It’s in very good condition (but with a few niggles – gas needed for a/c, parking sensors, sterio)
I’m looking for a mile muncher for my 20k a year commute to replace my 172 and get better mpg but still be ‘fun’
I should be able to get equivalent to 50mpg from the BMW so same as the Fabia VRS I was going to buy.
Its already got 150k on the clock and assuming it runs well and actually gets 50mpg I can see no reason I would sell it until my commute changes – so assume I will be looking to sell it in a couple of years with best part of 200k on the clock.
Will it be worthless then?
Its ‘sensible’ competition is Mk4 golf 130 or 150 tdi or the VRS
I’m looking for a mile muncher for my 20k a year commute to replace my 172 and get better mpg but still be ‘fun’
I should be able to get equivalent to 50mpg from the BMW so same as the Fabia VRS I was going to buy.
Its already got 150k on the clock and assuming it runs well and actually gets 50mpg I can see no reason I would sell it until my commute changes – so assume I will be looking to sell it in a couple of years with best part of 200k on the clock.
Will it be worthless then?
Its ‘sensible’ competition is Mk4 golf 130 or 150 tdi or the VRS
Definitely a bit of a risk, some of the things that go wrong on these can be expensive.
How good the price is depends on how old the things is, I paid less for my 530i touring (not a Sport) about a year ago and that only had 80k on the clock. But a newer Sport with some good options would make me think it's a fair price.
It's worth checking if the gearbox oil has been done recently (if an auto). Also when the cooling system was last replaced (it WILL have had to be fixed at some point). The electronic stuff can add up if you need to replace various bits like the MID unit.
On the MPG, I do 95% motorway miles and get a touch over 30mpg, so the 50mpg equivalent on LPG sounds about right.
How good the price is depends on how old the things is, I paid less for my 530i touring (not a Sport) about a year ago and that only had 80k on the clock. But a newer Sport with some good options would make me think it's a fair price.
It's worth checking if the gearbox oil has been done recently (if an auto). Also when the cooling system was last replaced (it WILL have had to be fixed at some point). The electronic stuff can add up if you need to replace various bits like the MID unit.
On the MPG, I do 95% motorway miles and get a touch over 30mpg, so the 50mpg equivalent on LPG sounds about right.
The air con condenser can often corrode as leaves and crap get trapped against it. Check the condition of this before you pay for a re-gas as they are about £160 to replace. The other problem is that if not turned on regularly the seals dry out and leak. It should be run for a short period every week or two even in winter to keep the system lubricated.
Check the coolant system thoroughly as these have a habit of failing after a few years. If the radiator is bowed out at all, it will need replacing.
Check the coolant system thoroughly as these have a habit of failing after a few years. If the radiator is bowed out at all, it will need replacing.
58warren said:
The air con condenser can often corrode as leaves and crap get trapped against it. Check the condition of this before you pay for a re-gas as they are about £160 to replace. The other problem is that if not turned on regularly the seals dry out and leak. It should be run for a short period every week or two even in winter to keep the system lubricated.
Check the coolant system thoroughly as these have a habit of failing after a few years. If the radiator is bowed out at all, it will need replacing.
Like the Mrs Check the coolant system thoroughly as these have a habit of failing after a few years. If the radiator is bowed out at all, it will need replacing.
condition and provenanceIts beginning to sound all a bit too risky.
I have a plan B of buying a lower mileage mint 530i sport and getting it converted and keeping ti for a good few years.
By the time I have spend some £££ on this one the difference is only a few hundreds quid
ie: Plan A - 150k lpg, £3500ish - in a few years 200k = and prolly worthless-ish
Plan B - £3500 non lpg, under 100k, spend £1800 on lpg, sell in few years with 150k-ish = worth something!
I basically get the car I want, risk free(er) for about £5500 and should retain more money later....I hope.
I have a plan B of buying a lower mileage mint 530i sport and getting it converted and keeping ti for a good few years.
By the time I have spend some £££ on this one the difference is only a few hundreds quid
ie: Plan A - 150k lpg, £3500ish - in a few years 200k = and prolly worthless-ish
Plan B - £3500 non lpg, under 100k, spend £1800 on lpg, sell in few years with 150k-ish = worth something!
I basically get the car I want, risk free(er) for about £5500 and should retain more money later....I hope.
1) I own quite a few LPG converted cars and vans but didn't pay to get any of them converted. Why make yourself lose money when somebody else can do it for you? 
Just calculate how many miles you would have to drive to get the 2k investment back. Plus looking for LPG stations, loss of spare wheel etc.
2) 4K for a 150k E39 with few possibly expensive things to fix it's way too much. Even with LPG.
Just calculate how many miles you would have to drive to get the 2k investment back. Plus looking for LPG stations, loss of spare wheel etc.2) 4K for a 150k E39 with few possibly expensive things to fix it's way too much. Even with LPG.
rottie102 said:
1) I own quite a few LPG converted cars and vans but didn't pay to get any of them converted. Why make yourself lose money when somebody else can do it for you? Just calculate how many miles you would have to drive to get the 2k investment back. Plus looking for LPG stations, loss of spare wheel etc.
2) 4K for a 150k E39 with few possibly expensive things to fix it's way too much. Even with LPG.
Problem is none of them are cars I want! Just calculate how many miles you would have to drive to get the 2k investment back. Plus looking for LPG stations, loss of spare wheel etc.2) 4K for a 150k E39 with few possibly expensive things to fix it's way too much. Even with LPG.
LPG will save me about £800 a year in fuel so in just over two years I have broken even plus I expect the LPG to add a bit to the value of the car.
Suppose I could just be patient and wait for the 'right' (anything fast and fun) car to come along......
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff