Need some advice on buying a BMW 97 540i
- Thread starter Pinter75
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![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
I'll find out tomorrow.
He said it had not had a dealer stamp in the past 2 years, but then I would not expect it to at that price/age. I hope it has some kind of reciepts for something.
As far as I know from the brief phone convo - he has had a new windshield and "water tank" replaced in his 3 years of ownership - nothing else.
I will be getting my local BMW specialist to give it the once over, possibly getting it up on the ramps to have a look underneath.
I will try to get it down to £3400 - £3500 (It is currently reduced to £3795)
If he is anything like the 328i owner who said "eh" when I mentioned vanos - I will have fun
It had a replacement gearbox 4 years ago (don't know why).
Any hows, more will be found out tomorrow
I just hope my heart does not rule over my head as it did after I test drove my old MK2 GTE 16v.....
Your heart is ruling your head here.
This car WILL financially cripple you if its not a pristine example and even if it is that is no guarantee. You CANNOT run a 540i on the cheap, and the fact it's had no stamped service for 2 years suggests the previous owner tried to.
With 185k it is surely approaching the time where the dampers, springs, bushes, etc etc are beyond their best and need replacing and like I said, a guy on the BMW forum recently did this to his and despite buying parts dead cheap and picking a low price indy to do the work it still cost him £2000.
This car WILL financially cripple you if its not a pristine example and even if it is that is no guarantee. You CANNOT run a 540i on the cheap, and the fact it's had no stamped service for 2 years suggests the previous owner tried to.
With 185k it is surely approaching the time where the dampers, springs, bushes, etc etc are beyond their best and need replacing and like I said, a guy on the BMW forum recently did this to his and despite buying parts dead cheap and picking a low price indy to do the work it still cost him £2000.
Caporegime
I'd be the first to admit I bought my BMW with my heart rather than head, its certainly not the cheapest way of picking your cars! That said, I'm happy as I had absolutely no illusions as to what running my car could potentially be like.
Anyways, imo,the price is too high for the mileage imo, as said though,its a major bargaining point. The lack of service history should chop £600 off it immediately as the first thing you need to do once buying it is to spend such an ammount on a decent service and discover whatever else lurks under its fine looking skin.
The thing should be stuffed full of invoices somewhere, if not, as Fox says,it sounds to me like the previous owners been running it very much on the cheap, easily done in a BMW, many still drive quite well, even with major work required!
Using my car as an example,as I could easily stick it up for sale @ £4k if I wanted to.
My service book was'nt stamped (I'll have to look!) when I had my last service, I do have the invoice however and, it'll stay in the car, as I do for the oil service it had 6000 miles back and tyres, brakes etc etc.
Consider this, in the last 11000 miles, I serviced my car 1k & 7k back, costing me £250 & £454 respectively and thats with a detailed service history upto the point I bought it.
I could have very easily sold the car, having not touched ,mechanically, bar a puncture (which you have no option but to get fixed I find!) after I'd done my 11k in it - giving me 12 months & 11kmiles of cheap 7 Series running - but left the new owner with a very nasty & expensive surprise after his first 1k of ownership could'nt I? Many BMW's are sold on thus, testament to the initial quality of the things that they take such neglect ultimately leaving some unfortunate purchaser crying.
That could very well be the case with this 540i, these bells are getting louder!
Your on a budget, which to an extent , I was I suppose.
Forget the V8 and look at a 523 / 528.
Caveat emptor my friend.
Anyways, imo,the price is too high for the mileage imo, as said though,its a major bargaining point. The lack of service history should chop £600 off it immediately as the first thing you need to do once buying it is to spend such an ammount on a decent service and discover whatever else lurks under its fine looking skin.
The thing should be stuffed full of invoices somewhere, if not, as Fox says,it sounds to me like the previous owners been running it very much on the cheap, easily done in a BMW, many still drive quite well, even with major work required!
Using my car as an example,as I could easily stick it up for sale @ £4k if I wanted to.
My service book was'nt stamped (I'll have to look!) when I had my last service, I do have the invoice however and, it'll stay in the car, as I do for the oil service it had 6000 miles back and tyres, brakes etc etc.
Consider this, in the last 11000 miles, I serviced my car 1k & 7k back, costing me £250 & £454 respectively and thats with a detailed service history upto the point I bought it.
I could have very easily sold the car, having not touched ,mechanically, bar a puncture (which you have no option but to get fixed I find!) after I'd done my 11k in it - giving me 12 months & 11kmiles of cheap 7 Series running - but left the new owner with a very nasty & expensive surprise after his first 1k of ownership could'nt I? Many BMW's are sold on thus, testament to the initial quality of the things that they take such neglect ultimately leaving some unfortunate purchaser crying.
