What is it with E39 prices at the moment?

Wilderbeast · 6 May 2009 at 17:02

R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
I think that observation is bang on the money.

As far as I'm aware, BMW built less than 10 manual e38's in RHD. - 5 of them were for the first "Transporter" film!

But the first transporter film used a 735....

Wasnt even aware that you could get a 740 with a manual gear box :eek:

Edit: Swiftcover dont have any on their database.

Scania · 6 May 2009 at 17:04

Wilderbeast said:
But the first transporter film used a 735....

Which was actually a 1999 750iL despite what's said in the film.

Wilderbeast said:
Wasnt even aware that you could get a 740 with a manual gear box

You can't as far as I'm aware.

mjt · 6 May 2009 at 17:07

http://www.autoscout24.de/Details.aspx?id=vztuzriuwike

mm, poverty spec 740i.. manual and cloth seats :/
not surprised they didn't sell in rhd, it looks ridiculous

Scania · 6 May 2009 at 17:10

mjt said:
http://www.autoscout24.de/Details.aspx?id=vztuzriuwike

mm, poverty spec 740i.. manual and cloth seats :/
not surprised they didn't sell in rhd, it looks ridiculous

I think for the purposes of this discussion, were talking RHD examples of which there are no maual variants.

The LHD market got many things we did not, such as diesel engines and - horror of horrors - cloth seats!

Crizzy · 6 May 2009 at 17:10

That first scene in the transporter with the 7 series was awesome, shame it all went downhill after that!!

mjt · 6 May 2009 at 17:13

R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
I think for the purposes of this discussion, were talking RHD examples of which there are no maual variants.

The LHD market got many things we did not, such as diesel engines and - horror of horrors - cloth seats!

aye i know we were talking about RHDs
i was just searching for manaul 740s and came across that one which looked terrible

Justintime · 6 May 2009 at 17:54

Jez said:
3-series = mid (mondeo size)
.

Thought they were way smaller than a mondeo! Could swear my 05 525D SE was smaller than a 58 plate Mondeo i used to park next to, 3s maybe closer to Focus size?

mjt · 6 May 2009 at 17:56

the new mondeo is massive, bigger than an E39
the mk3 is about the same size as a 3

Rilot · 6 May 2009 at 18:01

Hmm, 740s... hmmm. Very nice they are.
Some tidy examples around too.
Still nervous about that BMW "Sealed for life" auto box that isn't actually sealed for life and really needs it fluids changing regularly. They tend to go bang at around 130k miles which usually results in one writing off the car.

Justintime · 6 May 2009 at 18:05

Yep, friends dads' 740 suffered a catastrophic failure where it would no longer engage any selection and just crunch with a sound of grinding metal, was jerky and bumped a lot when shifting for the longest while, forgot what reg but fairly old, gotta ask but i think they scrapped it.

OllyM · 6 May 2009 at 18:28

Might be putting my 530 up for sale soon but I really have no idea what it's "worth" - not very much I bet

Rilot · 6 May 2009 at 19:25

Gimme a shout when you do.
I'm in no real hurry for one.

Rilot · 6 May 2009 at 19:27

Oooh, might have to go and look at this one: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1025277.htm

Touring, 6sp, 540i.
Cheap too. Either it's knackered or they're having trouble valuing it due to the wierd configuration.

Pinter75 · 6 May 2009 at 21:01

Picked up my '97 540i quiite a while ago now. I have the tiptronic auto, and frankly I can't be bothered to change gears manually.

She has rolled over 202000 miles and still going. The only downside is the laughable fuel consumption.

Latest "keep it going" spends.

£9 hose and £99 battery. (The 540 and 530 don't change the battery at idle unless the ac is on. Each start up require 20 mins of charge - so duff batteries come quickly).

flat-6 · 6 May 2009 at 21:17

Rilot said:
Oooh, might have to go and look at this one: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1025277.htm

Touring, 6sp, 540i.
Cheap too. Either it's knackered or they're having trouble valuing it due to the wierd configuration.

He can't spell manual and has had a chav exhaust put on a 540i. Neither are good signs.

Muffin` · 6 May 2009 at 21:37

flat-6 said:
Rilot said:

Oooh, might have to go and look at this one: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1025277.htm

Touring, 6sp, 540i.
Cheap too. Either it's knackered or they're having trouble valuing it due to the wierd configuration.

Click to expand...

He can't spell manual and has had a chav exhaust put on a 540i. Neither are good signs.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Rebecca-Winn/525779365

Scania · 6 May 2009 at 21:37

Rilot said:
Hmm, 740s... hmmm. Very nice they are.
Some tidy examples around too.
Still nervous about that BMW "Sealed for life" auto box that isn't actually sealed for life and really needs it fluids changing regularly. They tend to go bang at around 130k miles which usually results in one writing off the car.

I was always cacking myself about mine going pop on my e38, it started to show a reluctance to change into top in auto mode (but would do so happily in manual mode) this was around 125k miles - I sold.

The above said, my old mans 1997 528i e39 is over 250k now and as far as I am aware, the gearbox has never been touched! :eek:

It still drives as well as it ever has, he's ran it from new.

Rilot said:
Oooh, might have to go and look at this one: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1025277.htm

Touring, 6sp, 540i.
Cheap too. Either it's knackered or they're having trouble valuing it due to the wierd configuration.

That looks a Riot, Rilot! :cool:

-

Stainless steal exhaust

with a later expense taken care of.

flat-6 said:
He can't spell manual and has had a chav exhaust put on a 540i. Neither are good signs.

The spellings possibly a worry, but whats the issue with an aftermarket - quiet - stainless one? - I wanted to get one for my e38, the absurd cost put me off!

personally, I see a decent quiet stainless system as a bonus.

Jez · 6 May 2009 at 21:42

I wouldn't worry about the gearboxes, change the fluid as normal regardless of what BMW say...

Rilot · 7 May 2009 at 08:36

Been talking with the owner of that Touring 6-speed. She's really looked after it by the sounds of things. Answered all of my questions quickly and with tons of detail.
She's been very honest so far. It seems the only fault is the usual missing lines on some of the OBC displays. A fairly costly fix but I can live with that if the rest of the car is good.
Had it's cooling system replaced about 30k miles ago which is bang on for what I would expect with a 540i.
Self levelling rear still works so she says which is a weak point on the tourings. Not too expensive to fix if it goes wrong though.

[TW]Fox · 7 May 2009 at 08:39

You'll find it very hard to find a high OBC fitted E39 WITHOUT missing pixels on the dash display or the MID unit so don't let that put you off. It is a design flaw - BMW USA replace clusters FOC. BMW UK bury heads in the sand.