Would you buy this?
- Thread starter HarryPainful
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![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
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Soldato
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[TW]Fox;17118497 said:There are 3 E39's attending, you can marvel at the carpetted door bins
I'll buy you a drink if you say "EAT MY CARPET!" in the pub.
Soldato
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Fox has been spot on in this thread.
Joshy, answer the questions he put, having sat in an insignia i would say a E39 is a nicer place to be - vectra ? LOL
Joshy, answer the questions he put, having sat in an insignia i would say a E39 is a nicer place to be - vectra ? LOL
With regards to the op, let me just add this to what Fox has already said;
If you do decide to buy one, and I think from what I have read so far, you should seriously consider it, make sure and I mean really doubly make sure that the engine is smooth and quiet, it should not make any rattling or tapping sounds at all, hot or cold, nor should there be any noticeable vibrations transferred into the cabin from the engine bay. If the car is an auto, the box should shift very smoothly too, and not make any noise, no whirring or whining or anything really.
This whole, more recently designed car thing you seem to be hell bent on pushing Joshy is rather ...well odd. I suppose he could get a car designed a few years later yes, but for £3k he isn't going to get anything appreciably better than an E39 ..even if it is newer. Cheaper to run sure, but 'better' ...nope.
I wouldn't want anyone who reads this forum to allow my E39 experience to colour your view of them, I know I have done a fair amount of moaning about mine, especially lately ...but they really are brilliant cars when they are working properly. I just bought a badly cared for example with an awful lot that needs putting right, far more than I ever anticipated. Also I came from a newer, much better kept and higher class of car, bear that in mind too, I wasn't driving an old Peugeot before ...this will inevitably influence my thoughts and what I have to say about them too.
At the end of the day buying good l6s is much easier than V8s as there is a much, much, much wider selection to choose from.
If you do decide to buy one, and I think from what I have read so far, you should seriously consider it, make sure and I mean really doubly make sure that the engine is smooth and quiet, it should not make any rattling or tapping sounds at all, hot or cold, nor should there be any noticeable vibrations transferred into the cabin from the engine bay. If the car is an auto, the box should shift very smoothly too, and not make any noise, no whirring or whining or anything really.
This whole, more recently designed car thing you seem to be hell bent on pushing Joshy is rather ...well odd. I suppose he could get a car designed a few years later yes, but for £3k he isn't going to get anything appreciably better than an E39 ..even if it is newer. Cheaper to run sure, but 'better' ...nope.
I wouldn't want anyone who reads this forum to allow my E39 experience to colour your view of them, I know I have done a fair amount of moaning about mine, especially lately ...but they really are brilliant cars when they are working properly. I just bought a badly cared for example with an awful lot that needs putting right, far more than I ever anticipated. Also I came from a newer, much better kept and higher class of car, bear that in mind too, I wasn't driving an old Peugeot before ...this will inevitably influence my thoughts and what I have to say about them too.
At the end of the day buying good l6s is much easier than V8s as there is a much, much, much wider selection to choose from.
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Just remembered the OP asked about common issues; make sure it's not pressurising the coolant system, ie; open the cap about 30s after starting it from cold, there should be a very minimal hiss of air escaping. These have been known to drop the coolant, and if it's warped the head after over-heating it often won't ever fit back on for long. If it makes a really big hiss when you take the cap off; walk away.
There are quite a few common issues really, but I'm guessing Fox's guide covered most of them. I didn't read it this time but I have read it before.
What you really want to avoid are the really expensive issues, the cooling system is fairly pricey to sort it all but once done will last a good long time, longer than you will likely keep the car, it would almost certainly have already been done on a car with the mileage you mention, although it could well be due some parts in the cooling system again by now.
The automatic gearbox 'could' be an issue at this sort of mileage if it has never had a fluid and filter change, which is not on the BMW service schedule, so I'd be willing to bet that it hasn't been touched if the owner stuck religiously to it. If the autobox lets go it will good as write a £3k E39 off, so make sure it's smooth, quiet and that there is no hesitation when shifting from P,D,R,N etc. And if it hasn't been done, book a fluid and filter change for it as soon as you can if you buy the car ...I can tell you all about this if you need, when and if the time comes.
You're 'unlikely' to get chain slap but noisy VANOS units are quite possible and more common on the l6s than the V8s as I understand it, they sound really unpleasant too and can ruin the whole experience imo. This is an expensive job to sort too so not one you'ed want to be taking on with a car you'ed just had. Having said that, there is at least a seal replacement kit for the l6's so can be done 'relatively' cheaply ...there is no such thing for the V8 and thus new units or perhaps a rebuild of the units is required, I don't know about the l6 but they are something like £650-£700 each for the V8 (the units are of a totally different design to the ones on the l6s) ...which of course requires 2, one on each intake cam of which there are of course 2 on the V engine.