That could very well be the case with this 540i, these bells are getting louder!
Your on a budget, which to an extent , I was I suppose.
Forget the V8 and look at a 523 / 528.
Caveat emptor my friend.
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Righty, I am looking at more 528i's. One 1999 91,000 mile Steptronic 528I just got sold before I had a chance to view it 
I am still gonna go and look at this 540i and see if I can persuade the guy that he has it priced at the wrong end of 3K.
I am still gonna go and look at this 540i and see if I can persuade the guy that he has it priced at the wrong end of 3K.
Soldato
Alarm bells ringing hard.
Don't, I repeat don't buy one unless the Climate control works.
The seller will always say "Just needs a regas mate" but is that true? Does the system leak?
The aircon is very expensive if it needs repairs and getting it back to 100% probably wont happen on a car which is anything but "quite new" - I tried on my Honda, never succeeded in getting it working properly again.
According to Parkers the price is way to high!
BMW 5-Series Saloon 1997/P
540i 4d Auto (96)
Mileage: 185,000
New £ 42695 LIST PRICE (including taxes). The car's price when it was new.
Franchised Dealer £ 3985
Independent Dealer £ 3700
Private Good £ 3040
Private Poor £ 2110
Part Exchange £ 2330
on 1st inspection I would guestimate it worth about £2800.
Also my independant BMW guy said "oh 540i - don't bring it here!"
BMW 5-Series Saloon 1997/P
540i 4d Auto (96)
Mileage: 185,000
New £ 42695 LIST PRICE (including taxes). The car's price when it was new.
Franchised Dealer £ 3985
Independent Dealer £ 3700
Private Good £ 3040
Private Poor £ 2110
Part Exchange £ 2330
on 1st inspection I would guestimate it worth about £2800.
Also my independant BMW guy said "oh 540i - don't bring it here!"
Don
As an Ex E39 540i owner I can say one thing: Walk away.
Mine was shot by 120,000 miles. My boss' has one approaching 150,000 miles and it's starting to need work that is going to be seriously expensive. Nearly everything on the suspension will need to be replaced unless it's been done already. I'm talking all the bushings, control arms etc. Rad will be shot as will most of the electrics and displays.
As [TW]Fox says. These are wonderful cars but cost mega money to keep running in good shape. Missing service history is a sign that the previous owner couldn't afford to maintain it. I'm a car nut and have a lot of disposable income but even I had to call it quits with mine and sell it.
Air con problems will cost an arm and a leg to fix. A fan that is always on or off is a sign that the IHKA has failed. Bank on £400 for a replacement if you can find one.
Mine was shot by 120,000 miles. My boss' has one approaching 150,000 miles and it's starting to need work that is going to be seriously expensive. Nearly everything on the suspension will need to be replaced unless it's been done already. I'm talking all the bushings, control arms etc. Rad will be shot as will most of the electrics and displays.
As [TW]Fox says. These are wonderful cars but cost mega money to keep running in good shape. Missing service history is a sign that the previous owner couldn't afford to maintain it. I'm a car nut and have a lot of disposable income but even I had to call it quits with mine and sell it.
Air con problems will cost an arm and a leg to fix. A fan that is always on or off is a sign that the IHKA has failed. Bank on £400 for a replacement if you can find one.
Don
[TW]Fox said:
No, but they are worse on the V8s due to the extra weight.
Oh dear I went to se it again tonight.....
How big is that v8 - jeez looks like something out of starwars!
It has offical BMW stamps for all inspections and oil changes etc up to 157,000, then full stamps by independants up to its current 183.000. Plus it has 12months MOT.
Everything works as it should electrical wise, except a few missing digits on the instrument display. Kick down gave awesome acceleration and it sounds tip top. Tried the sequential GB and that worked too
It has all the toys except electrical seats. Air con worked immediatly.
The whole car looks and feels solid.
Now for the real problem bit.... £2.500 cash!
Oh dear, what to do.....
TBH It is a world of difference from my E36 1.6L
How big is that v8 - jeez looks like something out of starwars!
It has offical BMW stamps for all inspections and oil changes etc up to 157,000, then full stamps by independants up to its current 183.000. Plus it has 12months MOT.
Everything works as it should electrical wise, except a few missing digits on the instrument display. Kick down gave awesome acceleration and it sounds tip top. Tried the sequential GB and that worked too
It has all the toys except electrical seats. Air con worked immediatly.
The whole car looks and feels solid.
Now for the real problem bit.... £2.500 cash!
Oh dear, what to do.....
TBH It is a world of difference from my E36 1.6L
