High mile e39, should I run a mile?

Clarkey

Clarkey

Clarkey

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
18,306
So, tempted by this 528 auto, looks nice, has full BMW SH, but is on 170k miles.
Probably one for Fox here, but is the car nearing the end of it's life or what? Stuff going to blow up all the time on it, autobox good for high miles?
I normally wouldn't even consider it, but this one is ridiculously cheap.
 
How cheap is cheap? what's the difference between book and average miles and what your being offered it for, how old is it? 170k is average mileage is it's 15 years old... hard to tell without specifics.
 
All 528's are at least 12 years old now, so really the mileage is irrelevant. Whatever mileage you buy its got a pretty high chance of needing significant work, so really I'd be looking at one that's had a whole pile of work done above anything else at this age.

The only thing that kills an E39 is an owner deciding the cost of repair is not worth it for the value of the car. Everything on them is repairable; you can even transplant the engine for under a grand (Though the quality of used engines degrades with time!). The autobox is probably the biggest potential source of high-value bork, a proper recon being well into 4 figures and replacement with a used one being false economy. Evidence of somebody else having been landed with a big gearbox bill in the cars history would be a good thing to find!

Bear in mind you are unlikely to find one that isn't desperately in need of new upper and lower suspension arms at the front and dampers all round to bring it back to life.

I guess the big problem is that not many people will buy a £1k car and then be happy spending a further £1-2k refurbishing it so it drives nicely, for obvious and understandable reasons. Shame, as a properly sorted E39 is a wonderful car. If they've been looked after and had these wearing parts replaced as and when required they'll still be a lovely car, but perhaps 1 in 10 for sale are like this.
 
Have a drive of an auto 528i before making your mind up - what are you expecting from it? They aren't particularly quick though of course it still sounds like a 6 and will thrum along quite nicely, if it's just a nice big cruiser you're after and you're happy with lowish mpg then it's definately worth looking at regardless of mileage. On the other hand if you want to have a bit of fun in it you might be better off with a manual.
 
Thanks, what is the cost of the arms and dampers then. The car is cheap enough that I'd happily spend a bit on it, just don't want to end up with something that I'll be repairing every month.
 
rodenal said:
Have a drive of an auto 528i before making your mind up - what are you expecting from it? They aren't particularly quick though of course it still sounds like a 6 and will thrum along quite nicely, if it's just a nice big cruiser you're after and you're happy with lowish mpg then it's definately worth looking at regardless of mileage. On the other hand if you want to have a bit of fun in it you might be better off with a manual.
Click to expand...

You are probably right, it's the polar opposite of what I'd normally go for and I'm not sure I'd like it but the idea of a nice comfy cruiser with a lovely interior does appeal to me. 95% of my driving is A road/motorway at 70+ so hopefully would be able to get 30mpg out of one of these?
 
Pre facelift E39's do seem like a brilliant bargains in the less desirable SE spec, but they're the sort of car that needs to be sitting on sorted suspension or it'd just grate me.

Soft suspension along with the comical sidewalls on the 15's allow for wafting on a budget :D
icon14.gif
 
30mpg should just about be fine, wouldn't bet on any more though - only other thing is the interior in most e39's has dated quite badly, it's the wood that does it for me though if you can find one with one of the other finishes it makes a big difference.
 
Clarkey said:
So, tempted by this 528 auto, looks nice, has full BMW SH, but is on 170k miles.
Probably one for Fox here, but is the car nearing the end of it's life or what? Stuff going to blow up all the time on it, autobox good for high miles?
I normally wouldn't even consider it, but this one is ridiculously cheap.
Click to expand...

Define cheap I suppose!

I paid sub £600 for mine a little over a year ago, granted, it was the far side of 260k miles then and is now past 270k miles yet is still on its factory exhaust & (more worryingly perhaps) its auto gearbox.

If the car shows signs of being well looked after , like a detailed service history, decent tyres all round etc then @ 170k miles, it should have plenty of life left in it yet.

It was easy for me though, my car was owned by my fathers business from new & he kept it when he eventually retired. It was still getting regular BMW servicing @ 11 years old....

If you have found such a needle in the haystack, then buy all means take a punt on it.

It'll still cost you to keep it on the road - if doing it properly - but, its worth it imo.

:)

In the 12 months I've had mine, its had suspension drop links & rear pads replaced, the drivers door handle broke on the inside, dash pixels are crap (which some days work fine, others not at all) and routine servicing.

I have spent way more than I paid for the car with the above and as Fox points too, this is where most aged e39's fall down. Owners either can't afford or justify such expense on a relatively cheap (to buy) car.
 
Last edited:
Clarkey said:
Thanks, what is the cost of the arms and dampers then. The car is cheap enough that I'd happily spend a bit on it, just don't want to end up with something that I'll be repairing every month.
Click to expand...

£100 a corner for the dampers and you can get each set of front arms (there are two sets, upper and lower, its lower that wear the most and are easiest to diagnose) for about £200+vat a pair. DONT skimp on quality here, pattern ones are junk. Lemforder or nothing.

Obviously my view is slightly skewed in that I don't see mine as a 'cheap car' even though it has little value these days as I've had it so long and paid rather more for it, but a really nice example is just a fantastic car. I really love mine and honestly the more I drive it these days the less I can see me changing it for something else until I'm pretty much forced to. As you know I've driven a lot of cars and there is just something about the E39 that feels so right. Even my Dad has replaced his E60 with an E39 again :D

The only car I've ever driven that I come close to liking as much for my real wants (as opposed to what I thought I wanted last year..) is the F10.
 
You can potentially get away with just putting powerflex bushes on the thrust arm if the bushing is knackered.

They just need pulling out and pushing in not pressing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom