E39 Touring - anything I should look out for?
Discussion
Looking to "downgrade" my current car and get a cheaper station car - top of the list is a E39 touring around 99-01, needs to be auto, leather and preferably not much more than 100k miles - all for about 3-3.5k
Apart from the usual car checks is there anything specific I should be checking for?
Apart from the usual car checks is there anything specific I should be checking for?
I have an '01 530i Touring. Great wafting cars and great value for money, though they do have their issues:
The auto box on them can fail (mine did at around 100k) A rebuild cost me £1300, but I now have a warranty
The cooling systems on them are rubbish (I have had a new Rad on mine) Cost £200-£300, it's not a case of if, it's a case of when
The tourings have air springs that last about 100k - I just did mine, parts about £350 1hr DIY job if you have a jack
The 'hedgehog' or final stage unit can send your aircon loopy causing it to come on when the car is off and giving you a flat battery £60 20min DIY job
The pixels on the dash and MID can start to fade away due to a dodgy ribbon cable - I fixed my MID for £20 with a very fiddly DIY job, the dash is a bit more tricky but can be done for about £100 by some bloke on the south coast
Mine shreds rear tyres
Econmoy is about 30mpg on the motorway. 25ish around town.
I currently have a couple of other niggly problems like intermittent remote central locking, and rear PDC going a bit mad, but the fixes for these sorts of things are usually pretty easy to find.
That is quite a list, but I'd say they are worth it in the long run as at that price point they don't really depreciate, and if you can find one with the list above done then you are onto a winner...
They really are great cars, I've done 40K in mine over the last 18 months or so and I do fancy a change, but I can't come up with an alternative that has the same combination of practically and driver enjoyment.
The auto box on them can fail (mine did at around 100k) A rebuild cost me £1300, but I now have a warranty
The cooling systems on them are rubbish (I have had a new Rad on mine) Cost £200-£300, it's not a case of if, it's a case of when
The tourings have air springs that last about 100k - I just did mine, parts about £350 1hr DIY job if you have a jack
The 'hedgehog' or final stage unit can send your aircon loopy causing it to come on when the car is off and giving you a flat battery £60 20min DIY job
The pixels on the dash and MID can start to fade away due to a dodgy ribbon cable - I fixed my MID for £20 with a very fiddly DIY job, the dash is a bit more tricky but can be done for about £100 by some bloke on the south coast
Mine shreds rear tyres
Econmoy is about 30mpg on the motorway. 25ish around town.
I currently have a couple of other niggly problems like intermittent remote central locking, and rear PDC going a bit mad, but the fixes for these sorts of things are usually pretty easy to find.
That is quite a list, but I'd say they are worth it in the long run as at that price point they don't really depreciate, and if you can find one with the list above done then you are onto a winner...
They really are great cars, I've done 40K in mine over the last 18 months or so and I do fancy a change, but I can't come up with an alternative that has the same combination of practically and driver enjoyment.
As mentioned above: great cruisers, lots of space and very comfortable.
The M54 petrol engines are very smooth, relatively quick and quite economical on long runs. Some of them do have a tendency to start using oil after about 100k. Vanos can be an issue as well as the cooling system.
The M54 petrol engines are very smooth, relatively quick and quite economical on long runs. Some of them do have a tendency to start using oil after about 100k. Vanos can be an issue as well as the cooling system.
Suspension, suspension, suspension...
The rear subframe bushes perish around 100k. BMW wanted the tourings to have a flat floor and if you look at it, the rear shocks are attached to the subframe and not the body like on the saloons. As a result, the hydraulic subframe bushes perish with the extra stress. They are around £45 each from ECP and you need four of them. Budget around 3hrs to change them at a specialist as you will need a fancy Franklin tool to press the new ones the right way in.
The front bushes also wear out and manifest themselves in a shimmy, which you can feel through the steering wheel at around 50mph.
Gearbox fluid - the jury is out on this. BMW claims the fluid is good for life. I call this bulls
t. Will cost around £150 to change. On the other hand there have been a few failures reported following a fluid change. Up to you...
The V8 that I have in mine is bullet proof if a tad thirsty around town. The I6 are rather good, but you should really go for the 528i or the 530i as the car is quite heavy.
All in, go for it, one of the best cars BMW ever built.
The rear subframe bushes perish around 100k. BMW wanted the tourings to have a flat floor and if you look at it, the rear shocks are attached to the subframe and not the body like on the saloons. As a result, the hydraulic subframe bushes perish with the extra stress. They are around £45 each from ECP and you need four of them. Budget around 3hrs to change them at a specialist as you will need a fancy Franklin tool to press the new ones the right way in.
The front bushes also wear out and manifest themselves in a shimmy, which you can feel through the steering wheel at around 50mph.
Gearbox fluid - the jury is out on this. BMW claims the fluid is good for life. I call this bulls
t. Will cost around £150 to change. On the other hand there have been a few failures reported following a fluid change. Up to you...The V8 that I have in mine is bullet proof if a tad thirsty around town. The I6 are rather good, but you should really go for the 528i or the 530i as the car is quite heavy.
All in, go for it, one of the best cars BMW ever built.
Edited by Cheburator mk2 on Thursday 2nd September 14:51
We have had a 530d Touring Sport which we bought with 25k miles on it and it now had 90k miles on it.
Other than a couple of suspension bushes we have not had any extraordinary items other than plain old service. Brake discs have been replaced twice - but it is a heavy car.
Autobox is fine, engine still pulls like a train. It really is a superb car, still cruises beautifully. I would personally go for a diesel as the engine really suits the car, it is more economical and this engine certainly feels like it has an easy 100k miles left in it!
Other than a couple of suspension bushes we have not had any extraordinary items other than plain old service. Brake discs have been replaced twice - but it is a heavy car.
Autobox is fine, engine still pulls like a train. It really is a superb car, still cruises beautifully. I would personally go for a diesel as the engine really suits the car, it is more economical and this engine certainly feels like it has an easy 100k miles left in it!
well - took the plunge and bought the 99 528i touring auto
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
- few nicks and minor war wounds but mechanically good and interior is in excellent, if very dirty condition! Wife willing, will spend most of tomorrow giving it a damn good clean and polish!
Car has 18" alloys which could do with a refurb - but thinking about swapping for some more standard 17"s instead - might be easier
Quick question though - being a bit dim - does the 528 have a cambelt or chain? car only has 50,600 miles with full BMW service history so hoping for no major issues!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
- few nicks and minor war wounds but mechanically good and interior is in excellent, if very dirty condition! Wife willing, will spend most of tomorrow giving it a damn good clean and polish!
Car has 18" alloys which could do with a refurb - but thinking about swapping for some more standard 17"s instead - might be easier
Quick question though - being a bit dim - does the 528 have a cambelt or chain? car only has 50,600 miles with full BMW service history so hoping for no major issues!
mattman said:
well - took the plunge and bought the 99 528i touring auto
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
mattman said:
Quick question though - being a bit dim - does the 528 have a cambelt or chain? car only has 50,600 miles with full BMW service history so hoping for no major issues!
Chain, despite BMW buying the inventors of the cambelt, Glas.Well done, seems like it was a good purchase. I bought a 530i T last year, also with low (55k) miles for the year, its been pretty good although I only did 1600 miles in it so far...
I have suspension and cooling system refurbs on my to do list, not urgent, apart from that its a great car and is very comfortable and nice to drive.
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