4.4litres of V8 for how much!?!
Discussion
Evening all,
I've just seen the price of E39 540 Tourer's and I have to say, it's got me very tempted!
I've always considered myself a bit of a petrolhead but up until now the best car I've owned has been a leggy mkIII Supra (non turbo).
I'm married, with a mortgage (I'll be 30 next year), and had promised myself a Porsche 944 (or possibly 968) in a couple of years once we've got our wreck of a house sorted.
Since the fantastic straight-six of the Supra I've always aspired for a V8. Is the 540 special enough to live with 20MPG (on a good run)? Or do I stick out the next couple of years with a 1.6 EP2 Civic and an ancient Accord Estate and get the Porsche? Do I need to get my V8 ownership out of the way now before they become an absolutely absurd proposition to run?
It's worth noting that it wont be our main car. We'll always have a sensible Honda on hand. But I will want something awesome for the weekends and trips away.
Dave
I've just seen the price of E39 540 Tourer's and I have to say, it's got me very tempted!
I've always considered myself a bit of a petrolhead but up until now the best car I've owned has been a leggy mkIII Supra (non turbo).
I'm married, with a mortgage (I'll be 30 next year), and had promised myself a Porsche 944 (or possibly 968) in a couple of years once we've got our wreck of a house sorted.
Since the fantastic straight-six of the Supra I've always aspired for a V8. Is the 540 special enough to live with 20MPG (on a good run)? Or do I stick out the next couple of years with a 1.6 EP2 Civic and an ancient Accord Estate and get the Porsche? Do I need to get my V8 ownership out of the way now before they become an absolutely absurd proposition to run?
It's worth noting that it wont be our main car. We'll always have a sensible Honda on hand. But I will want something awesome for the weekends and trips away.
Dave
I've had a 540i Sport for just over 2 years now and it is a great car. Cost me not a lot to buy and hasn't cost much to run (petrol excluded). My average mpg is mid teens but the bulk of my driving is very short runs around town. On the motorway I tend to see 28 or so.
Great cars, go for it!
Great cars, go for it!
Had one for a year of trouble free running and loved it, they're perfect for wafting around effortlessly on lazy torque if you're not in the mood, but floor it and step up the rev range and the V8 growl brings it to life and progress and the soundtrack are ridiculously addictive.
I used to do a 400 mile a week round trip on the motorways in mine and I'd see between 23 and 28 depending on how well I was behaving. Round town you're looking at high teens at best.
I went back last year and got a 535 (because I couldn't find a 540 I liked in the time I had) and I have to say it was a good car but just didn't have the reserves of the 540.
If I could somehow justify it along with the rest of my cars right now, I'd have another 4.4 in a flash.
I used to do a 400 mile a week round trip on the motorways in mine and I'd see between 23 and 28 depending on how well I was behaving. Round town you're looking at high teens at best.
I went back last year and got a 535 (because I couldn't find a 540 I liked in the time I had) and I have to say it was a good car but just didn't have the reserves of the 540.
If I could somehow justify it along with the rest of my cars right now, I'd have another 4.4 in a flash.
Deano_BMW said:
i have a 540 touring and i love it, it goes alright. i'm averaging 27 in mine but dont do much stop/start town driving etc. i gave 2k for it. 74k, double glazing, pro hifi, auto dipping mirrors etc etc. Cost the original owner over 53k. bargain motoring indeed
My boss runs a saloon (errr...52 plate?) with that sort or spec - it's a fablulous car.Or you can get an early 5.0 E Class V8 for not much more.
I have a 51 plate 540 touring and always drive it in a don't worry about fuel manner. Round town gets about 20 mpg but about 25 - 27 on the motorway.
Tried a whole journey at 70 for approx 100 miles the other day on cruise control and managed 31 mpg. Quite impressed for a big V8 lump
Just buy one, you know you want to.
Tried a whole journey at 70 for approx 100 miles the other day on cruise control and managed 31 mpg. Quite impressed for a big V8 lump
Just buy one, you know you want to.
Nuclear Biscuit said:
Currently averaging 29.4mpg in my E39 540(saloon). I don't get stuck in traffic much in rural wiltshire but have my fair share of single carriageway overtakes. 
I think your computer is broken.My e39 528 just about did that on a similar single carriageway 20 mile commute, in the summer.
Dan_1981 said:
Difference in consumption between a 540 and a 528?
There is a bit of info on this thread in the BMW forum: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...I have run a 530iA for 50k miles over the last 2 years. Whilst I think it's quite a way off the performance of a 540, I still think some of the same issues apply.
Firstly a 5 series is not a sports car, it's a barge (though I haven't tried a M5 yet). They will hustle along (even in 3litre / 6cylinder guise), but they are a bit wallowy and the comfort & quiet they offer does make you feel slightly detached from the action.
Next, they are not without their problems. They are not the bomb-proof cars that the BMW reputation might suggest. Cooling systems are made of chocolate, auto boxes have their (expensive) issues, and there are electrical foibles that can be annoying at best (like missing pixels on the various displays), or at worst leave you stranded, like the notorious failing 'hedgehog'. All the stuff is well documented and fixable (though you can tear your hair out if you get the 5 series shimmy!)
It's also worth noting that the V8 E39s have different steering to the 6 cyl engines... I personally don't think it makes a huge amount of difference, but some do, and my car just goes up and down the motorway so pin-sharp steering isn't my priority. Best to try before you buy.
Having said all that, if you just want the (slightly muted) V8 growl, an engine that offers effortless progress making power and torque, and a cruising experience that is pretty hard to beat this side of a Lexus or Jag, AND you can put up with the relatively frequent need to fix the damn thing, then an E39 would very quickly turn into a trusted friend. Highly recommended.
I haven't mentioned the rear tyre shredding, brake munching, or SHOCKING around town drink habit, because all that is pretty much a given for a big RWD saloon with a V8 in the front...
Firstly a 5 series is not a sports car, it's a barge (though I haven't tried a M5 yet). They will hustle along (even in 3litre / 6cylinder guise), but they are a bit wallowy and the comfort & quiet they offer does make you feel slightly detached from the action.
Next, they are not without their problems. They are not the bomb-proof cars that the BMW reputation might suggest. Cooling systems are made of chocolate, auto boxes have their (expensive) issues, and there are electrical foibles that can be annoying at best (like missing pixels on the various displays), or at worst leave you stranded, like the notorious failing 'hedgehog'. All the stuff is well documented and fixable (though you can tear your hair out if you get the 5 series shimmy!)
It's also worth noting that the V8 E39s have different steering to the 6 cyl engines... I personally don't think it makes a huge amount of difference, but some do, and my car just goes up and down the motorway so pin-sharp steering isn't my priority. Best to try before you buy.
Having said all that, if you just want the (slightly muted) V8 growl, an engine that offers effortless progress making power and torque, and a cruising experience that is pretty hard to beat this side of a Lexus or Jag, AND you can put up with the relatively frequent need to fix the damn thing, then an E39 would very quickly turn into a trusted friend. Highly recommended.
I haven't mentioned the rear tyre shredding, brake munching, or SHOCKING around town drink habit, because all that is pretty much a given for a big RWD saloon with a V8 in the front...
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff