How do you move on from an E39?
Discussion
I've got one of the last e39 sports which is still in good nick, but is coming up to the stage where I need to spend a few quid on suspension etc. No huge expense, but as a proportion of the car's value it's quite high.
In that vein, I've been trying a few alternatives recently to see if it's worth "upgrading", using man maths to justify the expense.
So far I've tried a next generation 5 series; an RS4; an alpina B3 and a Golf R32.
All good, but not as good as the e39 if I replaced the suspension.
So current plan is to beautify the e39, which is, of course, the cheapest option.
Anyone got any better suggestions?
Or is the e39 really the best real car in the real world?
In that vein, I've been trying a few alternatives recently to see if it's worth "upgrading", using man maths to justify the expense.
So far I've tried a next generation 5 series; an RS4; an alpina B3 and a Golf R32.
All good, but not as good as the e39 if I replaced the suspension.
So current plan is to beautify the e39, which is, of course, the cheapest option.
Anyone got any better suggestions?
Or is the e39 really the best real car in the real world?
I REALLY Want to see what this E39 thing is all about for myself, but im afraid of the possible magnitude of things to go wrong (cooling, brake shimmy, suspension etc) i fancy an E60 touring but i keep seeing threads about how good they are from a multitude of owners
Cant help you OP sorry.
Cant help you OP sorry.
Welcome to my world. I am in exactly the same boat.
I think I'm going to move to an E92 335i on the assumption that anything I get thats the same idea as the E39 - ie a 4 door saloon - I am going to constantly compare, unfavourably, to the E39. Therefore maybe something different.
That said I keep finding excuses to push the purchase date back. I love this car.
I think I'm going to move to an E92 335i on the assumption that anything I get thats the same idea as the E39 - ie a 4 door saloon - I am going to constantly compare, unfavourably, to the E39. Therefore maybe something different.
That said I keep finding excuses to push the purchase date back. I love this car.
Basically you're stuffed!
The e39 does every thing well. There are faster cars, there are more comfortable cars, some cars are more practical but the e39 does enough of everything so well that you are condemned to a damnation of lesser cars.
I bought an e39 M5 three years ago and bearing in mind I've driven everything in the e39 range from the 523i upwards I'm still going to be driving the same car until it's banned!
The e39 does every thing well. There are faster cars, there are more comfortable cars, some cars are more practical but the e39 does enough of everything so well that you are condemned to a damnation of lesser cars.
I bought an e39 M5 three years ago and bearing in mind I've driven everything in the e39 range from the 523i upwards I'm still going to be driving the same car until it's banned!
!In the exact same position, I have a late 530i Sport and its getting quite leggy now and I am tempted to "upgrade", but I reluctant to spend the extra dosh only to regret it. I like the look of the E60, but cant stand it inside - and I am of the oppinion the E39 (in sport guise) looks better than the E60 - so cant justify an extra wadge of cash on something that I may ultimately not like as much as my E39.
Think I am going to hold onto her until I am able to afford a C63 or GTR, so could be a while!
Think I am going to hold onto her until I am able to afford a C63 or GTR, so could be a while!
I've just sold my E39 535i and I feel a sense of relief.
Relief because I'm no longer worrying about any little noise from the car.
It was a lovely car, but I grew to loathe driving it, out of fear for what was going to go wrong next.
I only owned it for 4 months, but it relieved my pocket of just over £1k for cooling system and other repairs.
This on an '02 car with FSH and in (supposedly) really good condition.
My overwhelming impression of BMWs is that they are lovely cars to drive, but in some areas they are woefully under-engineered.
And before anybody says that I'm forming my judgement based on one vehicle...
In the past 6 years I have owned:
E34 520i - overheating issues, slipping auto box and rust.
E34 530i - knocking steering box, and rust. Other than that - not a bad car I have to admit.
E39 523i - overheating problem that apparently nobody could cure. Noisy rear suspension (normal apparently).
E46 323i - underheating problem (makes a change!) and rattle from steering UJ / front suspension (on a 46k mile car!!)
E46 330i - auto box with a mind of it's own - would hold on to gears too long, would hunt for gears at low speeds (~30 mph). Front wishbones yadda yadda. RUST. lots of it, on an 8 year old car. Hmmm.
E39 535i - overheating issues amongst others. Some minor rust around number plate lights. Again, this shouldn't happen on a £40k car that's 8 years old.
Also,
Wife owned E34 525i Sport - all round decent car with bowing radiator (a common problem apparently) but not what you'd expect at 94k miles. Also rust around bootlid / number plate lights.
Not to mention issues you read on forums. Yes I agree that every car has it's problems - but BMWs are supposed to be well engineered etc, etc.
I guess you could say I've fallen out with BMW.
To answer the OP's question "How do you move on from an E39?"
Buy yourself a Toyota or Lexus
Relief because I'm no longer worrying about any little noise from the car.
