Anybody Own an E39?

[llll1l1ll]

Hey Gang!

Thinking about getting a second car. If I don't get another E30, I was thinking of an E34 or an E39. Was wondering if you guys had any experience with these cars.

What's it like working on them? I do all my own stuff with the E30 fairly easily. It's like Legos. What's the E34 or the E39 like compared to an E30? It also seems like parts/maintenance stuff for the E39 is double in comparison to the E30...

Thoughts/comments?

Best,
Pete

[dj01540i6sp]

V8 - Verses - 6 Cyl

I have a 01 540i 6sp E39 it has been good to me though 32K but I don't drive it hard either/much. I will regret it when I do have internal Engine problems though. Take a look at a 540 engine and components on Real OEM. I say stay with the 6 cyl.

[reelizmpro]

I have a 98 528i sport 5 speed and I chose that year model at the advice of my BMW tech buddy. The M52 is easy to work on and is very reliable as long as you don't overheat it. The car itself will be cheaper because it's the 2nd year of the E39 in the US. Common failures on E39's are window regulators, cooling system, climate control buttons crack, secondard air pump and diverter valve but at least you won't have to worry about bad ASC modules and dead display pixels like you do with the later models. The 5 speed is much better than the GM automatic version. You can now get rep M5 bumpers for like $400 for the set too. E39 is a great car...just modern enough.

[e30frosh]

99 540it. 120xxx. My list so far, alternator(400), upper control arm bushings(60), headlight adjusters(18 ), and a few other small items. It's a great car, just be wary of the cooling systems. I also hear the ac compressors are a bit shoddy.

[Eric Giles]

I have an '00 M5 and can agree with others here about the common issues with the E39 chassis-window regulators, final stage resistors, dead pixels on the instrument cluster, thrust arm bushing replacement, etc. Overall a very solid and with the right suspension, a fun to drive chassis. Parts will be more expensive and things aren't quite as simple to replace as they would be on an E30, but still nothing that you couldn't handle. You will definitely want to invest in some type of BMW/OBDII scanner tool for troubleshooting.

I have to say my M5 is probably one of the most overall fun to drive BMW's I have owned-it does everything well and is very comfortable with a lot of creature comforts. Not really recommending the M5 to you since I know that's not what you are looking for, but just saying with the way prices have dropped on them-and if you can handle the increased parts, insurance, and gas costs-it's a hell of a car to buy.

[e34john]

E34 535 5 speed, you will be happy.

[llll1l1ll]

I just got back from the place where I saw the car that inspired this thread. Although clean, it did have the front-end shimmy at 50mph, so it sort of negated it's 11K price tag. Also had about 91K miles on it, very low oil, a few odds and ends in the interior (missing mirror select switch, broken cupholder, broken ashtray), and the lights on the radio display were iffy.

However, as for driveability, I think that's what I'm looking for. It had plenty of power, got better gas mileage than my E30, felt solid and stiff so I could have some fun on a backroad, and was quiet -- but not too quiet.

Definitely sticking with the six cylinder, since it's BMW's trademark engine, and the engine bay in the E39 looked like it had plenty of room.

However, I'd like to try an E34 535. I just like the idea of DOHC, VANOS and no more valve adjustments.