Tell me about the E39 535i

I don't always agree with everything Fox posts (probably more to do with the way he posts), but he has briefly outlined how these cars should be maintained.

This is the advice most people want to know when buying a car - how do I look after it inline with the manufacturer's specifications. If what people are really asking is: 'How do I run this car on a tiny budget, cutting corners wherever possible...' then say that from the outset. Don't then be surprised when you are told not to bother.

Unless this car has been looked after properly (and I see no evidence of that from the very, very detailed add), it's going to be a money pit. Brakes, pads, suspension and diff leaks alone will likely cost you the price of the car and more.

ps Lemforder arms are cheaper than BMW stamped items - more savvy than simply having a 'limitless budget'
 
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Joshy said:
I'm bringing a useful perspective to this thread that Fox seems to be unable to comprehend and therefore not taking into account. What exactly are you and your ownership of a "Sport" Passat estate bringing to the discussion other than trying to have a dig at me? Grow up.
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Handbags.... More than you my son, my car wants for nothing and has been maintained regardless of cost, that's for two reasons, firstly I like my cars to be right and secondly it has to work. I follow the logic as fox does when running a car which due to your age and limited car experience and not needing your car to function is something you simply can't comprehend.

Why buy cheap parts for a car and scrimp so it only just works? You buy a car and run it to be the best it can be.

You have about 30 seconds average ownership periods of your cars but speak like some sort of authority, in actual fact you've never owned anything long enough to build up a true idea of running costs.
 
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Firestar_3x said:
You have about 30 seconds average ownership periods of your cars but speak like some sort of authority, in actual fact you've never owned anything long enough to build up a true idea of running costs.
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How on earth am I speaking like some sort of 'authority'? :confused: I am pointing out that most people don't do the 'want for nothing' thing with their cars, certainly not on stuff like an old 5 Series or a Passat Estate. You and Fox are in the minority without a shadow of a doubt. What both of you are incapable of processing that why because your way is the best way, it is not the only way.

There is somewhere between spending huge amount of money keeping a car in immaculate condition and having a shed of a car that barely scrapes through a MOT each and ever year. The vast majority of people will be looking to run their car in the middle of the two extremes.
 
Joshy said:
There is somewhere between spending huge amount of money keeping a car in immaculate condition and having a shed of a car that barely scrapes through a MOT each and ever year. The vast majority of people will be looking to run their car in the middle of the two extremes.
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Not getting bound into this^ area of discussion for a moment. Even just to keep it working, a 535i will have significant costs. Things like the alternator that Fox mentioned. Who was it that had a 540i on these forums, didn't he spend thousands on engine work because it broke?
 
Is this aimed as a replacement to the Clio or the commuter car to be kept on the mainland?

If the former, then a V8 bimmer project might be ok. If the latter, I'd rather have something thats going to work flawlessly, and if it needs fixing, be simple and quick to do.

Just my 2c
 
Am afraid I agree with Josh here. The majority of people I work with wouldn't give 2 hoots if the suspension was tired on their car, and certainly wouldn't think about replacing bushes etc unless it was physically stopping the car from working.

Don't know what Mike would do so can't really comment in the context of this thread, but I can say that a lot of people just couldn't care less (or more probably wouldn't even realise).
 
they're cheap to maintain and fix, alternator 70 quid on ebay, most the bushes are a 10er each, if auto box fails there about 150 2nd hand or 400-500 for recon

to be honest your best bet would be to put a grand a side for repairs and if you can't justify it then just bang it on ebay spares or repairs

if your handy with a spanner and good at following instructions/guides you can probs do a lot of the work yourself

tbh most cars are reasonable to run and maintain, you've just got to know the right people for cheap labour and the right places for parts, look on ferrari forums a lot of the guys on there are doing work themself, if i had a 360 id be happy to do most jobs myself
 
Amoeba said:
Am afraid I agree with Josh here. The majority of people I work with wouldn't give 2 hoots if the suspension was tired on their car, and certainly wouldn't think about replacing bushes etc unless it was physically stopping the car from working.
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Those people don't tend to buy premium/niche/enthusiast type cars though do they?
 
MikeHiow said:
I'd probably end up attending to every little niggle eventually, because I'm slightly OCD like that with my cars - it's exactly why the Clio is in such a good state.
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This is where a £1500 e39 will soon become VERY expensive, I paid <£600 for mine and use it very little yet I have already spent double that in simple servicing & consumables, thats before I get the prop shaft sorted (clunk sometimes when pulling away) the A/C fan sorted (no airflow) and the bit of rust on the bootlid (very common).

Thing is, I am happy to do this with mine, despite its 15years & near 270k miles, its been in my family since new and I have a phone book sized folder of bills & BMW service invoices and I know its wanted for nothing during its life (it still has 5 michelin tyres for example) another expense looming is its exhaust as its still (!) on its factory item!

a lot of potential expenditure, some may argue I could have spent more and got a newer / better example. Thing is, it would still be an unknown quantity to me and thus, to my mind, far more likely to throw a large bill sooner or later.

If you can find a decent example with few owners, documented mileage & history then by all means.

Providing a dealer with £800 ish profit on a £600 snotter is not, imo, the way to do it.

/Dons Fox proof flame suit

If you want a V8 engined BMW on a budget, buy an e38 7 Series. Imo they drive better than the e39 equivalent (V8 model) - I certainly prefer the steering feel of a V8 735 compared to a 535 - not to mention seem to offer a lot more car for usually less initial outlay.

With all old BMW's, its not the purchase price thats the killer, its the cost of keeping it moving relative to other options for similar money.
 
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Lol DannyW, 70 quid alternator? It's a different setup to the 6 pot, not that you want a 70 quid ebay job on one of those either.
 
I'd expect nothing else from someone who fits secondhand brake pads.

How long will that alternator last, whos to say it won't die in 4 weeks?
 
Firestar_3x said:
I'd expect nothing else from someone who fits secondhand brake pads.
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haha they might aswell get used rather then just bolted to a car in a scrapyard and end up getting crushed, just reminded me actually ill nip to my local breakers yard later need some window wiper blades
 
Firestar_3x said:
What sort of price do you pay for these items?
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i get pads and discs all round as new £20 (i only buy if they are as new condition)

wipers, well i dont know the condition so ill just go to the area of the scrap yard where all the mondeos are, take about 5 sets of wipers, will cost about £3-5 depending on who serves me
 
5353i eh? Let me summarise:

All the power of the 530i
All the running costs of the 540i (and associated hangups)

If you really want a BMW that badly, please save some decent money rather than trying to be someone who is able to say "I once owned a BMW once" in order to look cool xx
 
DannyW said:
i get pads and discs all round as new £20 (i only buy if they are as new condition)

wipers, well i dont know the condition so ill just go to the area of the scrap yard where all the mondeos are, take about 5 sets of wipers, will cost about £3-5 depending on who serves me
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I know we're going off topic here, but you seriously buy second hand pads and discs? I thought that was a joke? :p.

What muppet puts brand new, quality pads and discs onto a car that ends up in the scarp yard within a such a short space of time?

Unless you're buying parts off of a accident damaged car, in which case are you really happy to have pads and discs off of a car that would have used the brakes so heavily before they have had a chance to bed in properly?

And second hand wiper blades!? Again, how many cars fit for the scarp yard are going to have decent wiper blades fitted to them!? If you sorted out a trade card you could get a new set of halfords ones for about that sort of money.
 
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