BMW E39 M Sport, Talk to me

[pac1982]

looking for a 525 or a 528, ideally the M sport version but at least has to be the same spec as a sport

Any one lend me some advice, also what would your idea of average price be? I'm seeing prices all over the place anywhere from under a grand to about 4k

[wullie325i]

1k to 2k should get you a decent one.

[B7]

Get a 530i. forget the 2.5s or 2.8's. All very capable but the 3.0 is in another league.

I've had 3 3.0's and an early 2.5. night and day.

[wullie325i]

the 530i has a better engine but its more prone to problems, none really serious but more trips to a garage if you cant fix yourself imo.

[alpina123]

530 d manual sport

[wullie325i]

i would stay away from the diesel, nothing but problems when they have decent mileage on them

[bss325i]

[quote="wullie325i"]the 530i has a better engine but its more prone to problems, none really serious but more trips to a garage if you cant fix yourself imo.[/quote

The 530i has the same engine (M54) as a 520i, 525i with only the capacity being different and even the post 1998 523i and 528i has an almost identical engine (M52tu) so they all suffer the same problems and as it happens are the least problematic engines fitted to an E39.

[alpina123]

[quote="wullie325i"]i would stay away from the diesel, nothing but problems when they have decent mileage on them
Like what? As long as it doesn't have swirl flaps what goes wrong on them? A friends has done 298k with no problems except o couple of suspension airbags and bushes

[bss325i]

i would stay away from the diesel, nothing but problems when they have decent mileage on them
Like what? As long as it doesn't have swirl flaps what goes wrong on them? A friends has done 298k with no problems except o couple of suspension airbags and bushes

Turbo's, injectors, EGR's, Coked up cylinder heads, in line pumps, high pressure pumps, glow plug control units, stretched/snapped timing chains etc etc etc.

[DanThe]

Whilst on the subject Barry are there any official upgrades for the V8 timing chain tensioners that are supposedly made out of cheese?

[bss325i]

Not that im aware of. They don't normally give trouble unlike the N42!

[DanThe]

Not that im aware of. They don't normally give trouble unlike the N42!

Thats what I thought, but I read some stuff on the 5 forum about failing guides that break up, just need to fix the tailgate wiring now

[bss325i]

Guides seem to be a weak point on most modern BMW engines these days i have heard of the S62 timing chains stretching causing issues. Being based on the M62 its likely they can suffer the same.

One thing i would do as a precaution is to replace the two pin temp sensor which is part of the thermostat as they can short out and melt the plug which brings down the PT CAN causing the car to non start and no communication with DME, EGS or ASC/DSC.

If it does happen, the plug melts and pops one of the 30A fuses in the E box. Disconnect the plug and replace the fuse to get going again.

[pac1982]

thanks for the input guys, am I right in thinking a proper sport will have an LSD or was this optional? same question with the electric seats?

[bss325i]

Only E39 that has an LSD was the M5. Not even an option on any other E39, not even an Alpina.

Electric seats were optional.

[Kos]

530i all the way

I did have a journal on here as does Trevor with our feed back and running reports on them

The dervs are all going to be over priced problems

[B7]

thanks for the input guys, am I right in thinking a proper sport will have an LSD or was this optional? same question with the electric seats?

As per Barrys respose, no LSd's on them as they came with ASC or DSC as standard.

Electric seats was as option. Although quite a few got them, most didn't.

[pony]

Buy a 540i 2003 last of the line and be happy you got one of the best 5 Series on the planet

[pac1982]

Buy a 540i 2003 last of the line and be happy you got one of the best 5 Series on the planet

i do quite a few miles for work so a 540 would cripple me.

Can anyone advise me if i were to buy a 5 without electric seats and then went on to buy a leather interior with the electrics. would all the loom already be present and just a case of plugging the new seats in?

