BMW E39 - Help please

dhill

dhill

dhill

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Im currently in the process of trying to find out as much as possible about these cars. Common faults & fixes, what to look for when buying, mpg figures etc etc

Im currently looking around at the 535i and the 540i (1997-2003). Im I right in thinking that in 2001 they changed the looks and introduced angel eyes?

Im 31, full no claims, no accidents and no points so insurance isnt an issue. In fact, I did a quick check on Elephant to try and get a ballpark figure and for a 540i with £150 excess and fully comp it would cost me in the region of £400.
 
Cyrus said:
id go for the 530i if i was you, fox will be along shortly ;)
Click to expand...

I didnt think the 530i fell into the E39 catergory, i thought the E39 was made up of the following engines: 520i, 523i, 528i, 530d, 535i, 540i and M5.
 
well if it doesnt someone conned me when i had mine :D

The 530i was an e39 and probably the best one apart from the m

231 bhp - 6 cyl running costs - and better steering the 540

made 535 pointless.

It superceded the 528i, all 530i sports are facelifts (angel eyes rear leds etc)
 
The range was facelifted in late 2000, which brought in the angel eyes, LED rear lights etc. Prior to the facelift it was made up of a 2 litre 520i, a 2.5 litre 523i, a 528i, 530d, 535i and 540i.

After the facelift the petrol engine range was refreshed and became 2.2 litre 520i, 525i, 530i, 535i and 540i.

All the Six Cylinder models cost the same to run in terms of fuel economy, repairs, servicing and suchlike, and the same is true of the V8's so make sure you get the largest version of your desired engine configuration.

Don't buy a 535i - it offers the performance of a 530i but the running costs of the 540i. The 540i is noticeably more expensive to run than the 6 pot but does have 286bhp to make up for this. Do note that the V8 models do not handle as well as the 6 pots. This is because they have 60/40 weight distribution and older recirculating ball steering which numbs steering feel.

This is mine:

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As the E39 gets older, many cheap ones appear. Do not buy one of these, a 'bargain' E39 will be a nightmare whereas a good one will be the best car you'll ever own. Make sure you get the Sport model, and aim to get either a 530i Sport or a 540i Sport and do not spend less than £7k.

Combined MPG on the 530i is 29.7 and on the 540i is 23.1 IIRC. 540i 0-60 5.9 seconds, 530i 0-60 is 6.6 seconds for the manual versions.
 
Dont worry so much about mileage, instead concentrate on number of owners and condition. If you can, you want to buy a car off someone who has had it from new or, if thats not possible, at least 3-4 years or so. The more they've paid for it originally the better condition you may find it to be in.
 
I have a 540i (1997) and it is a super sweet car!

I am 33 (As of the 11th Apr) with 7yrs protected NCB and with no excess, I pay £550 FC. It is parked on the road tho'.

Common faults on the V8's - Crap cooling system. Before I got it the expansion tank was replaced. Since I have had it, the rad plastic coupling broke, then the top hose split! Nothing too heinous. Rad was £100 odd and the hose £18.

Over the near 2 years I have had it, I have had to replace the camshaft sensor, £80 5 min DIY job. Also it blew a fuel line (the rubber coupling), again a quick DIY job. Most of the things that are failing are made of rubber, simply due to age.

I think I do need my prop shaft donut doing, but this does not really affect the day to day use.

I got it for £2500 and it has now 197,000 miles on it. Today it still drives great, and is very very very fast. I do not drive it everyday, and when I do it probably only does <10 miles a week. If I wanted a daily driver, I would not have the 540i

MPG is horrible. Best I have had in town is 21mpg that is with free moving traffic and most lights on green.

I did add a sport front bumper OEM, new alloys and angel eyes OEM.

Overall, it is simply the best car I have ever travelled in. Sport mode makes all the right noises and when you need it to move quickly, it does!

Kickdown in sport is nothing short of brutal!

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Before this I have a poverty spec 316i e36, which for 5 years nothing ever went wrong!
 
Last edited:
He wanted £3995, somehow I got it down to £2500, so no typo.

It has interstellar milage, but for a 4.4l v8 it is only a teenager ;-)
 
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