The l6 has what is called a double VANOS system, this is different to the V8s single VANOS system ...you may be confused about now, thinking that I just said the V8s have 2 units, well they do, but that's because they have 4 cam shafts, 2 intake cams and 2 exhaust cams ...but only the intake cams have a VANOS unit. Now the l6 only has 2 cams, 1 intake and 1 exhaust ...but it has double VANOS in that it has a unit on both the intake and exhaust cams.
You probably didn't really need to know too much about the VANOS setups of the E39 ...but I thought I'd talk about it anyway since it might be of some interest. It is a potential problem area and it's expensive to fix, so just watch out. You will 'hear' if their is a VANOS issue anyway, because the engine wont sound silky smooth and quiet.
What you really want to avoid are the really expensive issues, the cooling system is fairly pricey to sort it all but once done will last a good long time, longer than you will likely keep the car, it would almost certainly have already been done on a car with the mileage you mention, although it could well be due some parts in the cooling system again by now.
The automatic gearbox 'could' be an issue at this sort of mileage if it has never had a fluid and filter change, which is not on the BMW service schedule, so I'd be willing to bet that it hasn't been touched if the owner stuck religiously to it. If the autobox lets go it will good as write a £3k E39 off, so make sure it's smooth, quiet and that there is no hesitation when shifting from P,D,R,N etc. And if it hasn't been done, book a fluid and filter change for it as soon as you can if you buy the car ...I can tell you all about this if you need, when and if the time comes.
You're 'unlikely' to get chain slap but noisy VANOS units are quite possible and more common on the l6s than the V8s as I understand it, they sound really unpleasant too and can ruin the whole experience imo. This is an expensive job to sort too so not one you'ed want to be taking on with a car you'ed just had. Having said that, there is at least a seal replacement kit for the l6's so can be done 'relatively' cheaply ...there is no such thing for the V8 and thus new units or perhaps a rebuild of the units is required, I don't know about the l6 but they are something like £650-£700 each for the V8 (the units are of a totally different design to the ones on the l6s) ...which of course requires 2, one on each intake cam of which there are of course 2 on the V engine.
The l6 has what is called a double VANOS system, this is different to the V8s single VANOS system ...you may be confused about now, thinking that I just said the V8s have 2 units, well they do, but that's because they have 4 cam shafts, 2 intake cams and 2 exhaust cams ...but only the intake cams have a VANOS unit. Now the l6 only has 2 cams, 1 intake and 1 exhaust ...but it has double VANOS in that it has a unit on both the intake and exhaust cams.
You probably didn't really need to know too much about the VANOS setups of the E39 ...but I thought I'd talk about it anyway since it might be of some interest. It is a potential problem area and it's expensive to fix, so just watch out. You will 'hear' if their is a VANOS issue anyway, because the engine wont sound silky smooth and quiet.
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Soldato
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Oh, and the flaps, you can't say VANOS an not say flap, or does the small one not have those?
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Yea, thats totally what the thread says.
I disagree, its has everything that is right, true and clear about motors. Guy asks a question, people answer to the best of their ability, some guy comes in who is clearly an idiot and then when called out starts a hissy fit and makes a fuss about other peoples informative posts, then can't defend his basis for said hissy fit.
I clarified what I meant when somebody else challenged that point earlier in this thread.
To help you out, though it was only 8 posts into the thread, its here:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=17116858&postcount=8
I can assure you the feeling is mutual.
I conceded that a 9-5 isnt build as well as BMW , but i do still stand by the point that a 2004 70k 9-5 is a square on competitor for a 2001 2.2 litre 150k 5 series, i really do believe that.
I certainly wouldnt dismiss it out of hand on build quality, they are much better built than 9-3's.
I certainly wouldnt dismiss it out of hand on build quality, they are much better built than 9-3's.
It's a far more worthy discussion than Vectra v E39, thats for sure
I genuinelly think that the E39 is a better car than the 9-5 in every possible way bar value for money, though (Dont forget when new and commanding huge money each, these cars were often pitched against each other, the Saab nearly always leaving with a bloody nose), so I reckon if you DID pick the Saab over the E39 it would be because, for the money, its a newer car, rather than because its a better car 
[TW]Fox;17120634 said:It's a far more worthy discussion than Vectra v E39, thats for sure
YES! We can nearly agree on that
As always im not the best at getting my point across.If they were in a comparable condition then you are right, but if at 150k the BMW was ready for a suspension refresh and whatever else then it would no longer be the better car without further money spending.
If i was on a budget i would be a Saab man, dont know why, just think they are top value for money.