E39 revivial advice

Post Tue Oct 29, 2013 8:50 pm

I have been offered an E39 528i auto very cheap. It has been stood in a well ventilated underground carpark for at least 3 years wihtout being moved or started. No T&T but has keys and possibly a logbook. The body is dusty with a couple of dents but no rust. Silver with black leather. Mileage unknown. I don't know E39s, is it worth the aggro?

Post Tue Oct 29, 2013 8:53 pm

Post Tue Oct 29, 2013 8:57 pm

Unless its some super low mileage highly optioned example then its worth about a grand on a good day.

Whip the plugs out, drop some oil down the bores, turn it over by hand then plugs back in, new battery then start it up.

Brakes may well be seized and there might be a warning light or two on.

TBH, if its peanuts and its tidy then it might be worth a punt if it doesnt need money spending on it but these cars a worthless now.

Post Tue Oct 29, 2013 9:29 pm

It'll be £250-£300. No there's no particularly nice options I can see. Lame SE alloys but the leather seems to be in good nick through the glass. I don't have the option to inspect - it's take it or leave it kind of deal. The tyres are matching continentals which gives me a good feeling (though one is completely flat)

Post Tue Oct 29, 2013 9:33 pm

If its £200 and only needs a few hundred spent on it then maybe.

Any idea of mileage?

Post Tue Oct 29, 2013 9:35 pm

Unfortunately not, keys upon payment so the display's dead, but there doesn't seem to be any bolster wear and there's not a spot of rust

Post Tue Oct 29, 2013 9:42 pm

What year?

Post Tue Oct 29, 2013 9:46 pm

it's on an S plate

Post Tue Oct 29, 2013 10:00 pm

That'll be circa 1998 then.

Post Tue Oct 29, 2013 10:21 pm

TBH, i dont think i would bother. It will be an M52tu engine so not even the engine people use for E30 conversions.

Post Tue Oct 29, 2013 10:27 pm

Seems such a waste of a solid car! But I know what you mean, it could be seized, knackered brakes, fuel lines etc. There might be a good reason it was dumped!

Post Tue Oct 29, 2013 10:30 pm

If it were me I'd nick the torch and a hand full of fuses and that's all.

Post Fri Nov 01, 2013 9:29 am

It is worth £5/600 WITH an MOT (assuming you do not mind dealing with easties or inked indigenous scum)

My advice, as someone who regularly rescues old shit is , DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME

Post Fri Nov 01, 2013 10:53 pm

'S' reg. was the first of the six month only plates (to Feb. '99), and the engine changeover from M52 to M52TU was at the beginning of Sept. '98, so all of the August registered cars (the peak sales month), and most if not all of the following month's registrations would be powered by the more E30 friendly engine.
As for reliability, my Tu engined towing barge is worked hard, has over a quarter of a million on the clock, and after initially sorting out wiring faults in the rear airbag suspension (touring only) and a rear wheel bearing, hasn't missed a beat in eighteen months, except for the inevitable failure of the ABS ECU, inexplicably placed by BMW right beside the exhaust manifold.