BMW 530i - E39 Prosecco Edition

[W00DY]

With lockdown looming and having not bought an interesting car in about 2 years, I decided I fancied another barge. I originally wanted a V8 but COVID pricing has made a lot of interesting stuff seem very pricey, so I instead found myself looking at E39s with 6 cylinders. I've had a nice 528i with a long list of options including double glazing and it was a lovely car, if a little uninspiring in silver over grey.




I fancied a 530 which with an almost 40hp jump which would hopefully add a little urgency to the competent if slightly flat 2.8. In the end I saw a very ropey example before committing to go to the other side of the country for a car I hadn't seen on the day before lockdown and this is what I picked up.









I am perhaps odd in believing the SE spec cars on Style 32 wheels to be the best looking of the E39s and the colours on this one are lovely. Like a poor man's Champagne edition.

The car itself is in very nice condition, especially the body which is becoming a big issue with E39s. There are a few niggles and faults, but hopefully I can get it back to it's best and enjoy wafting around in a car that still manages to feel special nearly 20 years after it was produced.

I'll get into the issues in a later post and hoopefully get some advice from those of you with more experience and knowledge.

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

Lovely spec! Hope it brings you many good miles!

[harrykul]

That's a cracking spec, love it.

[W00DY]

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

Lovely spec! Hope it brings you many good miles!

Thanks Ross. Not sure about many given the modern world, but it was a very enjoyable 250 miles home (once I'd relaxed into it as has to happen with a new motor)

harrykul said:

That's a cracking spec, love it.

Thanks Harry, the spec is great and makes it look even fresher than they normally do I think. Double glazing and heated comfort seats aside I don't think I'd do it any differently.

[Triumph Man]

As I said in the barge thread, looks lovely, and a nice spec too - the style 32s definitely work in the darker colour in SE spec.

[Northbrook]

Looks lovely!

[5 In a Row]

Looks lovely and most importantly the body appears to be in good shape.

Were heated comfort seats 2 options originally?
I had a 2003 530d with unheated comfort seats.

[Triumph Man]

Yes, I've got comfort seats in my 530i and they are, unfortunately, unheated.

[d_a_n1979]

Lovely car and interior, looks a very comfy waft bus

Another E39 in the ranks

[W00DY]

Triumph Man said:

As I said in the barge thread, looks lovely, and a nice spec too - the style 32s definitely work in the darker colour in SE spec.

Thanks. Style 32s do look fantastic on an SE and ayet a bit weird on the Sport.

Northbrook said:

Looks lovely!

Ta. It needs a few bits sorted to get it really nice, but it's all simple stuff (I hope)

5 In a Row said:

Looks lovely and most importantly the body appears to be in good shape.

Were heated comfort seats 2 options originally?
I had a 2003 530d with unheated comfort seats.

Thanks, bodywork was my main concern when searching. They were always separate options, I ought to have stuck an 'and' in there. E39s seem to be very rarely specced with heated seats especially compared with other executive contemporaries.

d_a_n1979 said:

Lovely car and interior, looks a very comfy waft bus

Another E39 in the ranks

Thanks. They are getting rarer, perhaps it's time for the values of cooking E39s to shoot up (I can dream).

[Krikkit]

What's on your fettling list? Anything fun?

I said it on the master thread, but style the 32's are tremendous.

[W00DY]

Krikkit said:

What's on your fettling list? Anything fun?

I said it on the master thread, but style the 32's are tremendous.

They are such a lovely wheel, I think pics don't do the staggered treatment justice, just the right amount of attitude.

OK, so here's an early list, there will be more to do.

Exterior

New driver's mirror (leaked dimming fluid)
New windscreen weather strip (cracked and bits missing)
Polish headlights
Polish car
Possibly wrap chrome trim to Shadow Line
Possibly debadge as per original spec
Perhaps a couple of smart repairs if possible

Interior
Repaint or replace steering wheel lower trim
Replace centre console tray in front of gear lever
Do something about the finish on the armrest handle
Possibly new mats (currently has one cream full set and a pair of black fronts)
Bit of dye on the driver's seat
Possibly fit some wood trim if an interesting one pops up (not Vavona and I quite like the black with the black headlining)

Mechanical/Electrical
Fix brake judder
Fix cruise control
Rocker cover gasket

[W00DY]

The spec list

Colour cosmos-schwarz
Upholstery Leather, Montana/lightgelb

Editions And Packages
S785 White Direction Indicator Lights

Comfort And Interior Equipment
S403 Glass Roof, Electrical
S428 Warning Triangle And First Aid Kit
S430 Interior/Outside Mirror With Auto Dip
S431 Interior Mirror With Automatic-Dip
S441 Smoker Package
S459 Seat Adjustment, Electric, With Memory
S473 Armrest Front



Multimedia
S602 On-Board Monitor WithTV
S609 Navigation System Professional
S672 CD Changer For 6 CDs
S676 HiFi Speaker System
S694 Provisions For BMW 6 CD Changer

Driver Assistance And Lightning
S500 Headl.Washer System/Intensive Cleaning
S508 Park Distance Control (PDC)
S520 Fog Lights
S522 Xenon Light
S534 Automatic Air Conditioning
S555 On-Board Computer V With Remote Control


Wheels And Drive
S202 Steptronic
S210 Dynamic Stability Control
S249 Multifunction F Steering Wheel
S255 Sports Leather Steering Wheel
S265 Tyre Pressure Control (TPC)
S299 BMW LA Wheels With Mixed Tyres

Environment And Safety
S302 Alarm System
S320 Deleted, Model Lettering
S812 National Version Great Britain
S850 Dummy-SALAPA
S853 Language Version, English
S863 Dealer List Europe
S877 Omission Of Non-Combined Operation
S880 On-Board Literature, English

Individual Equipment
S775 Headlining Anthracite

[d_a_n1979]

They are going up

Any well looked after and tidy example of the E39, SE or Sport will be better valued as time goes on

An unmolested, looked after and well maintained 523i went for close to £2500 on CollectingCars last week IIRC. That’s a bloody good price for the lowly 523i...

So any decent 530i will always fetch that higher premium as it’s the more sought after engine. The 530i, 540i & M5s are the ones that are sought the most, the 530D for those derv loving fans

And if like me , someone has a Jap import E39, more so a 530i or 540i, the prices are high and rightly deserved due to the condition they’re in etc. Personal sales are more around the right price levels IMO; dealers tend to push it a bit but then again, they seem to sell eventually

Edited by d_a_n1979 on Thursday 5th November 17:16

[W00DY]

d_a_n1979 said:

They are going up

Any well looked after and tidy example of the E39, SE or Sport will be better valued as time goes on

An unmolested, looked after and well maintained 523i went for close to £2500 on CollectingCars last week IIRC. That’s a bloody good price for the lowly 523i...

So any decent 530i will always fetch that higher premium as it’s the more sought after engine. The 530i, 540i & M5s are the ones that are sought the most, the 530D for those derv loving fans

And if like me , someone has a Jap import E39, more so a 530i or 540i, the prices are high and rightly deserved due to the condition they’re in etc. Personal sales are more around the right price levels IMO; dealers tend to push it a bit but then again, they seem to sell eventually

Edited by d_a_n1979 on Thursday 5th November 17:16

https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/1999-bmw-e39-5...

£2399 plus £600 buyers premium on a mingebag spec 523i in silver with 97k miles. Lunacy.

[JeremyH5]

Very nice, presumably much cheaper than a Champagne II too!
Maybe we should aim to get these two cars together for a “family” photograph.

[g3org3y]

Very nice indeed. Best wheels on an SE imo (M Parallels need the Sport kit) and really good looking interior. Looking forward to the updates.

[Mr Tidy]

That's a great looking car OP.

[nickod]

W00DY said:

With lockdown looming and having not bought an interesting car in about 2 years, I decided I fancied another barge. I originally wanted a V8 but COVID pricing has made a lot of interesting stuff seem very pricey, so I instead found myself looking at E39s with 6 cylinders. I've had a nice 528i with a long list of options including double glazing and it was a lovely car, if a little uninspiring in silver over grey.




I fancied a 530 which with an almost 40hp jump which would hopefully add a little urgency to the competent if slightly flat 2.8. In the end I saw a very ropey example before committing to go to the other side of the country for a car I hadn't seen on the day before lockdown and this is what I picked up.









I am perhaps odd in believing the SE spec cars on Style 32 wheels to be the best looking of the E39s and the colours on this one are lovely. Like a poor man's Champagne edition.

The car itself is in very nice condition, especially the body which is becoming a big issue with E39s. There are a few niggles and faults, but hopefully I can get it back to it's best and enjoy wafting around in a car that still manages to feel special nearly 20 years after it was produced.

I'll get into the issues in a later post and hoopefully get some advice from those of you with more experience and knowledge.

Looks really nice. I’ve also recently bought a 530se with the same interior as yours although it’s on turbines. I have a few cars but it’s the one I now always seem to drive. The dash design and Layout has in my opinion not been bettered by BMW ( or many others for that matter)

[cerb4.5lee]

Very nice and I like that a lot.

Enjoy it.