E39 or E46 for a daily?

[agent]

Cruising on the highway without stopping I can get over 500 miles to a tank easy.

With my heavy right foot it doesn't happen often, but I love it when my trip odometer exceeds 500.

[Asbradley21]

Oh yeah, I and 2 of my friends slept in my e39 for 4 days. I'd like to see anyone do that in an e46 with less than 2 people dead at the end.

[Asbradley21]

Wait a second...typical e46 problems? E39s have so many more 'typical' issues, mainly relating to interior electrical functions giving up.

A 528 is not getting 25/30mpg either. That's just fooling youself.

Don't get me wrong, I like e39s and all but I'm never swapping back. Both cars were ultra-reliable for me too.

Yeah, you know, e46 problems, like the subframe bashing the mounting points to bits. Not an e39 issue. I've also never had any interior electrical issues unless you count the window regulator. I've never heard of common interior electrical issues on an e39. (edit) Forgot about the pixel issue. I've never experienced this as I also have the low OBC which doesn't have that issue, and it's not all that common either anyway.

And I do get ~25/30. According to the OBC and my own calculations. We can just take my last fuel up as an example. Roughly 19 Gal used, got a distance of 455 miles which comes out to 23.94 MPG. Cruising on the highway without stopping I can get over 500 miles to a tank easy.

There's no reason an e39 can't get just as good fuel economy as an e46 as the weight difference is fairly minimal. Riding around in an e46 with another person or two or maybe even just a bunch of shit in the trunk you're up there with how much an e39 weighs already.

[reelizmpro]

Mike, there's a big difference between E39 540iT Auto and early E39 528i 5 speed. I've owned an auto 528i and manual 528i...the manual gets way better mileage with combined driving. Early E39's upto 99 tend to be more reliable. I don't have a "HI" cluster so I have no dead pixel problems, only the MID ribbon cable tends to break (mine hasn't), window regulators suck, door handles can break but other than that the car has been rock solid for the 7 years I've owned it.

Besides, you can make your E39 look like an M5 for less than $500 these days and as you know, there are plenty of E39's in the yards, making parts cheaper than ever.





What's not to like?

[agent]

E39s have so many more 'typical' issues, mainly relating to interior electrical functions giving up.

What are these interior electrical functions giving up you speak of? The only 'typical' interior one I'm aware of is the MID/cluster pixelation ribbon issue.

A 528 is not getting 25/30mpg either. That's just fooling youself.

Last time I made the ~425 mile drive to Florida I averaged 28.5mpg doing 85-90 most of the way. I'm sure I could easily get 30+ if I slowed down.

[Wh33lhop]

I daily a 330i 6 speed sedan and love it. However I am single with no kids. If I had to haul 3 passengers on the reg I'd have gone with a 5er.

[mkcman17]

Wait a second...typical e46 problems? E39s have so many more 'typical' issues, mainly relating to interior electrical functions giving up.

A 528 is not getting 25/30mpg either. That's just fooling youself.

Don't get me wrong, I like e39s and all but I'm never swapping back. Both cars were ultra-reliable for me too.

[agent]

E39 530i all day long.

This.

[Asbradley21]

In my 528i I get 25 mpg average in town and 30 on the highway. Probably about 23 in the summer with the A/C on all the time.

[justin_l_]

Thinking currently e39 white or silver with the sport package. Finding one that fits the bill will be a challenge. What is general gas mileage you guys get with an e39?

[Asbradley21]

I daily an e39 and could not be happier. It has given me very few issues in one and a half years that I've had it. From my own experience e39's tend to not have the typical issues that plague e46's.
E39's also handle surprisingly well for being a pretty sizable car, on the road, they feel relatively light and nimble for the size. With a 5 speed, they provide a very comfortable, yet very distinctly BMW driving experience, which remains unmatched by the newer models.
I have a 98 528i, which has a M52 single vanos. No DISA, no dual vanos issues. A very solid motor as I'm sure the many m52 swap guys will tell you.
Plus, they look classy.

[KIRIEIW]

I sold my e46. To unreliable. My dad has a e39, second owner and I had twice the problems he's had while owning my e46 for 3 years. I think he's had his for over 8 by now

[mkcman17]

i owned a 540it and a 323it at the same time, and both cars were in great shape. ended up selling the e39...tons of torque and very solid with lots of amenities, but ultimately not as enjoyable as the e46 is. still have the 323it and don't regret selling the 540it at all - and it was immaculate. it definitely helps that the e46 is a 5spd.

The e39 was a very pretty car and I received compliments regularly, but was bulky and poor on gas (13/27). I could fully stretch out flat with the seats down though, which was a plus. the flat storage area was nice too.

Then again, I'm 23 and i don't have the need for a big 'ol cruiser just yet...no baby plans here. My wagon is almost strictly a daily people-mover/parts-hauler.

[justin_l_]

Maybe if you and the wife are short. There was no room in the back seat of my e30 coupe.

[GillesBigCowboy]

I regularly put 2 kids and wife in e30s, even teeenage kids fit fine.