calling all 5 series owners.

[akorcovelos]

I'm curious as to the reliability of a used 5er, e34 or e39 mostly. I may be getting a job next week and will be looking for a good commuter for my 3 hours a day I'll spend driving. Do 5 series get decent MPG? Are they considered reliable for everyday commuting? I'm not looking for another projec car, I need to get to work to pay for the one I have now, lol. Any info would be great.

[ZM Blue Devil]

E39 section of bimmerfest is your friend. That's where the e39 guys hangout.

Mileage depends on engine. 540s are great but high teens to low twenties.

See if you can find a 5 speed 530. Great cars!

[gtdragon980]

e34 m30b35 engines are bulletproof! my dad drives an e34 535i and we bought it with around 120k about 8-9 years ago, and we still drive it with now close to 300k! gas mileage i would say 19-21mpg..i would definitely recommend picking up a '90 535i 5speed if you see one!

[2002maniac]

See if you can find a 5 speed 530. Great cars!

This.

[akorcovelos]

yeah, not sure I want a 5 speed (I know...) but 3 hours in rush hour traffic calls for an autotragic IMO. I would like to find something that gets at least mid 20s for MPG, are the e39s any better?

[Wh33lhop]

530s are awesome, but for gas mileage I'd probably tend towards an M50 (later E34 525i) with a 5 speed.

[e34john]

1995 525ia. Same problems as the other Mxx cars. The coolant system and the Vanos issue, the auto tranny if they haven't kept up with maintenance. Then theres interior issues but I still think they are built better than E39s.

Newer E39s are getting pretty cheap for a relatively newer car but I would choose an E38 sport over an E39, will give up a bit in gas but will be nicer for the commute and they look way better.

[e30s52]

I have an e34 m50 non-vanos I am selling soon if your intrested. I DD it for 3 years and it hasnt had one problem.

[daniel]

e39 530i with the M54B30 is your best bet, imo.

[Wh33lhop]

Just man up and build up your left calf muscles, not like it's that hard to press the clutch down.

I have wished my car was auto maybe once out of five years of driving manual cars (in heavy creeping 2mph traffic, you know, slower than idle in first gear but never stopped, uphill, in the middle of a 300 mile trip after I had sprained my left ankle). And I have driven in SF and LA traffic many a time.

[blunttech]

yeah, not sure I want a 5 speed (I know...) but 3 hours in rush hour traffic calls for an autotragic IMO. I would like to find something that gets at least mid 20s for MPG, are the e39s any better?

dude ... if you get a 5 speed working the clutch is equivalent to doing kegals. it will tighten up your vagina which you surely must have if youre seeking out a 5 series auto

[smonkbmw]

e34 530? one of the most problematic motors bmw made? good advice.

e34 535 would be great, have to watch out for the autos though. make sure there is records on em.

e34 525 (91-95) are ftw. even in automatics they do well.

e39s are built like shit, have plenty of electrical issues (as they get up in mileage) and replacement interior parts especially those electronics are not cheap. if you HAVE to get one find a 528i. at least m52s are not to expensive to maintain.

[reelizmpro]

5 speed E39 is awesome. I went with a 98 528i sport with manual trans. It's lighter and gets better gas mileage than the auto. Also, those GM automatics have reliability issues. For the record, most of the things that go wrong with this car are easily fixable by the DIY'er. I have done the smog pump/valve, pre cat O2 sensors and window regulators myself. Every car has there problem areas but overall the E39's aren't bad. These issues have been addressed several times on Bimmerforums.

[akorcovelos]

I have an e34 m50 non-vanos I am selling soon if your intrested. I DD it for 3 years and it hasnt had one problem.

Hit me with a PM when your looking to sell.

dude ... if you get a 5 speed working the clutch is equivalent to doing kegals. it will tighten up your vagina which you surely must have if youre seeking out a 5 series auto

I have several cars with manual trans, I just don't want to deal with it in 2mph rush hour traffic. The only 'gina I have is a mangina and it's plenty tight. ;)

[moatilliatta]

dude ... if you get a 5 speed working the clutch is equivalent to doing kegals. it will tighten up your vagina which you surely must have if youre seeking out a 5 series auto

bahahha!

I just got a e34 touring. 530it. Yeah autotragic.... Prolly be that way for a while. But id love a 4.4 swap and a 6 speed. Or a s62... but im dreaming way to much there. lul

Ive spent the last 2 months getting the maintenance up.
Front end parts
Suppressors
plugs
Fuel Filter
Cabin filter
oil change 10w40 castrol syntec
Valve cover gaskets + wrinkle paint on the covers
Totally tore apart the interior and shampoo'd and conditioned

Thought i was ok... went out, got on it a bit. Blew a trannie line.... 85 bucks a pop..
I was like nope. Went to a local shop, had these nice barbed fittings silver solder'd on and had some extra Russel brand 1/2 braided line laying around. Back to primo. I have leaking power steering lines also. I think about every old bmw leaks power steering lines though. Ill prolly have the same done to those lines. Looks better, and IMO is better. Try and get a maintenance history. I noticed it does have a newer looking Water pump and the valley pan isnt leaking. And keep an eye out for the SLS cars (self leveling system). Lucky my car didnt come with this. I didnt ask any questions when i picked mine up. 197k miles , Aluasyl block @120k, 1,136 dollars ;) I have about 2500 in it now toltal including new bilstiens and H&R