[pacerpete]

No loom, EPIC fooookfest to retrofit . Buy one with electric seats or better still, do not buy one at all ! The newest are now ten years old and most are rubbish, just look at the scum that drive them ! Trevor/ Kos and Dan excepted

[pac1982]

No loom, EPIC fooookfest to retrofit . Buy one with electric seats or better still, do not buy one at all ! The newest are now ten years old and most are rubbish, just look at the scum that drive them ! Trevor/ Kos and Dan excepted

Thanks for the heads up, i know they are getting old now but I've always fancied one in regards to the type of people that own them round my way they ain't really fell in to the hands of scumbags yet as they cant afford the running and repair costs of an old 5. Besides most the scummers are still loving the cheap and chearful E36's

[pac1982]

I'm finding it hard to find my ideal 5 needs to be blue or black, manual gearbox, electric black leather, sub 150k on the clock, good service history, and one of the following variants 523, 525, 528 or a 530. Would be nice if it had the sat nav too but not really fussed about that. Ideally a saloon but would have a nice touring too

If anyone spots a nice one that ticks most of the above please let me know

[scott180gtb]

Buy my 530D Touring Sport.

Diesel Power.

[pac1982]

Buy my 530D Touring Sport.

Diesel Power.

I would consider a derv smoker but only if it has VERY low miles and full service history

[Simon13]

and gold plated wheels

any other unrealistic requirements?

540's come with the spec mentioned possible but not alot else

[pac1982]

and gold plated wheels

any other unrealistic requirements?

540's come with the spec mentioned possible but not alot else

they do exist, as long as i can sacrifice 1 or two items from my list.

this one came close but wrong colour leather and no electrics and the seller seemed a bit of a pleb

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-BMW-525- ... 7675.l2557

[sunnyr83]

Another e39 owner here. A silver 525i M sport. Its an auto and can't really fault it. Pleasure to drive and looks executive.
Petrol wise seem to be fair for what it is. Was after a 530 but nothing decent was around at the time.
Only issues in a year was the ignition switch causing all sorts of electric dramas and a battery or altrrnator replacment which im in the middle of doing now.

Common rust issues are around the bootlid lock and the handle where the numberplate lights sit.

[Simon13]

thats missing the electric seats and sat nav plus an engine. The 523's are a road block, the 525's not alot better. A manual might be bearable but these lower capacity 6 pots use the same fuel as a 530 bar the 528i which is probably the pick of them but the oldest

Even the alpina 6 pots don't come in the spec you mention. Only the V8 tackle and the manual ones are always SE's in crap spec/colours. I think i've seen 1 540i sport manual e39

[pac1982]

thats missing the electric seats and sat nav plus an engine. The 523's are a road block, the 525's not alot better. A manual might be bearable but these lower capacity 6 pots use the same fuel as a 530 bar the 528i which is probably the pick of them but the oldest

Even the alpina 6 pots don't come in the spec you mention. Only the V8 tackle and the manual ones are always SE's in crap spec/colours. I think i've seen 1 540i sport manual e39

I just took a look at the MPG figures for various 5's and if my source was accurate I'm shocked.....

523 - 30mpg
525 - 29mpg
528 - 27mpg
530 - 27mpg
540 - 23mpg

if those figures are about right then I could run a 540 or a 530 with ease. I assume they are long run MPG's and would drop to about 16-18 around town in most cases

[ross_jsy]

My 528i auto would do 16-19 around Jersey which is comparable to town driving so make of that what you will

[andyp]

figures do not match up with my e39 530 sport, I get 24 mpg in town and 32 to 36 on a run and that is driving like a saint,

[pony]

figures do not match up with my e39 530 sport, I get 24 mpg in town and 32 to 36 on a run and that is driving like a saint,

Which averages out at 27mpg

[andyp]

it don't if you like me and never go on a run in it anymore

[Jon_Bmw]

I used to get 24.7 mpg quite regularly in my 540i. Mixed driving but not a lot of traffic but only a 13 mile commute. If you got stuck in traffic I'd imagine 18 is more realistic

[pony]

If say u died tmw and you bought a 523i instead of a 540i would you regret it ?