It was a lovely car, but I grew to loathe driving it, out of fear for what was going to go wrong next.
I only owned it for 4 months, but it relieved my pocket of just over £1k for cooling system and other repairs.
This on an '02 car with FSH and in (supposedly) really good condition.
My overwhelming impression of BMWs is that they are lovely cars to drive, but in some areas they are woefully under-engineered.
And before anybody says that I'm forming my judgement based on one vehicle...
In the past 6 years I have owned:
E34 520i - overheating issues, slipping auto box and rust.
E34 530i - knocking steering box, and rust. Other than that - not a bad car I have to admit.
E39 523i - overheating problem that apparently nobody could cure. Noisy rear suspension (normal apparently).
E46 323i - underheating problem (makes a change!) and rattle from steering UJ / front suspension (on a 46k mile car!!)
E46 330i - auto box with a mind of it's own - would hold on to gears too long, would hunt for gears at low speeds (~30 mph). Front wishbones yadda yadda. RUST. lots of it, on an 8 year old car. Hmmm.
E39 535i - overheating issues amongst others. Some minor rust around number plate lights. Again, this shouldn't happen on a £40k car that's 8 years old.
Also,
Wife owned E34 525i Sport - all round decent car with bowing radiator (a common problem apparently) but not what you'd expect at 94k miles. Also rust around bootlid / number plate lights.
Not to mention issues you read on forums. Yes I agree that every car has it's problems - but BMWs are supposed to be well engineered etc, etc.
I guess you could say I've fallen out with BMW.
To answer the OP's question "How do you move on from an E39?"
Buy yourself a Toyota or Lexus
Edited by TonyRPH on Sunday 26th September 10:52
Fox- said:
Problem is that neither a Toyota nor a Lexus is any good.
You can pay to fix a broken car, you cant pay somebody to redesign a rubbish one.
Given that a BMW is marketed as a high end luxury vehicle, the lifespan is disappointing.You can pay to fix a broken car, you cant pay somebody to redesign a rubbish one.
They seem to be engineered to last 5 years, and then after that many things start going wrong.
Yet you see many an old Toyota with 100k+ miles and 10 years+ old and still soldiering on.
Not to mention other brands such as Mazda, VW, etc.
Yes, you hear of BMWs soldiering on for high miles, but at what cost??
It just seems to me that so many BMWs have so called 'common faults'.
Breakdowns due to wear and tear are acceptable, but (multiple) common faults across the various model ranges are unacceptable and really shouldn't happen in this day and age.
I've had cars from various manufacturers in the past e.g. Ford, VW, Toyota and Mazda, none of which have had as many problems as the (apparently well maintained) BMWs I have previously owned.
ETA: Perhaps this is why you don't see many BMWs being used as taxis.
Edited by TonyRPH on Sunday 26th September 12:06
I suffer from this dilemma as well. Having had three E39s it's not clear where to go next.
I'm not a great fan of the E60 so don't see myself investing a substantial amount of cash in an M5 or B5 for a car which won't make me turn my head round for a sneaky look and a smile after parking it.
I do like the 6 series, but I'm not convinced it's practical enough having once sat in the back of one. That said, a good example in black with a cream interior may be enough to sway me.
Part of me thinks BMW ownership will be put on hold and the B10 V8 Touring will be chopped in for a CLS 63 AMG next year. I may return when the F10 B5 becomes affordable on the used market!
I'm not a great fan of the E60 so don't see myself investing a substantial amount of cash in an M5 or B5 for a car which won't make me turn my head round for a sneaky look and a smile after parking it.
I do like the 6 series, but I'm not convinced it's practical enough having once sat in the back of one. That said, a good example in black with a cream interior may be enough to sway me.
Part of me thinks BMW ownership will be put on hold and the B10 V8 Touring will be chopped in for a CLS 63 AMG next year. I may return when the F10 B5 becomes affordable on the used market!
Fox- said:
Problem is that neither a Toyota nor a Lexus is any good.
You can pay to fix a broken car, you cant pay somebody to redesign a rubbish one.
that my friend is pure tosh, and i have worked for both Toyota, Lexus and BMW dealerships.You can pay to fix a broken car, you cant pay somebody to redesign a rubbish one.
I'd take a LS400/LS430 over a 7 series to run as a used car anyday of the week, and the majority of LS buyers have has XJ's, S Classes and 7 Series before and once they have had a LS they just keep buying them
Mustard said:
Fox- said:
Problem is that neither a Toyota nor a Lexus is any good.
You can pay to fix a broken car, you cant pay somebody to redesign a rubbish one.
that my friend is pure tosh, and i have worked for both Toyota, Lexus and BMW dealerships.You can pay to fix a broken car, you cant pay somebody to redesign a rubbish one.
I'd take a LS400/LS430 over a 7 series to run as a used car anyday of the week, and the majority of LS buyers have has XJ's, S Classes and 7 Series before and once they have had a LS they just keep buying them
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